Support Groups

Many patients who have suffered from a urologic condition, may have the need for additional support offered by other patients who have been afflicted with these problems. At the University of Kansas Medical Center, it is our intent to care for the whole patient and to facilitate this support whenever possible.

Interstitial Cystitis Support Group

This group deals with the often debilitating condition of interstitial cystitis, an inflammatory condition of the bladder. For additional information or to inquire on dates of meetings, contact Dr. Griebling's office at 913-588-6147.

US TOO Prostate Cancer Support Group

Many patients who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, find a great deal of information and comfort from others with this diagnosis. On the 3rd Thursday of every other month, this group meets at the University of Kansas Medical Center for a lecture regarding some aspect of prostate cancer provided by local experts. In addition, to the fellowship of other prostate cancer survivors, this group allows an informal forum in which to ask questions of the experts. Mr. Claude Harkins is the leader and contact person for this group and can be reached at 913-851-0008.

United Ostomy Association

This group provides support and information for those patients living with an ostomy. It meets the 3rd Wednesday of every other month at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. For more information please contact Mrs. Debbie Kueker at 913-588-3118.

Infertility

Resolve is a national support group that can assist couples with information about options for infertility treatments and also helps couples deal with the stresses that are associated with this very emotional problem. The website is http://www.resolve.org. Information is also available through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine at http://www.asrm.org/Patients/mainpati.html.

American Fertility Association http://www.theafa.org/ is another resource for infertility prevention, reproductive health and family building.

Fertility before or after cancer treatment is another difficult time. Survivorship and hope of recovery from cancer and hope for fertility in those who do not have children or who have not completed their family is important for many couples. An excellent resource for investigating issues of fertility and cancer can be found at http://www.fertilehope.org.

Dr. Craig Neiderberger, Head, Department of Urology, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL, and Dr. Brad Van Voorhis, Director, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility,University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, have published an informative Knol (Unit of Knowlege) regarding Male and Female Infertility. This information can be found at http://knol.google.com/k/craig-niederberger/infertility/y3nX1p4o/Ing6nw#

If you wish to help others in the future with the same problem, please help us by being part of a registry to track the outcomes from infertility treatments and any health issues for the male and female partners in the couple and also the children. Visit www.ifrr-registry.org.

Men's Health

Men's Health Network (MHN) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men and their families where they live, work, play, and pray with health prevention messages and tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy opportunities, and patient navigation. The Network's goals are to:

• Save Men's lives by reducing premature mortality of men and boys
• Foster health care education and services that encourage men of all ages to implement positive lifestyles for themselves and their families
• Increase the physical and mental health of men so that they can live fuller and happier lives
• Significantly reduce the cycles of violence and addiction that afflict so many men
• Energize government involvement in men's health activities so that existing government health networks can be utilized to increase the health and well-being of men and boys
• Encourage women to expand on their traditional role as the family's health care leader and activist for enhancement of health care services.
• Men's Health Week is a national awareness week to support the health of men - please help support this the week prior to Father's Day.

Other websites with useful information about urological disease include:

• http://www.UrologyHealth.org
• http://www.UrologyChannel.com
• http://www.MedScape.com
• http://health.nih.gov
• http://www.cancer.org