Cancer Pathways Midwest

Written By Elizabeth Roberts

No one wants to hear the words, “you have cancer.”  And if receiving a cancer diagnosis isn’t enough, treatments, side effects, possible complications, setbacks, and everyone finding their new “roles” impacts individuals and their families physically, mentally, and spiritually, leaving them feeling even more overwhelmed, isolated, and defeated.

What Cancer Pathways Midwest Does:

Cancer affects a patient’s thoughts, feelings, moods, beliefs, ways of coping and relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. Through local donors, sponsors, and grants Cancer Pathways Midwest provides psychosocial support to help individuals and families meet their mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs through:

·     Counseling (individual, family, and couples)

·     Peer to Peer support

·     Art Therapy (they have the only two Art Therapist in the tri-state)

·     Groups (Living with Cancer, Guy Time, Ribbon Chicks (young adult females), Head & Neck, Friends & Family, Living Through Grief and more)

·     Education, wellness and nutrition, spiritual support, resources, as well as

·     Social support (just hanging out, connecting, and having fun with others that “get it”)

Ways to get involved:

Become a trained volunteer. A few opportunities include:

1.     Front Desk Greeter

2.     Runner (pickup and delivery)

3.     Events

4.     CPM Advocate in the community

5.     Donate regularly needed items or funds to purchase them. See the regularly needed items, at cancerpathwaysmidwest.org/wishlist/

6.     Meal Host

  • Every Tuesday night, multiple groups meet and after, gather for a meal. This time allows them to understand they are not alone; feeling empowered and validated, providing them with coping skills and communication to navigate their “new normal”, a new community of friends, and irreplaceable memories that cancer cannot take away!

  • Consider providing a meal for the various groups:

  • Options:

·       Prepare and serve the meal in our commercial kitchen

·       Bring it already prepared and serve or

·       Prepare and drop to clubhouse to be served by volunteers

·       Meals can be provided one time, monthly, annually, etc.

·       Sign up HERE: Cancer Pathways Meal Train

 

Whatever your capability, know it is a gift to those in active treatment, caregiving for a loved one or loss of a loved one due tocancer. For questions or more information, contact Avory: (812) 402-8667.

Elizabeth Roberts
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