Patient-Focused Services &
Support Throughout Your Journey
Our specialized oncology support services form an integrated network to support you, your loved ones and your caregivers. These services are led by our experienced team of social workers, nurse navigators, care coordinators, speech language pathologists, dieticians, rehabilitation specialists and more to give you an unprecedented level of individualized and effective care.
Explore our Support Groups
Free and open to patients and their caregivers and loved ones, our groups provide comfort, solace, education and more.
Our brain tumor support group is a place to learn, share and connect. We cover topics like treatment options, coping strategies and supportive care.
This is a friendly, supportive space where you can talk openly with people who understand what you’re going through. You can ask questions, share your story or just listen. We provide helpful resources, encouragement and refreshments to make everyone feel comfortable.
Family members and caregivers are always welcome!
When:
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month
3-4 p.m.
Where:
Meets in-person at the Community Cancer Institute, 785 N. Medical Center Drive West, or online via Zoom. For details and Zoom registration, call us at (559) 387-1701.
Open to patients and caregivers. The purpose of this support group is to:
- Help reduce isolation, an important step in taking life back
- Provide an atmosphere of acceptance and positive feedback
- Let you share with those who understand your journey
- Learn about resources available to you and your caregivers
When:
Meetings are held the third Friday of every month
3-4 p.m.
Where:
Meets in-person at the Community Cancer Institute, Yosemite Conference Room, or online via Zoom.
For details, contact Alva Reyes, patient navigator liaison, at (559) 387-1872.
This free, online class is for survivors. Join us to discover what simple daily modifications can maximize your quality of life and keep cancer away.
When:
Classes are held the 3rd Wednesday of every month
3-4 p.m.
Please join this class from your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom. You're encouraged to download the app prior to the class. Please call Navjot Mann at (559) 387-1711 for login information.
Open to any cervical, ovarian, uterine/endometrial, vaginal or vulvar cancer patient, family or caregiver regardless of physician or hospital affiliation.
This support group is for individuals with gynecological cancers searching for answers and needing support for cancer-related health issues. It's an open forum for patients to discuss their stories.
We now offer a combined English and Spanish sessions with interpreter services.
When:
Meetings are held the second Thursday of every month
3-4 p.m.
Where:
Meeting in-person at the Community Cancer Institute or online via Zoom.
For details, contact Janet at (559) 387-1875.
A free education and support group to help those with head and neck cancer, survivors and their families cope with cancer-related issues. This monthly program is topic-based with featured speakers on cancer and self-care information, and is available to any patient with cancer or their caregiver regardless of their physician/hospital affiliation.
When:
Meetings are held the 4th Tuesday of every month
3-4 p.m.
Where:
Meeting in-person and online via Zoom.
Please call Kristi Vierra at (559) 387-1706 for more information.
This online support group is for individuals with cancer, survivors and their families searching for answers and needing support for cancer-related issues.
When:
Meetings are held the 1st Tuesday of every month
3-4 p.m.
Please join this group from your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom. You're encouraged to download the app prior to the meeting. Please call Ellie at (559) 387-1873 for meeting login information.
El cáncer afecta más que solo el cuerpo. También afecta tu salud mental, emocional y social. Te lanza a ti y a tus seres queridos a un camino que nunca quisistes. Pero no tienes que enfrentarlo solo.
Nuestro grupo de apoyo está aquí para ayudar a las personas que hablan Español, y que han sido diagnosticados con cáncer. Tambíen invitamos a los cuidadores qué participen en el grupo de apoyo. Ofrecemos un lugar seguro para compartir sus experiencias, conectarse con otras personas afectadas por el cáncer y la oportunidad para aprender sobre su salud.
Cuándo:
Segundo martes de cada mes
11 a.m.- noon
Zoom y en persona
Ahora ofrecemos sesiones en persona. Llame a Charlene (559) 244-9789 para asegurar su asiento. Se proporcionarán aperitivos.
Open to lung cancer patients, family and caregivers regardless of physician or hospital affiliation.
This support group is for individuals with lung cancer, lung cancer survivors, and their families searching for answers and needing support for cancer related issues. Other benefits of this group includes:
- Reducing isolation
- Sharing with others who understand your journey
- Learning about available resources
- Enjoying arts & crafts and other therapeutic activities
When:
Meetings are held the third Monday of every month
3-4 p.m.
