HEALTH BRIEFS HEALTH BRIEFS (September 13, 2000)

Breast cancer support group

Women with breast cancer may be eligible for a 12-week study investigating the benefits of online breast cancer support groups. The study is being conducted by researchers at Stanford Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry and Behavorial Sciences.

The program's goal is to provide women with a forum where they can talk about their concerns, find support, and learn new coping skills. The support group will be facilitated by a Stanford psychologist.

The program will be conducted exclusively online, and requires about one hour per week of participation. Participants who do not have access to a computer may be able to borrow a computer from study organizers and receive free Internet access for the length of the study.

Enrollment is free and open to women with a diagnosis of primary breast cancer. For more information, contact Mary Rauner at 723-2229, or log on at buddies-help@buddies.stanford.edu.

Heart smart

A free lecture on "How to be Heart Smart" is set for Wednesday, September 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the Redwood City Public Library. Registered nurse Anna Radcliff will present the lecuture, sponsored by the library and Kaiser Permanente.

The library is at 1044 Middlefield Road. Metered parking is available in the lot next to the library.

For more information, call Kaiser at 299-2433.

Hospice volunteers needed

The Stanford Hospice program is seeking volunteers to work with dying patients in their homes in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda counties. Responsibilities include providing practical and emotional support both to the patient and his or her family.

The program is looking for volunteers who are empathetic, mature and flexible. Volunteers are also needed for office work and bereavement calling.

A 20-hour training program will be conducted. Volunteers are asked to make a commitment of three to five hours a week for one year.

For more information, call 723-3299.

Stroke support groups

The Peninsula Stroke Association offers two on-going support groups, free of charge.

A round-table discussion for stroke survivors and caregivers is held the first Wednesday of every month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Lytton Gardens II, 437 Webster St., in Palo Alto. A lecture series for stroke survivors runs the third Wednesday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. at Veterans Administration Hospital, Bldg. 101, Main Auditorium, on Miranda Avenue in Palo Alto.

The support groups offer help to stroke survivors and their families who may feel overwhelmed by and unsure of how to cope with significant changes following stroke, according to Peninsula Stroke Association programs director Marty Newlands.

For information, call 565-8485.