News Release

September 19, 2007

Contact: Carolyn Pennington, 860-679-4864
e-mail: cpennington@uchc.edu

Statewide Melanoma Support Group

FARMINGTON, CONN. – Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and disturbingly, it is also the fastest growing. In fact, the percentage of people with melanoma has more than doubled in the last 30 years.

“Recently diagnosed patients need to know there is a group they can turn to who can offer them emotional and educational support,” says Donald Looney, a Southington resident who was instrumental in forming the Melanoma Support Group two years ago. The group is based at the University of Connecticut Health Center but patients, their families and friends from anywhere in the region are welcome to attend.

The support group meets the third Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Dowling South building, 2nd floor conference room, UConn Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington. Oncologists, surgeons, nutritionists and psychiatrists are sometimes invited to speak about the latest treatments and research and answer any questions.

For more information, call Donald Looney at 860-621-0534.   

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital, a Solucient Top 100 Hospital® 2006. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. To learn more about the UConn Health Center, visit our website at www.uchc.edu.

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