Cancer support groups facilitate information sharing in familiar environment
Radiation oncologist Dr. David Hong co-leads Korean-language group in community
IN THE NEWS: Receiving a cancer diagnosis, navigating treatment options and other support services can be overwhelming for patients and their families, especially those from culturally diverse communities.
Dr. David Hong, a radiation oncology and clinical informatics specialist with UCI Health, co-leads an in-language cancer support group for Korean American families in Buena Park. The Korea Daily recently spotlighted the group, which is sponsored by Korean Community Services.
Hong spoke about the importance of supporting patients and their families throughout treatment and recovery. He also says he group allows him to share important information with families in a calmer setting.
“At the hospital, patients and their families receive a lot of information in a short period of time, which can be overwhelming. This program allows me to provide families with specialized guidance and additional support in a more familiar environment.”
Group attendees share their own stories about how to manage anxiety, depression and loneliness undergoing treatment, along with inspirational tales of recovery and the importance of continued hope. It is free for patients and their families and meets on the third Monday of every month.
Hong is the director of quality at UCI Health Radiation Oncology and an assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
To schedule an appointment, call 714-880-7812. Learn more about support groups at UCI Health.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).