Greetings UCSF,

The Patient and Family Cancer Support Center

Welcome February with Love!

We want you to know that we are still here for you!

Walk-In Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

• Come see the many resources and support services available to you

and your family members.

• Come and visit a comfortable resting area.
• Come check your MyChart or emails.
• Or stop by just to say Hi.

Notary Services at the

Patient and Family Cancer Support Center (PFCSC) 

PFCSC Notary is able to provide acknowledgment for patients who have completed Advanced Health Care Directives (AHCD) at no cost.

The Notary's duty is to screen those signing documents for their true identity, their willingness to sign without duress or intimidation, and their awareness of the contents of the document or transaction (needed identification is listed below). 

What are the requirements to get Notary Services at the PFCSC?

• Patient must be a UCSF Cancer Center patient.
• Patient must come to the PFCSC suite at UCSF Mission Bay (exceptions)
• Patient must have a scheduled appointment with PFCSC Notary prior arriving to the PFCSC. 

LL

How do I schedule an appointment?

Clinic/Admin Staff or Social Worker will email Bernardo Diaz or the Patient & Family CSC

or call 415-885-3785 to get an appointment scheduled. 

Moment of Pawse: Meet Indy!

2nd Mondays of the month

10:00am – 11:00am

e

Are you feeling a little overwhelmed

and need a break?

What about taking a “Moment of Pawse” to become pals with our volunteer pup, Indy.

Indy would love to meet you onsite from 10:00 – 11:00am. (Maybe longer) She will be hanging around our PFCSC Lounge and make her way to the floors greeting patients and staff.

PROGRMS & EVENTS THIS MONTH

Just to highlight a few...

UCSF ONCOLOGY PRACTICE PROGRAMS & EVENTS

- Feb 16th –UCSF Cancer Survivorship Webinar | UCSF Survivorship

ART FOR RECOVERY

New Online Groups:

-   Beyond Words: (Limited to 4 participants) | Mondays

-   Young Adult Arts Group for ages 18-25 | Tuesdays

UCSF BRAIN TUMOR CENTER

- Feb 8th – 4-Week Program: Yoga & Meditation for UCSF Brain Tumor Patients

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS 

- Feb 7th: Ask the Expert: Diet | Anticancer

- Feb 8th: Balancing Work & Cancer: Making Key Decisions | Cancer + Careers

- Feb 9th: Cooking Demo: Ukrainian Cuisine with Sonya Sanford | Sharsheret

- Feb 26th: Music and Movement Therapy via Zoom | Sharsheret

- Feb 21st: Managing the Anxiety and Fear…of Cancer | BCAN

- Feb 28th: Living Your Best Life: Palliative Care | Bay Area Cancer Connections

SAVE THE DATE

UCSF MERI Center

- Mar 1st – 4-Week Session: Last Act of Kindness; Care & Compassion at the End of Life

Community Organization

- Mar 19th: Oakland Running Festival – Supporting NET (Neuroendocrine Cancers) |

NorCal CarciNET

PLEASE NOTE:

February 14th & 20th are Holidays

(Regularly scheduled Monday or Tuesday support groups or weekly sessions

may cancel in observance of the holiday)

Please check with your facilitators

Chris Wilhite,

Manager

UCSF Mission Bay:

We specialize in providing cancer products such as wigs, mastectomy bras, camisoles, breast prostheses, hats, and other head coverings. Let's not forget our comfortable clothes, gifts, books and so much more!

In addition to fitting all types of mastectomy bras and the free Athleta bras (in limited sizes), we're excited to announce we have resumed our wig-fitting services. Our trained fitters will help you shop in dignity and privacy in a warm and welcoming environment. You can be assured you'll go home with a smile on your face! Please call us at 415-353-7776, option 2 to schedule an appointment.  

Friend to Friend invites you to stop by our shop located in the lobby of the Precision Cancer Medical Building, 1825 4th Street, Room M1220,

(Mission Bay Campus).

Shop hours are Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm 

Please stop by either campus – We would love to see you!

And don't forget to visit our website at www.friend2friend.org!

Art for Recovery Offerings:

Due to popular patient demand, many of the Art for Recovery Program workshops have currently reached maximum capacity. Those requesting to enroll in a workshop that has reached maximum capacity, will be placed on a waitlist.

(These Online Zoom Sessions are for Patients)

Expressive Healing: An Online Music & Creativity Workshop

6 -Week Workshop | Online via Zoom

Wednesdays | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Facilitated by Ned Buskirk, Writer, AFR, and Patrice Haan, Harper

HeART and Music

Thursdays | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Facilitated by Patrice Haan, AFR Harpist & Amy Van Cleve, Program Manager

Musical Oasis: Healing Music

Tuesdays | 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Facilitated by Patrice Haan, AFR Harpist



Writing with Music Workshop for Men:

Creative Community Connection & Support

Tuesdays | 12:00 – 1:30 pm

Facilitated by Ned Buskirk, MA, Creative Writer & Jim Murdoch, Musician / AFR

Open Art Studio is BACK!!!7

Open Art Studio (NOW in Person)

Limited space. To reserve your spot, please email Amy Van Cleve

Wednesdays | 1:00 – 4:00 pm (Mount Zion Campus)

Facilitated by Amy Van Cleve, Director and Elias Medici, Administrative Assistant

New Groups Below!!!

Beyond Words:

Online Workshop

Limited to Four Participants

Mondays | 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Beyond Words is a small, online group reserved for patients wishing to express their story without talking. This weekly workshop is a limited- language, feedback-free space to create and appreciate. Sharing is optional.

To register, please email ArtforRecovery@ucsf.edu

Young Adults Arts Group

Online Workshop

Reserved for Ages 18-25

Tuesdays| 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Our Young Adult Arts Group is for patients ages 18-25 to build community through expressive arts. This group connects online and gathers in a safe space to share updates, projects and alleviate isolation. No skill or experience is required.

To register, please email ArtforRecovery@ucsf.edu

(Registration is Required for all AFR Offerings)

Please Pre-register by emailing Art for Recovery or call 415-885-7225.

All sessions are free of charge

  

We thank you for your continued support.

For more information and updates:

WHAT'S NEW

UCSF Art for Recovery Presents,

Paintings by Colleen McCrystle 

~ Colleen McCrystle presents, "Visual Perceptions." ~

Art for Recovery is honored to feature a collection of work from patient artist Colleen McCrystle for her show titled, “Visual Perceptions.”

Colleen joined the Art for Recovery groups during the pandemic in 2020. This month is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Never a smoker, she was diagnosed in 2016 and is still in active treatment.

“My work is a reflection on what it means to be in the world,” says Colleen. “When I have lost myself, I find my voice through color, line and shape.”

Colleen is also a marathon runner and former special education teacher.

We are so excited to be able to show her work and story to the public.

Stop by to see and learn more...

