Program Descriptions

Support: Licensed therapists trained in psycho-oncology lead therapeutic support groups for cancer patients, family members/caregivers, and children whose lives have been affected by someone with cancer. Combined, our seasoned counselors and licensed experts have more than a century of experience in caring for the overall well-being of people affected by cancer. Our welcoming home-like environment helps connect people with each other, resulting in various improvements in confidence, wellbeing, stress, interpersonal comfort, and improved quality of life — so no one faces cancer alone. Support Groups offered include People Living With Cancer, Friends & Family Caregivers, Guy’s Night: Men Supporting Men, Breast Cancer Support Group, and Grief & Loss.

Healthy Lifestyles: Eating well is important for everyone, but it is essential for people living with, through, and beyond cancer. Through our ongoing healthy lifestyle programs, which includes gentle movement and exercise, nutrition and cooking education, Cancer Support Community Central Ohio focuses on the importance of making healthy food choices, as well as the importance of increasing fitness levels, to positively affect Comprehensive Cancer Control, reduce risk, and to enhance survivorship. Cancer survivors are often highly motivated to seek information about nutrition, food choices, and cooking to improve their treatment outcomes, quality of life, and overall survival. Exercise provides a building block for better health, while stress management programs provide the tools to manage the journey and strengthen one’s mind as well as body.

Education: Renowned oncologists and experts from across the country present relevant information on a variety of cancer-specific topics, utilizing Frankly Speaking About Cancer® resources, the Cancer Support Community’s landmark cancer education series, providing sound medical and psychological information for cancer patients and their loved ones. Having trusted, easy to understand information that demystifies life with cancer can help those affected by cancer feel better about their choices and about managing their cancer care. A variety of cancer-specific resources are also available at no cost to program participants at our resource and education library.

CancerSupportSource™: Evidence suggests that identifying and providing programs to reduce the level of heightened distress that often accompanies a cancer diagnosis increases patient adherence to treatment recommendations, greater satisfaction with care, and a higher-level quality of life. CancerSupportSource™ is a comprehensive web-based, validated distress screening program that integrates bio-psycho-social distress screening, referral, and follow-up care by a Licensed Mental Health Professional. It provides a personalized support care plan for patients, survivors, and loved ones, directing them to the most appropriate programs and services to meet individual needs.

Kid Support™: Cancer Support Community Central Ohio is the only Central Ohio provider offering this research-based, creative support program for children who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis of anyone they love — whether a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, friend or themselves. KidSupport™ helps children reduce the stress of the cancer experience through creative activities, relaxation skills, increasing communication, and gaining age-appropriate knowledge of basic cancer concepts. Resources for both kids and parents such as books, articles, videos, pamphlets, online support, and video games are an additional component of the program. A program for parents of children affected by cancer is offered concurrently.

Off-Site Program Outreach: Cancer Support Community strategically identified goals to more effectively implement cancer wellness services to unserved/underserved residents. Through partnerships with Heart of Ohio Family Health Center’s two federally funded locations: Capital Park Family Health Center in the North Linden area and Whitehall Family Health Center, as well as locations in the Franklinton and Hilltop areas on the Westside, we are expanding cancer wellness services and programming making our cancer wellness programs more accessible.