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Mission Statement
The Center for Cancer Support & Education empowers and supports people touched by cancer, their caregivers and loved ones, by offering resources to enhance life as they move forward.
The Center began with an annual day of connection -- Arms Around Arlington -- for those affected by cancer, and grew to offer support groups and services for people who are dealing with or have survived cancer, as well as their caregivers.
With funding from several sources, The Center continues to grow and expand services to a diverse group from the many communities surrounding our home office in Arlington, MA.
All support groups are offered at no cost. Please call 718-648-0312 for more information or to register.
If you like what we do, then please feel free to make an investment in us. History
The Center for Cancer Support & Education was founded in 2002 in response to results of a survey conducted with Arlington teens (Youth Risk Behavior Survey). The survey showed that significant numbers of teens were highly stressed because of serious illness in their immediate families. The survey led members of Arlington's Teen Health Council to vote for a day devoted to cancer support and education. In 2001, Arms Around Arlington I, a day of connection and support for those touched by cancer, was born and became a well-known event each Spring.
These day-long events at Arlington Town Hall included speakers, sample support groups, free massage and Reiki treatments and booths of information from local hospitals and health care providers. At the end of the day, a needs assessment is conducted in the form of an "Arlington Town Cancer Meeting." The first year the needs assessment led to the formation of Arms Around Arlington, The Center for Cancer Support & Education, which now sponsors support groups for cancer survivors, a cancer caregiver support group, and a Wellness Program.
In 2006, the name was adjusted to encompass service to surrounding communities. The name became simply, The Center for Cancer Support & Education. The 10 surrounding communities we serve include Arlington, Belmont, Burlington, Cambridge, Concord, Everett, Lexington, Medford, Somerville, Winchester and Woburn. However, no one is ever refused services due to location or finances. People
The Center for Cancer Support & Education is managed by its Board of Directors.
The CCSE Executive Board is filled by volunteers, some of whom are survivors of cancer, others who are caregivers to people with cancer, many have been touched by cancer in their family or circle of friends, and all are commited to providing new and better oncology services to the community at large.
The Executive Board meets every-other month on the second Tuesday from 6:30-8 pm. Meetings are held at the Center's Headquarters at 180 Mass Avenue, Suite 301, Arlington, MA. Call Mary Lewis Sheehan at 781-648-0312 for more information, or if you wish to explore the possibility of serving on our Advisory Board click volunteer or e-mail us. Executive Board:
Joan Driscoll, RN - President
Liam Murphy - Treasurer
Mary Lewis Sheehan - Director
Senator Ken Donnelly - Director
Goldie Eder - Director
Angelika Festa - Director
Rochelle Furman - Director
Denise O'Connor - Director
Advisors:
Marcy Young, RN OCN-Lahey Clinic Liaison
Maria Melchionno, RN, OCN-CHA The Cancer Center Staff
Kiela Lyons - Office Manager - kiela(a)centerforcancer.org
Caroline Ronten - Development Director - caroline(a)centerforcancer.org
Mary Lewis Sheehan, CNS, BC- Breast Cancer Group, Facilitator
Edie Barrett, APRN, BC, PhDc - Caregiver Program, Facilitator
Tara Mann, MS, PhDc - General Cancer Group, Facilitator
Deb DeMella, RN, RYS, RPP, Reiki Master - Advanced Cancer Group, Facilitor
Angelika Festa, MA - Writing Workshop, Facilitator
Kate Ruma MAOM, Lic.Ac., Board Certified Acupuncturist/Herbalist, CCSE Provider
To contact any of our staff call our office at 781-648-0312 or click info to e-mail us. We will get back to you promptly.
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THE HISTORY OF THE CENTER FOR CANCER SUPPORT & EDUCATION
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So others could better understand the work of the Center for cancer Support & Education, we wanted to share a brief history of the organization - how it began and where it is now.
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In the early 1990s, Mary Lewis Sheehan, RN, CNS-BC was asked by the Chief Nursing Officer of Symmes Hospital to create a Breast Cancer Support Group. Mary Lewis recalls seeking out a renowned psychologist who specialized in cancer work for consultation on how to proceed. She laughs now when she recalls that she was told that she should not do so, supposedly because she did not know how and could not possibly understand this deep work. “That was 17 years ago, and I guess I figured it out.”
Using her background as a psychiatric nurse clinical specialist, she initiated the Breast Cancer Support Group in November 1993. Initially, the group met at Symmes Hospital in Arlington until the hospital closed. Mary Lewis commented that “we even continued to meet in the building for months after it closed! We had no other home yet.”
Symmes Hospital was purchased prior to this by Lahey Clinic, who assumed the funding for the group and whose sponsorship allowed for its continuance. The Breast Cancer Support Group moved to its current home in 2006, as a program of The Center for Cancer Support & Education, 180 Mass. Ave in Arlington.
The Breast Cancer Support Group began meeting every week without fail on Tuesday afternoons for seventeen years. Mary Lewis believes that steadfastness, empathy, and humor are key ingredients of any therapeutic cancer experience. The Center for Cancer Support & Education grew from the energy generated by the Breast Cancer Support Group and one pivotal event—the creation of Arms Around Arlington Day.
In 2000, the Youth Risk Behavior survey was conducted by the Board of Youth Services and members of Arlington’s Teen Health Council. This survey indicated that significant numbers of teens were highly stressed because of serious illness in their immediate families. As a result, in 2001, Arms Around Arlington I, a day of connection and support for those touched by cancer was born and became a well known event each spring for 6 years. These day-long events held initially at the Arlington Town Hall included speakers, sample support groups, free massage, Chinese herbal and Reiki treatments and booths of information from local hospitals and health care providers. At the end of the day, a needs assessment was conducted in the form of an “Arlington Town Cancer Meeting.” In the first year, the needs assessment led to the formation of a Caregiver Support Group and of Arms Around Arlington, The Center for Cancer Support & Education with Mary Lewis as its co-director. In 2006, the name was adjusted to encompass service to surrounding communities and the name became simply The Center for Cancer Support & Education.
Over time, different support groups and wellness modalities developed at the expressed wishes of those with cancer – patients, family members, and caregivers. The efforts to found a cancer support center were supported by committed and caring people: Cindy Bouvier and Carlene Newell of the Arlington Public Schools and John Jope, Director of the Council on Aging who stated “I’m going to help you” and provided a home complete with friends for a few years starting out. Evelyn Smith DeMille and Vicky Palmer Erbs of the The Elizabeth and George L. Sanborn Foundation for the Treatment and Cure of Cancer became a lifeline for the developing organization, supplying not only funding but hope, faith and mentoring.
The formation of The Center for Cancer Support & Education happened in the Arlington community and grew steadily out of the expressed needs of Arlington families touched by cancer in attendance at Arms Around Arlington Day. The Support Program has grown heartily and now includes groups for breast cancer, general cancer, advanced cancer, brain cancer, and family members/ caregivers. The Wellness Program was created in 2006 by Margaret Ryan, an artist, survivor, and Yoga teacher. It includes Polarity Balancing Therapy, Light Massage, Acupressure, Reiki, RYSE Private Therapy Sessions, acupuncture, meditation and a writing group. Wellness scholarships are available paid for by the Wendy Fund which was created in the memory of Wendy Morcos, a wife and mother who died of breast cancer in 2010 at age 48.
Mary Lewis happily aided Joan Driscoll, RN as she assumed the role of President of the Board of Directors in 2009. She continues to lead the Breast Cancer Support Group and takes an active role in the Board. Joan is uniquely positioned to lead the Center on to its next successes, due to her years of leadership positions in health care.
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