This display is located at the 1855 4th Street | Main Floor Lobby

of UCSF Mission Bay Adult Cancer Hospital

Lipstick Angels are offering their

Beauty & Wellness 101 classes with UCSF

Virtual setting via ZOOM Offered Quarterly

Spring Session: Wednesday, May 10th

2:00pm - 4:00pm



Theme: "Spring Fresh"

Enhancing healthy skin and beauty with Lipstick Angels

to start the New Year!

Each participant will receive in the mail a “complimentary, personalized, specially curated bag” of non-toxic makeup and skincare supplies to use during the class for the fully interactive experience.

The course includes:

•    Aromatherapy & guided breathing

•    Skincare basics

•    Self-care tips 

•    Makeup tutorials (including eyebrow shaping)

*Required to participate: See below

*Patients must be under the care of a UCSF Cancer Center provider

and in the state of California at the time of the class to participate.

To find out more and pre-register: call 415-885-3693

or email us at cancersupportcenter@ucsf.edu

This program is brought to you by the Donna Smith Fund at UCSF Health,

Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sponsored by

Cancer Survivorship and Wellness Institute

UCSF Cancer Survivorship Webinar

Thursday, February 16th

6:00-7:00pm

Join our UCSF Oncology providers as they give an overview of survivorship care at UCSF.

Also, hear from a Lymphoma survivor as she shares about her own personal journey with cancer. 

Topics will include:

• What is survivorship?
• What can you expect at a survivorship visit?
• Why is survivorship care important?
• Overview of the latest research
• Development of programs within the UCSF Cancer Center

Presented by:

Angela Laffan, NP, Gastrointestinal Oncology

Lisa McNey, NP, Hematology Oncology

Stephanie Chaung, Lymphoma Survivor & Founder of “The Patient Story”

For more information: Call 415-514-8180 or email Rachael Moore

Register Here

Sponsored by

UCSF Brain Tumor Center

Sheri Sobrato Brisson Brain Cancer Survivorship Program

4-Week Program

Yoga & Meditation for

UCSF Brain Tumor Patients

Wednesdays | 10:00am – 11:00am

February 8th – March 1st

UCSF Brain Tumor Center patients are welcome to join us for a 4-week holistic yoga / meditation program designed specifically for and by a brain tumor patient! Gentle hatha yoga is a slow-paced yoga practice that mindfully honors one’s body, not pushing or striving for a particular outcome. In clinical trials, both yoga and meditation have been shown to reduce stress in brain tumor patients.

Instructor

This class will be taught by Kat Shotz, MFT, Certified Yoga Instructor

IMPORTANT: This class is limited to 15 people, so if you register, please commit to attending most or all four sessions. Registrants will be required to sign a UCSF liability waiver.

Register Here

Sponsored by

UCSF MERI Center for Education

in Palliative Care

Last Act of Kindness

Care & Compassion at the End of Life

4-Week Session | March 1st - March 22nd

Wednesdays | 1:00pm - 3:30pm

A live-online 4-week session workshop for anyone who wishes to foster confidence and resiliency in these difficult times, as we care for our patients, friends, families, ourselves and those in our community at the end of life. As an online Zoom course, we will attempt to create as positive, connected and experiential an environment as possible!

“Let us change the face of dying in our culture from one of fear and anxiety

to one of acceptance and compassion. Inevitable as death is for all beings,

let us work to create experiences that are positive, potent and transformational.”

(Redwing Keyssar, from her book, “Last Acts of Kindness)”

This workshop will:

• Prepare us to show up at the bedsides of the seriously ill and/or dying—using the tenets of Palliative Care: to help relieve suffering physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically
• Offer guidance in supporting each other as caregivers-- both professional and “family” caregivers
• Assist us in creating personal toolkits for caregiving at the end of life
• Help us understand how our own myths and beliefs about life and death affect our roles as care-givers and care-receivers
• Offer practical knowledge about the dying process
• Pain and symptom management (an overview)
• Hospice and Palliative care issues
• Provide a step towards facing our own mortality, which is key to serving others

Offered by

Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author, Midwife to the Dying

Director Patient and Caregiver Education/ UCSF MERI Center for Education in Palliative Care. She is an author, poet, teacher, and national presenter & frequent contributor to the public debate about Palliative Care.

Suggested Donation for Course, sliding scale: $25 - $150

(No one will be turned away)

8 CEs for RNs

CE Fee for UCSF RNs: FREE

CE Fee for Non-UCSF RNs: $99

This course is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered

Nursing Provider # CEP 12980 for 8 Contact Hours

You must attend all the sessions in full to obtain contact hours m

For more information and registration:

Register Here

Are You Living with

Serious Illness?

Serious Illness Support Group

1st Tuesdays | 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

This group is for those with serious illness to meet and to connect with others.

Our goal is to provide a safe place for you to explore:

• To freely say out loud and share what you are experiencing, thinking and feeling

• To listen and learn from each other: what helps, what hurts and what heals?

• To express your concerns about the impact your illness has on others and yourself

• To talk about sharing information and having conversations with your loved ones

Sessions are open to people with serious illness. Meetings held virtually via Zoom.

Link sent upon registration. Registration closes the day before the group.

Facilitated by Lacy Fetting, LCSW | Redwing Keyssar, RN | Judy Long, Chaplain

Open to all (UCSF/non-UCSF community)

To Register please Click Here

For more information: Call 415-509-8645 or email Gayle Kojimoto

What Matters Most?

Two-part Advance Care Planning Workshop

Wednesdays

Feb 8th 12:30-2:30 pm | Feb 22nd 12:30-1:30 pm PT

This is a free two-part workshop offered throughout the year in advance care planning for patients, staff, and caregivers that enable you to: 

• Create a personalized plan to honor your wishes

• Have your questions answered

• Complete your new or revised Advance Directive for Healthcare and have it notarized for free (in-person workshops only)

Session 1: 

Learn about the Advance Directive Form, what questions to ask yourself and your family, things to consider about your wishes, and how to complete the form.

Session 2: (In person)

Bring your completed form to the workshop, ask any additional questions you or your family may have, and have your form notarized on-site at no cost to you.



Please plan on attending both meetings. This workshop is for people with a cancer diagnosis (including Non-UCSF patients) and their loved ones.

Led by Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet

To Register, please Click Here

For more information: Call 415-509-8645 or email Gayle Kojimoto

Loss, Losing, Loosening

Poetic Medicine Group

Tuesdays | 11:00 am

In these challenging times, it is important more than ever to express our feelings and connect to our own creativity and community. Join us in using poetry writing as self-care and to explore our feelings, fears, and hopes. This is an open group that will meet weekly. Come once, come every week; there is no commitment to join every week.

Each week we will:

• Use poem-making to explore your grief, whether you are grieving the loss of a

loved one or struggling due to this global pandemic

• Find healing through listening to poems read out loud and exploring how it makes us feel

• Create a supportive & caring community



You do not need to be a writer or poet to join.

All are welcome..(UCSF/Non-UCSF Community) Come when you can.

Led by Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet.

