Cancer support groups to meet in August

The Wellness Community, Valley/Ventura offers ongoing programs and support groups for people with cancer and their families and/or caregivers.

Offered at no cost, the programs aim to educate, inform, comfort and encourage cancer patients in their fight for recovery. For detailed information and a complete schedule of these programs that offer psychological, social and emotional support, please call the Wellness Community at (805) 379-4777.

All programs are at the Wellness Community, 530 Hampshire Road, Westlake Village and are open to cancer patients and their families.

Orientation Meetings: 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to noon Fridays

Family and Friends Drop-In Groups: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays

Brain Tumor Networking Group: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 7

Lung Cancer Group: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thurs., Aug. 7

Gynecological Cancer Group: 7 to 9 p.m., Mon., Aug. 4

The Wellness Connection: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tues., Aug. 5 and 19; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tues., Aug. 12 and 26

Leukemia and Lymphoma ociety Support Group: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 14 and 28

Breast Cancer Group: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tues., Aug. 19

Prostate Cancer Group: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 16

Relaxation/Visualization: 1 to 2 p.m. Fridays

Qigong (Chinese healing technique): 9 to 10 a.m. Saturdays

Beginning Yoga: 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Wednesdays

Teen Rap: For any teen whose parent or grandparent has cancer. Group and individual counseling available. For more information, call Toni Feld-Parker, Ph.D., teen program coordinator, at (805) 379-4777.

Additionally, a Yoga for Stress Management course for cancer patients and family members will be offered from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Mondays beginning Aug. 11. The eight-week course will focus on using the yoga tools of awareness, breathing, gentle movement, meditation, relaxation and imagery to reduce stress and increase feelings of relaxation and well-being.

Certified yoga instructor Jeannette Green, who recently completed special training in Yoga for People Living with Cancer, will conduct the class. To register, call (805) 379-4777.

A "Trigger Point Therapy Workshop" will be presented by Adam Story, D.C., at 7 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 28, This is a self-help massage technique that is used to reduce the tension and knots in the muscles caused by stress.