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MyGo2Support Program

With MyGo2Support, help is just one text message away!

As part of our mission to ensure that all people touched by cancer are empowered to take control of their health and well-being, Crossroads4Hope is now offering the MyGo2Support program to all its members. MyGo2Support is our free-of-charge, mobile engagement program designed to extend our cancer support programs and services to you and your loved ones no matter where you are in your journey. By joining MyGo2Support, you will receive a personalized support experience, delivered when and where you need it most.

 

 

Talk with someone on our team to enroll in MyGo2Support

Call 908 658 5400
programteam@crossroads4hope.org

 

 

 

 

 

Are You Preparing to Make a Treatment Decision?

Hearing the words “You have cancer” is an overwhelming experience. Sometimes it is hard to know what questions to ask the doctor when you have to make important decisions about cancer treatment at any stage of your journey. We provide support in helping you prepare for these important discussions with your doctor. Our team will help you communicate clearly with your medical team, ask critical questions about your options, and ensure that your treatment decisions fit your personal hopes and goals.

Talk with someone on our team.

Call 908 658 5400
programteam@crossroads4hope.org

 

Support

Emotional and social support is a key component to complete cancer care.

Crossroads4Hope has short-term individual support and ongoing group support that is available at any point in your cancer journey.

Our team includes social workers and child life specialists who can support the emotional and social needs of you and your family as you cope with stress on your daily life.

Talk with someone on our team.

Call 908 658 5400
programteam@crossroads4hope.org

 

LEARN MORE

Is a Support Group Right for You?  

Are you raising a child under the age of 19?

Support4Families

Individual Support

Life can be complicated. A cancer diagnosis can complicate a person’s life even further. Talking with a social worker can be helpful when a person is experiencing significant stress related to cancer. Family members and caregivers can also experience stress related to the cancer diagnosis or death of a loved one. When you need to talk with a professional, our team is here to support you and your family.

Support Groups

The support groups we offer reflect the needs. Contact our program staff if you are still looking for a support group that meets your needs. We may also start new groups when there is expressed interest. Here are examples of the support groups we offer:

 Advanced Breast Cancer       Living with Advanced Cancer

 Bereavement                           Gynecological Cancer

 Caregiver Support                  Men’s Cancer

Is a Support Group Right for You?  

When you are going through something as serious as a cancer diagnosis or someone you love has cancer, the world can seem lonely and isolated. Perhaps the only people who can truly identify and empathize with what you are going through are people who have gone through the experience themselves. This is why support groups can be such a helpful resource.

Joining a support group can be meaningful in helping you navigate the emotional, physical, spiritual, lifestyle, and logistical issues you encounter as a patient, family member, or caregiver throughout the journey. The benefits of being in a group can occur regardless of the type of cancer, stage, or extent of the illness. Some people join at the time of diagnosis or after treatment begins, and others join when treatment is finished, and some will find a support group if their cancer recurs. Family members and caregivers may need support at different points in time.

Research has shown that groups empower people to:

  • Develop a new attitude towards their illness
  • Make changes in their lives that they think are important
  • Access resources valuable to the cancer experience
  • Partner with their physician to make active choices
  • Face the challenges of caring for a loved one with cancer
  • Connect with others grieving the loss of a loved one

Additionally, support groups can:

  • Help you feel better, more hopeful, and not so alone
  • Give you a chance to talk about your feelings and work through them
  • Help you deal with practical problems, such as problems at work or school
  • Help you cope with the side effects of treatment

Purpose, community, and empowerment are three things every person battling cancer needs; support groups provide all these essential resources. Some people are reluctant to join a support group because they feel uncomfortable sharing anything about themselves, even though all group members are in a similar situation. It’s important to realize that there are more remote support group resources than ever, including telephone and online meetings that allow you to share and participate however you’re comfortable; however, it’s also worth going to at least one or two meetings to see if the model is right for you. When you attend a support group for the first time, like in any social situation, there may be uncertainty or hesitancy to participate. Give yourself permission to listen and actively participate in the process. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

If you are thinking of joining a support group, but are unsure, here are some things to consider:

  • What is the size of the group?
  • Who attends the group?  (Survivors, Bereavement, Recurrent, Advanced, Etc.)
  •  How long do the meetings last?
  •  How is the meeting structured? (layout, activities)
  • What is the main purpose? (To share feelings? Offer tips to solve common problems?)
  •  Is active participation required?
  •  Can I just sit and listen?
  • How long has the group been together? How often do new people join?

At Crossroads4Hope, we offer meaningful support groups that fit your specific needs. Our model for groups emphasizes attitudes and behaviors that empower people with cancer to become partners with their healthcare team in making treatment decisions and to be in charge of how they will live with, through, and beyond their cancer diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one.  We provide a safe space for people with cancer and their loved ones to feel less alone. As people participate in learning and sharing, they also gather strength for their journey through cancer, affirming life and sustaining hope.

Here is what you can expect:

  • All groups are facilitated by licensed mental health professionals.
  • Groups are typically limited in size to 7-10 people.
  • Group members can talk not only about cancer treatment issues but also about emotional concerns, life changes, and living with uncertainty.
  • Information shared in all groups is confidential.
  • The duration of a support group varies between 1.5 hours – 2 hours.
  • The frequency of a group may be weekly, bi-monthly or monthly.
  • Groups are virtual during the pandemic. Post-pandemic, there will be a mix of in-person and virtual groups.

     

    Educational Workshops

    We provide evidence-based educational workshops on a variety of topics of interest to people with cancer, family members, and caregivers. We work with community partners and professionals to provide relevant and beneficial educational programs providing information on topics such as current treatments, symptom/side-effect management strategies, social and emotional challenges of the diagnosis, and coping with survivorship. The purpose is to provide the tools and confidence people need to be able to discuss their cancer diagnosis with their healthcare providers as well as friends and family so they can get the care they need and deserve.

     

    Mind & Body

    Approaches for Stress Reduction and
    Improved Wellbeing

    Research suggests that there are several mind and body approaches for managing symptoms of stress due to cancer. These include relaxation techniques, yoga, T’ai Chi Chih, and meditation.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT RELAXATION

    Classes are available to help you focus on learning and practicing relaxation techniques that will help you manage stress related to your cancer and other health-related conditions, including anxiety associated with ongoing health problems. These classes are also helpful when used ahead of medical procedures.

    These exercises can have a positive impact on reducing stress and anxiety symptoms.

    Yoga classes focus on postures modified for your skill level and needs.

    Click Here to Join a Yoga Class

    Peaceful Practices for Life Classes are weekly programs rotating between Medical Qi Gong, Meditation, Spirituality, and Journaling.

    Click Here to Join a Peaceful Practice for Life Class

    T’ai Chi Chih is a series of 19 movements and 1 pose that together make up a meditative form of movement to which practitioners attribute physical, personal, and spiritual health benefits. This class provides joy through simple, fluid movements. Also known as meditation in motion.

    Click Here to Join a T’ai Chi Chih Class

     

    LEARN MORE ABOUT MEDITATION

    Practicing meditation may reduce blood pressure, anxiety and depression, and insomnia.

    Jin Shin Jyutsu® – Balance, Harmony, Flow

    Jin Shin Jyutsu focuses on self-care and leveraging the body’s innate ability to heal when the body, mind, and spirit is in balance. You will come away with a simple, at-home practice. Daily practice can renew and rejuvenate the body/mind, alleviate stress, and enhance the body’s natural healing ability. The practice is a gentle form of acupressure that uses light finger pressure over specific points on the body while fully clothed. The goal is to restore the flow of energy, which may be blocked due to illness or pain. It can be beneficial for a variety of conditions including acute and chronic pain, increasing immune function, eliminating fatigue, reducing stress, and improving digestion.

    Click Here to Join a Jin Shin Jyutsu Class

    Yoga, Breathe, and Balance

    This class combines breath work with traditional yoga poses for peace of mind and increased flexibility. You will learn the benefits of how to use breathing for cleansing, detoxifying, strengthening, purifying, toning, and refreshing. You can do these exercises on the floor or on a chair. Prāṇāyāma is the practice of breath control in yoga. It consists of synchronizing the breath with movements between asanas (a sitting meditation pose) but is also a distinct breathing exercise on its own, usually practiced after asanas. Research shows that Prāṇāyāma can:

    • Reduce Distress
    • Improve Sleep Quality
    • Increase Mindfulness
    • Reduce High Blood Pressure
    • Improve Lung Function
    • Enhance Cognitive Function

    Click Here to Join a Yoga, Breathe and Balance Class

     

     

    LEARN MORE ABOUT GENTLE EXERCISE

    Move and Tone
    Combines 30 minutes of simple dance moves and 30 minutes of basic weight and resistance band moves.

    Click Here to Join a Move and Tone Class

    Wellness Workout
    Gentle strength exercises using resistance bands and floor exercises for stress reduction and overall sense of well-being.

    Click Here to Join a Wellness Workout Class

     

    Resources

    Crossroads4Hope, in partnership with Veterans Health and Wellness Foundation, offers a free community resource finder to ANYONE, not just veterans. Just search by zip code to access vital services like food, housing, healthcare, and more.