Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Support Groups and Classes

Classes

2025 Mindfulness Meditation Monthly

Simmons Spiritual Support invites you to participate in 2025 Mindfulness Meditation Monthly. Take a pause, breathe deep, and gather together in a quiet reflection as we lead you through various guided meditations.

Who: Patients and loved ones
When: Second Friday of every month
Time: 10 – 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom (invite link will be sent out the day of the event)
Facilitator: RSVP to Simmons Spiritual Support, or fill out this form.

Healthy Eating for Cancer Survivorship

Join us via Zoom for a virtual class on healthy eating that meets every Tuesday for four weeks. Improve your diet and learn how healthy eating can be stress-free and facilitate weight management. Topics include reducing cancer recurrence and cancer risk with diet, portion control and label reading, plant-based meals, dining out, meal planning, a grocery store tour, nutrition facts versus fiction, and so much more. You can also view our side effect management resources and nutrition guidelines anytime.

Who: Patients. The class has an emphasis on long-term survivorship and weight maintenance.
When: Every Tuesday from June 10 - July 1, 2025
Time: Noon – 1:15 p.m.
Where: Virtual over Zoom (invite link will be sent after registration).
Facilitator: Supportive Care Dietitians. Register online.

Pancreatic Pre-Surgery Class

This class covers commonly asked questions around pancreatic surgery and includes nutrition and exercise recommendations as well as spiritual and emotional support available. Members of the supportive services team including a social worker, chaplain, dietitian, and a cancer exercise trainer will be available during this virtual class. Your surgical team will refer you to this class.

Who: Patients with a scheduled pancreatic surgery
When: Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month
Time: 11 a.m. – noon
Where: These events will meet virtually, and patients need to be scheduled to attend.
Facilitator: RSVP to Shelli Hardy, MCN, RD, CSO, LD, or at 214-645-5673

Reclaim Your Career After Cancer

Getting back to work after cancer treatment can feel daunting. This monthly workshop helps you regain solid career footing. Each session covers concrete strategies while fostering a community to discuss fears, celebrate triumphs, and reinforce self-assurance during your transition back to the workforce.

Who: Those needing support while navigating reentering the job market after cancer
Where: Virtual via Zoom
Facilitator: RSVP to Samantha Dean, Ph.D.

Surviving to Thriving Through Art

Surviving to Thriving Through Art is an art and conversation workshop for cancer patients, led by Marianne Gargour, founder of MG Coaching & Creativity. Marianne is a life transitions coach, artist, and cancer survivor. She helps participants find clarity, relief, and hope through art and conversation, offering support for participants at all stages of their cancer journey. Make art and friends while you relieve stress and relax. Bring an open mind, curiosity, and a readiness to explore. Come alone, with a friend, or your caregiver! No art skills are required. Miss a class? No problem. You may join at any point in the series.

Who: Patients and caregivers
When: Every Tuesday and Wednesday, May 13 – July 8, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Where: Cancer Care Outpatient Building, second floor - Room NM2.966
Facilitator: RSVP to Marianne Gargour

Writing Through Cancer

This course provides a supportive environment where patients can explore their thoughts and emotions through writing. Through a guided process, participants are encouraged to put their experiences into words, express their feelings, and make sense of their journey. The class covers a range of writing techniques and is tailored to meet the unique needs of cancer patients. The goal is to provide a safe and supportive space where participants can find a sense of hope and healing through the power of writing.

Who: All cancer patients, both active and in remission. There is no minimum skill level required to participate.
When: August 4, September 8, October 6, November 3, and December 1, 2025
Time: 7 – 8 p.m.
Where: This class will meet virtually, and new patients need to register.
Facilitator: RSVP to Samantha Dean, Ph.D.

Orientations

New Patient Connections Class for Breast Cancer

This orientation class serves to introduce newly diagnosed breast cancer patients to the comprehensive care of SCCC’s Supportive Care and Integrative Oncology team. Patients are educated on how each member may be helpful during treatment as well as what to expect in the first few weeks or month of care. Patients are referred to this orientation by their nurse navigator.

Who: Patients who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer or new to breast cancer care at SCCC
When: Twice monthly, date and time varies.
Time: TBA
Where: These events will meet virtually, and new patients will need to be registered to attend.

For more information or to register, please contact SCCC Support or your nurse navigator.

Pancreatic Orientation

This orientation serves to introduce newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer patients to the comprehensive care of SCCC’s Supportive Care team. Patients are educated on how each service – such as social work, dietician, chaplain, music therapy, and exercise training – may be helpful during treatment. Patients are referred to this orientation by their nurse navigator.

Who: Patients who are newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer or who have come to clinic for a second opinion
When: Every Thursday
Time: Noon – 1 p.m.
Where: Cancer Care Outpatient Building
Facilitator: RSVP to Anne Stoecklin, LCSW, or at 214-645-5589.

