St. Mary Medical Center is now offering a program to address the psychosocial needs for cancer patients.  Through a grant from the St. Mary Foundation, cancer patients will now have access to free individual consultation, and a weekly support group for cancer patients and survivors. 

"The goal of our new Quality of Life Project is to identify and address the emotional and psychological needs of cancer patients, and those that support them," said licensed psychologist Robert Smith, Ph.D, the coordinator of the program.  "We are developing audio CDs discussing cancer support topics that patients and family members can listen to anytime."

The free support group meets weekly on Tuesday afternoons from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the 1043 Elm Avenue building on the St. Mary Medical Center campus.  Individual consultation sessions can be scheduled by contacting Dr. Smith at (562) 491-9067 
 and for more information about the Quality of Life project, call 1-888-4STMARY.