lung and Brain cancer support groups in Maryland?

​@KimberlyH602220 I’m so sorry to hear of the challenges you and your fiance and your family are going through. I’m familiar with the Eastern Shore (my sister used to live in Salisbury) and I know it can be difficult to find services there. 

I did some searching and found these resources that my be helpful: (you may have to drive a bit to get to some of these, but others are virtual and you can do them from home)

For him, the patient: 

CARES Cancer Patient Support Group 

Offered by University of MD SHORE Regional Health

Offered at the Cancer Center, 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month, 5 to 7 pm. 

Phone: 410-820-6800

509 Idlewild Avenue
Easton, MD 21601

Joining others with shared experience who can understand the questions, daily challenges and triumphs of a cancer journey provides the opportunity for insight and gaining new skills. In this group, you learn from others and also help them by sharing what you have learned along the way.

TIPPS* for Living Well: A Key Resource 

The TIPPS (Treatment, Innovation & Primary Palliative Support) program is a free, personal consultation for patients with advanced cancer and their families. A social worker listens objectively to your concerns about your health, your personal goals and your family’s future to facilitate making a plan for your practical, economic, legal or personal goals while you are getting treatment. For details or to make an appointment, reach out to the Cancer Center at 410-820-6800 and ask to speak to a social worker.

Hope Connections for Cancer Support offers some virtual cancer caregiver support groups that might be helpful for you. https://hopeconnectionsforcancer.org/programs/support-groups/  They are based in other parts of MD, but have some virtual offerings I think you could participate in - worth a call 

(301) 634-7500. Also, they are probably well connected with other cancer support options across Maryland. 

LUNGevity Foundation: This is the nation's premier lung cancer network. They provide specialized peer-to-peer mentoring and 15 private Facebook groups organized by specific genetic mutations (like EGFR, ALK, ROS1) and advanced stages. Caregivers and patients can find these resources through the LUNGevity Support Community.

American Lung Association: Offers the Patient & Caregiver Network, which provides direct lung disease management tools and 24/7 access to lung health professionals via their helpline at 1-800-LUNGUSA.

For you, the caregiver, here are some more options:

• AARP Family Caregiver virtual support groups - our groups are currently for all types of caregivers, not just cancer, but you will find support with us there! I lead a group on Monday and my colleague Jane leads a group on Thursdays at 7 pm ET. Jane has experience leading cancer support groups so I think she could be especially helpful to you! Here is the link to sign up: https://www.heypeers.com/organizations/173 LUNGevity "Caregiver Connection": Hosted by the LUNGevity Foundation, this live, face-to-face video group meets on Zoom every 4th Thursday of the month at 8:00 PM ET. It is specifically built for lung cancer care partners to share practical tips and combat isolation. They also host a highly active, private LUNGevity Caregiver Facebook Group for 24/7 asynchronous community support.
• CancerCare Lung Cancer Caregiver Group: This is a free, 15-week online support community structured via password-protected message boards. It is led by an oncology social worker. It allows caregivers to post, read, and receive guidance at any time of day, making it highly flexible for hectic caregiving schedules. You can register via the CancerCare Lung Cancer Portal.
• CancerCare Spouses & Partners Group: If you are caring for a spouse, CancerCare hosts video and online message-board groups segmented by relationship types (e.g., spouses/partners or adult children caring for parents), helping you connect with people managing a similar family dynamic.
• GO2 for Lung Cancer: Offers a personalized referral service to match caregivers with national telephone buddies or specialized video circles. You can browse their network or speak with a coordinator directly via the GO2 Support Matcher.

i hope these resources will be helpful to you! 

Take care,

Amy Goyer, AARP National Family & Caregiving Expert

sorry to hear of your plight.  FWIW just lost a family member to triple cancer, started in lungs (non smoker), spread to spine, hips, and brain and unfortunately passed a month after brain diagnosis.  Hope you find the support you are seeking.

Hi ​@KimberlyH602220, I’m so sorry your fiancé and your family are going through this. You’re facing so much at once, and I’m glad you reached out to the community.

I encourage you to visit our Caregiving forum and share your question there as well. You’ll find others who understand the challenges of caring for someone with a serious illness, along with Amy Goyer, AARP’s caregiving expert, and JaneCares, a licensed social worker, who regularly offer advice, resources and guidance.

Thank you for reaching out, Kimberly. I hope you’ll find helpful information, support and connection from others in the community. ❤️