Support Groups
Girlfriends with Gratitude
Young Women's Support Group Meeting

Dr. Lisa Curcio partners with several organizations that offer support for cancer patients, but she’s discovered very few resources for breast cancer survivors under 50 and decided to act and form a young women's support group with Dr. Lisa Curcio.  Candi Whurman, a Transformational Healing Coach who holds an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology and specializes in spiritual guidance facilitates the meetings. Candi acts as a facilitator only as the guidelines and focus of the group is determined by the participants and their individual needs.

Dr. Lisa Curcio understands that there is a great need for a Young Woman’s Cancer Support Group as the issues for women under 50 can be quite different than those diagnosed at older ages. Girlfriends with Gratitude strive to:

•  Offer a comfortable and safe setting for women to meet.

•  Offer support to one another in a group experience.

•  Focus on continued individual healing processes and enlightenment.
  
  While the conversations can be serious, they hope to bring fun and social aspects to the group as well. 

Join us for our monthly (third Thursday's of the month) Young Women's Breast Cancer
Support Group Meetings.  All meetings start at 6 pm and are held in our Mission Viejo office.
  Call, 949.770.0797, for more information.

Thank you to Moms with Cancer for their contribution to our organization.  Moms with Cancer
are donating a portion of their sales from the wonderful book, "My Cancer Mom," by Taylor Rice
 to our organization. To learn more about Moms with Cancer, visit:  www.momswithcancer.org

Meet the mYoung Women's Support Group Members
Girlfriends with Gratitude
 

Mindy, Lake Forest CA
"Co-Survivors working together to help each other survive, talking, listening and learning."
 
My breast cancer was found on March 2006. Three doctors examined me and I was told by my regular doctor that he didn't find a lump and there was nothing wrong. I insisted on a mammogram and the lump was found in my right breast behind the nibble.  The only way to find it was a mammogram. In May I underwent a lumpectomy performed by Dr. Curcio on my right breast. I subsequently received chemotherapy and 32 treatments of radiation. I finished my last radiation in January 2007.

My recommendation for women undergoing treatment is to say busy, get a job or do volunteer work. This helps you get over and past your treatment. After treatment you will find or start thinking what to do now. Eat right, exercise and don't let stress yourself out! Don't dwell on the past.  Live everyday like it is your last. Spend as much time as possible with family from parents, sisters, brothers to children.  Embrace everyday with a welcome! 

Laura
"Do self breast exams every month and if you feel something, don't be afraid to get it checked out, it could save your life!"

I went in for my annual well women check-up in December 2005 and all was well. In January 2006, I had my annual mammogram and all came back okay.  In early May 2006, while taking a shower I felt a lump in  my right breast, I immediately called my gynecologist office and scheduled an appointment.  I saw the nurse practitioner and she advised me to schedule an appointment at the Susan B. Komen Breast Center, which I did. Two weeks later, after having four or five mammograms on both breasts, I was asked to come back to the exam room.  I had an ultrasound guided needle aspiration biopsy and two days later I had a breast MRI.  With my results in hand, I was diagnosed by Dr. Curcio with invasive ductal carcinoma.

In June 2006, Dr. Curcio performed a bilateral mastectomy on me.  I choose to have a bilateral mastectomy because I wanted to do everything possible to minimize any chance of reoccurrence and never have to deal with this again!

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MISSION HOSPITAL

Dr. Curcio has an association with the Breast Cancer Support Group at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. The Breast Center at Mission Hospital offers a variety of support services for patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. These services include:

• "A Step At a Time" breast cancer support group (2nd and 4th Mondays, Cancer Resource and Library located on the third floor of the hospital)

• "Look Good, Feel Better" (offered in conjunction with the American Cancer Society)

• One-on-one support from breast cancer survivors

• Pre-operative class for women undergoing breast cancer surgery

• Educational workshops and lectures

For more information about the support groups and when they meet at Mission Hospital, please visit their Web site Mission Hospital - Centers of Excellence - Mission Breast Center.

SADDLEBACK MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER

Join the support group meetings held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month from 6:30 to 8 PM.

Women's Cancer Support Group
The MemorialCare Breast Center at Saddleback
24401 Calle de la Louisa, Ste. 101A
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

As a breast cancer survivor and breast cancer surgeon, Dr. Lisa Curcio is available to share her story. Dr. Curcio is a strong advocate for breast cancer research, treatment and education.

 

Speaker's Information: As a breast cancer survivor and breast cancer surgeon, Dr. Lisa Curcio is available to share her story. Dr. Lisa Curcio is a strong advocate for breast cancer research, treatment and education. If you would like Dr. Lisa Curcio to speak with your group, organization or association, please call our office at 949.770.0797 and we would be happy to discuss your request.