Blueprint of Hope’s new affiliation will expand free support and navigation services

Washington, D.C. — The Cancer Support Community (CSC) welcomed its newest affiliate on June 17. Founded as Blueprints of Hope, CSC Southwest Colorado joins the global organization’s 196 locations, including 52 affiliates and health care partners.

“Our decision to affiliate with the Cancer Support Community is based on our sincere desire to reach more people in the rural communities we serve,” said Toni Abbey, founder and executive director of Blueprints of Hope. “We think this is an incredible opportunity. By combining our resources, we are better positioned to connect cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and their families to the resources and support that meet their needs and improve their quality of life.”

The virtual charter ceremony formalizing the new relationship included La Plata County Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton, CSC’s Interim CEO Ken Scalet, and Vice President of Clinical Services Susan Ash-Lee.

“We are so pleased to formally welcome Blueprints of Hope into our CSC family,” said interim CEO Ken Scalet. “Together with our nationwide network that represents the gold standard in patient support, Toni and her team in Southwest Colorado will show that community is stronger than cancer.”

In 2021, more than 28,000 Colorado residents will be diagnosed with cancer. With this number in mind, support for those impacted by this devastating diagnosis are much needed. Blueprints of Hope serves people living with cancer in Durango, Colorado, and the surrounding area. The organization offers navigation, education, and support for the community in Southwest Colorado, providing crucial services to those impacted by cancer in the rural community. As a member of CSC’s global network, CSC Southwest Colorado will now provide a myriad of new resources to their community, including CSC’s Helpline, the online community MyLifeLine, and award-winning educational materials — all of which are available at no cost to cancer patients and their families and caregivers. Further, the Southwest Colorado community will join in local and national advocacy efforts through CSC’s Cancer Policy Institute and Research and Training Institute.

Learn more about CSC Southwest Colorado.

About the Cancer Support Community

As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization’s Institute for Excellence in Psychosocial Care includes an international network of affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793-9355.

Local bank servicing the Washington, D.C. area sponsors an international day devoted to providing free services to people affected by cancer

Washington, D.C. (June 28, 2021) — The Cancer Support Community (CSC), the world’s largest provider of cancer support with a network that operates at 196 locations in the United States and abroad, is pleased to announce Capital Bank as a national level sponsor for its first-ever Community Gives Day.

On June 28, CSC’s global network, patient advocates, corporate supporters, elected leaders, members of the entertainment industry, and other sectors will unite to collectively support cancer patients. The June 28 date also coincides with the birthday of “Saturday Night Live” star Gilda Radner, whose cancer experience inspired the creation of Gilda’s Club, which merged with The Wellness Community to form the Cancer Support Community in 2009.

“Through their sponsorship, Capital Bank will assist us in having a positive and concrete impact on the lives of cancer patients and their loved ones,” said CSC President Elizabeth Franklin. “As the demand for our services continues to rise, we remain increasingly grateful for our supporters for demonstrating that community is stronger than cancer.”

CSC’s inaugural Community Gives Day comes as the demand for the organization’s free professionally-led services — including emotional assistance, nutrition and healthy lifestyle guidance, education, navigation, digital resources, and more — is at an all-time high.

Capital Bank is a Maryland-based commercial bank that services businesses and consumers in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. With over two decades of experience, Capital Bank remains one of the area’s trusted financial institutions. Capital Bank’s generous sponsorship will allow CSC to continue to provide top-quality resources and services at no cost to those impacted by this devastating disease.

About the Cancer Support Community

As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization includes an international network of Affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793-9355.

Inaugural event on June 28 spotlights national network that provides $50 million in free support and navigation services to cancer patients

Washington, D.C. — The Cancer Support Community (CSC), the world’s largest provider of cancer support with a network that operates at 196 locations, is announcing Monday, June 28, CSC as its first-ever Community Gives Day.

The inaugural Community Gives Days comes as the demand for the organization’s free services — including emotional assistance, nutrition and healthy lifestyle guidance, education, navigation, digital resources, and more — is at an all-time high.

“As our nation turns a corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to note this this global health crisis and its associated economic challenges continue to disrupt the lives of people affected by cancer,” said Ken Scalet, interim CEO of the Cancer Support Community. “As the demand for our services continues to increase, we are uniting to have a positive and concrete impact on the lives of cancer patients and their loved ones.”

The June 28 date also coincides with the birthday of Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner, whose cancer experience inspired the creation of Gilda’s Club. In 2009, Gilda’s Clubs and The Wellness Community merged to form the Cancer Support Community.

In 2021, Community Gives Day enables individuals to support their local CSC or Gilda’s Club affiliate, with all gifts translating into free support and navigation services for people affected by cancer.

Supporters who donate before 8 p.m. EST on the 28th will be invited to a special live virtual block party happening that day featuring a celebrity musical performance. Those who donate after 8 p.m. EST will receive a link to the on-demand replay.

About the Cancer Support Community

As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization includes an international network of Affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793-9355.

Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Fred Upton (R-MI) released the much anticipated 21st Century Cures Act 2.0 (Cures 2.0).

This innovative and forward-thinking bipartisan legislation could safely and efficiently revolutionize the delivery of health care in our country.

“Diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, ALS, diabetes, and so many more don’t care if you’re a Republican or a Democrat. They affect us all the same,” said Representative Upton. “Our bipartisan 21st Century Cures 2.0 legislation will provide our nation’s top scientific minds with the resources they need to find the cures and treatments to devastating illnesses that impact every family. Renewing hope for patients and their families is a mission that truly unites us all.”

“It will make healthcare more accessible, it will make breakthrough therapies available to patients sooner, and it will help us better understand the effects of illnesses we don’t even know yet enough about, such as COVID,” said Representative DeGette.

The bill includes a provision that would provide a clear and consistent mechanism to fully incorporate patient experience data (PED), which addresses the psychosocial concerns, needs, and preferences of patients, into the drug development process. Specifically, this provision requires drug manufacturers and sponsors to collect and report on PED as part of a clinical trial in a meaningful, uniform way that is informative to both patients and providers. It also requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fully consider all PED collected during the clinical trial.

Dr. Elizabeth Franklin, President of the Cancer Support Community (CSC), the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, issued the following statement: 

“We applaud the inclusion of the PED provision in Cures 2.0 and commend Representatives DeGette and Upton for their steadfast commitment to incorporating the patient experience in drug development and throughout the research and care continuum.

Passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, as amended by the Food and Drug Reauthorization Act of 2017, recognized and elevated the importance of PED, which goes beyond the physical symptoms or side effects of a disease, therapy, or clinical investigation, to also address the psychosocial concerns, needs, and preferences of cancer patients.

Fully embracing PED in clinical trials advises patients, caregivers, providers, and trial sponsors about the investigation’s impact on the whole person — information that helps to inform each of the above-mentioned stakeholders whether on treatment decisions, care obligations, or trial design — now and in the future.

We were also pleased to see the inclusion of the Telehealth Modernization Act in Cures 2.0 The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the benefits of expanding telehealth access by removing Medicare’s geographic and originating site restrictions. Permanently securing these flexibilities beyond the public health emergency will ensure beneficiaries continue to receive access to services that improve their health and well-being.

We look forward to working with lawmakers to ensure that this bill quickly becomes law so that patients and caregivers’ experiences assume their rightful, intended, and integral role in the drug development process.”  

Learn more about the bill.

About the Cancer Support Community

As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization’s Institute for Excellence in Psychosocial Care includes an international network of affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C., and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793-9355.