Finishing cancer treatment feels good. The rigor and stress ease, clearing the way for patients and their loved ones to get back to their lives. But the emotional effects of surviving cancer — and the side effects from treatment — can live on. That’s why Fred Hutch offers free support groups before, during and after treatment. In fact, when past patients share their experiences, we’ve found it helps current and future patients deal with their own diagnoses and treatment.
There are two types of virtual support groups offered by the proton therapy facility.
Meditation is a half-hour, once-a-month program led by volunteer Linda Portnoy, MA. Portnoy focuses on different strategies that include meditation for sleep or balance and breathing techniques to alleviate stress or pain. Regular and consistent meditation practice helps people release stress and anxiety from both the mind and body, improving physical, emotional and mental health. Portnoy varies the classes each month, which helps patients find what works best for them.
Portnoy began doing meditation during a period of difficult personal circumstances in 2000. She found the practice helped her cope better with stress; it also improved her sleep and her overall sense of well-being.
It helped so much that she decided to become a meditation teacher and received her certification from the Chopra Center for Wellness in 2008.
Meditation techniques help people, including cancer patients, keep their minds focused on the present moment. When Portnoy leads a group, she teaches patients skills to gently interrupt the spiral of thoughts in their head and return to the present moment. She practices meditation in what she calls “a state of restful awareness,” which increases a sense of calm and well-being in both the mind and body. The best way to join meditation is to sign up for reminders. Let our concierge team know or email info.proton@fredhutch.org.
Facilitated through Cancer Lifeline, this support group welcomes current, past and prospective prostate cancer patients at Fred Hutch – Proton Therapy, along with their caregivers. Meeting monthly for an hour and a half, sessions open with an hour-long presentation on a topic relevant to (and often suggested by) patients, followed by open discussion. The discussion portion includes time to ask questions and share what's worked or is of concern to patients. Cancer Lifeline facilitator Basha Brownstein, MSW, has led the group virtually since the pandemic.
“Facing prostate cancer can feel isolating, even with a strong, compassionate medical team behind you," she said. "This group gives men a place to ask the questions they might not think to ask their doctor and to hear from others who genuinely understand what they're going through. Over the years, I've watched this group become a kind of continuity for people even as treatment, side effects and life circumstances change. The one constant is that they always have a place to come back to because they've built real relationships.”
Some past presentation topics have included:
The Prostate Cancer Support Group meets virtually on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Sign up for reminders through the concierge team or email info.proton@fredhutch.org. We hope you'll join us for this supportive, informative gathering. Caregivers are welcome to join as well.
This support group is just one of many free and low-cost services offered through Cancer Lifeline, a Seattle-based nonprofit dedicated to providing emotional support and practical resources to anyone affected by cancer. Learn more at cancerlifeline.org.
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