At Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, we offer a wide variety of complementary programs and support groups to help our patients cope with the stress of their cancer treatments.

Click on our calendar (right) to see a listing of our recent events, or read about our ongoing classes and programs (below).

Complementary medicine therapies are often used in conjunction with traditional western medicine to reduce the side effects of cancer treatments, and to provide comfort and reduce stress. For instance, acupuncture is often used to help with the side effects of chemotherapy.

This differs from "Alternative medicine" which is typically used in place of standard medical treatments - such as a special diet to treat cancer instead of a method that a cancer specialist suggests.

"Integrative medicine" is a whole-person approach that cares for the patient's mind, body, and spirit. It combines traditional medicine with the complementary and alternative practices that have shown the most effectiveness, such as the use of relaxation techniques for stress reduction. Similarly, our Support Groups help reduce stress and provide comfort by creating a forum for sharing, discussion and problem-solving.

Always discuss your thoughts about your care plans with your oncologist.

• Acupuncture
• Breast Cancer Forums
• Breast Cancer Support Group for Newly Diagnosed Patients
• Cancer in Other Words: A Writing Workshop
• Chinese Speakers Smoking Cessation Counseling
• Coping & Thriving After a Diagnosis of Cancer: A Survivorship Support Group
• Dream Tending: 12-Week Series
• Grupo de Apoyo Para Mujeres Latinas con Cancer del Seno
• Guided Imagery
• Gynecological Cancer Support Group (ABSCCC)
• Healing Yoga for Cancer
• Jin Shin Jyutsu
• Look Good...Feel Better
• Lymphedema Awareness Workshop (ABSCCC)
• Man to Man - Prostate Cancer Support Group
• Massage Therapy
• Metastatic Cancer Support Group
• Nourishing the Mind-Body Connection Workshop
• Nutrition Awareness & Education Workshop
• Parents Living with Cancer
• Post-Treatment Support Group for Women with Breast Cancer
• Spouses and Partners of Women with Cancer Support Group
• Stress Reduction: The Practice of Mindfulness
• Stress Reduction Group
• The Prostate Cancer Group (ABSCCC)

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the best-known forms of traditional Chinese medicine and has been found beneficial in treating headaches, managing post-operative and chemotherapy-related fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. It can also enhance your sense of well being. Acupuncture uses hair-thin needles, carefully placed at specific points in the skin to rebalance various organs and other systems by manipulating vital life forces called Qi (pronounced "chee").

Talk to your doctor to discuss the health benefits of using acupuncture in addition to your traditional cancer treatments. You may also ask for the name and contact information of a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) in your area.

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Breast Cancer Forums

This is a monthly gathering of health care providers, researchers, patients, patient advocates, friends, and families to share and hear presentations related to breast cancer. Previous topics include: Updates on Diagnostic Tools, Understanding the Pathology Report, Inside Breast Cancer: The Evolution of Hormone Therapy and Bone Health, Breast Cancer and the Vitamin D Connection. To be notified of the next forum or to be put on the mailing to receive announcements please call the number below and leave your mailing or email address. Forums are held at the Summit Campus in Oakland (Markstein Cancer Services). Call Markstein Cancer Education & Prevention Services at (510) 869-8833 for more information.

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Breast Cancer Support Group for Newly Diagnosed Patients

For women recently diagnosed and receiving treatment for breast cancer. Meet other women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and learn about surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy and how other women cope with breast cancer treatment. Share thoughts about how breast cancer can impact body image, relationships and family life. Meets 1st and 3rd Monday of every month from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Please call (510) 204-4330 for location.

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Cancer in Other Words: A Writing Workshop

Put your unique life experiences into words. Increase your sense of well-being and reduce stress with this healing exploration of expressive writing. Jumpstart your writing and receive personal assistance from a published author. No previous writing experience necessary. Three and four week workshops run consecutive Thursday evenings. Graduates can join the ongoing writers group. Call (510) 869-8833 for the next session enrollment.

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Chinese Speakers Smoking Cessation Counseling

Are you ready to quit smoking but need some support and guidance in a one-on-one session? Free smoking cessation counseling and programming. To schedule an appointment, please call Marcia Lam at (510) 593-8896.

