The Cancer survivor Book Club

for women

This free monthly, virtual support group is for women cancer survivors looking to connect to others who are in all stages of survivorship, i.e., initial diagnosis, treatment, post-treatment, and beyond. In a compassionate setting, we discuss books about fictitious and real-life women who face struggles and hardships with grit, tenacity, and perseverance.

Come together on a journey of discovery & connectivity through engaging discussions of fiction, non-fiction, & poetry.

This is a support group and does not serve as a psychotherapy group nor replace individual psychotherapy.

THE DETAILS

Support groups are a unique space in which a group of people who are likely experiencing similar issues/difficulties come together to give and receive help from one another. I attempt to create an environment where honest, interpersonal exploration will occur that will benefit all members.

Your Facilitator: I hold a PhD and taught German and Scandinavian literature and folklore at university for ten years prior to working at a regional hospital Cancer Support Program for five years as a psychosocial oncology counselor. During my tenure, I facilitated a variety of women’s support groups, including wellness, cancer survivorship, caregivers support, bereavement, and a women’s resilience book club.

Confidentiality: Support groups are effective because individuals feel safe to share private information in a confidential atmosphere. Group members will agree to uphold confidentiality, including keeping names and identities of other group members confidential.

Frequency: This support group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 12 pm. Each session is 55 minutes.

Discussion: Members of effective groups actively share thoughts, reactions, and feelings during group meetings as a way of increasing their self-understanding and contributing to the personal growth of other members. Our discussions will focus on specific themes related to our monthly reading and how the themes relate to members’ cancer journey.

Participants: To assure everyone has ample time to participate, membership is limited to fifteen people.

Payment: This program is offered free of charge.

Upcoming Book Club Meetings & Books

3rd Wednesdays, 12 pm

January

Educated, Tara Westover

February

Sightings: The Gray Whales’ Mysterious Journey, Brenda Peterson & Linda Hogan (2002)

March

People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks (2008)

April

My Life in France, Julia Childs  (2007)

May

My Name is Lucy Barton, Elizabeth Strout (2016)

June

Untamed (2020), Glennon Doyle

July

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, Lisa See (2024)

August

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake: A Memoir of a Woman's Life, Anna Quindlan (2013)

September

It’s Not All Downhill from Here, Terry McMillan (2021)

October

Unbowed, A Memoir Wangari Maattai (2007)

November

Winter Solstice, Rosamund Pilcher (2017)

December

Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother and Daughter Journey to the Sacred Places of Greece, Turkey, and France, Sue Monk Kidd & Ann Kidd Taylor (2010)

"There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a third power stronger than both, that of women."

— Malala Yousafzai