Novant Health Cancer Institute Kemp Bessant Support Center

11/14/2025

🎗️ Healing after cancer doesn’t stop when treatment ends.

Thank you to WCNC for highlighting how therapy — both mental and physical — is a key part of recovery for cancer survivors. Treatments may conclude, but the journey continues.

💬 “It’s not just surviving. It’s living — fully.”
👇 Check out the full video here

Ivy Jackson, a breast cancer survivor, says therapy is helping her post-battle.

11/13/2025

💙 Living with bladder cancer—or supporting someone who is? You’re not alone.

Join our Bladder Cancer Support Group to connect with others who understand the journey. Together, we share experiences, exchange encouragement, and lift each other up.

What you’ll find:
🤝 A welcoming community that truly gets it
💬 Open, supportive conversations
🛠️ Helpful insights and shared wisdom
❤️ Patients, survivors, and loved ones all welcome

📅 Thursday, November 20
🕑 2:00 p.m.
🌐 Join in person or virtually

To register or get the online link:
📞 Call 704-384-5223 (option 1) or
📧 Email rmerced@novanthealth.org

Let’s find strength and hope—together. 💙

11/12/2025

💜 Facing a new Multiple Myeloma diagnosis or navigating life after it? You don’t have to go through it alone.

Join our Multiple Myeloma Support Group — a safe, welcoming space to share, listen, and find encouragement from others who truly understand.

📅 Wednesday, November 19
⏰ 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
📍 Attend in person or virtually — your choice!
📞 Call 704-384-5223 (option 1) to register or receive the online link.

Together, we can find comfort, courage, and community. 💬

11/12/2025

Wellness Wednesday💡

This November, let's honor the strength of lung cancer warriors and raise awareness about the importance of early detection. Meet Garry Hoover and Gary Pippin, two friends from North Carolina who faced lung cancer together and emerged stronger.

At 70, both men had a long history of smoking—Garry for 35 years and Gary for 45. But their shared experience didn't end there. After receiving lung cancer diagnoses, they underwent surgery with the same surgeon at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center. Their journeys were intertwined, offering each other support and strength.

Their story is a powerful reminder: early detection saves lives. Lung cancer often has no symptoms until it's advanced, but screenings can catch it early when it's most treatable. Unfortunately, only 4.5% of eligible individuals were screened in 2022, leading to many cases being diagnosed too late.

This Lung Cancer Awareness Month, take action:
✅ If you're at risk, talk to your doctor about screening options.
✅ Share Garry and Gary's story to inspire others.
✅ Support initiatives that promote early detection and research.

Together, we can make a difference. Let's raise our voices and spread hope.

Two friends are advocates for lung cancer screening after receiving diagnoses and surgeries just months apart.

11/11/2025

🌸 Soothe your mind, body, and spirit through sound 🌸

Join holistic voice therapist and therapeutic singer Ana Lucia Divins for Healing Sounds: Soothing Sound Practices for Relaxation — a gentle, immersive experience designed to help you unwind and restore inner balance. 🎶

✨ Feel the calming effects of sound therapy
🧘‍♀️ Bring your yoga mat or use a chair provided
📅 Wednesday, November 19 | 2–3:30 p.m.
📞 Call 704-384-5223, option 1, to register
🆓 Free & open to all

Let sound guide you into stillness and renewal. 💫

11/11/2025

Find peace through creativity! ✨

Join artist Shana Templin for individualized art sessions designed to calm your mind and lift your spirit. Each session is a safe, supportive space to explore your emotions through art — whether that’s painting, sculpting, collage, or drawing.

No experience? No problem. Just come as you are — curious, open, and ready to create. 💜

🖌️ Free and open to all.
📞 Call 704-384-5223 (option 1) or email STemplin@NovantHealth.org to schedule your session.

11/10/2025

Monday Motivation ✨

🌧️ When it rains, look for rainbows.
🌌 When it’s dark, look for stars.

Cancer brings heavy moments, but even in the hardest times, there’s still light to be found — in a kind word, a quiet strength, a shared laugh. ✨

Perspective doesn’t change the storm, but it can help you weather it. Hold on to hope. You are doing an incredible job, one day at a time. 💛

11/07/2025

✨ Weekend Brunch Vibes! ✨

Say hello to your new favorite brunch recipe — a delicious, feel-good take on the classic baked oatmeal. It’s easy, nourishing, and the perfect excuse to slow down and savor the weekend. 🥣💙

🍇 Why you’ll love it:
● Made with whole rolled oats, fresh fruit (think juicy blueberries), almond butter, coconut oil and tasty pecans + coconut-flake topping.
● Vegan and gluten-free friendly (just use certified gluten-free oats if needed) — so it fits many diets without sacrificing flavor.
● Big on texture: crunchy topping meets a soft and creamy middle.
● Great for brunch and for prepping ahead — bake now, enjoy all week.

This easy baked oatmeal recipe is the best morning treat! Made with wholesome ingredients like oats, nuts, and fruit, it's a healthy, delicious breakfast.

11/06/2025

💜 November is National Caregiver Month 💜

This month, we pause to honor the incredible caregivers who give so much of themselves—day after day, often without recognition. Whether you’re caring for a loved one, a friend, or someone in your community, your compassion, strength, and dedication make all the difference.

🕊️ You are the heart behind the healing.
🌷 You give comfort, courage, and connection.
💪 And you deserve care, too.

Take a moment to thank a caregiver in your life—or remind yourself how important your care is, too. 💖

Novant Health is here to help make your role as a caregiver easier. Follow the link in the comments for useful information, and to link you to Novant Health programs and services designed for both those who are new to caregiving and those who are currently providing care to a loved one.

11/06/2025

🌿 Lymphedema Risk Reduction: Virtual Class 🌿

Want to learn how to reduce your risk of lymphedema and manage symptoms effectively? Join our live virtual class with a certified lymphedema therapist!

🗓 Date: Thursday, November 13
⏰ Time: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
💻 Format: Live virtual session

📞 Call 704-316-1903 to register and get the access link.

Take control of your health—knowledge is power!

11/05/2025

🍳 Last call ⏰
Don’t miss out — the deadline to register for our upcoming Cooking Class is tomorrow!

Join us for a fun, session where you’ll learn tips for incorporating healthy habits through the holidays. 👩‍🍳✨

Spots are limited — 📱Call 704-384-5223, option 1 to register.

11/05/2025

🌿 Wellness Wednesday 🌿
When facing cancer, movement can be powerful medicine. 💪

When Mary Massie was diagnosed with breast cancer, she discovered strength and support through the Novant Health Cancer Wellness Program. Staying active helped her fight fatigue, recover faster, and connect with others who truly understood what she was going through. 💜

This program offers personalized exercise, nutrition, and wellness support for anyone in treatment, recovery, or survivorship — because every step toward movement is a step toward healing.

Read Mary’s story here 👇

Cancer treatment can be exhausting. But exercise can actually help you navigate the disease and treatment. Here’s what one Novant Health patient learned.