Category: Cancer Care News

Cancer Care News is about recaps on events, updates about staff/ the organization, and outreach efforts.

Volunteer Spotlight –
Nancy Love

Who is Nancy Love, volunteer extraordinaire?

Volunteers make the world go ‘round! Let’s celebrate Nancy Love, who has been a wonderful Cancer Care Services volunteer for nearly 5 years, with her Cancer Care volunteer story! Nancy was born, raised, and currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas. She is a retired elementary math teacher who served over 30 years in FWISD. (We love our teachers!) When she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2013, Nancy was overwhelmed by the word CANCER. Our counselor, Annie, helped Nancy cope with her cancer diagnosis and listened with a kind ear.

After retirement, Nancy decided to give back by volunteering for Cancer Care Services. She has loved helping cancer patients and their families through all of our services and events. Nancy remembers answering calls at the receptionist desk one day, and on the other end of the phone was a 25-year-old man who had just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He felt so lost and confused about how to navigate the medical system. Through tears, he admitted that he didn’t know where to get help. Nancy connected him with a social worker who helped him understand his situation and navigate his new diagnosis. Nancy played an important part in helping this young man find HELP and HOPE!

As a former patient herself, Nancy is empathetic to those who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Nancy says, “We all go through cancer experiences differently, but the one thing we all have in common is the ‘C’ word.”

Nancy is a proud volunteer and advocate for Cancer Care, so she encourages others to join her! For Nancy, the best part of volunteering is meeting AMAZING people along the way!

Thank you for being an inspiring volunteer, Nancy! Cancer Care Services is blessed to have you as part of our family! If you would like to become a volunteer like Nancy, please fill out our online Volunteer Application.

AYA Cancer Patients Create Connections and Friendships!

Camp Gold 2021 Recap

On April 24^th, 2021 Cancer Care Services hosted our annual AYA Retreat: Camp Gold 2021, at Camp El Tesoro in Granbury, Texas. The weather was absolutely perfect, and the day was, what I like to call simply MAGICAL!

We had 20 participants in attendance, and that included their guests. We had two campers, plus their guests, who had to pull out last minute due to not feeling well because of chemo they had that week. Plus 9 volunteers from Cancer Care Services and Rutledge Cancer Foundation.

Staff members who joined us were Tori, Tamika, and Kayla, who did an EXCELLENT job leading our group discussion. Everyone enjoyed hiking, canoeing, kayaking, archery, the ropes course, group time, and meditation.

All day, every participant kept thanking us for making this event happen. Throughout the day, participants would express how glad they were to finally connect with fellow AYA’s (Adolescent and Young Adults) because like several of our clients, they spent most of 2020 in isolation and didn’t have the opportunity to meet others going through the same thing.

Several participants this year had either just wrapped up treatment, or are still on treatment, currently. They all connected with each other INSTANTLY and absolutely made friendships that will go on past this weekend (at dinner they were passing around a pen and paper to get everyone’s name and number like they were 10 at summer camp! So cute!).

If I could describe this weekend in one word, it would be THANKFUL! Thankful for the opportunities that 2021 is bringing us, and for being able to have in-person events again.

It was beyond evident that they are needed for our clients to feel a connection with others, now more than ever. Specifically, our AYA’s who crave connection with their peers. This is already a population that gets overlooked, and they definitely felt known, seen, heard, and loved this weekend!

For future Camps and Connect Events, please check out our events calendar!

August brings more friendships & fun!

August 2021 Connect Night

Imagine the challenge of facing cancer, adjusting to new dietary restrictions, and finding the time and energy to cook for a family. Cancer Care’s August 2021 Connect Night featured Becca with Tarrant Area Food Bank, who taught our clients healthy and easy-to-make meals that the whole family can help cook!

Brianna, our child therapist, talked about how different types of foods can boost moods and calm anxiety. Then, the kids got to carefully slice cucumbers and strawberries to make a delicious cucumber and strawberry vinaigrette salad. Together, the families crafted their southwest pinwheels stuffed with chicken, spinach, and a mouth-watering cream cheese mixture. Yum!