Where:
Meeting in-person at the Community Cancer Institute.
For details and to RSVP, call us at (559) 387-1876.
Open to patients and caregivers.
Caring for a person with cancer can be a meaningful, comforting and fulfilling experience, yet it can also be both physically and emotionally demanding. Please join us and a group of your peers to find support while navigating this cancer journey.
When:
Meetings are held 3-4 p.m. on the following dates in 2026:
- March 19
- June 18
- September 17
- December 17
Where:
Meeting in-person at the Community Cancer Institute, Yosemite Conference Room, or online via Zoom. Spanish interpreter available by request.
For details and to RSVP, contact Charlene at (559) 244-9789.
Open to any ostomy patient, family member or caregiver. This support group provides:
- A platform for sharing experiences, offering support and learning from one another
- Help navigating life with an ostomy
- Answers to frequently asked questions
- Practical tips and strategies for managing your ostomy
- Confidence to overcome fears and anxiety
When:
Meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month
3-4 p.m.
Where:
Meeting in-person at the Community Cancer Institute or online via Zoom.
For details or to RSVP, call us at (559) 244-9789.
Clinical Navigation
Navigators serve as a conduit between the you and your healthcare team — coordinating communication among providers, preventing possible delays in treatment, and connecting you with resources that can make your journey easier.
Social Work
Our social workers address the emotional, social and practical complexities that impact your quality of life and pose barriers to care. They provide free services that support you through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship.
Genetics Consultation & Testing
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with cancer, evaluating your genetic makeup can give you valuable information that will help you and your doctors make more informed decisions about your care — now and in the future.
Genetic Consultation
This involves a detailed evaluation of you and your family’s medical histories with a trained genetics professional. Genetic consultation:
- Helps determine the best treatment and future risk management strategies for those who have already been diagnosed with cancer
- Assesses a person’s risk for developing cancer based on their family history of cancer
- Establishes screening and management recommendations to lower risk and detect cancer early
- Determine whether gene (DNA) testing is appropriate for you or your family member
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing looks at your genes to determine your risk and reveal if relatives have an increased risk of cancer. In some cases, genetic testing results can help determine treatment options for those newly diagnosed with cancer.
Genetic consultation for cancer risk may be helpful if you:
- Were diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50 or ovarian cancer at any age
- Have a personal or family history of colon cancer, especially before age 60
- Are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and have a family history of cancer
- Have had two or more different types of cancer yourself
- Have one or more close relatives who have had cancers at young ages, especially if those cancers may be linked (such as breast and ovarian)
- Have multiple, close relatives who were diagnosed with cancer before age 50, even if the cancers were of different types
Palliative Medicine
Palliative medicine focuses on managing your symptoms, controlling your pain and advance care planning. It’s appropriate at any age or stage and can be provided along with curative treatment.
Our palliative care specialists meet with you often and work with the rest of our team to help maintain a plan that improves your quality of life.
Featuring physicians in the UCSF Fellowship Program, our team also includes nurses, social workers and others who add that extra layer of patient support.
We can help you manage difficult symptoms like:
Fatigue
Nausea
Constipation
Loss of appetite
Trouble sleeping
Breathing problems
Depression
We also help with:
Emotional support
Decision making
Planning for the future
Family member support
Patient Stories
Chaplain Services Help Heal the Mind and Soul
Breast cancer survivor Yuliya Kochkina found support from Chaplain Kevin Rhamie in her time of need. They tell us how the chaplain services team at Community Health System provides that support to patients and their families in a compassionate and respectful way.
Program offers guidance and support for those newly diagnosed with cancer
Community Cancer Institute’s Peer Mentorship Program benefits both mentors and mentees.
How Community Cancer Institute Helps New Patients Navigate Treatment
The Peer Mentorship Program at Community Cancer Institute is a new support program where cancer survivors like Jeff Janzen are paired with new patients to provide guidance, hope and practical advice throughout the cancer treatment journey. In this video, survivor Jeff Janzen and patient Casey Poteet share their moving story of connection and healing, while oncology operations manager Mark Cruz explains how this innovative program is transforming cancer care.
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