Support Group Program
Due to COVID-19, our support group services for breast cancer patients and survivors have shifted from in person meetings to virtual gatherings.
Support groups provide a safe and confidential space to share information, feelings, and provide and receive support. Group facilitators guide women through thoughtful discussion. Please call (518-439-5975) or email (info@tolife.org) in advance to connect with a support group. Surround yourself with women who understand. There is no cost to participate in support groups.
Newly Diagnosed/ In Treatment Breast Cancer Support Group
Meets on the Fourth Thursday of most months from 6:00 – 7:30 pm online. Facilitator: Dana Pleskovic
Email dpleskovic@tolife.org or call 518-439-5975 to learn more about the group and to join.
Positively Living Support Group
Meets First Tuesday of most months from 6:00 - 7:00 pm online. Facilitators: Judy Rosch and Joni Richter
Email Eileen at ebird@tolife.org to connect with this group.
Bilingual Breast Cancer Support Group
Facilitators: Carmen Rodriguez
Welcoming Spanish and English speaking breast cancer survivors to join in discussion. Open to anyone in the region at any stage of treatment or survivorship.
Meets Second Tuesday of most months from 6:30pm to 7:30pm online.
Contact Carmen at crodriguez@tolife.org to learn more about the group and to join.
Grupo de apoyo bilingüe para el cáncer de mama
Facilitadores: Carmen Rodríguez
Damos la bienvenida a sobrevivientes de cáncer de mama de habla hispana e inglesa para que se unan a la discusión. Abierto a cualquier persona de la región en cualquier etapa de tratamiento o supervivencia.
Se reúne el segundo martes de la mayoría de los meses, de 6:30 pm a 7:30 pm.
Póngase en contacto con Carmen en crodriguez@tolife.org para obtener más información sobre el grupo y unirse.
Saratoga Support Group
Facilitator: Jean Malone
To Life!, in partnership with the Mollie Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center of Saratoga Hospital, continues to offer a monthly support group for women affected by breast cancer, as well as interested family members/caregivers.
Meets Third Tuesday of Each Month 5:30-6:30pm online.
Contact Jean at jmalone@saratogahospital.org to learn more and to join.
MetaThriver Support Group
Facilitators: Debra Nosik, LCSW, and Martha McCormick, MS, EdS
This support group provides the opportunity for women with recurrrent and metastatic breast cancer to receive and give support.
Meets on the Third Wednesday of most months from 6:30 - 7:30 pm online.
Contact Martha McCormick at mmccormick1600@gmail.com to learn more about the group and to join.
Young Survival Coalition (YSC)/ To Life! Collaborative Support Group
To Life! partners with the Young Survival Coalition (YSC) to focus on women ages 40 and under who are diagnosed with breast cancer. You can talk to peers, ask questions, share information with those who may share a similar diagnosis, life experiences or treatment types. Groups are active in the Capital Region and Saratoga Springs. Find more information at http://www.youngsurvival.org.
YSC Face2Face Meetup Support Group
For more information: email Jessica Melchior, local Face2Face Coordinator at AlbanyF2FCoordinator@gmail.com or info@tolife.org for more information.
Funding for the support group program is made possible in part by the NYS Department of Health and The Review Foundation. The views expressed by facilitators do not necessarily reflect the views of our contributors or the official policies of the State of NY.
YSC Private Facebook Group offers young adults affected by breast cancer a safe space to build community with those who understand. Please register and join at www.facebook.com/groups/capitaldistrict.ysc.
Using Zoom for Support Groups and Individual Meetings
SETTING UP ZOOM
To Life! uses Zoom for our virtual support group meetings. It is free to download and use. You can download Zoom in advance at: https://zoom.us/pricing. If you will be on a device that is using Zoom for the first time, give yourself at least 15 minutes before the meeting and follow the prompts to download the software.
If downloading the Zoom app on your phone or tablet, search Zoom Cloud Meetings at the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Once downloaded, search in your apps for Zoom Cloud Meetings and make sure the app icon looks like a white video camera on a blue background.
In order to be seen on the screen for support group meetings, you will need to have a camera on your device and make sure both audio and video are "enabled". If you do not have a camera on your device, you can still join. Just jump in when you would like to speak as other participants will not be able to see you signal that you have something to say.
Prior to the start of the meeting, the support group facilitator will send each meeting participant a Zoom link that you can click on which will allow you to join the private group meeting.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Troubleshooting steps demonstration: https://youtu.be/vFhAEoCF7jg
If you are having trouble getting your audio or video to work, see these trouble shooting steps: https://youtu.be/HqncX7RE0wM .
Also, make sure your speakers are on. You may need to adjust your privacy settings to allow Zoom access to your microphone (mic). Here is a link to Zoom’s Audio Support page: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/204484835-My-Audio-is-Not-Working-on-iOS-or-Android?mobile_site=true
Zoom’s Video Support page can be found here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/202952568-My-Video-Camera-Isn-t-Working
In order to see all participants for a support group, once connected to the Zoom meeting, go to the upper righthand corner of the screen (if on a computer) and select “Gallery View,” if you are on a phone or tablet, swipe left and you will be able to see at least four of the participants.
As long as your camera and microphone are working and enabled, and you’ve downloaded the Zoom app, it should all work fairly simply and, after the first time connecting, you should only have to click the provided link in the future and automatically be connected to the meeting without the above preparation.