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Dear Supporter, It sneaks up on us every year. One minute, the start of the new year seems far away, and the next, shops and streets and homes are decorated for the holidays with a sense of hope and excitement building. All of us here at CSC are excited about all that is on the horizon for this coming year, and we’re on track to help more people living with the challenges of a cancer diagnosis than ever before. But, before the clock strikes midnight, announcing the arrival of 2020, let’s revisit some of the milestone moments of 2019. This list is yours—as you enable us to provide critical services free of charge. With best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and new year, The Cancer Support Community Team |
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CSC Patient Featured in National Airbnb Campaign |
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In March, the Cancer Support Community (CSC) launched a strategic partnership with the Airbnb Open Homes program to provide free lodging to cancer patients and their loved ones. So far, as a result of Airbnb's generosity, CSC has secured free housing for more than 1,500 patients and caregivers. In addition, Airbnb launched a campaign that features Bill Holder, a cancer patient who lives in a rural part of Missouri. Bill called our Cancer Support Helpline for help to participate in a clinical trial at MD Anderson in Houston—800 miles from home. CSC was able to secure free housing via Airbnb for Bill to receive lifesaving care. If you or someone in your life needs help with housing costs to travel for treatment, our Helpline staff is ready to help at 877.793.0498. |
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Team CSC Raises Funds for New CSC in Washington DC This fall, 18 cancer survivors, caregivers, and CSC staff members from nine states gathered to run in the 44th annual Marine Corps Marathon and 10K in Washington D.C. Sponsored by Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer, Team CSC runners braved wet weather and blustery winds to help open a Cancer Support Community affiliate in Washington D.C. The local ABC and NBC stations featured Team CSC runner Miranda Johnson, a 10K participant and CSC staff member. A cancer survivor, Johnson hoped that running the Marine Corps 10K showed other cancer patients that anything is possible and that they are not alone in their journey. |
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Affiliates Storm The Hill In March, the Cancer Support Community’s Cancer Policy Institute organized dozens of meetings for CSC Affiliate leaders who traveled from around the country to Washington DC to speak with their members of Congress and staff. The leaders educated them about the vital services provided by affiliates, Cancer Support Community and Gilda’s Club. In addition to asking members of Congress to support of our work, they also advocated for the inclusion of patient experience metrics into clinical trials data. Clinical trials that incorporate patient experience data and distress screening allow us to better understand patient needs and concerns throughout the research process. |
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Lights, Camera, Action! New Cooking Video Series Premieres Eating nutritious and appetizing foods can be difficult when dealing with the side effects of cancer. In 2019, CSC produced 10 short and fun videos featuring recipes to help, with head and neck cancer survivors in mind. These dishes are delicious AND healthy while supporting the special needs of cancer patients. Visit our recipe gallery to find these scrumptious videos and more to enjoy. |
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Keeping the Patient Experience Front and Center This fall, The Atlantic gathered some our nation’s thought leaders in cancer care for a day-long summit in NYC, and challenged all of us to “rethink everything we know” about cancer. Among the prestigious group of speakers was CSC President Linda House. Citing findings from the Research and Training Institute, House spoke on two panels about the need to keep the patient at the center of conversations about exciting and cutting-edge treatment and testing approaches. She also interviewed actor and patient advocate Patrick Dempsey (see photo). |
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CSC Salutes Broadway and Advocacy Powerhouse CSC recognized Broadway star and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivor Ashley Park with the first-ever Marin Mazzie Award for Empowerment at its annual Spring Celebration. In 2016, Mazzie and her husband, Broadway star Jason Danieley, received CSC’s Founders Award for Empowerment. After Mazzie passed away last year from ovarian cancer, CSC renamed the award after the three-time Tony nominee and CSC Champion to recognize notable public figures who use their platform to both advocate for and inspire people who are living with cancer and their loved ones. Danieley presented the award to Park in front of a sold-out crowd including some of Broadway’s biggest stars. Stay tuned to find out who will be recognized in 2020. |
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Awards, Awards, and More Awards MyLifeLine, CSC’s digital platform, and our publications, social media, and radio show earned many awards. The eHealthcare Leadership Awards honored CSC’s MyLifeLine with a Gold Award in the best interactive category. The Leadership Awards recognize the very best websites, digital communications, and business improvement initiatives of a wide range of healthcare organizations. We also earned an astounding 25 Digital Health Awards from the Health Information Resource Center (HIRC) with gold, silver, bronze and merit awards in the fall and spring competitions. The Digital Health Awards are held twice each year and are organized by HIRC, a national clearinghouse for professionals who work in consumer health fields. See the full list of awards here. |
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Making History in the Navajo Nation In May 2019, a landmark visit to the House of Hope on the Navajo Nation that included Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, former Second Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden, and other tribal leaders and allies marked the opening of the first full-time cancer care center on an American Indian Reservation. The visit garnered a national story from the Associated Press, front-page coverage in the Arizona Daily Sun and in Native American publications, as well as a follow up story this summer in the Arizona Republic. To date, more than 160 patients have received treatment at Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation’s Specialty Care Center. |
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Patients Asked and We Responded with New Online Discussion Boards CSC’s MyLifeLine.org members told us that they wanted an online platform to connect with others facing similar challenges of a cancer diagnosis in addition to platforms to stay connected with their own friends and family. This spring, we launched new Online Discussion Boards - a safe place for patients, caregivers, and friends to support each other with information, opinions, stories, and inspiration. More than 1,600 members have joined so far and our most active boards are: caregiver support and coping with side effects. |
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The Wall Street Journal Features Patient’s Story The Wall Street Journal featured CSC’s Cancer Transitions Program in an article about the challenges of survivorship this fall. The Program has been offered free of charge through 164 organizations, including our affiliate network. The story featured cancer survivor Teresa Saltsman and her affiliate Gilda's Club Quad Cities, where she participated in the program along with other services like yoga classes. Teresa told us that she shared her story so more people would know about the services available to patients, survivors, and their families. |
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Cancer Support Community
734 15th Street NW Suite 300 | Washington, District of Columbia 20005
202-659-9709 | development@cancersupportcommunity.org |
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