Special note: Click here to branch to the Internet version of the 4th edition of the Cancer Resource Guide.

There are so many support groups addressing cancer that we have divided them into sections. Browse below, or click for a specific type of support group.  Each section is marked with a .

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All Types of Cancer

Profesionally facilitated groups for adults with any form of cancer and their families. Sponsored by the Presbyterian Hospital Cancer Center.  Call 384-5223 weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for details about their meetings in central Charlotte and near UNC-Charlotte. (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

This monthly afternoon group gives those with any type of cancer who like to write prose or poetry a chance to share their writing, experiences, and feelings with friends in an informal setting.  To learn more, call the Buddy Kemp Caring House at 384-5223 weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

A professionally-facilitated group helping people incorporate healing techniques into their lives.  Open to anyone with any type of cancer, it runs in the evening.  The leader teaches cognitive behavioral and guided imagery techniques including meditation, imagery, relaxation, and stress reduction.  For more information, call the leader at 332-8394 weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or the Buddy Kemp Caring House (where the group meets) at 384-5223 Monday through Friday from 9-5. (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

A professionally facilitated group for people with any type of cancer as well as for family and friends.  Call the Blumenthal Cancer Center at Carolinas Medical Center at 355-7283 weekdays from 8-4 for details. (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

This small, informal group provides warmth, emotional support, and information for people with cancer as well as caregivers and family members.  They deal with both light and serious issues.  For details, call a member at 704/542-1541 any day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.   (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

A group for people with cancer, their caregivers, or people who have lost a loved one with cancer.  Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm. and are preceded by a dinner at the church..  The group alternates spiritual and medical emphasis with a speaker followed by questions and sharing.  For more information, click here to see their web site, call the First Baptist Church at 704/369-2138 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or click here to e-mail a leader.  (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

This twice a month group is for caregivers of those with any form of cancer.  To learn more, call the Buddy Kemp Caring House at 384-5223 weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

Here's a group for cancer survivors and their families providing an opportunity for sharing, speakers, and a free lunch provided by the group at the Lake Norman Regional Medical Center meeting room on the second Tuesday of each month at noon.  The group describes itself as "spunky"!  No RSVP needed--just get yourself over there with an appetite.  Here are the directions:  Park in the hospital parking lot if you can--if it's full, there's a lot for a medical office building right next door.  Enter the main entrance facing Fairview Road.  Ask the volunteer greeter for directions to the cafeteria, or just turn right, go past the elevators, and turn left, go down the hall, and the meeting rooms are on the right.  Get there early to get a better parking space and have a chance to go through the cafeteria line to get the meeting when it starts at noon.   To confirm meetings or for answers to any more specific questions, call a leader of the group at 704/716-4003 or another leader at  704/660-4859 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m.  (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

Click here to see the list of types of cancer support groups 

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Breast and Gynecological Cancer

A welcoming group of women (and men too) who are facing the challenges of hereditary breast or ovarian cancer.  They share compassion, useful information, and emotional support.  The group is open to people with or without cancer; anyone who is concerned about their own or another's risk for these types of cancer is encouraged to come to meet others walking on a similar path.  For details, please click here to visit the Charlotte web site of the national FORCE organization.  For those with additional questions or without internet access, you can also call a leader of the grouip at 704/287-1853 any day 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

A group for women specializing in laughter, ice cream socials, enjoying, and coping.  The group often uses Christian principles.  For details, call a member of the group at 704/662-0770 (Mooresville) on Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or another member at 704/489-2711 (Denver) any day 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.  You may also click here to e-mail a leader.  (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

A group for women providing special speakers, mutual emotional support, and yes, lunch.  For details about their twice a month meetings at Buddy Kemp Caring House in Charlotte, call 704/384-5223 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

An informal group creating a positive environment for women with breast cancer by providing opportunities for education, encouragement, and friendship.  The group does special community projects as well.  For detail, click here to see their delightful web site or call a member of the group 704/942-8202 anytime anyday.  (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

A group for women providing emotional support and useful medical information dealing with any issue relating to breast cancer. The group currently has meetings both at Presbyterian Hospital near uptown Charlotte and at the Presbyterian Hospital Matthews.  For details, call Buddy Kemp Caring House at 704/384-5223 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

A small, enthusiasic group of women of color who have or have had breast cancer.  The group provides a safe haven to share concerns, questions, and answers as well as to learn new ways to regain control of one's life.  Women come from Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Cabarrus, Cleveland, and other nearby counties.  For info, call the Buddy Kemp Caring House at 384-5223 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or a member of the group in Gastonia at 853-8254 Monday through Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

These folks meet regularly to give women with breast cancer a chance to hear experts, share support and activities, and have fun.  They generally meet at River Hills Community Church.    For details about their meetings and other activities, call a member of the group at 803/547-3064 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  In most of Charlotte you can dial number without entering the "1" access code.   (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

A group for women dealing with ovarian cancer.  For details call Buddy Kemp Caring House at Presbyterian Hospital at 704/384-5223 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

Children and Teens with Cancer (or loved ones with cancer)

