Women faced with the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer — cancer that has spread outside of the breast to other parts of the body — may feel uncertain and fearful about their future. Adjusting to ongoing cancer treatment may be overwhelming. But metastatic breast cancer is not a hopeless disease. Many women continue to live long, productive lives with breast cancer in this stage.
There are two important things to remember about a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer:
- You are not alone. More and more people are living life to the fullest while being treated for advanced stage cancer.
- Our team is here to help you. Not just your physicians and nurses — but our comprehensive team of nutritionists, behavioral health experts, social workers, complementary medicine practitioners, and other cancer experts are available to provide support, information, and practical tips.
At MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, we recognize the physical, emotional, and social impact that this illness can have on women and their loved ones and have created the Metastatic Breast Cancer Program to help women with metastatic breast cancer adjust to their “new normal.”
Our program offers monthly support sessions that are combined with classes and activities. At each meeting we also include time for women to network and connect on a personal level.
At each group session we educate and promote health and wellness through the three pillars of integrative medicine — nutrition, physical activity, and emotional health. Our programs cover diverse topics and are as enjoyable as they are informative. Activities include meditation and guided imagery, nutrition classes, discussions about sleep issues and coping during the holidays, creative art projects for personal expression, and many more.
In June, our program will address a current hot topic, latest therapies for fighting metastatic breast cancer (MBC), as well as making healthy fruit smoothies and time for guided imagery and meditation. This will be offered at our MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper location in Camden on Friday, June 23, 2017 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and in Voorhees on Tuesday, June 27, 2017, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Our full schedule of upcoming sessions in both our Camden and Voorhees locations is listed below. You can register by clicking here.
In addition to the monthly programs, we also have a dedicated Metastatic Breast Cancer Navigator who links women with supportive care services, educational resources, and other needed services. The program is open to women throughout the tri-state area, no matter where they receive their treatment. Bilingual translation services will be available for Spanish-speaking women.
For more information about this program, email Jen Jennings, Program Navigator, at Jennings jennifer@cooperhealth.edu. To register for Metastatic Breast Cancer Program sessions call 1.800.8COOPER (1.800.826.6737) or visit events.cooperhealth.org.
Funding for the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper Metastatic Breast Cancer Program is provided through a grant from Pfizer Oncology and the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. MD Anderson Cooper is one of 22 national grantees to receive these funds to address gaps in services faced by women with metastatic breast cancer. You can read more about this grant by clicking here.
Camden
MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper
Two Cooper Plaza, 400 Haddon Avenue
Room 4100/4101 Camden, NJ 08103
Friday, June 23, 2017, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Hot Topic: Newest Therapies for Fighting MBC
• Nutrition: Healthy Fruit Smoothies
• Guided Imagery and Meditation
Friday, July 28, 2017, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Lymphedema Lecture
• Nutrition: Healthy Food Options
• Healing Steps for MBC
Friday, August 18, 2017, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Lecture: Coping with Depression and Anxiety
• Guided Imagery and Meditation
• Beat the Heat with Frozen Treats!
Friday, September 22, 2017, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• How To Use Social Media To Tell a Story
• Nutrition: Virtual Grocery Store Tour
• Gentle WOW: Woman On Weights
Friday, October 20, 2017, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Hot Topics: Managing Peripheral Neuropathy
• Creative Arts for Healing/Painting
Friday, November 17, 2017, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Hot Topics: Fear of Disease Progression
• The Benefits of Massage and Reflexology
Friday, December 15, 2017, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Hot Topics: Celebration of Life
• Qi Gong and Meditation
Voorhees
Cooper Clock Tower
931 Centennial Boulevard
Voorhees, NJ 08043
Tuesday, June 27, 2017, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Hot Topic: Latest Therapies for Fighting MBC
• Nutrition: Healthy Fruit Smoothies
• Guided Imagery and Meditation
Thursday, July 20, 2017, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Lymphedema Lecture
• Nutrition: Healthy Food Options
• Healing Steps for MBC
Thursday, August 17, 2017, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Lecture: Coping with Depression and Anxiety
• Guided Imagery and Meditation
• Beat the Heat with Frozen Treats!
Thursday, September 28, 2017, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• How To Use Social Media To Tell a Story
• Nutrition: Virtual Grocery Store Tour
• Gentle WOW: Woman on Weights
Tuesday, October 24, 2017, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Hot Topics: Managing Peripheral Neuropathy
• Creative Arts for Healing/Painting
Tuesday, November 21, 2017, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Hot Topics: Fear of Disease Progression
• The Benefits of Massage and Reflexology
Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Hot Topics: Celebration of Life
• Qi Gong and Meditation
• Holiday Cheer and Communication