Support Programs

Cancer patients, their families, and caregivers can access many programs and support groups in this area. Some of these are specific to the type of cancer; others offer logistical support, some focus on financial aid.

Mission Hospital sponsors an American Cancer Society Patient Resource Navigator, a professional who provides free onsite guidance for cancer patients, families, and caregivers while they are in treatment. We are one of two sites in North Carolina to offer this service. Our Patient Resource Navigator identifies programs and services and helps patients gain access to them. For more information, call Laura Austin at 828-213-1040.

Two breast cancer patient navigators and two lung cancer patient navigators also provide support and guidance for patients and their families.

• WNC Brain Tumor Support, George Plym at 828-691-2559

• In Good Company support group and Boutique

• Ladies Night Out for free mammograms for underinsured women Breast and cervical cancer program at county health department—for underinsured women

• Tai Chi for breast cancer survivors

• Bosom Buddies (Weaverville), email Colleen Austin for information

• Young and the Breastless, CancerCare at 828-253-6242

• ABIPA, Sista 2 Sista Lunch and Learn-Supporting African American Women at 828-251-8364

• American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery peer support at 1-800-227-2345

• Patient and Family support group, Mission Hospital, call Leslie Verner at 828-213-4656 or 800-443-2233 for registration and directions.

• ABIPA Brother to Brother breakfast club-Supporting African American Men at 828-251-8364

• American Cancer Society man to man prostate cancer support group coming soon

• Us Too International - Prostate Cancer Education and Support:

• Beauty Through Cancer, Earleen Bennett at 828-252-8558

• Look good…Feel Better workshops, call the American Cancer Society at 828-254-6931

• Women’s Group, Mollie Milner at 828-299-0394.

• Women’s Support Group, Nancy Schmidt at 828-505-2114

• Hope Women’s Center “Strength for Living” at 828-670-8403

• Support group, Mollie Milner at 828-299-0394

• American Cancer Society’s "Coping with Caregiving" free telephone workshops. Register by calling 1-800-966-3586

• Caregiver’s Kits—call American Cancer Society (ACS) at 1-888-227-6333 or ACS patient navigator at Mission at 828-213-1040 to pick one up.

• Camp Bluebird, a three-day retreat held in May and October in the mountains of WNC for adult cancer survivors. For more information or to register, please call Leslie Verner, RN at 828-213-4656 or 800-443-2233.

• American Cancer Society Road to Recovery at 1-800-ACS-2345 (volunteer transportation)

• American Cancer Society Dietician on Call at 1-888-227-6333

• American Cancer Society ICanCope® educational classes for patients and caregivers, Andrea Lahti at 828-271-6510

• A Survivorship Conference at MAHEC on April 27, 2011, call Mary Etta Hartwick, RN at 828-213-4134

• American Cancer Society Patient Advocate program at 1-888-227-6333

• There are also resources for uninsured and underinsured men and women in our region. Visit the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org, or call the American Cancer Society’s National Cancer Information Center at 1-800-227-2345.

Free Cancer Screenings

• Mission Hospital offers a free annual Skin Screening and Oral Screening. This year the event is on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the Asheville Mall from 9am-4:30 pm. The purpose of the skin screening is to look for skin cancers and to recommend follow-up and removal if an area of concern is detected. Oral screenings are done by a dentist between 9am and noon.

• Our annual free Prostate Screening will be held in September in the 445 Biltmore Center building on the 2nd floor in the Outpatient Care Center. The prostate screening will be staffed by local urologists and hospital volunteers and it will include a rectal exam and PSA blood test. Appointments are required. For more information call Leslie Verner at 828-213-4656 or 800-443-2233.