Support Groups
At Miami Valley Hospital (MVH) we know cancer patients often find comfort in the support of others who know what they are experiencing.
Blood and Marrow Transplant Group
Continuing the Journey
Adults who have undergone or are considering a blood and/or bone marrow transplant are invited to attend this free monthly support group. Family members and friends are also welcomed.
Meets fourth Wednesday of each month from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Contact: Debbie Wise at (937) 208-2957
Breast Cancer Class
Your Breast Cancer Journey
Your Breast Cancer Journey is a free 90-minute class for preparing for breast cancer surgery. The class provides women an opportunity to learn more about breast cancer, the surgical experience, and postoperative expectations. Partners/Support persons are welcome.
To schedule, contact Amy McKenna, Breast Cancer Coordinator at (937) 208-4926 or by email at armckenna@mvh.org.
Breast Cancer Support Group
Still Me Support Group
Breast cancer patients, their families, and friends are welcome to join this group, which provides cancer information, health education, and wellness promotion information. Free refreshments and parking.
Meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Contact Nancy Thoma at (937) 208-2743.
Myeloma Support Group
This group is for patients with multiple myeloma, and their families and friends. The meeting includes information sharing and discussion. Free refreshments and parking provided.
Meets on the first Thursday of February, May, August, and November from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
Contact: Elena Mikalauskas, Clinical Nurse Specialist, at (937) 208-6317.
Additional Contact: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at (866) 671-2873
Young Women’s Breast Cancer Support Group
This support group is for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in their 40s or younger.
Meets on the first Thursday of every month from 6: 30 pm to 8:00 pm
Contact Amy McKenna, Breast Cancer Coordinator, (937) 208-4926 or armckenna@mvh.org.
I Can Cope
A free series of workshops geared toward helping newly diagnosed cancer patients, their families and friends. Sessions help dispel cancer myths by presenting factual information about cancer and answering cancer related questions.
Meets at Miami Valley Hospital South, Centerville, on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 pm followed by a general cancer support group.
Contact: Elena Mikalauskas, Clinical Nurse Specialist, at (937) 208-6317.
Additional Contact: American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345.
Look Good, Feel Better . . . for Women
This group program is facilitated by a trained, volunteer cosmetologist who teaches women how to cope with skin changes and hair loss, the most common appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment.
Meets quarterly at Miami Valley Hospital (February, May, August and November).
Contact: American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345.
To receive free self-help materials, call the Look Good…Feel Better toll-free number (800) 395-5665.
Man to Man
The Man to Man program helps men copy with prostate cancer by providing community-based education and support to patients and their families. Participants learn about prostate cancer, treatment, side effects and how to cope with the disease and its treatment.
For more information, call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345.
Cancer Prevention and Education
On behalf of MVH, Premier Community Health (PCH) offers community health programs focusing on prevention, early detection and disease self-management of four chronic disease areas. One of those areas is cancer. The cancers targeted are breast, colorectal, skin, prostate, and lung.
Breast and Cervical Cancer
Premier Community Health houses the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which is funded by the Ohio Department of Health with a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This program provides free mammograms, Pap testing, and other advanced diagnostic for women who do not have health insurance. Other grants to PCH funded additional free mammograms for uninsured or underinsured women. In 2000 PCH provided 1,368 mammograms, finding 26 cancers, and 891 Pap tests finding four women with cervical cancer or dysplasia.
Colorectal Cancer
To promote early detection, MVH participates in an annual colorectal cancer screening campaign called Test for Life. This program is a collaborative effort of Premier Community Health, Miami Valley Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, Atrium Medical Center, WDTN-TV2, the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service, and Vectren.
Test for Life was named a model program by Ohio Partners for Cancer Control and received merit awards from Healthcare Marketing Report and the Aster Awards for Excellence in Healthcare Marketing.
Test for Life distributed free fecal occult blood test kits to more than 14,000 people in 2011.
Skin Cancer
Each May, MVH collaborates with the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology, the American Cancer Society and local hospitals offer free skin screenings at locations throughout the area.
Lung Cancer Prevention and Awareness
Individuals who smoke and are hospitalized at MVH can be referred for one-on-one counseling by respiratory therapists who are certified smoking cessation counselors. Premier Community Health offers the services of a certified smoking cessation counselor free of charge. MVH staff members also sit on the local Smoke Free Task Force.
Learn more about MVH Calendar of Events.