WHOLE BODY HEALTH
When cancer strikes, mind and soul need treatment, too BY JAKE POINIER CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY OF PASADENA
S OONER OR LATER, cancer touches almost every family. When it does, you learn that a cancer diagnosis extends far beyond the walls of any hospital or clinic—and that the type of medicine required is not just for the body. Although proper medical care is a vital part of the equation, psychosocial care has been the focus of Cancer Support Community of Pasadena (CSCP), since 1990 providing support, education, and hope to anyone impacted by cancer. “You are so much more than a body—you are a mind and a soul,” says CSCP executive director Patricia Ostiller. “We supplement medical treatments
including free comedy nights with professional comedians, allowing participants to laugh and forget about cancer for a couple of hours. Several of CSCP’s programs are geared towards underserved communities, including Spanish- speakers, and a new Black support circle, facilitated by a clinician who is Black. “We know that the Black community suffers greater cancer disparities than other communities, and we’re happy to be helping to change that,” Ostiller says. Thanks to a generous flow of private donations and three annual fundraising events, all services are free to participants, regardless of socioeconomic status. “If you’re diagnosed with cancer, you may have to stop working, or you may have insurance, but with a high deductible,” says Ostiller. “Your finances are the last thing you need to be worrying about when you’re facing this devastating disease.” A healing environment The medical community has long recognized that mental health is a critical component of comprehensive cancer care. Serving more than 1,000 people a year with a staff of eight administrators and about a dozen licensed clinicians, CSCP is known as the gold standard in psychosocial care, says Ostiller. “While some hospitals might offer a monthly support group, ours are weekly, which is why our partners such as City of Hope, Dignity Health Glendale Memorial, and Huntington Hospital count on us and refer patients to us.” Other referrals come
with psychosocial care, not only for patients, but for caregivers, people who are bereaved after having lost someone to cancer, and to survivors.” To address the needs of those groups, CSCP offers a variety of ways to access their services, including professionally facilitated support groups, educational
workshops presented by oncologists and other medical experts, and one-on-one counseling. Healthy lifestyle classes help patients understand how they can eat better and manage the after-effects of chemotherapy. There are even social activities
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IN YOUR CORNER ISSUE 13 | 2023
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