To Register, please Click Here

For more information: Call 415-509-8645 or email Gayle Kojimoto

2 Wednesdays a month | 10:30 am

Poetic Medicine for the "Wounded Healer"

Many of us, whether we identify as being in the “healing arts” or not, have wounds that we understand as the foundation of our own ability to heal and to have compassion for others. In these sessions we will open to whatever it is we consider our own “wounded places” and allow our poem-making to be part of our healing process. 

The psychologist Carl Jung coined the concept of "The Wounded Healer." He took the insights of this Archetypal healing from Greek Mythology. Chiron, the wisest Centaur, was once inflicted with a severe physical wound. In his way to recovery, he found the goal of being a “Teacher of healing.” Many wise people have said, healing is not a process between the healer and the wounded. It’s a process of two equals. The teacher does heal the wounds, but the one who orchestrates it is the healer’s own experience of healing.

Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet, of the UCSF MERI CENTER for Education in Palliative Care will guide us in using poem-making to explore the concept of what it means to be a “wounded healer” and to find healing in our creative process together. 

We will:

• Use poem-making to explore ideas about health and healing
• Create a supportive & caring community

“Everyone alive has suffered. It is the wisdom gained from our wounds and from our own experiences of suffering that makes us able to heal.”

~ Rachel Naomi Remen

Led by Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet

Open to all (UCSF/non-UCSF community)

To Register, please Click Here (then select a date).

For more information: Call 415-509-8645 or email Gayle Kojimoto

Food for Thought: Poetry Café

Thursdays | 10:00 am

In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to express our feelings and connect to our own creativity and community.  Join us in using poetry writing as self-care & to explore our feelings, fears & hopes. 

We will: 

• Create a safe environment for each other-with a short-guided meditation and music 
• Listen to some poems read out loud and see how they make us feel 
• Use some specific words or “prompts” to encourage our own “poem-making” 
• Share our poetic explorations 

Making poems can:

• Surprise us 
• Allow expression of feelings in creative ways 
• Guide our own healing journey 



“Poetry is simply speaking the truth.

Each of us has a truth as unique as our own fingerprints”

~Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, from Intro to Poetic Medicine by John Fox

Open to all (UCSF and

Non-UCSF community)

To Register, please

Click Here

For more information:

Call 415-509-8645 or

email Gayle Kojimoto

Led by Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet

Learn More:

If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter or learn about upcoming events:

UCSF MERI Center mailing list. To see all our Eventbrite Offerings

Help keep the MERI Center workshops free by donating

Sponsored by UCSF Osher Center

for Integrative Health

Laughter Yoga...Laughter is the Best Medicine

Join us

Thursdays | 6:00 pm

Laughter is like a mini-vacation away from

all your stresses and worries.

Join a fun group of laughter lovers.

Laughter has been shown to:

• Boost your immune system with feel good hormones
• Release tension and stress
• Help manage pain
• Improve your mood and help you feel lighter  
• Increase creativity, productivity and problem-solving skills

To learn more: Go to Osher Center Public Classes/Laughter Yoga

and to join Click here.  

Looking forward to laughing with you! 

Teresa Corrigan RN, MA, CLYT 

Laughter Yoga Teacher UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine 

For additional questions or concerns contact:  Class Administrator

Restorative Yoga for Patients Living with Cancer 

Mondays | 10:00 – 11:00 am

Restorative Yoga facilitates health and relaxation by supporting the body in easy and comfortable positions with props. You can use items available in your environment such as pillows, couch cushions, blankets, yoga blocks, and bolsters. You may benefit and improve the central nervous system, supports your digestion, and improves your mood and sleep.

Please register to join the class – Click Here . You will receive the Zoom meeting information and a pass code unique to you. Hope you can join Marcia Degelman, CMT, and others, while in the comfort of your own home.

Sponsored by MarinHealth Medical Center

MarinHealth QiGong

for Cancer Survivors and Chronic Illness

Introducing Yuan Gong an updated, gentle and effective practice of QiGong, a traditional Chinese healing system (the origin of T’ai Chi). This class focuses on improving health and well-being. Appropriate for people experiencing cancer and chronic conditions. The class accommodates people with movement restrictions or even chair-based practitioners. 

Please  Reserve in advance

Sponsored by UCSF Spiritual Care Services

Survivorship Wellness

Next Orientation: Monday | 3:30pm - 4:30 pm (2nd Mondays)

8-week program: Mondays | 1:30 - 3:00 pm (rolling)

Online, via Zoom

If you are a UCSF patient who has finished active cancer treatment, please join us for an orientation to our Survivorship Wellness program. This 8-week interdisciplinary program will help you focus on optimizing health and wellness after cancer treatment. Learn how to set personal goals and practice skills in: nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep, goal-setting, sexual wellness, emotional wellness, and spiritual wellness.

Open to UCSF patients who are no longer in active treatment for cancer. Most insurance plans are accepted.

Integrative Cancer Care Group Visits

with Dr. Donald Abrams 



NEXT SESSIONS WILL BEGIN AGAIN IN THE SPRING

May 2nd, 16th & 30th | 10:00am - 12:00pm

3 Part Group Visit Series

Leading cancer and integrative medicine specialist Dr. Donald Abrams, former chief of Hematology and Oncology at San Francisco General Hospital and leader at UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Mount Zion, is sought after by cancer patients around the world. This 3-visit series covers cancer nutrition, plant therapies and non-traditional medicine.

Must be a UCSF Patient

Interested?

UCSF Patients receiving treatment for cancer and/or patients with metastatic cancer can be referred by their oncologist or nurse to Dr. Abrams' Osher Group Medical Visits

(Referral Order #374). Most insurance is accepted.

Questions? E-mail OCIM

2nd & 4th Tuesdays

5:30 – 7:00 pm

For Zoom and more information,

please call the Facilitators at:

415-514-6338

Ted Scheel, LCSW, MPH

Lacy Fetting, LCSW

Husbands & Significant Others

Support Group

This group is for men whose wives or partners

are dealing with cancer.

The group offers a safe place (a confidential zoom setting) to share feelings and feel supported by other men with similar experiences.

You will discuss positive ways of dealing with your partner's cancer. Also, you will find mutual emotional support and encouragement.

Family and Friends Support Group

2nd Wednesdays | 5:30 – 7:00 pm

This is a support group for all who offer emotional and practical support to a loved one with cancer.

The group offers a safe place (a confidential zoom setting) to share outlooks and feel supported by others dealing with similar experiences. You will learn tools to cope with the emotional and physical aspects of caring for a loved one, find ways of nurturing yourself, and renew hope. The group is open to UCSF and Non-UCSF caregivers.

Please call the facilitator, Chiara Leifer, MSW, for zoom information: 415-353-9874.

Young Women’s Breast Cancer Support Group

for ages 45 and under

Biweekly 8 Session, Mondays

5:00pm – 6:30pm via Zoom

NEXT SESSIONS WILL BEGIN IN SPRING

These biweekly sessions will offer a safe place for educational and emotional support. Young women at the age of 45 or younger and treated for early stage breast cancer will have the opportunity to learn from each other and our awesome UCSF team. 

