A Note from the Executive Director | |
The Cancer Lifeline staff wishes you a happy holiday season and a healthy New Year! | |
Can YOU believe it’s already December??? It seems to always catch me by surprise! I’m still working on October’s “to-do” list! Every year I promise myself that I’ll get started on the business and fun of the holiday seasons earlier, and every year I’m still surprised to see December!
The pace doesn’t seem to slow much around the holidays anymore, and as we start to compile the data for reflection of 2023, we’ve got a big head start on 2024. By the time you read this, our program team will have put the final touches on the January-April 2024 schedule of classes, support groups, and other programing. We look forward to sharing that with you!
I hope you will all remember the importance of Self-Care during the busier times around the holidays. It’s especially important as a patient, survivor or caregiver. I hope you’ll set aside an hour or so in the coming month to do something special for yourself. We have some amazing programs that surely fit the bill of “self-care” in the coming days, click to register:
Dec 16th Creative Self-Care
Dec 19th Exercise & Movement for Bone Health
Dec 19th Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer
Dec 19th Caregiver Support Group
Dec 19th Coping with Cancer: Finding your New Normal
Dec 20th Practicing Meditation & Mindfulness
Dec 27th Benefits of Medical Cannabis
At our last Board of Directors meeting of the year, we shared some remarkable information about our mental health counseling program that is still in its infancy compared to say, our 50-year-old Lifeline. Here are some of the highlights of the mental health counseling program from January through November:
- Over 225 individuals reached out to inquire about our program
- We welcomed 127 new clients (patients, survivors, caregivers, children), serving 154 unique individuals in 2023.
- We provided over 1,600 individual client sessions
- 31% increase in children, adolescent, and young adult clients
- 50% increase in child, parent and family therapy
- 29% of clients self-identify as non-white
- While the majority of our clients (60%) are living in King County, we are seeing clients from all over Washington State.
What started as a pilot in 2021 in response to the growing shortage of available counseling appointments for patients/survivors/caregivers has truly blossomed in its third year! Many thanks to our amazing team of counselors and to Pamela Krueger, our Clinical Program Director who guides the process and deserves much praise for the growth of this program!
By the way, we continue to accept new counseling clients, and we continue to be focused on serving undeserved individuals by making priority for individuals who are lower income, un or under-insured.
I also want to take a moment to thank outgoing Board Directors, Chris Olson and Steven Gerlock! We are so grateful to have had you on our team!
To round out an incredible year, we are excited to welcome new Board Directors, Dr. Annabelle Dampier, Gladys Chan, Carrie Todd, Jeremy Bruck & Dr. Kim Herner to our team!
We are looking forward to bringing our community quality supportive programming to support those who are impacted by a cancer diagnosis in the coming year. And we’ll be wishing all of you the very best!
Happy Holidays & Enjoy the Season!
With love and gratitude,
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Joseph Yurgevich
Executive Director7 r
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Monthly Blog: Coping with Cancer During the Holidays by Mary Ellen Shands, RN, MN | |
The holiday season can be stressful, isolating and an emotional time under the best of circumstances. Living with a cancer diagnosis during the holidays may heighten the intensity of emotions and can trigger strong feelings or memories about previous losses such as the absence of family members who have passed away. It’s important to advocate for yourself in terms of setting boundaries and expressing what you can and cannot do and accepting that not everyone will be happy with your choices. This is okay! You are making yourself a priority. Read More | |
Get to know Board Member Joanna Diallo | |
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What sparked your interest in joining Cancer Lifeline’s Board of Directors?
As a cancer survivor it’s a way for me to give back and support an organization whose mission is to ensure patients and their families don’t feel like they are facing cancer alone.
How long have you been volunteering with Cancer Lifeline, as a Board Member and what is your role? I started in August 2018. Served as the chair of the nominations committee for about 4 years.
What do you find most fulfilling about serving on the Board of Directors?
Helping to steward and sustain Cancer Lifeline’s resources so our programs can continue to meet everyone’s needs!
How has your life been affected by cancer? I was diagnosed in 2014 just after quitting my job to move back to Seattle to be closer to family. My daughter was 15 months old at the time. It was pretty scary! That was the hardest part: terrified I wouldn’t be there to see her grow up. But almost 10 years later, I’m cancer free and managing survivorship and its ups and downs.
What do you see as the biggest needs cancer patients and caregivers have?
1) Being informed and empowered to make decisions about their health given where they are in life and what they need or want. 2) Community — people who have been through it who can listen, offer advice if asked, show up and take care of something (cooking, cleaning, childcare, etc) or take a walk to get your mind off things. It can feel very lonely, especially if you are diagnosed as a young adult.
Please tell us about your “Day Job” I am the Program Operations Director at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
Tell us something about yourself that you’d like to share in general. I love living in this gorgeous state! The water…the mountains…beauty all around us!
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Get to know Volunteer Jeanne Hall | |
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Jeanne's journey to Cancer Lifeline began six years ago when she received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her search for a supportive community to compliment the excellent medical care she was already receiving led her to Cancer Lifeline. She found the community she was hoping to find through taking a variety of creative expression and exercise classes, particularly the creative writing group (Writing for the Moment) that meets on Thursdays.
“When I was immobilized by the post-treatment lung infection, I decided that if I recovered, I wanted to be of support to others in their journey with cancer. After experiencing the amazing classes Cancer Lifeline had to offer, I knew I wanted to volunteer at Cancer Lifeline.”
For the past five years, Jeanne has been an integral part of Cancer Lifeline's volunteer team. From answering calls on the Lifeline, helping with special projects, assisting with various mailings, and representing Cancer Lifeline at a variety of conferences and outreach events, she never hesitates to step up to the plate where there is a need.
A fun fact about Jeanne: Jeanne finds hiking to be incredibly soul-nourishing and loves doing it year round. When she feels the need to get a little sun during the winter, she and her husband Gerry head south for a few weeks to go hiking in the desert. She is looking forward to their next adventure in early 2024: Palm Springs and Tucson! She also loves biking, paddle boarding, gardening and quilting, but what she loves most of all is spending time with her friends and family, whatever the activity.
“I wholeheartedly believe in the mission of Cancer Lifeline so I feel a sense of satisfaction from any task I undertake. I like the feeling of being able to give back and contribute to an agency whose sole purpose is to support those impacted by cancer.”
Interested in becoming a volunteer with us? Learn more about opportunities here.
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Hospital Partner Spotlight:
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
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We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for the invaluable partnership of the cancer center at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Their support has been instrumental in helping us provide essential emotional and financial support to the individuals receiving clinical care at their facility. Together, we are making a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need so that no one has to face cancer alone. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health are known for delivering a high quality of patient-centered care, through comprehensive services and innovative research. Our heartfelt thanks for their unwavering support in our mission to help cancer patients live their best life with cancer through FREE educational presentations, experiential classes, financial assistance, and personalized emotional support. | |
Lifeline Volunteer Training- We Need You! | |
At Cancer Lifeline, Lifeline Specialists are the backbone of the organization. Lifeline Specialists not only provide emotional support, resources and information about our programs and services, but they also help with class support, outreach events, mailings, and more! Each person on our volunteer team brings their own set of skills and interests and we rely on them for their compassion and enthusiasm! Volunteer opportunities are currently available in a variety of areas, and we are recruiting now for our volunteer training in January 2024. For more information, please Email Blair or call (206) 832-1290. | |
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Cancer Lifeline in the Community:
Puget Sound Oncology Nurses Symposium (PSONS)
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We were honored to be one of the community organizations present at the 44th Annual PSONS Symposium, an annual educational event offered to the oncology nursing community by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society. Presentation topics ranged from Breast Cancer Survivorship, CAR-T Cell Therapy, Oncologic Emergencies, Multiple Myeloma and more with the mission of promoting excellence in oncology nursing and quality cancer care as a central theme. Sharing a common vision with Cancer Lifeline, PSONS is passionate about being a leader in transforming cancer care. We are always appreciative in being included in the PSONS Annual Symposium where we had the opportunity to interact with oncology nurses, patient care providers, pharmaceutical companies and others who share the common vision of enhancing the lives of those affected by cancer. | |
Ignite Hope With A Year-End Gift | |
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Children, teens and young adults can be profoundly affected by a cancer diagnosis and its treatment, or when a loved one learns that they have cancer. Here is one family’s story.
Candace, a married mother of two, was diagnosed with brain cancer at age 34. The family decided to attend Cancer Lifeline family therapy sessions where they learned how to share their hopes and fears with each other and create coping strategies. Candace started individual therapy to help her deal with treatment, anticipatory grief, and how to approach end-of-life conversations with her family.
Cancer Lifeline is here to help when a young person and their family feel overwhelmed by a cancer diagnosis. We offer support groups, experiential classes, and counseling services for children, teens, young adults and families at no charge.
You make it possible for people throughout our region who lack financial resources or access to get the help they need for managing challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis. With your help, Cancer Lifeline provides services that are welcoming, inclusive, and sustain families and individuals through difficult times to find ways to thrive.
Your year end donation will ensure that family members can receive the support and guidance they need.
A gift of $150 provides one counseling session or family meeting to support the mental health of patients, caregivers, and other family members living with cancer.
A gift of $300 A gift of $300 provides Lifeline assistance for 20 callers seeking emotional support, cancer information, and resources.
A gift of $500 funds three Expressive Arts Therapy group meetings for teens impacted by cancer.
Please join us in celebrating our 50th anniversary of optimizing the quality of life for all people living with cancer by making a year-end gift today so that Cancer Lifeline will be here for everyone who needs us.
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Sponsor Spotlight: Pathstone | |
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Since 2006 Pathstone has been a steadfast sponsor of Cancer Lifeline. Our thanks to for their continued support.
Pathstone is an independently owned and operated wealth management firm serving families, individuals, family offices, foundations and endowments.
Pathstone's extensive array of services, coupled with their personalized and thorough approach, empowers them to tailor solutions and apply industry best practices to meet the distinctive needs of their clients.
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Our Sponsors Make It Possible
Cancer Lifeline is grateful for the leadership and support of the following sponsors:
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Cancer Lifeline thanks myMDadvocate and Dr. Susan Baumgaertel for her ongoing support. myMDadvocate is a virtual consultation service serving patients as an advocate, guide, advisor, coach, resource, consultant, collaborator, educator, navigator, and partner.
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We are grateful & thank Jeannie & Bruce, one of Cancer Lifeline's long-time supporters for their ongoing support and sponsorship.
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We are grateful for the support of the Fred Hutch Cancer Center organization on so many levels - for our current Board Directors who are on the staff at Fred Hutch: Joanna Diallo, and Reetu Ghumman, and for their sponsorship!
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Over 18 years ago, Cancer Lifeline was invited to host a support group at EvergreenHealth. That was just the beginning of our strong partnership. Cancer Lifeline thanks Evergreen for their continued support.
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We began our formal hospital partnership with Overlake Medical Center in September of 2017, but our relationship reaches back to 2004 when Cancer Lifeline had office space in Bellevue. We are grateful for Overlake's ongoing support of our events. | |
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We appreciate Multicare who have been caring for Pacific Northwest communities since 1882. They are dedicated to providing vital health and wellness services to individuals and families from all walks of life.
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Freestone Capital, an independent wealth and advisory firm, returns this year as an event sponsor. Our thanks to Cancer Lifeline Board Director and Treasurer Bobby Gentry. | |
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The Commerce Bank of Washington has enriched local businesses with highly personalized banking from local, experienced bankers dedicated to long-term relationships. We are grateful for the ongoing partnership which began in 1995.
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Mercer joins Cancer Lifeline again year as a 2023 sponsor thanks to the stewardship of Board Director Elizabeth Zech.
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Cancer Lifeline thanks wealth advisor, D A Davidson as an event sponsor. Our thanks to Advisory Board Member Jane Caron for her leadership.
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We thank Genentech as one of our sponsors. While this biotechnology corporation is committed to advancing science for the greater good, they are also committed to supporting our local cancer community.
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As we expand our services to serve cancer patients and their families in Pierce County, Cancer Lifeline is grateful for our collaboration with Northwest Medical Specialties and for their support. | |
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We have counted on ROI Technology Inc. to keep us safe, secure, and active on the internet since 2015. Cancer Lifeline salutes ROI Technology for their ongoing support of our events.
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Thank you to Seattle Children’s for their support! They provide patient care, advance new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research and they serve as the pediatric and adolescent academic medical center for Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho – the largest region of any children’s hospital in the country. | |
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Dedicated to promoting the economic benefits of life science business and research for Washington state's economy and patients around the world, We Work for Health seeks to educate our elected leaders, the news media, and the communities they serve about these key contributions. Cancer Lifeline welcomes
We Work for Health back as a sponsor.
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On the recommendation of our board member Sue Drummond, we thank Michael Weichbrodt with Morgan Stanley as one of Cancer Lifeline's sponsors.
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Thank you to Marshall & Sullivan for their ongoing support. By taking a hands-on approach to wealth management, Marshall & Sullivan are committed to helping their clients experience peace of mind around their financial futures. | |
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We welcome Seagen as one of our newest sponsors. They've been focusing on accelerating breakthroughs to transform cancer care and impact in patients lives for 25 years. We appreciate their support and passion for helping those living with cancer. | |
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Thank you to our 2023 sponsor Eli Lilly. Led by their core values of Integrity, Excellence, and Respect for People, Eli Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. Our thanks to Advisory Board Member Nate Miles for bringing us together.
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Cancer Lifeline thanks Windermere Foundation for their support. Windermere Foundations commitment to building thriving communities has helped them grow into one of the largest and most respected real estate brands in the country, with more than 300 offices and 7,000 agents throughout the Western U.S. and Mexico.
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A huge thank you to Safeco Liberty Mutual Insurance for their support. Since 1923, they have been in the business of protecting families and individuals, making it simple to protect what matters to you most.
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For the sixth year in a row, Jennifer Evans and her Farmers Insurance agency have been a sponsor of our annual Fall Fundraiser, Resources for Hope and more. We are so grateful for Jen's ongoing support.
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One Dog Media helps businesses with website design that reinforce brand identity, e-commerce solutions, graphic design and more. We thank Lisa Oliver, in-kind sponsor, for this important work that allows us to reach and stay connected with the people we serve.
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Inquiries regarding opportunities to sponsor events and programs can be directed
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