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Coping & Thriving After a Diagnosis of Cancer: A Survivorship Support Group

Meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 11:30 - 1:00 pm. This group is located at the Peralta Pavilion - Summit Campus at Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Services, 450 30th Street, Room 2810, Oakland.
Please call (510) 869-8833 to register or for more information.

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Dream Tending: 12-Week Series

Dreams are doorways into the intelligent unconscious. They can often give us clues on how to work creatively with difficult, even traumatic aspects of our lives. This experiential class will introduce participants to the basics of Projective Dreamwork. We will use the insights of the group to enter more deeply into the meaning and significance of a dream. Meets at the Alta Bates Summit Comprehensive Cancer Center, Herrick Campus. Pre-registration required. Please call Maura Singer Williams, MA (510) 204-4645.

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Grupo de Apoyo Para Mujeres Latinas con Cancer del Seno

Animo * Esperanza * Educación
Este grupo es totalmente gratuitio y en Español! Para mas información por favor llamar a sobreviviente Raquel Portugal (510) 430-1963 o la enfermera Marta Borbón-Ehling (510) 219-3532.
El proyecto se mantiene con el apoyo de las fundaciones: The San Francisco Bay Area Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation y Alta Bates Summit Foundation.

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Guided Imagery

An innovative approach to reducing stress and anxiety and creating positive, life-affirming images. Meets Thursdays 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., Comprehensive Cancer Center, CC Conference Room, Herrick Campus. Walk-ins welcome. Please call (510) 204-1811 for more information.

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Gynecological Cancer Support Group (ABSCCC)

Meet other women who have been diagnosed with a gynecological cancer. Learn about surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy and how other women cope with treatment for gynecological cancers. Share thoughts about how gynecological cancers can impact body image, relationships and family life. Meets 2nd and 4th Monday of every month from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Please call for pre-registration (510)204-3909.

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Healing Yoga for Cancer

Yoga is a mind/body therapy that uses gentle exercises and positions to help reduce the heart rate, lower blood pressure and manage stress. Yoga can also build physical strength, increase flexibility and help enhance your energy and mental clarity. Yoga is offered at the Herrick Campus - Comprehensive Cancer Center every Thursday at 11:00 in the cc conference room. For information please call (510) 508-1653. Walk-ins welcome.

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Jin Shin Jyutsu

This class teaches a healing technique that uses breathing and self-massage to relieve pain, nausea and other side-effects while increasing relaxation, improving circulation, and creating a balanced sense of well-being. Meets every Thursday, 12:00 -1:00 p.m., Comprehensive Cancer Center, CC Conference Room, Herrick Campus. Walk-ins welcome. Please call (510) 204-4785.

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Look Good...Feel Better

Look Good...Feel Better is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the Markstein Cancer Center. The free program offers a monthly workshop to help women offset appearance-related changes from cancer treatment. Each two-hour, hands-on workshop includes a 12-step skin care/make-up application lesson, demonstration of options for dealing with hair loss, and nail care techniques. Registration is required.
Dates: First Monday of each month
Time: 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Place: Peralta Pavilion - Summit Campus at Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Services located at 450 30th Street, Room 2810, Oakland.
Contact: (510) 869-8833 to register.
-OR-
Dates: Fourth Monday of each month
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Place: Herrick Campus Breast Center Salon, Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2001 Dwight Way, Berkeley
Contact: (510) 204-4785.

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Lymphedema Awareness Workshop (ABSCCC)

A 60-minute patient education program for surgery, includes a question and answer session with a lymphedema therapist. The goal of the program is to educate participants in lymphedema signs and symptoms, prevention and treatment. Meets every 3rd Tuesday at 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Pre-registration required. Please call (510) 204-4330.

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Man to Man - Prostate Cancer Support Group

A monthly meeting bringing hope to people who aren't really sure where to turn. The group provides a place of inclusion, is welcoming, and is a good place for men to talk about struggling to understand and cope with prostate cancer. Man to Man is a free monthly group providing support, education and information, and includes guest speakers bi-monthly.
Dates: Fourth Tuesday
Time: 6:15 to 7:45 pm
Place: Peralta Pavilion - Summit Campus at Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Services, 450 30th Street, Room 2810, Oakland
Contact: (510) 869-8833 to register.