On rotation you will learn from:

Kathleen Cavanaugh; NP of Integrative Oncology

Mindy Goldman, MD; Clinical Professor of Ob Gynecologic

Hope Rugo, MD; Professor of Medicine, Dir of Breast Oncology Clinical Trials

Facilitators: Debby Hamolsky, RN, MSN & Chiara Leifer, LCSW

Registration is required: Contact Kelsey Kuwahara or call 415-502-8318

Brain Tumor Support Group 

1st Wednesdays | 6:30 – 8:00pm

A group for patients, family members and caregivers to share their experiences and concerns, and to learn from each other.



Contact: Mary Lovely, PhD, RN, CNRN

415-990-4461

Brain Tumor

Caregivers Support Group 

2nd Wednesdays | 6:30 – 8:00pm

An emotional support group that is facilitated by our neuro-oncology social worker. Open to caregivers of UCSF neuro-oncology patients only.

Registration is required. Visit our Neuro-Oncology Caregiver Program to learn more about our support services for caregivers.

Contact: Marielle Woodall

415-514-5674

This is a safe and welcoming place for you to authentically express yourself, build resilience, and empower you to live your best life with the support of your peers. This group offers advocacy, community, and hope, and is facilitated by your peers who know what it’s like to live with a brain cancer diagnosis as a young adult. 

Facilitators: Katie & Dace

This group is open to non-UCSF patients as well.

Please Pre-register: Register Here

Sponsored by the UCSF Sheri Sobrato Brisson

Brain Cancer Survivorship Program

Grief Support

By the Bay & UCSF Supports You!

Everyone experiences grief in their own way. We create a confidential, safe place where you can feel comforted and understood, while learning to manage the changes and challenges that come with all types of loss — illness, age, sudden or accidental death, and more.

All of our grief support activities are open to the community at-large.

Call (415) 526-5699 to register or for more information.

Also visit our website By the Bay Health

Virtual Weekly Grief Support Group:

Tuesdays | 12:30 – 1:30 pm | Please Register by the day before

Want to see what grief support is all about, without the multi-week commitment? Then this group is ideal. Pre-registration telephone call required.

Spousal/Partner Loss: 8–Week Session | Fee $185

Mondays | Feb 6th – Apr 3rd | 6:00 – 7:30 pm (No on Feb 20th) | Please Register ASAP

Thursdays | Mar 9th – Apr 27th | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Please Register by Feb 27th

The death of a spouse or partner can find you unprepared to face the future alone. Join with others to share your grief and learn new skills to cope with the profound changes in your life.

Pre-registration and telephone intake required.

What Now? Practical Tools for the Newly Bereaved:

Thursdays | Feb 23rd | 10:00 – 11:00 am | Please Register by Feb 16th

The loss of a loved one can have a profound impact on our day-to-day lives. Join us for this one-hour class to receive practical tools, ideas, and coping suggestions. 

Pre-registration required.

Grief Support Group Conference Call: 

Monday, Feb 27th | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Please Register by Feb 20th

Join us for a one-hour conference call to meet with other grievers, receive caring and compassionate grief support and to learn about the unique and universal elements of grieving the death of a loved one. Pre-registration required.

Parental Loss for Adults: 8–Week Session | Fee $185

Tuesdays | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Please Register by Feb 21st

Mondays | Mar 13th – May 1st | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Please Register by Mar 6th

The death of a parent can greatly impact us. In this group, meet with others who can relate to your grief experience while obtaining practical tools and helpful grief education. . Pre-registration and telephone intake required.

All of our grief support activities are open to the community at-large.

There are also several groups age appropriate for children, teens, and adults.

Please call 415-526-5699 to register or for more information.

Head & Neck Cancer Education &

Support Groups

3rd Thursdays | 5:30 – 6:30 pm



This group offers a safe place (a confidential zoom setting) to share outlooks and feel supported by others dealing with similar experiences. You will learn tools to cope with the emotional and physical aspects of Head and Neck cancer. The group is open to UCSF and Non-UCSF patients and caregivers.

(Alternate months will have a speaker and topic)

Facilitators: Dennis Ho, LCSW & Cara Evans, MS, CCC-SLP

For more information or to RSVP

Email: Dennis Ho or call: 415-514-6338

Women's Anal Cancer Support Group

1st Tuesdays | 5:00 – 6:30 pm

This group offers a safe place (via zoom) just for women to share experiences and feelings around the effects of anal cancer as they are supported by others.

Facilitator: Nancy Rothschild, LMFT

For more information or to RSVP

Email: CancerSupportCenter@ucsf.edu or call: 415-885-3693



Our dietitian Greta Macaire, MA, RD, CSO, has selected the following recipe to feature this month. Also, be sure to check out our online video library of our

nutrition workshops. 

10 Minute Chocolate Truffles

Directions:

1. Line a small plate or dish with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Add pitted dates, melted coconut oil, and water to a food processor (a blender can also work, but not as well). Mix until small bits remain, and a paste forms.
3. Add cacao powder, vanilla, cashew butter, and a pinch of salt and blend again to combine.
4. Next, add almond flour in 1/4-cup (28 g) measurements until the mixture forms a ball in the food processor. Scrape down sides as needed. You are going for a sticky texture.
5. Use a scoop or lightly oiled 1-Tbsp measuring spoon to scoop out 1-Tbsp amounts of the mixture to roll into balls between the palms of your hands. They can stick a little bit if you work slowly, so try not to over handle them. If too sticky, add a bit of cacao powder to the mixture and/or your hands to limit sticking.
6. Transfer to the parchment-lined plate or dish to prevent sticking. Repeat until all truffles are formed — about 16.
7. Optional: Empty a small amount of cacao powder into a shallow dish or bowl and roll the truffles around to coat. This helps prevent them from sticking and adds a more intense chocolate flavor.
8. At this point, you can enjoy them as is. Or, for a firmer truffle, transfer to the freezer to set for 30 minutes.
9. Store leftover truffles covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 1 month.

Yields 16 truffles

Recipe from Minimalist Baker

Are you a UCSF cancer patient and have some nutrition concerns?

Note: One-on-one Nutrition Counseling is available at no cost to UCSF cancer patients, via zoom (video visit) or telephone, by scheduling through your oncologist office/team.

A BIG Congratulations to our exercise counselor, Jane Clark, CET on her retirement. Jane has been a dedicated pioneer for over 15 years of supporting patients going through cancer with the concept of "keeping your body moving!"

She has changed, enhanced, and inspired countless lives through

exercise counseling and the Friday Core & More class for the duration of

her career here at UCSF and many other venues throughout the community.

Her sincere dedication to "make a difference" shows in every fiber of her

being, whether in an exercise counseling session, survivorship program, a

classroom setting, or her spotting someone she has worked with while out and

about in San Francisco. When there is an encounter with Jane, you will walk away happier and healthier!

