Tampa Bay area health support groups

Support groups

AFRICAN-AMERICAN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: Sisters Network of Tampa Bay meets monthly at Seminole Heights Library, 4711 N. Central Ave., Tampa. Call (813) 806-0597 or e-mail sistersnetworktampa@ hotmail.com.

BRAIN INJURY: The Brain Injury Family Support Group, for families with a loved one who has suffered a traumatic brain injury, meets from 5 to 6 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays monthly at Tampa General Hospital, fourth floor, Rehabilitation Center, Room R417. Contact Rebecca McAlaster at (813) 844-7759 or rmcalaster@tgh.org.

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP IN SPANISH (LA LUNA DE PINELLAS): Powell Cancer Center, 303 Pinellas St., Clearwater. Meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday monthly. Call (727) 462-2149.

DIABETES: 2:30 p.m. the first Saturday of every month at the Tampa General Hospital Health Education Center, 740 S. Village Circle, Tampa. Call (813) 844-8091 or e-mail lgil@tgh.org.

ENDOMETRIAL CANCER: A support group meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. the third Monday of each month at St. Joseph Women's Hospital Pavilion, 4321 N. MacDill Ave., Classroom 3, Tampa. Call (813) 783-6039.

FITNESS: G.I.F.T. (Get Into Fitness Today) support groups meet at several locations and times. Call (813) 307-8071:

10:30 a.m. Mondays at El Bethel Tabernacle, 2121 S. 78th St., Tampa

1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Bloomingdale Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico

6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Quality Time, 4031 Amber Road, Valrico

6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Winston Park, 7605 Destin Drive, Tampa

5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Children's Board, 1002 E. Palm Ave., Tampa

LIVER DISEASE/HEPATITIS: The Liver Disease/Hepatitis Support Group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first Wednesday monthly at Tampa General Hospital, West Pavilion. Call (813) 844-7799 or e-mail vanderson @tgh.org.

LYME DISEASE: Gulf Coast Lyme Disease Support Group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first Thursday monthly in the children's educational building at Journey Assembly of God Church, 5019 37th St. E., Bradenton. Call (941) 870-4816 or e-mail Jessica @sneeked.com.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A support group for women with multiple sclerosis meets at 6 p.m. the first Tuesday monthly (except in November, when it meets the second Tuesday) at Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 500 W. Platt St. (Knox Hall, room 156), Tampa. Call (813) 253-5388.

NICOTINE: Clearwater You Can Do It, a Nicotine Anonymous group, meets at noon Sundays in the boardroom on the first floor of Morton Plant Hospital, 300 Pinellas St. Call (727) 447-7482 or (727) 462-7111.

OVARIAN AND GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS: Ovacome, Gynecologic Cancer Support Group of Tampa Bay, meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the third Tuesday monthly at St. Joseph's Medical Arts Building, auditorium 3, Tampa. Call (813) 223-9108.

PARKINSON'S WELLNESS PROGRAM: Ptak Orthopedic and Neuroscience Pavilion, 430 Morton Plant St., Clearwater. A group meets at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Call (727) 462-7500.

QUITTING SMOKING: 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays at Pasco County Health Department, 10841 Little Road, New Port Richey. Call (727) 861-5250, ext. 279.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first Thursday monthly at Forest Hills Recreation Center, 724 109th St., Tampa. Call (813) 495-3000.

SCLERODERMA: Noon the third Saturday monthly at Shriners Hospitals for Children, near the University of South Florida Tampa campus. Call (813) 684-8949 after 11 a.m.