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Patient Support Groups
From the time of diagnosis and throughout the entire treatment journey, contact with self-help groups and patient organizations can provide significant support.
A cancer diagnosis often represents an existential threat for many patients, confronting them abruptly and disrupting their daily lives. “What happens next?” is one of the most common questions following a diagnosis.
Self-help groups offer guidance and support from those with lived experience, not only at the time of diagnosis but throughout the treatment process. Patients can learn from others’ experiences and gain valuable information and assistance in navigating the next steps.
In the resolution of the cancer self-help organizations “Psychosocial Support for People with Cancer” from September 2009, it states:
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Your Path to Support Groups
As the Hubertus Wald Tumor Center – University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCC Hamburg), we consider it a matter of course to support our patients in connecting with support groups and patient organizations. You can find the contact information for the support groups cooperating with UCC Hamburg, as well as other regional groups, on our website.
A range of flyers and informational materials from groups based in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Lower Saxony are also available in the waiting areas of the Oncology Outpatient Clinic and the Central Entry Point at UCC Hamburg. In addition, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous online groups have been established, which we also highlight.
We aim to promote networking and exchange among these groups—support groups and patient organizations are strategic partners for us on many levels. To support this, we offer special programs, assistance with projects, and events for support group leaders and members.
We offer an online coaching session four times a year for leaders of support groups and patient organizations, which can also include caregivers. The coaching is led by our psycho-oncologists. We focus on topics brought up by the group leaders.
These may include handling stressful situations or the specific needs of group members, as well as group dynamics, and managing hope, grief, and uncertainty. Together, we develop practical solutions, and peer exchange—leader to leader—plays an important role in this process.
We ensure a confidential and trusting environment; therefore, please understand that this offer is intended exclusively for affected individuals and caregivers involved in oncology patient representation.
We make every effort to provide facilities for support groups when there is a need. Please contact the coordination team for assistance (see below).
We also offer active support to support groups in carrying out their own projects. For example, we are happy to advise on event planning and organize events in coordination with the support groups on our hospital campus, or provide medical professionals as speakers. If you have ideas for a joint project, please feel free to contact us, and we can explore together how to bring it to life.
Research on cancer support groups is an important step in fully realizing their potential for oncology care. It provides a scientific foundation for better support of affected individuals, strengthens the connection between research and practice, and helps make cancer care more humane, effective, and sustainable.
At UCC Hamburg, research on support groups is conducted, among other places, at the Institute of Medical Sociology. This research not only examines the current structure of health-related support groups and their significance in society, but also aims to promote their strategic, evidence-based development for the future.
UCC Hamburg Support Group Representatives
The UCC Hamburg support group representatives are the first points of contact for questions regarding support groups. They maintain contact with various support group representatives across the network, help organize task forces together with us, and participate in audits and hearings.
In the downloadable document, we would like to introduce the current support group representatives, Heide Lakemann and Jürgen Martens. We asked them a few questions about their personal journey into support group work and their hopes for the future.
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Networking with our Partners
KISS Hamburg
(Contact and Information Centers for Support Groups)
The central point of contact for support groups in Hamburg is KISS Hamburg (Contact and Information Center for Support Groups) of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Hamburg e.V. It offers telephone consultations and an online database to help find suitable groups. In addition to advice and referrals, KISS Hamburg also supports the founding of new groups and provides guidance on financial funding. As a cancer center, we regularly exchange information with the representatives of KISS Hamburg and also participate in the annual support group symposium held in Hamburg.
Hamburger Krebsgesellschaft e.V.
Our collaboration with the Hamburger Krebsgesellschaft e.V. is multifaceted. Regarding networking with support groups, we maintain close contact about newly founded groups as well as groups that have had to close (due to illness, succession, etc.). The Hamburger Krebsgesellschaft e.V. offers various support groups for patients and caregivers and provides referrals to other organizations, such as KISS Hamburg, that assist with finding and founding groups. Examples of specific groups include the support group for caregivers in Eppendorf or the group for individuals affected by esophageal cancer, which meets at the Hamburger Krebsgesellschaft.
Arbeitskreis KrebsNachsorge Hamburg
For several years, we have been a member of the Arbeitskreis KrebsNachsorge Hamburg, which is jointly organized by the Hamburger Krebsgesellschaft e.V. and KISS Hamburg. Other members include the Hamburg Social Authority, support groups, and additional healthcare providers (hospitals, etc.) in the metropolitan region. We exchange ideas on new topics in the city and organize joint campaigns, for example, to raise awareness of support groups and patient organizations.
Coordination
For more information about support group offerings, please contact:
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Andreas Block
MBA
Further information
Do you have any questions or would you like to make an appointment? Here you will find our contact details for UCC Hamburg.
MehrThe UCC Hamburg newsletter provides information about all of the network's events and the latest developments.
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