Keep being you and enjoy your retirement.

THANK YOU JANE CLARK

FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!!

Don’t miss the opportunity to add a simple and effective exercise! 

Little to no equipment needed! Can be done anywhere with BIG value! 

Glute/Piriformis Stretch

The Piriformis muscle is a small band like muscle in the buttocks near the top of the hip joint. If sitting for long periods of time, or overuse of repetitive move exercises, it can become tight and promote lower back pain, hip tightness or sciatica..

Instructions:

1. Sit up straight on a chair and keep back straight.
2. Lift the right leg and place the right ankle on the left thigh with the right knee pointing out to the side.
3. Gently press down on the right thigh with one hand until you feel resistance. (Another way to enhance this stretch is to lean forward a bit with a flat back). 
4. Hold this pose for up to 30 seconds. Repeat on the other leg.

The seated stretch below can help!

Photo credits: Medical News Today

Jane always reminds us - Listen and be good to your body. 

"Pain is not part of the process."

Have fun and stay safe & healthy!

Here's to making a stronger YOU!

~Jane Clark

The Oley Foundation is here for you. Please note: As we work through this national crisis together, Oley staff and volunteers remain committed to handling donations and requests for supplies. You may experience a delay in response as we all try to navigate these changing times. As always, we are here to answer any questions. 

Shipping Options

Below are links to recommend shipping organizations.

American Cancer Society Road To Recovery Program

The program gives cancer patients free transportation for cancer-related medical appointments. Our trained volunteer drivers will pick you up, take you to your appointment, and drop you back at home when you’re finished, at no cost to you.

Lifesaving cancer care should not be prevented or delayed because of location or transportation. Connect with us to learn more about Road To Recovery availability in your area and other resources to help you on your cancer journey.

Call the ACS at 800-227-2345 for more information.

American Cancer Society Lodging Program is Back

Getting the best care sometimes means cancer patients must travel away from home. This can place an emotional and financial burden on patients and caregivers during an already challenging time. Extended Stay America, the leading mid-priced extended stay hotel brand in the U.S., has committed to making this difficult situation easier for cancer patients and their families. To reduce disparities in cancer outcomes and help patients affordably receive the treatment needed, Extended Stay America has renewed its partnership with the American Cancer Society to offer some free and some reduced rate nights at over 760 Extended Stay America locations nationwide.

Patients who live more than 40 miles from the treatment location and have a demonstrated need for lodging assistance in order to receive cancer treatment will be eligible for the program.

You may call: 800-227-2345 or email SSBCREF@cancer.org 

ACS Video Support

Caregiver Support Series

Caregivers are a crucial part of any cancer care team. The goal of this video series is to provide educational support to caregivers as they assist with the everyday needs of cancer patients and provide.

Serie de apoyo para cuidadores

Los cuidadores son una parte crucial de cualquier equipo de profesionales médicos contra el cáncer. Esta serie de videos tiene la intención de conformar un recurso educativo de apoyo para las personas encargadas del cuidado de una persona con cáncer en relación con sus necesidades cotidianas y ofrecer información sobre técnicas de cuidado para mejorar su calidad de vida.

Northern California Blood Cancer

In-Person Conference

Saturday | February 4th | 9:00am - 2:30pm, PT 

San Francisco, CA

The Northern California Region of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is proud to present this free in-person education event for blood cancer patients, survivors, family members, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. * Our goal is to educate conference participants about treatment options, emerging therapies, management of survivorship issues and LLS resources.

Experts will be sharing in the areas of: 

• Blood cancer research
• Treatment options
• Survivorship

Dr. Aaron Logan, MD, UCSF Hematologist and keynote speaker

Dr. Jeffrey Wolf, MD, UCSF Oncologist will be presenting on Multiple Myeloma

* This is NOT a continuing education (CE) program. 

PLEASE NOTE: It is highly recommended that all blood cancer patients or other immunocompromised individuals check with their healthcare provider before attending this event. While at the event, in solidarity for our immunocompromised patients and their caregivers, LLS requests that all participants wear a mask indoors, except while eating or drinking. For additional information and frequently asked questions regarding LLS COVID-19 safety practices at our conference, please visit the FAQ tab.

Upcoming



NorCal CarciNet Community 

is participating in the Oakland Running Festival on March 19th 2023

Our team will be running in-person and virtually to raise awareness of Neuroendocrine Cancer - sometimes called NETs or Carcinoid. There are nearly 170,000 people in the US living with some form of this cancer. Every day someone in the bay area is diagnosed with

NET.

To learn more about the running festival and why it was voted the Best Marathon in the Pacific Northwest Click Here. 

Our team needs runners and volunteers to help raise awareness of this disease.

Register Now

Cooking Demo: Ukrainian Cuisine

with Sonya Sanford

Thursday, Feb 9th | 5:00 pm PST

Join Pacific Northwest Chef Sonya Sanford, a specialist in Ukrainian and Soviet food, as she shows us a few modern twists on some traditional dishes. This program is part of the “Sharsheret in the Kitchen” series, which brings nutritious kosher meal options to help empower all of us at risk for breast and ovarian cancer to make healthier dietary choices. 

This program is part of the “Sharsheret in the Kitchen” series, which brings nutritious kosher meal options to help empower all of us at risk for breast and ovarian cancer to make healthier dietary choices.

Register Here

For more information, contact Jessica Jablon.

Music and Movement Therapy

for those Facing Cancer and in Survivorship

Sunday, Feb 26th | 9:00 am PST

Join Sharsheret and the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan on Sunday, for a structured but instruction-less dance experience for cancer patients and survivors that will meet the need for joy, healing, connection, emotional expression, and appreciation of what the body can do, as well as a new way of exercising. 

All movement abilities, including lying in bed, and all bodies are welcome. 

Register Here

For more information, contact Rachel Teicher.

Visit our Website to see what support services we offer.

Ask the Expert:

DIET

Tuesday, February 7th | 4:00 PM PT 

A free Ask the Expert session with Crystal Pace, Registered Dietitian (RD) and Health Coach. Following our popular Anti-Inflammatory Diet webinar, Crystal will take even more of your questions about specific foods that influence inflammation in the body, in addition to questions about sugar, dairy alternatives, plant-based diets, and more! 

Also learn about a New eBook by Crystal Pace, RD and Taylor Scialo, ORD called “Intermittent Fasting: Risks, Benefits, and Why It's Not For Everyone”  See Here

Led by: Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, Co-Founder of AntiCancer Lifestyle Program



Register Here

A Community Conversation:

Fertility Preservation

Thursday, February 2nd | 11:00am PST

We aren't having "The Conversation" we should be about (in)fertility. While there is no excuse for this, there certainly are challenges when dealing with this issue. Join Dr. Douglas Fair as he discusses the reasons behind not having "The Conversation" with his patients, and how we can collectively do better in making sure (in)fertility is addressed early and often in the AYA cancer community.

