BELFAST — MaineHealth Cancer Care Belfast invites all patients and community members who are experiencing cancer to attend their Cancer Support Group, held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., on the MaineHealth Waldo Hospital campus.

MaineHealth Cancer Care Belfast’s Paula Holmes, LCSW, facilitates the group, where participants are invited to talk as little or as much as they’d like, hear others’ perspectives, process thoughts and feelings and share laughter and camaraderie with other group members.

“Life is less lonely when we have people who have been through similar experiences in our circle,” said Holmes, in a news release. “Cancer is a scary diagnosis, and when someone with cancer gathers with others who have been through it, too, it is a place to be real and express the aspects of this experience that may feel difficult to discuss with family and friends. Support groups provide a safe place to do that, as well as a group to celebrate successes with, and talk about all aspects of the journey.”

Meetings are held inside the Teleconference Room, located on the ground floor of MaineHealth Waldo Hospital. Participants may also request a link to attend virtually if preferred. For more information, or to request a link, please call 505-4200.

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in 2 Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Health System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.