By Jake Poinier
Sooner 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 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 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,” said 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 from local physicians, community centers, and past participants in CSCP’s programs.
Ostiller notes that many participants don’t want to return to the hospital, where they might be reminded of treatments and nausea. This is why CSCP has been decorated in a home-like setting, with a living room and prints on the wall creating a peaceful, soothing community environment.
Virtual programs offer a convenient alternative to the onsite groups. About a week into the pandemic, CSCP shifted to Zoom—and coming out of it, they offer a combination of in-person, Zoom, and hybrid options, in which some attendees are in person and others are on screen. The virtual groups help support two key audiences: patients who are too sick to drive to attend their support group; and caregivers who are unable to leave the person they are caring for.
“If there is a silver lining from this pandemic, it’s the fact that we—like so many other nonprofits and businesses—learned how to provide support virtually, when we could not do it in person,” says Ostiller. “It was little challenging for our licensed clinicians at first, looking into a camera when they’re used to being physically in the same room with people. But they quickly adapted, and we had great attendance. The thing to remember is that we all felt isolated during the pandemic, but it was even more difficult for people facing cancer and who needed to be cautious because they were immunocompromised.”
New look, same mission
In 2023, there are two major milestones ahead for the organization. The first is a name change—from Cancer Support Community Pasadena to Cancer Support Community Greater San Gabriel Valley—to better reflect their overall service area. The second is the move to a permanent facility in Sierra Madre that will become their new center of operations, enabled by donor contributions to make the down payment, and a loan by California Bank & Trust.
The new building includes an “outdoor oasis,” where support groups can be held outside. (DO WE KNOW WHY – ARE ACCESS TO FRESH AIR / NATURE CONSIDERED HEALING?) Construction on an extensive interior remodel began in January 2023 to accommodate program delivery, with rooms for support groups, eight offices, a kitchen, an educational center, a living room and a conference room. The organization plans to be in the building and delivering programs as of July 1.
“Sierra Madre has a traditional, peaceful neighborhood feel that will be good for our participants,” Ostiller says. “We’re excited to own an asset and not be leasing anymore, thanks to the generosity of the donors who stepped up. Above all, we want to be able to increase the programs we offer.”
This content was originally pubished in our award-winning magazine In Your Corner. See Issue 13 here: In Your Corner Magazine | Spring 2023