Speaker: Douglas Fair, MD, MS, FAAP

 Register Here 

Roundtable Discussion:

A Deep Dive into Cancer and Fertility

Thursday, February 16th | 4:00pm PST

Hear from our incredible authors along with our friends at Walgreens as they have an open and honest discussion on fertility options, lessons learned, and experiences they have had as they have walked this path during their own cancer journeys. These conversations are not only important, but can help benefit the entire AYA cancer community.

Join us as cancer survivors and medical professionals come together to have an open and honest discussion on fertility options, lessons learned, and experiences they have walked through during their own experiences with cancer.

Speakers: Nick Giallourakis & Douglas Fair, MD, MS, FAAP



Register Here

Hereditary Cancer Support Group: On! 

In partnership with Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE)

Tuesday, February 7th | 7:00pm-8:15pm

This support group is limited to 12 people.

This ongoing support and education group is for anyone with a genetic mutation that puts them at greater risk for developing cancer, including but not limited to individuals who are BRCA positive or have Lynch syndrome. The group is open to all individuals, whether a “previvor” or already diagnosed with cancer. We will focus on moving forward while coping with the practical and emotional impact of having a genetic mutation increasing the risk of a cancer diagnosis.

Facilitated by Amy Armes, M.A., LMFT, and Rachel Hodan, M.S.,

Licensed Genetic Counselor

Please call our Helpline at 650-326-6686 to register.

Living Your Best Life: 

How Palliative Care Can Improve Your Quality of Life

Tuesday, February 28th | 10:00am-11:00am  

Having a difficult illness can affect your life in many ways. Join us to find out what you can do to manage the impact your illness has on your life. At this event, Stanford palliative care doctor, Grant Smith, M.D., will share ways to live your best life using a holistic, person-centered approach. Dr. Smith will talk about physical symptoms as well as emotional and spiritual well-being. You will also learn about the medical specialty, called palliative care, and how it can give you an extra level of support and improve your quality of life.

Presented by Grant Smith, M.D.

Please call our Helpline at 650-326-6686 to register.

'– Ongoing Programs –

Healing and Guided Imagery:

Via Zoom | Drop-in class

1st & 3rd Wednesdays | 5:30 – 7:00 pm

This guided imagery session lead by Lisa Petrocchi, will guide you through deep relaxation techniques for mind and body, helping you to tap into your own healing powers and lower your stress level. CD audio recordings are available for loan in our library.

Facilitated by Lisa Petrocchi, B.A., M.H.

*If you are new to BACC, please contact the Helpline before joining one of our programs to complete an Intake Form.

Register Here

Writing Through Cancer

Via Zoom | Drop-in class

2nd & 4th Wednesdays | 6:30 – 8:00 pm

Going beyond "Dear Diary" and learning different ways

to write in your journal adds color, perspective, and dimension to your

reflective writing. With the help of at least 13 journal tools, you can gently

but powerfully explore the various aspects of yourself, your life, and your

relationship with others.

Facilitated by Karen Newcomb, M.S., LMFT

*If you are new to BACC, please contact the Helpline before

joining one of our programs to complete an Intake Form.

Register Here

Managing the Anxiety and Fear

That Can Accompany Bladder Cancer

Tuesday, February 21st | 2:00 pm PT

Webinar

Chronic psychological stress is common among bladder cancer patients. Anxiety and fear of the unknown, invasive surveillance, along with body-altering treatments can affect physical, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive health.

Dr. Sermsak (Sam) Lolak is a staff oncology psychiatrist at Life with Cancer and part of the physician team at Inova Schar Cancer Institute. Dr. Sam Lolak specializes in the management of mental health issues such as depression, stress, and anxiety in the context of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Lolak will address:

• Identify the common concerns across the spectrum of bladder cancer.
• Discuss medical treatment options for stress and anxiety.
• Highlight psycho-social similarities and risks of a cancer diagnosis and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD).
• Explain useful strategies to deal with cancer anxiety, including medical, behavioral and mindful options.

Webinars

Balancing Work & Cancer:

Making Key Decisions

Wednesday, February 8th | 3:00 pm PT

For most people, workplace stress is a given. Add cancer to the mix, and it can become debilitating. In this webinar we will help you think about your priorities and how you can balance your job, family and own well-being to avoid letting stress get the best of you.

Discussion will include how to:

• Preserve what is most important to you during and after your treatment
• Identify tools to help you maintain your best performance at work
• Stay in control of your work and your life
• Set reasonable boundaries at work and express them professionally



 Facilitator: Nicole Jarvis, LMSW, Assistant Director of Programs, Cancer and Careers

Next Month

Balancing Work & Cancer:

Career Change

Wednesday, March 1st | 3:00 pm PT

All sessions are free and open to cancer patients, survivors, healthcare professionals and caregivers. Register for this live and interactive webinar by clicking “Register” below. The webinar will be hosted on the Zoom platform. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with phone and web log-in information.

Facilitator: Julie Jansen, Speaker, Trainer and Author 

There is no registration deadline.

More upcoming webinars:

Today our children and teens communicate differently.

Find what works best for your family.

Facebook | My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks

First, know that there are an estimated 1 million other US teenagers with a parent who has cancer. Teens supporting teens can make a difference

American Cancer Society | “Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer”

Cancer Support Community | Talking to Kids & Teens

“Talking to Kids and Teens About Cancer”

“Worry about Family Children and Friends”

National Cancer Institute | “When Your Parent Has Cancer: A Guide for Teens”

MD Anderson Center | “When a parent has cancer: Helping teens and kids cope”

Camp Kesem | "Transformation Support of an Empowering Community"

We believe all children facing a parent's cancer deserve the chance to fully experience the joys of childhood and be their best selves. 

Pink Ribbon Girls provide FREE direct services to women with

breast cancer and gynecological cancers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.   

 (Any stage, any age, no restrictions on income,

however some geographic restrictions may apply)

SERVICES

(Services are also available for men diagnosed with breast cancer)

• Healthy Meals - Meals which target the nutrients a cancer patient needs, prepared by executive chefs and professionally delivered to your home
• Housecleaning Kits - Provided with all-natural, plant- and mineral-based cleaning supplies along with a lightweight vacuum
• Rides to Treatment - Provided by Uber Health
• Peer Support - Offering you the support you need in the community you are in

OUR TWO PROGRAMS:

• Simply Fight Program: For a diagnosis of Stage 1-3, the above services are offered for (2) Months.
• No Age No Stage Program: For Stage 4 or Metastatic Cancer Patients and these services are provided for a longer period.

Geographical Limitations May Apply for All Services

We service the Bay area and within a 40-mile radius

For support for yourself or loved one, Click Here

If you would like to donate to this organization, Click Here

You may contact us directly at: 877-269-5367

Women’s Cancer Resource Center “WCRC” to provide direct services

to women with cancer, and to advocate for changes in the health care system.