An informal dinner and support group for families who have children with any cancer.  During meetings, parents meet and a childlife specialist provides free programs for the children with cancer as well as for their brothers or sisters.  For details about their monthly meetings, call Sharon Hurff at Carolinas Medical Center on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

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Click here to see the list of types of cancer support groups

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Head, neck, and oral cancers

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This is an informal, friendly group giving people with any oral, head or neck cancer, their caregivers, and their family and chance to eat Krispy Kreme donuts, share emotional support, share medical information, and have a good time.  For details, call a member of the group at 364-7119 Mon-Thu 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. or on Sunday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

Leukemia and releated disorders

A monthly group and a one-to-one matching program for family, friends, and people with any form of leukemia, Hodgkin's, lymphoma, myeloma, or myelodysplastic disorder. Call the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America in Charlotte at 998-5012 weekdays 9am-5pm (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

Other cancers (prostate, skin, lung cancer etc.)

A group for men who have prostate cancer as well as for their families and friends.  Call 384-5223 weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for details about their monthly meetings which alternate programs and sharing. (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

A group for those affected in any way by melanoma. For details, call a leader of the group at 704/355-7283 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  (Click for overview of Cancer resources)

Click here to see the list of types of cancer support groups

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Inactive groups which are no
longer meeting and their last meeting dates

Adapting and Growing - Matthews chapter  (1998)  (1400)
BK Kids and Teens (2005) (1517
Breast Cancer Group of Presbyterian Hospital (2002) (1206)
Caregivers Support Network (Presbyterian Hospital) (2005) 1516
Circle of Strength (Matthews Breast Cancer Group)  (2004) (1634)
Family Night  (2005) (1671)
First Baptist Church Christian Cancer Group (1996)  (1288)
G-Y-N Oncology Support Group (1998)   (1427)
Huntersville Cancer Support group at St. Mark (2009)   (1750)
Image Reborn   (1373)
Lake Norman (general) Cancer Group (2000)  (1433)
Lake Norman Prostate Cancer Coalition (US TOO) (2001)  (1416)
Lake Norman Regional Medical Center Prostate Cancer Group (2009) (1730)
Lung Cancer Support Group at Presbyterian Hospital (2008)   (1719,712/725)
Lymphedema Support Group (1998)  (1413)
Matthews Cancer Support Group (2005)  (1656)
Men's Support Group (2005)  (1669)
Mercy South US Too (1999)  (1386) possible alternatives: other prostate cancer groups
Mooresville Cancer Group (afternoon group) (1998)  (1042)
Parents of Children Group (CMC) (2002)  (1582) possible alternative: Rainbow of Hope
Post Mastectomy Attitude for Living (started in 1982 and stopped meeting in 2004!)  (25)
Reality Check of CampCARE (2001) (1230) 
Resources for Newly Diagnosed (2008) (1670)
SOS Family Group (1998)  (1303)
Spirituality Exploration Group (1998) (1442) possible alternative: Advanced Techniques for Healing or a class at Buddy Kemp Caring House
Stage IV (2005) (1510)
Stem Cell/Bone Marrow (2000) (1473) possible alternative: Leukemia Family Support Group
Together Learning Abouit Cancer (2008) (1672) possible alternative: pending
What Now (advanced cancer group) -- merged into Advanced Techniques
Women and Cancer (Presbyterian Hospital) (2005) (1626)
Women Living With Cancer (2000) (1227) changed named to Living with Cancer (for men and women)
Young Adult Support Group (2005)  (1625)

Click here to read and/or print from the SupportWorks Cancer Resource Guide, an extensive listing of  local, statewide, and nationwide resources for people with cancer, their families, friends, and interested professionals in Mecklenburg County.

This service provides comprehensive data and referral assistance for nonprofit and government resources in the NC counties of Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, and Anson counties and in or near the city of Mooresville, NC.  If you are calling on a landline or residential phone in one of those counties, dial 2-1-1.  If that fails, if you are calling on a cell phone, or if you are calling from anywhere else in NC, call 866/744-7778.  For calls from out of NC, use their local number of 704/377-1100. Although they are open 24 hours a day, you may wish to call weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for non-emergency questions.

The friendly staff at this full service library can help you research any medical topic using their up-to-date computers, databases, journals and books.  No previous research experience or medical knowledge is required. Click here for details or call them at 704-384-6393.

MedLinePlus

This service of the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health is one of the better one-stop shops for beginning your search on the internet for medical information.  For those of you who live in Mecklenburg and Union counties in NC, we recommend that you contact the Health Library for more personal assistance from the experts there in searching for reliable medical information. Click here for their details.

Click to link to any of these lists of national groups: 

The Self-Help Sourcebook OnLine Index
The Genetic Alliance
NORD (National Organization for Rare Diseases) Database

	The Cancer Information Service of the National Cancer Institute provides medical literature by mail, help in interpreting that literature, and answers to questions about treatments, clinical trials, pain control, and other cancer-related subjects.  Call 800/422-6237 weekdays 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
	Click here to branch to the American Self-Help Clearinghouse listing of toll-free phone numbers for a wide variety of topics.