Support Groups

The GW Cancer Center offers a variety of support groups to provide emotional, educational, and social support for patients, survivors, and their families and loved ones.

These groups are designed to foster communities where individuals can connect with others who understand the challenges of cancer, share personal experiences, and gain insight from professional facilitators. The support groups cover various topics, such as coping strategies, navigating treatment side effects, and transitioning to survivorship. By participating in these groups, patients and caregivers at the GW Cancer Center can build resilience, reduce feelings of isolation, and find comfort in a supportive environment tailored to their needs.

Smith Center for the Healing Arts Partnership

The GW Cancer Center partners with the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts for additional programming. In particular, we often refer to these groups:

The DC Young Adult Cancer Community 
The DC Young Adult Cancer Community (DCYACC) is all about addressing the unique challenges and concerns of young adults in their 20’s, 30’s, and early 40’s who are living with cancer. In addition to welcoming Young Adult Cancer Survivors (YACS) to our weekly yoga, cooking, stress reduction, and support programs, we aim to provide a forum for fellowship with creative and relevant topics ranging from integrative health and fertility choices to coping strategies, relationship issues, and everything in between.

Caregiver Support Group 
This bi-monthly Caregiver Support Group provides participants with the opportunity to explore their experience with cancer in a safe group setting with a trained social worker and to connect with others who are facing a similar challenge. This group is designed specifically for individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Healing Circle for Metastatic Breast Cancer Thrivers 45+ 
This Healing Circle for Metastatic Breast Cancer Thrivers is for people who are 45 and older who are living and thriving with Metastatic Breast Cancer. This peer-led circle will provide a safe place to connect, support and share with one another.

Healing Circle for Young Adults with Metastatic Breast Cancer 
The Healing Circle for Young Adults with Metastatic Breast Cancer is demand-driven and patient-led in-person and online community support group for young women and men (diagnosed between the age of 18 – 45ish) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in the DC, MD, and VA area. We have created this group as a means of providing both a safe community support space for people with MBC, as well as peer-led and expert-led information on living with breast cancer.