Free Therapy Sessions with Women's Cancer Resource Center's

Licensed Therapists:

Cancer diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. While the journey can be a long road, we offer compassionate assistance along the way. We match eligible clients with one of our professionally licensed therapists for 12 sessions.



In response to public health and safety issues related to COVID-19, this program is being conducted via telehealth platform (video chat or phone). We understand that mental wellness is an important part of one's overall health. Brief term work can help clients prioritize personal goals, support emotional release of stress, and successfully identify techniques for coping and opportunities for emotional healing. Our Program is available for women and non-binary individuals, who make less than $30,000 per year and uninsured clients and couples.

To see if our Free Therapy Program is a proper fit for your counseling needs, or if you have general questions about the program, please call 510-809-0216 and leave a message. 

WCRC Support Groups Schedules as of Dec 1st, 2020

• Latinas con cancer (En Espanol)
• Holistic, Integrative and Alternative Medicine Support Group
• Women with Metastatic Cancer (Daytime)
• Women with Metastatic Cancer (Evening)
• Adults with Blood-related Cancer and Their Friends, Families and Caregivers
• Sister to Sister African American Women with Cancer (Berkeley)
• Sister to Sister African American Women with Cancer (Richmond)
• Women with Cancer
• Bay Area Young Survivors

For more information or to register, please call Veronica 510-809-0209 or email veronica@wcrc.org

_____________________

WCRC also provides a range of services to support women (and their families) throughout their cancer journey: navigation, emergency financial assistance, free therapy, support groups (like Sister-to-Sister, Latinx services), wellness workshops such as Belly Dancing, Tai Chi, Meditation, Coloring Club, Art Journaling, Writing for Wellness, Craft Club...and the list goes on!

Website: www.wcrc.org or Email: wcrc@wcrc.org

Daily Weekday

Nature Meditations

An Online Practice Group, via Zoom

Mondays - Fridays | 7:30 - 8:15 am

Every weekday morning, mindfulness teachers/instructors will lead a nature-oriented, guided meditation session for anyone. Sessions include a short talk, followed by a 30-minute guided meditation.

Morning meditation can help one wake up and begin the day feeling more centered, focused, and uplifted, and the natural world can inspire our practice. Attendees are welcome to participate from any peaceful environment, ideally in nature or with a view of nature.

Instructors:

Mark Coleman, Rachelle Calvert, Diethild Simon, Nina Horne Odin Zackman

Sponsored by Awake in the Wild

(Free / Donations welcome)

To learn more about the instructors and to register:

Join our Healing Circles:

If you have been newly diagnosed, are at the beginning, in the middle or beyond treatment, or if you have lived with cancer for a while, we invite you to join our circles. You may seek to find meaning in the challenge of cancer, bear witness to your own or others’ suffering or loss, and explore your own individual choices and capacity for healing.

Our healing circles are a safe and supportive space to walk with each other through these times. Each circle is a blend of sharing and silence, compassion and curiosity. Our agreements ensure acceptance and confidentiality. We honor our own unique paths to healing and respect the choices of others.

Cameron House

Cameron House:

Chinese Cancer Support Group

(In Cantonese)

Meet every 2nd and 4th Saturdays | 1:30pm – 3:30pm  

卡梅倫之家：

中國癌症支持小組

(粵語)

每第 2 和第 4 個星期六見面 |下午 1 點 30 分至下午 3 點 30 分

Contact Donna Lee, CSG & Event Coordinator on how to become a member and to join the support group. Phone number 415-781-0401 extension 127

有關如何成為會員和加入支持小組的信息，請聯繫 CSG

和活動協調員 Donna Lee。電話號碼 415-781-0401 分機 127

Bay Area Cancer Connections

Breast Cancer Support Group for BIPOC  

3rd Mondays | 5:30 - 7:00pm (No meeting Feb 20th/ Holiday Observance)

Facilitated by Dolores Moorehead, M.S., APCC

Please call our Helpline at 650-326-6686

__________________

Spanish Language Breast Cancer Support Group:

United Women

Grupo de apoyo de cáncer de mama en español:

Mujeres Unidas   

3rd Thursdays | Tercer Jueves del mes | 6:30pm-7:30pm

(Space is limited) | (El espacio es limitado)

Facilitado por Tatiana Martinez, LMFT

Please call our Helpline at | Para mas informacion, llame al 650-326-6686

Multiple Myeloma Support

for SF Bay Area

Multiple Myeloma Support Group     

3rd Saturdays 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Virtual 

We're here to help patients, their families, and loved ones. Multiple myeloma need not be seen as a death sentence, but rather a disease to be managed. Education and support are key. We have newly diagnosed patients as well as patients diagnosed more than 10 years ago. We share what we know about myeloma diagnosis, symptoms, markers, treatments, side-effects, clinical trials, quality of life, and many other topics of interest.

Register here

For more information email: Jack Aiello or Neil Collier

Fertility

Within Reach:

Advocating for

Fertility Health Benefits  

Fertility Within Reach is a national non-profit dedicated to helping individuals increase access to fertility treatment and preservation. Cost or access to fertility preservation should not be a barrier in someone’s ability to start a family when they choose. 

Fertility Preservation (Adolescent Oncology)

Fertility preservation gives many families a chance to look forward, allowing them to imagine a future beyond cancer where they do not need to lose hope of having a biological child. Studies have shown that childhood cancer survivors express regret if their fertility is affected by prior therapy and they were not counseled at diagnosis and during their treatment. Fertility Within Reach aims to support youth and their families through this journey, expand the options for parenthood, and provide financial support for fertility preservation.  



Fertility Preservation (Transgender)

Fertility preservation is a beacon of hope for many patients, allowing them to imagine a future where they do not need to give up the possibility of having a biological child. Studies have shown that most adults who chose gender-affirming treatment in adolescence were not counseled about preserving their fertility during treatment. Fertility Within Reach supports transgender youth and their families through this journey, broadens the options for parenthood, and provides financial support for fertility preservation.

Open to Options:

A service of the

Cancer Support Community

Have you recently been diagnosed with a new or recurrent cancer? Do you need to make decisions about treatment options? Do you have an appointment scheduled to meet with your doctor?

Cancer Support Community offers a question listing service to help you prepare for your upcoming oncology visit. This service is available at no cost to anyone diagnosed with a new or recurrent cancer who has to make decisions about treatment options. The goals of this program are to help you communicate clearly with your medical team, ask critical questions about your options, and help ensure that your treatment decisions fit your personal hopes and goals. To make an appointment, please call us at 925-933-0107 or 888-793-9355.

Financial Assistance

Available Now!

The Bloodline with LLS: After The Podcast

The Bloodline with LLS is our podcast channel for blood cancer patients and caregivers. Through this channel, we have been providing listeners with patient stories, updates from healthcare professionals, and a true sense of community. 

We now offer After The Podcast where we connect with past guests to find out how they are doing and what they have been up to since they were featured on the podcast.

This week, join us for our first episode of The Bloodline with LLS: After The Podcast, where we get an update from a prior guest and myeloma patient, Gregory Proctor. He was first featured in a March 2022 episode titled "LLS Financial Assistance: How We Can Help."

