ROCHESTER, N.Y. — More people are surviving cancer than ever before, but News10NBC Investigative Reporter Jennifer Lewke found the fight can be tough on those impacted and their families.
Karen Flanagan’s most cherished title is grandma. “Three grandchildren that are the light of my life,” Flanagan tells News10NBC.
A few years ago, Flanagan was diagnosed with uterine cancer. She beat that. Then, she started having trouble breathing. “He did a biopsy and some testing, next thing I know he’s calling me at home,” Flanagan recalls.
It was stage four non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, “you hear it, and then you’re like did I really hear that right,” she said. As she was finishing up her treatment this time around, she figured she could use some support from people who had been through what she has. “It’s always anxiety, you’re like okay, I got to work myself up, got to go for another scan or blood work too,” Flanagan says.
So, she now comes to the Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club Rochester. It’s open to anyone impacted by cancer, not just those fighting it but those supporting loved ones who are too.
Everything is free. There is art and music therapy, cooking lessons and programs for kids. But most of all, there’s camaraderie among those who may be having similar worries about the future.
“Depression, loneliness, financial issues, food insecurity, I think is what you hear quite often, transportation issues is what we find when they walk through the door,” says Amanda Miller, director of programs and support services.
If you’re fighting cancer, they want to make sure that all your needs are met. That’s why they even have a food pantry for those who need it.
More people than ever before are coming to Cancer Support Community. In fact, the largest support group there is men with prostate cancer. And if group sessions aren’t your thing, you can get one-on-one therapy. “You don’t have to worry about a co-pay, we don’t ask for your insurance, we don’t want it. We just want you to walk out feeling better,” Miller says.
It’s brought some calm to Flanagan, “we meet every Wednesday and we all keep each other informed of who’s got blood work coming up or who’s got scans coming up, cheer each other on when getting results, we cheer each other on if everything is going good still,” Flanagan says.
It’s a support that the folks there hope others fighting cancer can feel too. “When we get you through the door, we’ll keep you,” Miller adds.
For more information on the support services offered, click here.
Free cancer support services in Rochester are helping a record number of patients and families WHEC.com.
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