The UCSF Ida and Joseph Friend Patient and Family Cancer Support Center offers numerous support groups for cancer patients and families. The support groups are free and available to all patients, whether or not they get their health care at UCSF.
Cancer Support Groups
- All Cancer – All Stages
- All Cancer – Family and Friends
- All Cancer – Husbands and Significant Others
- Anal Cancer Support Group for Women
- Bladder Cancer Education and Support Group
- Blood Cancer Support Group (Leukemia, Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma)
- Brain Tumor Support Group
- Brain Tumor Caregivers Support Group
- Breast Cancer Support Group (Advanced Breast Cancer)
- Breast Cancer Support Group (General Breast Cancer)
- Colorectal Cancer Support Group
- Gynecological Cancer Support Group
- Head & Neck Cancer Education and Support
- Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Support Group
- Neuroendocrine Tumors Support Group
- Prostate Cancer Support Group
- Prostate Cancer Support Group for Gay Men
- Peer Support by Phone
All Cancer – All Stages
The UCSF All Cancer Support Group is a free weekly gathering open to patients with cancer of any type and in any stage. Please contact us for more information and to register. Please note that this group is for patients only.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: Wednesdays, 5:20 – 6:50 p.m.
Contact: [email protected]
All Cancer – Family and Friends Support
The UCSF All Cancer Support Group for Family and Friends is open to anyone who offers emotional and practical support to a loved one with cancer. Participants learn tools to cope with the psychological and physical aspects of caring for a loved one, and find ways of nurturing themselves.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: Second Wednesday of the month, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Contact: (415) 420-6389
All Cancer – Husbands and Significant Others
The UCSF All Cancer Support Group for Husbands and Partners is for men whose significant other has cancer. The group explores positive ways of coping, provides emotional support, and shares information on treatments, side effects, complementary therapies, financial concerns and insurance issues.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: Second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Contact: (415) 353-7632
Anal Cancer Support Group for Women
The UCSF Anal Cancer Support Group for Women is a drop-in support group for women who have been diagnosed with anal cancer and are in any stage of treatment.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: First Tuesday of the month, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Contact: (415) 885-3693 or [email protected]
Bladder Cancer Education and Support Group
The UCSF Bladder Cancer Education and Support Group is available so that patients with bladder cancer as well as their caregivers and family members may share experiences, educate one another and support each other.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: First Thursday of the month, 5:30 – 7 p.m
Contact: (415) 514-1707
Blood Cancer Support Group (Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Hodgkin's Lymphoma)
The UCSF Blood Cancer Support Group is an informal educational support group for hematology and bone marrow transplant patients. Family members are welcome to attend. Registration is required.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month, 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Contact: (415) 353-2965
Brain Tumor Support Group
The UCSF Brain Tumor Support Group is provided for patients, family members and caregivers to share experiences and concerns, and to learn from each other.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: First Wednesday of the month, 6 – 8 p.m.
Contact: (415) 990-4461 or (415) 661-1442
Brain Tumor Caregiver Support Group
The UCSF Brain Tumor Caregiver Support Group is facilitated by a social worker who specializes in neuro-oncology. This emotional support group is open to caregivers of UCSF neuro-oncology patients only. Registration is required. Visit the UCSF Brain Tumor Center's Neuro-Oncology Gordon Murray Caregiver Program to learn more about support services for caregivers.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Contact: (415) 514-5674
Breast Cancer Support Group (Advanced Breast Cancer)
The UCSF Advanced Breast Cancer Support Group is offered for patients who have been diagnosed with stage-4 breast cancer.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: First Tuesday of the month, 5 – 6:30 p.m.; third Tuesday of the month, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Contact: (415) 476-3315
Breast Cancer Support Group (General Breast Cancer)
The UCSF General Breast Cancer Support Group is offered for patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in stage 1, 2 or 3.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: Third Thursday of the month. 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Contact: (415) 353-9874
Colorectal Cancer Support Group
The UCSF Colorectal Cancer Support Group is provided so that people living with various types of colorectal cancer may meet to share experiences, concerns and questions.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: Second and fourth Monday of the month, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Contact: Vittorio Comelli, (415) 476-0468 ext. 1 or [email protected]
Gynecological Cancer Support Group
The UCSF Gynecological Cancer Support Group is a drop-in support group for women who have been diagnosed with any kind of gynecological cancer and are in any stage of treatment.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: First and third Wednesday of the month, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Contact: (415) 514-1962
Head & Neck Cancer Education and Support
The UCSF Head & Neck Cancer Education and Support Group is a free monthly gathering open to patients and caregivers. Teaches tools for coping with both physical and emotional aspects of head and neck cancer. Educational sessions and support groups alternate each month. It's an opportunity to learn, share and support one another.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: Third Thursdays of the month, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Call (415) 514-6338 or email [email protected].
Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Support Group
The UCSF Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Support Group is available for all patients who have been diagnosed with lung cancer or mesothelioma.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month, noon – 1:30 p.m.
Contact: (415) 885-7789
Neuroendocrine Tumor Support Group
The UCSF Neuroendocrine Tumor Support Group is open to patients with these cancers as well as their partners and caregivers.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: First Wednesday of odd-numbered months, noon – 2 p.m.
Contact: (415) 353-7632
Prostate Cancer Support Group
The UCSF Prostate Cancer Support Group is open to patients as well as partners, family members, friends and caregivers.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month, 1 – 3 p.m.
Contact: (415) 514-1707
Prostate Cancer Support Group for Gay Men
The UCSF Prostate Cancer Support Group for Gay Men is offered as a place for gay men and their partners to exchange information, support each other and improve symptom management. It is open to UCSF patients and also to the community.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.
Meetings: First and third Monday of the month, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Contact: Vittorio Comelli, (415) 203-9619 or [email protected]
Peer Support by Phone
The UCSF Peer Support Program offers cancer patients the opportunity to speak with an individual who has "been there" – a cancer survivor or someone who is farther along in their treatment. All cancer patients are welcome regardless of where they receive medical care. As fully as possible, patients are matched with peer support volunteers according to criteria such as diagnosis, cancer stage and age, or by preference of the person seeking support.
Our support groups are made possible in part by a generous donation from the Donna Smith Fund. Donna fought cancer with an indomitable spirit and left a legacy of encouraging patient and family participation in each patient's cancer care journey.
