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Cancer Support — For the Whole Family, the Whole Time

By Marlena F. Woodmansee, PsyD

Cancer is a club that no one asks to join, but for those who have — Gilda's Club is here for you. Gilda's Club offers emotional and social support for men, women, and children living with cancer, as well as their families and friends.

Recent research indicates that people living with cancer need support and encouragement, skills for learning to live with cancer, and information about resources, treatment options, and techniques for managing cancer and the side effects of treatment. Our “Red Doors” will be opening at the end of July with those objectives in mind.

At Gilda's Club, our philosophy is that our members are the true experts in living with cancer, and there is no way to place a price on what happens among the members in the club; therefore, there is no charge to our members.

Participation in Gilda's Club helps alleviate feelings of isolation. People find others who know firsthand about living with cancer. Members learn, laugh and share with each other. From despair and fear, they experience joy and hope. From fellow members and medical and health experts, they learn how to live with cancer, whatever the outcome, and they create a community in which they both give and receive social and emotional support.

All you have to do to become a member is give us a call. Attend a New Member Meeting to find out what we have to offer, develop your specific plan for how to get the most out of our club, then come!

Here is just a sample of all that Gilda's Club offers:

• Support and Networking Groups: Sessions are for adults living with any kind of cancer, as well as for families and friends. Support groups are composed of men and women with all types of cancer, while networking groups, based on the interests of the members, are focused on a specific group of people, such as a men's group or a young mom's group, or on specific types of cancer, such as breast, pancreatic, lung, or prostate cancer. We have programs for cancer survivors to help them learn to live with long-term effects of the disease and treatments. We also have bereavement groups for those who have had a loved one die from the disease.
• Lectures and Workshops : Lectures offer members opportunities to acquire new skills for living with cancer. Topics may include: Pain Management, Stress Management, Exercise & Healthy Nutrition and Talking to Children about Cancer. We also offer yoga, art, and creative writing classes, and so much more. Our library will allow members access to additional resources and information.
• Social Events —When Gilda Radner, of “Saturday Night Live” fame, learned she had cancer, she had an abundance of resources. Still, she felt alone until she began to attend a wellness community. So, in the spirit of Gilda, the essence of social life at Gilda's Club is developing a sense of community through shared fun. We plan to laugh a lot at Gilda's Club!
• Noogieland ® : Named for the “noogies,” or head rubs Gilda received from fellow “Saturday Night Live” comedian Bill Murray, is our playroom for children diagnosed with cancer as well as children who have a loved one with cancer. Play isn't all that happens there, however. We have special “talk times” and activities for children, “tweens,” ages 10-12, and teens, to give them the support they need.
• Family Focus and Team Convene : Sometimes families have difficulty talking about cancer. Licensed mental health professionals will help family members begin those discussions and work toward resolving any difficulties that the cancer journey is causing. When cancer strikes, energy wanes — but the dog still needs to be walked, the children still need to be fed, work still has to be done. We will help the family talk about these changes, then help them organize supportive resources in their families, their churches, their neighborhoods or in the community.

Renevation on our building at 633 Baxter Ave. is almost complete, and now, we need your help. We need volunteers. We need funds to complete the final phase of our capital campaign. And, most of all, we need members to fill the clubhouse with laughter, tears, sharing and life. We have a phenomenal board of directors, many of whom are cancer survivors. Their leadership, and a dedicated staff, combined with a tremendous outpouring of support from the community, makes this vision a soon-to-be reality — and we are truly grateful.

If you or a loved one is living with cancer, give us a call (502) 583-0075. As Gilda said — “cancer is a club that you don't want to join” — but if you belong, we would gladly welcome you into ours so that we can support you during your journey!

Marlena F. Woodmansee, PsyD, is Program Director for Gilda's Club. She is a licensed clinical psychologist. Prior to joining the staff at Gilda's Club Louisville, Dr. Woodmansee was in private practice where she specialized in child and family therapy and psychological assessment, as well as being a part-time adjunct faculty member at Spalding where she received her doctoral degree. She has been married to Lelan Woodmansee, Executive Director of the Greater Louisville Medical Society, for nearly 37 years, has two sons, David, who is a professional musician and Craig who is married to Jennifer Sykes Woodmansee. She also has two incredible grandchildren (just ask her); Arwen, 3, and Harper, 19 months.