Team Spirit’s vision and commitment enable Long Beach Memorial to offer patient care programs, such as a Support Group for gynecological cancers and unique peer mentoring through the Breast Friends program. Team Spirit has also helped fund a part time social worker to assist patients through their treatment process. In 2005, Team Spirit was responsible for funding a newly developed ovarian cancer clinical trial project to educate the medical community on methods of reducing side affects connected with ovarian cancer treatments.
Below is detailed information regarding the support services funded by Team Spirit to support Ovarian & Gynecologic cancer patients and Breast Cancer patients.
Two Mentor Programs:
“Women Guiding Women” - Gynecologic Cancer Mentor Program - website
“Breast Friends” - Breast Cancer Mentor Program - website
Women Guiding Women and Breast Friends are peer-mentoring programs for newly diagnosed gynecologic and breast cancer patients. Patients can be matched with a specially trained cancer survivor/Mentor and talk one-on-one over the phone with their Mentor. The goal is to provide support for newly diagnosed women by women who “have been there”. Mentors act as a resource and sounding board for newly diagnosed patients. Since Mentors have been in the trenches and emerged survivors, they can assist newly diagnosed women embark on their course of treatment and reach their full potential for recovery. Mentors are committed volunteers who are prepared to assist women through active peer support, compassionate understanding, information support, navigation and guidance.
Please contact Randal Snyder ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Cindy Gotz ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or call 562/933-7815.
Clinical Social Worker devoted to Women's Cancers:
Team Spirit helps fund a full-time clinical social worker who obtains the best care and support services available for breast and ovarian cancer patients at Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. Free support groups, also led by the social worker, are available to any patient from any hospital.
Two Support Groups:
Team Spirit sponsors both the clinical social worker and the oncology nurses who co-facilitate these support groups
Gynecologic Cancer Support Group: This support group utilizes an open format, providing opportunities to share individual stories, learn ways to reduce stress and enhance coping skills while focusing on adaptive and empowering attitudes. Group facilitated by clinical social worker and an oncology nurse. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month; 4:30-6:00 pm Long Beach memorial Medical Center; Conference Room on 2nd Floor/Women’s.
Contact Clinical Social Worker, Holly Adams (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
) or call 562/933-7845.
click here for more information
Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Support Group: This is an ongoing, supportive educational series for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Group facilitated by clinical social worker and an oncology nurse. Wednesdays 4:30 - 6:00 pm Long Beach Memorial Medical Center; Leavey Radiation Oncology Center Conference Room
Contact Clinical Social Worker, Holly Adams (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
) or call 562/933-7845.
click here for more information
FREE SERVICES FOR GYNECOLOGIC & OVARIAN CANCER AND BREAST CANCER PATIENTS
- Mentors: Specially trained survivors offer support one-on-one over the phone 562/933-7815
- “Cancer Answers” free phone help-line answered by oncology nurse 562/933-0900
- Support groups for newly diagnosed patients and for family members 562/933-7845
- Full-time clinical social worker devoted to gynecologic and breast cancer 562/933-7845
Get to know the Support Services Team for Women with Cancer
Holly Adams, Cindy Gotz and Randal Snyder
Holly Adams, Clinical Social Worker for Women’s Cancers Holly’s strong experience in mental health and medical social work allows her to provide a broad spectrum of patient and family services: crisis intervention, brief counseling, access to community resources, advocacy, and assistance navigating the health care system. Along with an oncology nurse, Holly also facilitates weekly support groups for patients newly diagnosed with gynecologic cancer or with breast cancer.
Cindy Gotz, Co-Manager Mentor Programs for Women with Cancer created the gynecologic cancer peer-mentor program, “Women Guiding Women”, and assists with the Breast Friends mentor program. A cancer survivor herself, Cindy particularly enjoys her interaction with survivors and the on-going research and development of services for those dealing with cancer. Additionally, she evaluates program effectiveness and does grant-writing to help sustain our programs. In her “spare time”, Cindy teaches at CSULB.
Randal Snyder, Co-Manager Mentor Programs for Women with Cancer Having worked on hospital and community-wide projects for her first six years at Long Beach Memorial, Randal joined Todd Cancer Institute in 2006 to expand support services for cancer patients. Randal delights in working with patients, families, community members, donors and colleagues to develop, market and fund educational and support services for cancer patients and their loved ones.
