Most Common Types of Gynecologic Cancers

Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

About Us

The CanSurvive GYN Support Group is for women with gynecologic cancers, their families, friends, loved ones and the professionals who treat them. We recognize that in addition to excellent medical care, there is a deep need for emotional, spiritual, and educational support when faced with the challenge of a life-threatening illness.

Therefore our goals are:

*Provide opportunities to learn about gynecologic cancers, its treatment and research being done.

*Create a setting in which patients can offer one another emotional and spiritual help.

*Make it possible for patients and professionals to interact in informal settings outside of the clinic.

*Attend national advocacy meetings, local events that support GYN cancers.

*Promote GYN Cancer Awareness Month (September) of each year.

Our Group was started in 1998 by Dr. Terri Pustilnik who saw the need for a Support Group in the Birmingham area. Founding members were Mary Ellen Nicholas, Charlotte Davis, Miranda Watkins, Carolyn Fiore, Susie Jackson, JoLane Gable, Beth Hosmer and Brenda Lamb.

The Group has grown over the years. We have lost many wonderful ladies and we have gained many wonderful ladies.

The group meets on the 3rd Friday of each month at the Birmingham American Cancer Society from noon until 1:00. Lunch is always provided. A speaker is invited every other month. A time of sharing and planning is the other months.

Many ladies will exchange email address and telephone numbers so they can talk further throughout the month.

We are a member of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. We try to attend the national meetings every year. We are also active in the community to promote awareness of ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancers.

We have several members who are not able to attend meetings. I had a question from someone that made me realize that some of you may not realize the scope of what CanSurvive does.

As you know, the best part about the CanSurvive group is that someone with gyn cancer can meet (in person or even by e-mail or phone calls) other gyn cancer survivors and find support, encouragement, hope, and know they are not alone. It means so much to talk to someone who has "been there" .

At our monthly meetings we sometimes have speakers; sometimes, we just share.

The whole impetus behind the fashion show luncheon and silent auction is to raise enough money for CanSurvive to operate for 2 years. For years it operated on a shoestring budget, mainly funded by the sale of cookbooks. Here are just some of the things we've spent our money on this last year: