Health Notes for July 12, 2012
New group forms
for cancer survivors
A new cancer survivor support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cancer survivors has begun, with its next meeting to be held at 7 p.m. July 19 at the Metropolitan Community Church of Baton Rouge, 7747 Tom Drive.
The local support group, a chapter of the national LGBT Cancer Project — Out with Cancer survivor support group and advocacy nonprofit organization, will be co-facilitated by licensed clinical social worker Esther Sachse and LSU graduate social work student Susan Indest.
In a news release, Indest said the group will allow members to focus on issues unique to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders “such as problems with their partners being recognized as family, the lack of insurance and other benefits they would have if they were in a heterosexual relationship, and the lack of support from their family of origin.”
Endest said members will choose a regular monthly meeting day for the group at the upcoming meeting.
For more information, call the Metropolitan Community Church of Baton Rouge at (225) 248-0404.
Online workshops
on cancer offered
“Caring for Your Bones When You Have Breast Cancer” is the name of a free workshop from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 20, accessible by phone or online.
Another upcoming such workshop will be “Understanding and Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects,” also from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 25.
The workshops, offered by the national, nonprofit organization Cancer Care, feature physicians from the country’s leading cancer centers.
To register for the workshops, call (800) 813-4673 or visit http://www.cancercare.org/connect.
Grief support opens
to children, teens
Betty’s Hope, a mobile outreach bereavement program for children and teens, will launch in Baton Rouge on Monday, as the newest program of Warrick Dunn Charities. Baton Rouge native Warrick Dunn, a former professional football player, was a Catholic High student when his mother, Betty Smothers, a police officer, was killed.
The charity organization that Dunn went on to found has a Home for the Holidays program that helps families here and in several other cities get and furnish homes and, now, the Betty’s Hope mobile facility that will visit schools and community centers.
The program director of Betty’s Hope is Ebony Carriere Christophe.
For more information, call (985) 507-2805.
Compiled by Ellyn Couvillion
Advocate staff writer