Cancer patients handle their journeys differently. Some push it away with laughter, others with yoga or meditation. But most would probably agree that sometimes it’s nice just to talk about it with people who understand the grief, the countless questions and the pain. To face the unknown is difficult, which is why local organizations offer support, resources, education and most importantly, the chance to connect, for those dealing with a diagnosis.
the breakfast club inc.
In 1997, three breast cancer survivors and a recently diagnosed woman met over breakfast. They discussed her care and possible coping mechanisms and decided to meet again the next month. “We eventually had to decide whether to keep it small and intimate or grow the group to serve the greater good,” recalls founder and president Sherill Jackson. They chose the latter and became established as a nonprofit in 2000. Seventeen years later, The Breakfast Club Inc. (BCI) has grown from four to around 250 members, serving thousands of African American women in St. Louis. “Most board members are survivors or have had someone close to them diagnosed with breast cancer,” she says. “Everyone’s experience with cancer is unique, but we have lived through it and are passionate about helping other women.”
BCI still offers monthly support meetings along with new programs made possible through grants and community partnerships, Jackson says. The group focuses its efforts on North St. Louis City and County where the incidence of late-stage breast cancer is higher. Its Breast Health Buddy Program mentors newly diagnosed women for the first nine months of their journey. The BCI works with Medical West on Brentwood Boulevard to provide bras and breast forms for women without insurance or other resources. There’s also Faith on the Move, which provides mammograms to women who are medically underserved in partnership with Siteman Cancer Center, Missouri Baptist Medical Center and Mercy Hospital.
Education is key to BCI’s mission, according to Jackson. The organization incorporates an educational component about breast cancer for women and their families at all events. It also hosts an annual seminar with experts on cutting-edge treatments to help women make decisions about their own course of action. BCI’s newest initiative focuses on healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
cancer support community of greater st. louis
Preparing for its 25th anniversary in 2018, the Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis started with three programs: support groups, yoga and joke fests. The programs aimed to support cancer patients and reduce the stress that comes with a diagnosis. Since 1993, the nonprofit, which is part of a national organization, has expanded its reach, offering more programs to more people.
We serve the whole family, the whole time,” program director Renata Sledge says. “Cancer impacts more than just the person diagnosed.” Cancer Support Community now includes support services for family and friends, including those grieving a loved one. Families Connect is a program specifically aimed at children 18 and younger. “They get to learn about cancer in an age appropriate way and learn to cope alongside peers who understand the experience,” Sledge says.
Cancer Support Community’s free programs include support, education, stress management, healthy lifestyle training and social opportunities. “Our focus is on the emotional distress of being affected by cancer,” Sledge explains. “Stress and emotional distress are two of the most common side effects. Reducing stress improves health and can even reduce the cost of care.” One of the major benefits provided by Cancer Support Community is the chance to connect with other people affected by the disease. Sledge explains that support groups facilitated by licensed mental health professionals allow for discussion with people having similar experiences, like type or stage of cancer. Social opportunities offer a time to make friends and connect on a level other than cancer.
local hospital groups
Mercy Hospital | For breast, head and neck, thyroid and prostate cancers, as well as lymphedema
SSM Health | For breast cancer patients, general cancer care, coping and education, and grief
SLUCare Physician Group | For oral, head and neck cancer, and multiple myeloma patients
Missouri Baptist Medical Center a Cancer Support Center | Includes emotional support and community resources
St. Louis Children’s Hospital | For families of children diagnosed with a brain tumor or cancer of the brain
Siteman Cancer Center | Including support groups, exercise programs and pet therapy for patients and families
St. Anthony’s Medical Center | For breast and prostate cancer patients
