Area Support Groups

SARASOTA – MANTATEE – CHARLOTTE AREA SUPPORT BY CANCER TYPE:

(always call to verify times and dates)

MMHS= Manatee Memorial Hospital Programs
SMH = Sarasota Memorial Cancer Institute Thrive Programs

BLOOD:

Multiple Myeloma Support Group (SMH): Meets 4th Friday 11:00 -1:00 Online. Call 941-917-7827 to register.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society -in Florida call 813-261-3170. Closest group meets 3rd Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:30 at Florida Cancer Specialists, 8260 Gladiolus Dr., Fort Myers, FL 33908

BREAST:

Woman to Woman Network & Education Group (SMH): Meets 3rd Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:00pm Online Call Jennifer Brown, Breast Oncology Nurse Navigator (941) 917-7513 or the Thrive Line at 941- 917-7827.
Venice Breast Cancer Network & Education Group (SMH): Meets 3rd Tuesday from 4:00 to 5:30 Online. Call Dawn Moore (941)-408-9572 or the Thrive Line at 941-917-7827.
Bradenton Breast Cancer Support (MMHS): Meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Meetings will be held virtually. call 941-708-8330
Bradenton-My Breast Friends 941 support group meets every second Tuesday from 6:00 -8:00 at the HCA Florida Blake Hospital H2U Health Center, 6670 Cortez Rd West, Bradenton, FL. Please RSVP to Susan Harrigan at 941-807-3357 or email [email protected]
Moffitt Cancer Center’s Virtual Group for Metastatic Breast Cancer meets weekly on Tuesdays from 11:00 to 12:00. Call the Social Work office 813-745-8407 for information. Open to non-Moffitt patients.

GYNECOLOGIC:

Cancers of the female reproductive organs (SMH): Meets 2nd Tuesday at 2:00 Online. Call 941-262-7574 to register.

LUNG:

Lung Cancer Support Group at ShorePoint Health, 713 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda. Group not currently meeting. Call Irene Gargiulo at 941-286-8693 or email [email protected]

OSTOMY SUPPORT:

Sarasota Manatee Ostomy Support Group: Meets at 2pm on the 3rd Sunday of the month at Doctors Hospital of Sarasota Auditorium 5731 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34233. Call Betty Burris at 941-580-6259 or visit www.sarateeostomy.org.
Charlotte County Ostomy Support Group meets on the 2nd Tuesday at 2:00 in Port Charlotte. Call Jerry Downs at 941-629-7568.

PROSTATE:

Men to Men: Meets monthly on 3rd Monday from 2:00 -3:00 at Team Tony Cancer Connection Center (3562 S Osprey Ave, Suite C, Sarasota, FL 34239) or via Zoom. Contact David Morse at 941-356-0754. Men with any cancer diagnosis are welcome too. www.prostatesarasota.org/
Us Too: meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday at 6:00pm at Doctors Hospital, 1st floor. Call or email Len Sierra 203-240-6728 or [email protected]

THYROID:

The Sarasota-Manatee ThyCa group meets on the 2nd Saturday from 10:00 to 11:30 at the Acura Dealership, 4891 Clark Rd., Sarasota. Park in the rear and enter the East side door. Contact Lisa Torres at [email protected]. Or visit www.thyca.org/sg/fl_manasota/

WOMEN ONLY Group (any cancer):

“Celebrate Life” meets at 10:00 on 1st Wednesday at the PGI Civic Association 2001 Shreve St., Punta Gorda, FL. For info, call Diane 941-575-7746

ALL CANCERS SUPPORT GROUPS:

HCA Blake Medical Center: Caring Friends Support Group – For cancer patients, families, and friends coping with cancer and treatment. The group meets every week on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 pm in the Medical Arts Building, Suite 1000, adjacent to Blake. For information, call Winnie Schroeder (941) 705-4069.
Florida Home Health: Cancer Care Support Group – Free dinner and guest speakers. Monthly on 1st Thursday from 4:00pm -6:00pm at IMG Academies Golf and Country Club, 4350 El Conquistador Pkwy, Bradenton, FL 34210. Call JoJo Smith to register (941) 920-5084
Sarasota Memorial Oncology Support Group (SMH): Meets every Thursday from 1:30 to 3:00 Online. Call 941-917-7827 to pre-register.
Sarasota Memorial Caregiver Support Group (SMH): Meets every Monday from 12:30 to 1:30 Online. Call 941-917-7827 to pre-register.
Sarasota area Clinic Veterans: Weekly support group on Mondays from 12:30 to 2:00 at 5682 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL, 1st floor Conference Room. This is a closed group and by appointment only. Please contact your VA primary care physician at 941-371-3349 for a referral.
Venice Oncology Support Group (SMH): Meets Mondays from 10:00 to 11:30 Online. Call 941-917-7827 to register.
Spanish – Grupo de Apoyo – Oncology Network & Education Group (SMH): Meets monthly on 4th Wednesday from Noon to 2:30 pm Online Facilitator: Brenda Gonzalez, LCSW. Email: [email protected] or call 941-917-7827
Fawcett Memorial Hospital Cancer Support Group – meets on the third Wednesday of every month from noon to 1:30 at H2U in the Promenades Mall at 3280 Tamiami Trail, #493, Port Charlotte. Virtual option. Cancer patients and family or friends may attend. Contact [email protected] or 941-624-8079
Desoto Memorial Hospital – Cancer Support Group meets every Tuesday from 2:00 to 3:00 at Twin Rivers Pathways, Central Park, 4161 Tamiami Trail, #302, Port Charlotte. Call Jessica Nickola, LCSW 941-766-0171
First United Methodist Church offers a faith-based support group on the 1st Wednesday at 6:30pm in Punta Gorda, FL. Call Jane or Brian Sheppard 941-575-4647.
Courage Over Cancer at Gulf Cove United Methodist Church 1100 McCall Road, Port Charlotte offers support and ministry to men, women, and families who are affected by cancer. Contact the church at 941-697-1747 or [email protected] for program information.

OTHER:

American Cancer Society – 800-227-2345 or www.cancer.org Information, Reach to Recovery breast cancer peer support and a 24/7 support line.
Sarasota Memorial Cancer Information Office at 1700 S. Tamiami Trail, 1st floor or call 941-917-1981 to learn about upcoming screenings, education events or for help researching the latest in cancer care.
www.TeamTony.org – Find local one-on-one peer support for all cancers. Visit the new “Cancer Connection Center” for help finding resources at 3562 S. Osprey Avenue, Suite C, Sarasota, FL 34239. Call for an appointment and hours open 941-227-4404.