Inova’s Life with Cancer Program Wins National Award for Lung Cancer Support Group
Carrie Friedman RN, BS, OCN, is a manager of Oncology Navigation and Counseling at the Inova Life with Cancer™ program, a program within the Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Institute. She co-facilitates the Inova Life with Cancer lung cancer support group. Meet Carrie.
David McGinness, LCSW, is an oncology social worker and therapist at the Inova Life with Cancer program and co-facilitates the Lung Cancer Support Group.
The award for our Lung Cancer Support Group
Life with Cancer™ is a program provided by Inova to support and enhance the quality of life for individuals facing cancer by offering information, education and support. The Life with Cancer Lung Cancer Support Group recently received an award from the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) as the leading Lung Cancer Support Group across the country.
Currently, lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer in the U.S., and lung cancer patients endure the stigma that this is somehow their fault. Many in the general public think of lung cancer only as a “smoker’s disease.” Cancer is cancer—regardless of how it’s developed, and it’s critical that support is ongoing.
The Lung Cancer Alliance chooses its annual winner based on feedback from participants, an in-person observation from an LCA representative and the robust, consistent attendance of group members.
While we are honored to have received this award, we believe it truly belongs to our wonderful participants, who share their stories, offer each other hope and support and work together in the fight against lung cancer.
Old Patients and New, Coming Together
Part of what sets our group apart is the unique makeup of our participants, which includes both new lung cancer patients as well as long-term survivors. At first, we were unsure about how this mix would work but we have found that the long-term survivors and the new patients treasure the relationships born from this group. Those that have been out of treatment for a long period of time offer hope along with practical tips and advice to the new patients. Their firsthand accounts are instrumental in helping newer patients through their journey.
Many caregivers join us as well. In fact, we have a number of caregivers whose loved ones live out of state. Even though the patient does not attend with them, the caregivers feel that the camaraderie and support they receive from our group is invaluable.
“The Group Owns the Group”
Our motto for the support group is “the group owns the group.” Our members are truly invested in participating in the process, being there to mentor the newly diagnosed and providing hope, support and advice. We are proud of what this group has accomplished, and this award reflects their passion and their consistent contributions.
Our lung cancer support group has been active for more than a decade, helping and guiding patients and their caregivers through the cancer journey. Now numbering more than 20 regular participants, we recently relocated to a bigger, more comfortable space to accommodate our growing group.
What Happens at a Typical Meeting
We welcome any lung cancer patient and/or caregiver to come and share their story. This group is open to anyone in our community—one does not need to be a patient at Inova in order to attend. Together, we listen to each other, discuss new treatment options and give tips for managing discomfort and anxiety.
Our meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. At a typical meeting:
- We begin with a welcome. Participants share their story briefly, highlighting what brings them to our group as well as any issues or questions they would like the group to address.
- After introductions, we circle back to the questions and make sure our new members have a chance to be heard.
- We do not have an official agenda. Instead, we allow our participants to set the tone, agenda and topics. It is their group and their voice.
- At times, we invite guest speakers to address the group. Topics have included:
- Tools for wellness, such as meditation
- Treatment updates
- Learning about lab values
- Nutrition tips for patients undergoing cancer treatment
About the Lung Cancer Alliance
The Lung Cancer Alliance is a national organization based in Washington, D.C. It provides lung cancer support for patients and caregivers and education about early detection and screening. In addition, the organization advocates for increased funding for lung cancer research.
Though lung cancer is more deadly than the next five most prevalent types of cancer combined, it receives far less funding. Lead by the Lung Cancer Alliance staff, we have accompanied lung cancer patients and other health care providers to Capitol Hill and witnessed the powerful experience of patients sharing their personal stories and journeys. Not only does this bring a personal touch to cancer advocacy, but the experience of lobbying for change affects the patients as well. The feelings of empowerment, of bonding with fellow patients and of being part of the solution are irreplaceable.
Recently, we collaborated with the LCA for our 6th Annual “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” event, an evening featuring physicians and lung cancer experts. The successful event was opened to patients, caregivers and anyone who wanted to learn more about lung cancer.
How to Join the Group
To join, please sign up on www.lifewithcancer.org in the class registration box. Or, you can:
- Call 703-698-2526
- Call or email carrie.friedman@inova.org and 703-504-3019