FRANKLY SPEAKING

A message from Cancer Support
Community

"An estimated 12 million cancer survivors are living in the United States today. About 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Odds are, you or someone you know has been impacted by cancer. At Cancer Support Community, we understand how cancer affects both millions of people, and just one: you. If those numbers look big, think about this: even more people—the families and friends of those with cancer—are also faced with the impact of the disease every year. That's because cancer doesn't just affect the people who are diagnosed with the disease. It also changes the lives of their loved ones.

In coming years, with the aging of 78 million baby-boomers, the number of cancer cases will increase dramatically. Yet today, more people are living with—and fewer are dying from—cancer than ever before. With rapid advances in screening and treatment technologies, cancer is becoming more of a chronic condition than a terminal illness. This is why Cancer Support Community's programs are so vital: research continues to show that social and emotional support are critical components of complete cancer care. Cancer Support Community provides people with the skills and resources they need to play an active role in their cancer care and to optimize the quality of their lives. And we provide this kind of support to everyone who is affected by the disease-not only cancer patients, but also their family and friends, so that no one has to face cancer alone.

With 45 years of combined experience of our founding organizations, Cancer Support Community has a unique and unparalleled perspective on the social and emotional needs of people who have been affected by cancer. We are proud to be one of four organizations representing the cancer continuum through our partnership with Breakaway from Cancer^® for a sixth consecutive year. We look forward to continued work with our network of affiliates and partners to advance our mission: ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community."
Kim Thiboldeaux
President & CEO, Cancer Support Community

Providing Support, Education, and Hope

Cancer Support Community is an international non-profit dedicated to providing support, education, and hope to people affected by cancer. As the largest employer of psychosocial oncology mental health professionals in the United States, the organization offers a network of personalized services and education for all people affected by cancer. Its global network brings the highest quality cancer support to the millions of people. To ensure no one has to face cancer alone, these support services are available through a network of professionally led community-based centers, hospitals, community oncology practices and other non-profits, as well as online.

Ushering in a New Era in Cancer Care
Cancer Support Community is strengthening the link between medical and emotional health. Backed by evidence that the best cancer care includes emotional and social support, the organization is leading the charge to define and implement a new standard of cancer care. In 2007, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a ground-breaking report, Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs, which declared psychosocial support an essential part of cancer care. The report goes on to state that community-based nonprofit organizations are crucial to delivering this support and need to be better incorporated into the continuum of care.

This report validates what Cancer Support Community has known and works hard to deliver. Taking the lead in addressing the emotional and social needs of people affected by cancer, Cancer Support Community's unique model of community-based support is transforming the way cancer care is being approached. As such, advocacy groups across the globe have used our organization's landmark programs - including support groups, educational and survivorship programs and an online community - as a guide for delivering support.

Building on a Foundation of Quality Cancer Support
In July 2009, The Wellness Community and Gilda's Club Worldwide joined forces to become Cancer Support Community. By helping to complete the cancer care plan, Cancer Support Community continues to optimize patient care by providing essential, but often overlooked, services including support groups, counseling, education and healthy lifestyle programs.

Today, Cancer Support Community provides the highest quality emotional and social support through a network of nearly 50 local affiliates, more than 100 satellite locations and online. To find a community-based center in your area, visit www.cancersupportcommunity.org.

Video

CSC video can be found on our YouTube channel at
http://www.youtube.com/user/CancerSupportComm

www.cancersupportcommunity.org
www.facebook.com/pages/Cancer-Support-Community/201202152564?ref=ts
www.twitter.com/CancerSupportCm

Upcoming Events

To learn more about upcoming events from Cancer Support Community, visit http://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/fm/Events.aspx.