Available in the Subscriber Lounge Under "Exclusive Content & Other Resources"

Get Access to this Extra Content:

1. Enter the Subscriber Lounge: Click here
2. Click on "After The Podcast" under Exclusive Content & Other Resources

MarinHealth:

Free Weekly Online QiGong for Cancer Survivors & Chronic Illness

Thursdays | 10:00 - 11:00 am

QiGong is a form of gentle, exacting movement and still meditation that uses the breath and mind to work with the body’s energy (or Qi). The intention is to help patients regain a deep sense of trust in their bodies and to encourage an open, relaxed, and calm mental state that more readily allows self-healing. This class is best suited to cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses. UCSF patients and caregivers are welcomed.

NCEFT Open House:

Mental Health & Resilience Program

Learn about the benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy. Join them for an informational hour. Meet the staff and their heard of horses, learn about what they do and stay up-to-date on upcoming programming.

NCEFT is a non-profit physical, occupational and mental health therapy facility in Woodside, CA. For over 50 years, NCEFT has tapped into the profound rehabilitative power of the human-horse relationship to facilitate healing to thousands of Bay Area children and adults (ages 2-85+) living with physical, cognitive, and neuromuscular disabilities, as well as mental health conditions/concerns. 

Participants will learn tools to help cope with their diagnosis, and gain a positive sense of self through:

• Mindfulness exercises with horses
• Bonding and caring for horses
• Group Discussion
• Guided meditation
• Participating in barn life
• Journaling
• Community building

For more information

Call: 650-851-2271, Email or

Meditative Hiking

(In person)

Explore the outdoors and be present to the flow of conscious awareness in and around you. Meditative walks or 'mindfulness hikes' are a special opportunity for embodied walking, self-observation, mindful movement, reflection, lightheartedness, and building intra & interpersonal community. 

This month's locations are coming soon:

Below are the usual locations, but may vary. 

Please email the Facilitator or visit the website for details.

• Mountain Lake to Baker Beach, round trip. Meet at the NE corner of the tennis courts, which are approximately 30 meters North of the intersection at Lake Street and 12th Avenue in San Francisco. 

• Park Presidio (round trip) meet in the parking lot at 300 Finley Road, San Francisco. 

• Glen Canyon Park to Cole Valley (one-way), meet at the corner of Elk and Chenery Streets in San Francisco. Public transportation is suggested for this hike. You can also utilize BART, MUNI, or Uber when arriving or when concluding our hike.

Cost: Donation based. A suggested donation of $10-20

Email to confirm dates and times: Email James Mitchell or text/call: 415-290-6718.

JAM4JOY Zumba Classes

Daily classes | See virtual and outdoor schedule below

JAM4JOY is a non-profit organization founded by Zumba instructors Judy Young and Angie Shin, who have been teaching together since 2015. JAM4JOY Zumba classes are offered for FREE or donations are gladly accepted. It is our mission to bring people together in community in a healthy way, to reduce isolation, and to educate about and support important causes impacting our community. Donations received for our classes, after expenses are sent to local organizations.

Join JAM4JOY:  Sign up now  to get the weekly updates and zoom links

Contact for more information: jam4joy2020@gmail.com

COVID Information Resources

• UCSF's FAQ: Coronavirus and Patients with Cancer 
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Links for the UCSF Cancer Community
• Guide to Living with Worry and Anxiety Amidst Global Uncertainty
• Coronavirus: What People with Cancer Should Know, by National Cancer Institute
• Staying Well While Staying Home, for Cancer Patients, by CDC
• What You Need to Know About Hand Washing, video tutorial by CDC
• Coronavirus and Cancer Resources for Survivors, Nat'l Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
• Cancer and COVID-19: What You Should Know about Increased Risk, Cleveland Clinic
• Your Cancer Care during the Time of COVID, TIME article by UCSF's Dr. Laura Esserman

Well-Being Resources

• 12 Free Psychotherapy Sessions for low-income women with cancer from WCRC
• COVID-19 and Cancer Patient Support Group by CancerCare
• Healing Circles Global, with Commonweal
• Resources for Coping with COVID-19, by Living Beyond Breast Cancer
• The HeartMath Experience, to ease stress and increase your resilience
• Managing Fear During Coronavirus, SurvivorNet video with UCSF's Dr. Dianne Shumay
• Resources to Support Your Mental Health During Covid-19, from UCSF Psychiatry
• How To Stay Resilient And Mentally Healthy During The Coronavirus Outbreak, NPR interview with UCSF's Dr. Elissa Epel
• Healthy at Home: Tips for Wellness and Balance, by UCSF Campus Life Services
• Coping with Quarantine, recording with Rick Hanson, PhD
• B-Well Together: Wellbeing Breaks, by Salesforce
• Guide to Well-Being During Coronavirus, by Greater Good Science Center
• Six Daily Questions to Ask Yourself During Quarantine, by Greater Good Science Center
• Mission Hospice and Homecare Events

Online Mindfulness / Meditation

Live:

• Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, weekdays at 11:00
• Ten Percent Happier, free live meditation sessions every weekday at noon PST

Recorded:

• UCSF Osher Center Guided Meditations and Imagery
• Mindfulness, Healing and Wisdom in a Time of COVID-19, with Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD
• Pandemic Care Resources, meditations and talks by Tara Brach
• Insight Timer, free meditation app for your smart phone

Online Movement Classes

Live:

• Moving for Life, New York-based classes for cancer patients
• Yoga on the Labyrinth, from Grace Cathedral

Recorded:

• Massachusetts General Hospital's yoga video for cancer patients
• Virtual Garden Yoga, recorded at the San Francisco Botanical Garden
• UCSF Campus Life Services Workouts (especially yoga or low-impact exercises)

Online Education and Enrichment

Videos on Cancer

• UCSF Patient & Family Cancer Support Center Online Video Library
• UCTV Online Video Library
• American Cancer Society Video Library
• CDC Cancer Video Library 

Movies and Talks

• Kanopy (free with a library card)
• TED Talks
• Live Online Sundays in the Gardens Tours:
• City Arts & Lectures events

Museum and Cultural Tours

• 12 Virtual Museum Tours, from Travel & Leisure
• Virtual Tours of Museums, Zoos and Theme Parks, from Good Housekeeping
• 50 Ways to Experience Culture from Your Couch, from CNN

Concerts

• San Francisco Symphony Concerts
• NPR Live Sessions
• NPR Tiny Desk Concerts
• UCTV Concerts

Making Art

• UCSF Maker's Lab's online classes. Note: non-UCSF patients must e-mail to register.
• UCSF Art For Recovery, weekly Facebook group, e-mail Amy Van Cleve for details
• Color our Collections, downloadable, printable coloring pages from the Smithsonian

Online Classes

• Khan Academy
• BerkeleyX, free online courses from UC Berkeley 
• HarvardX, free online courses from Harvard University