ESCANABA — OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group Oncology will host its monthly cancer support group on Tuesday, July 14. Members will meet outdoors from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Serenity Garden, located near the front entrance of the hospital. For safety measures, members will need to wear a mask and practice physical distancing.

The support group is available to all cancer patients and survivors, regardless of where they have received or are receiving treatment. Support persons or caregivers are welcome to attend as well. The group will be facilitated by two Mission Partners from OSF St. Francis, Jill Deno, Oncology Nurse Navigator and Ashley Peterson, Manager of Oncology and Ambulatory Care. The two facilitators will bring a unique level of understanding and knowledge to the group, as both are also cancer survivors.

Cancer support groups give a safe space for people to talk about their own experiences living with cancer or living in remission. Support group members may also share information about what to expect during treatment, helpful tips to manage side effects of treatment. They may also share which ways they found helpful to communicate with their family members and health care teams. This sharing can give members a feeling of more control over their situation.

Walking the path of cancer can be a very personal and scary journey, but having someone to talk with about the ups and downs can make it easier.

OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group – Oncology serves patients Monday through Friday and is staffed with three Green Bay Oncology providers and 10 chemotherapy certified registered nurses. For more information about cancer care and support groups at OSF HealthCare, call (906) 233-4140 or visit www.osfstfrancis.org/events.