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Massage Therapy

Neck and shoulder massage can reduce stress, improve well-being and enhance your ability to heal. Free massages available to patients and their families on Fridays, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the Acupuncture Clinic in the basement of Alta Bates Summit Comprehensive Cancer Center. Walk-ins welcome. For more information, please call (510) 204-4785.

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Metastatic Cancer Support Group

Ongoing support groups for individuals interested in sharing issues involved in living with advanced illness. Commitment required. Two sections available. One group meets every Wednesday, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. The other group meets every Friday from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Pre-registration is required. Please call (510) 204-4330.

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Nourishing the Mind-Body Connection Workshop

This four-class workshop offers training in an array of mind-body practices that will help you focus the mind for healing and relaxation, increase body awareness for better functioning, calm the body and mind to decrease anxiety, and will produce appreciation of the present moment to improve quality of life and mood. These self-care tools can be integrated into daily life, and when practiced regularly, create inner strength and serenity. The mind-body practices explored will include mindfulness meditation, relaxation, movement, and energy healing.
Workshops meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 1:15 - 2:30 pm. Each workshop is a series of four classes that will repeat. For details about this workshop series, please call Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Services, located at 450 30th Street, Room 2810, Oakland.
Please call (510) 869-8833 to pre-register.

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Nutrition Awareness & Education Workshop

This class covers the nutritional needs during and after cancer treatment.
Place: Herrick Campus - Comprehensive Cancer Center, Herrick Campus, 2001 Dwight Way, Berkeley. Please call (510) 204-1591 for dates, times and registration.

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Parents Living with Cancer

Learn how to talk to your children about cancer while taking care of your own issues. A support group offered in collaboration with Circle of Care – Grief and Illness support for children and families at the Alta Bates Summit Comprehensive Cancer Center. This support group will provide a safe space to share hopes, fears, and challenges related to living with cancer and its impact on parenting. Stress-reducing techniques, how to talk with children, and take care of yourself as an individual and a parent will be explored. Expressive arts, writing, and peer sharing techniques will be utilized throughout the group cycle.

The group is open to all adults diagnosed with cancer with children age 17 and under. Parents, their partners, and alternate caregivers also welcome. Workshops are held on Tuesdays, 12:30 to 2:00 pm at the Alta Bates Summit Comprehensive Cancer Center. For information or to enroll, contact Jess Feury, Support Group Coordinator, Circle of Care, at (510)531-7551 x195.

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Post-Treatment Support Group for Women with Breast Cancer

Eight-week series designed for women who have completed breast cancer treatment and are adjusting to the new challenges they face. Please call the Comprehensive Cancer Center at (510) 204-1811 for dates, times and locations of the next series. Pre-registration is required.

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Spouses and Partners of Women with Cancer Support Group

Ongoing support for men whose wives/partners have been diagnosed with cancer.
Dates: Every Other Wednesday
Time: 7:30 to 9:00 pm
Location: Comprehensive Cancer Center, Herrick Campus, Berkeley
Please call (510) 841-2930 for location details and more information.

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Stress Reduction: The Practice of Mindfulness

Mindfulness teaches us to be present in the moment with whatever is happening in our lives. Through this simple yet powerful practice, we can learn how to transform our ability to cope with the stress of everyday life, the stress of illness and begin to cultivate mental balance, generosity and compassion towards ourselves and others. This experiential 8-week series includes detailed instruction in body/mind relaxation techniques, mindfulness meditation, gentle yoga and how to work more skillfully with the challenges of daily life. 8-week series meets at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Herrick Campus. Pre-registration required. Please call Maura Singer Williams, MA at (510) 204-4645.

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Stress Reduction Group

An ongoing weekly group for those who have completed the 8-week “Stress Reduction: The Practice of Mindfulness” training series. Includes the healing practices of mindfulness meditation, body awareness, loving-kindness meditation, and relaxation techniques. Meets every Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, Herrick Campus. Pre-registration required. Please call Maura Singer Williams, MA at (510) 204-4645.

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The Prostate Cancer Group (ABSCCC)

An ongoing program for prostate cancer patients and survivors that includes presentations by leading prostate cancer experts and an information sharing and discussion group. Meets every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Comprehensive Cancer Center, Maffly Auditorium, Herrick Campus. To pre-register or for event schedule, please call (510) 204-6496. For more information call (510) 204-4785.

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