Health notes

By MICHELLE JONES, Times Correspondent
Published December 16, 2007

Obesity Help sponsors a support group from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hudson Regional Library on Fivay Road in Hudson. This is for anyone who is contemplating weight loss surgery or for post operative patients who would like support. Call Marianne at 727 247-8658.

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The Florida Cancer Institute will host the Man to Man prostate cancer support group from 5 to 6 p.m. on Thursday at the New Port Richey Center, 8763 River Crossing Blvd. Co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the importance of early detection, signs and symptoms, prognosis, disease stages, incontinence, impotence and treatment options with be discussed. Call (727) 842-8411.

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Community Hospital, offers free blood pressure checks from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. each Thursday at 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. Call toll-free 1-877-442-2367.

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Adult children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families meet at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Unity of Port Richey, 5844 Pine Hill Road in Port Richey. This is a 12-step program that maintains anonymity. Call Bonnie at (727) 862-4556.

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The Pasco County Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers three types of support group meetings each month for family and friends of those with mental illness and those with mental illness. This includes all types of brain disorders, including, but not limited to OCD, depression, autism, bi-polar, schizophrenia and multiple personalities. Daytime meetings are from 3 to 5 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month at the Regency Park Civic Association Building, 10240 Regency Park Blvd., Port Richey. The evening meetings are from 7:30 to 9 p.m. the second and fourth Monday (except holidays) of the month at Conference Room C at Community Hospital, 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. Call Gloria at (727) 992-9653. The Family and Friends Adolescent Support Group meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the North Pinellas Children's Medical Center, River Crossing Professional Center, 5508 Little Road, New Port Richey. Call Charity at (727) 457-8514. A consumer support group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at Community Hospital Resource Room, 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. Call Mike at (727) 842-3372.

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Nicotine Anonymous meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Educational Center of St. Vincent DePaul Church, 4843 Mile Stretch Drive in Holiday. Call (727) 937-1396.

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The Depressive Bipolar Support Alliance of West Pasco meets at 2 p.m. each Tuesday at the A Club, 5650 W Missouri Ave. in New Port Richey. Call (727) 819-9427.

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The Alzheimer's Family Organization offers three support groups this week. A group meets at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Claude Pepper Senior Center, 6640 Van Buren St., New Port Richey. Also on Tuesday a group meets at 2:30 p.m. at the New Port Inn, 6120 Congress St. New Port Richey. Call Dina Giannet at (727) 848-3617. On Wednesday, a group meets at 2 p.m. at Heather Hill Healthcare Center, 6630 Kentucky Ave., New Port Richey. Call Lea Mahoney at (727) 845-8726. The organization has a Wanderers Identification Program for people with memory disorder. Each person is given an identifying bracelet or pendant with a code number and telephone number to the participating Sheriff's Department. Call the office for details at (727) 848-8888 or toll-free 1-888-496-8004

Please send any health related meetings or information to Michelle Jones at mjones721@tampabay.rr.com or fax to (813) 684-2457 or mail to P.O. Box 558, Valrico, FL 33595. Call (813) 685-2200.

[Last modified December 15, 2007, 20:13:10]