GU New Patient Orientation

This orientation serves to introduce new UTSW patients with genitourinary cancer(s) to the comprehensive care of SCCC's Supportive Care team. Patients are educated on how each service – such as social work, dietician, chaplain, and music therapy – may be helpful during their medical journey with UTSW. Patients are referred to this orientation by the social worker.

Who: Patients who are newly diagnosed with a genitourinary cancer or patients who are new to SCCC
When: Second Thursday of every month
Time: 11 a.m. – noon
Where: These events will meet virtually, and new patients will need to register to attend.
Facilitator: RSVP to Jennifer Law, LMSW, or at 214-648-9183.

Groups

Sisters to Sisters: Support Group for African American Women with Breast Cancer

Join Patricia Branham, RN, OCN, and our team social worker for a sister-to-sister support group experience. This group is for African American women with any stage of breast cancer. We will address physical, emotional, and practical issues that arise during and after treatment.

Who: African American women diagnosed with breast cancer
When: Second Tuesday of every month, starting June 10, 2025
Time: 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Where: UT Southwestern Medical Center at RedBird
Facilitator: Supportive Care Department. RSVP is required.

DFW Blood Cancer Support Group

This support group for cancer patients and their caregivers will address specific issues related to a cancer diagnosis and will provide an opportunity for patients to discuss concerns, anxieties, and feelings related to illness, treatment, and other related issues. The meetings are designed to provide mutual support and education to members by meeting with others whose situations are similar to their own. They are a resource to support coping in conjunction with your medical treatment.

Who: Patients and caregivers affected by cancer
When: One Saturday per month; January 18, February 15, April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 18, and November 15, 2025. *No meeting in March and December.
Time: 10 – 11 a.m.
Where: Cancer Care Outpatient Building, second floor - Room NM2.966. This is an in-person opportunity; no virtual option is provided.
Facilitator: Samantha Harris. RSVP requested.

Oncology Caregiver Support Group

Are you supporting a family member through cancer treatment? Then you are a caregiver.

Providing care and support during cancer treatment can be a challenge. It’s common to feel overwhelmed with the new or ongoing role of caregiver. All caregivers need support. Joining a support group may help you gain new insights, get ideas about how to cope, and help you know that you're not alone. In a support group, people may talk about their feelings, trade advice, or sometimes just listen.

Who: Exclusively for caregivers of UT Southwestern oncology patients. A caregiver is any adult who is caring for a person who has been diagnosed with cancer.
When: January 9, February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13, and December 11, 2025
Time: 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom. A link will be emailed to you.
Facilitator: RSVP to Dinah Foster, LCSW.

Prostate Cancer Support Group

Please feel free to join this group of men discussing the impact of prostate cancer in a supportive environment. This monthly group is led by a registered nurse from the community and includes guest speakers and open sharing amongst the group.

Who: Current and former cancer patients
When: Second Monday of every month
Time: 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Where: Moncrief Cancer Institute, first floor – Education Classroom
Facilitator: RSVP to Robert Hernandez or at 817-288-9841.

Young Adult Support

Who: Social and supportive meetup for young adult cancer survivors ages 18-39
When: Last Tuesday of every month
Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Cancer Care Outpatient Building, third floor - Thompson Family Conference Center
Facilitator: RSVP to Alex Huffman, LCSW, OSW-C.

Life After Transplant

Come together to share your journey and learn from others as you navigate survivorship.

Who: Autologous, allogeneic, and CAR-T transplant patients
When: Third Friday of every month
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: These events will meet virtually.
Facilitator: RSVP to Kim Keely or Larisa Lemon.

Spiritual Support and Community Gathering

Join board-certified chaplains Tammy Wynn, Gina Biddle, and Paul Yu-Angel for casual conversation and community support. Persons of all faiths – and no faith – are welcome. We encourage open sharing and do not endorse any specific faith, institution, or cause.

Who: Patients and caregivers
When: Fourth Friday of most months
Time: 10 – 11 a.m.
Where: These events will meet virtually.
Facilitator: RSVP to Simmons Spiritual Support or online.

Virtual Grief Support

Grief Group is a safe place for people to gather in a judgment-free zone and offer comfort through words by reframing the experience of grief with no need to "fix.” You’ll also learn to listen to what your head knows, but your heart is not ready to hear. Our groups are led by professional staff and include a supportive environment for all.

Grief is such a tender thing. When it’s “new” or “recent,” group atmosphere usually does not meet the person’s needs. Therefore, we recommend some personal space and time before engaging in a group.

Who: Exclusively for bereaved adult family members of UT Southwestern Oncology Clinics
When: Third Thursday of the month, starting in March 2025. March 20, April 17, May 15, June 26, July 17, August 21, September 28, October 16, and a special event in November. *No meeting in December.
Time: 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom. Registration is required. A member of our team will reach out to you within one week.