Connect Night events build social connections by enjoying FUN activities together while teaching COPING skills. Each event has a therapeutic component combined with an engaging theme. Through the dedication of Cancer Care’s staff and volunteers, we have also made our Connect Nights more inviting and accessible for our Spanish-speaking families by offering Spanish translation.

In addition to making events more accessible, we have safely hosted every Connect Night in person this year, except for January! Clients were thankful for the commitment our staff, donors, and volunteers made toward creating a safe environment for people of all ages to form bonds within their own families and with others who are also dealing with cancer.

Supporters like you ensure that those impacted by cancer in our community have FREE social, emotional, and educational programming to help them cope with cancer while expanding their support system. Connect Nights are just one of the many ways your donation brings hope and healing.

Donate early or on North Texas Giving Day, and you can become part of a regional campaign that uplifts the mission of Cancer Care Services. Spread the word by posting about your donation and using the hashtag #NTxGivingDay on social media!

Thank you for making sure that no one has to cope with cancer alone.

View our Events Calendar for upcoming Connect Events!

Inspiring Hope, Love, and Care

CampCARE 2021

An incredibly brave and kind group of campers blessed us at CampCARE this year! Many campers experienced their first time catching a fish, riding a horse, and conquering the challenge course. Every child approached these experiences with enthusiasm and wonder, often surprising themselves with what they were capable of achieving.

New friends danced together, cheered each other on, and formed lasting bonds! And just as valuable as the friendships made were the skills learned during play therapy sessions held by Brianna, our child therapist. Brianna taught the campers ways to cope and share their emotions surrounding the cancer diagnosis of their loved one.

The children, volunteers, and staff brought the spirit of CampCARE to life through endless jokes, laughter, and SUPPORT. The last day of camp was full of bittersweet goodbyes… but there was also JOY because they will see their new friends again at Cancer Care!

Kaleigh and Aiden, two siblings whose mother is going through cancer treatment, made special connections with the other campers- and they learned healthy ways to process and express feelings with their mom. So CampCARE didn’t just change Kaleigh and Aiden’s lives, but their mother’s too. The family forged a new bond of HOPE and LOVE through learning how to cope TOGETHER.

Thank you to YMCA Camp Carter for providing a safe and fun environment for our clients, staff, and volunteers!

AND thank you to our amazing sponsors…

Jane Oderberg, Jason and Kelsey Pitts, Julie Vincent, Shaw’s Patio Bar & Grill, and Connecting for Conquerors for providing lunch to our hardworking campers and volunteers!
Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), and Dream Performance for inspiring hope!
Robert and Sherry Moore for stringing all of the fishing poles!
And last but not least, Stir Crazy Baked Goods for providing DELICIOUS birthday cupcakes!

Blair Kay eats a cupcake at CampCare 2021. — CampCARE 2021

You Are Not Alone

Meet Our Grief Counseling Specialist

Our staff always makes us proud with their achievements and passion! Recently, Annie Presley, LCSW, became a Certified Grief Counseling Specialist (CGCS). Wow! The Certified Grief Counselor Specialist Evergreen Certification covers counseling for grief and loss through all stages of life.

Annie gained her Master’s in Social Work in 2005, became a clinical social worker in 2015, and has worked for Cancer Care Services as a counselor for over 15 years. Because Cancer Care Services is here to help EVERYONE impacted by cancer – Annie helps patients, caregivers, and family members cope with the emotional trauma caused by cancer.

She believes it is important to continue learning, especially about grief, because it is present in everyone’s life in various forms. Annie creates a safe place in her counseling sessions so her clients will feel comfortable working through their anxiety, loneliness, crisis situations, or grief. We are truly thankful to have staff like Annie, who are always looking for ways to better serve!

If you would like to receive counseling or other forms of support, please contact us at 817-923-0651 and ask to speak with a social worker email us at Info@CancerCareServices.org, or fill out our online form.

The Cost of Cancer

What is the cost of cancer treatment?

According to many who work in oncology, immunotherapy “is the future” of cancer care. The American Society of Clinical Oncology defines immunotherapy (also called biologic therapy) as a type of cancer treatment that boosts the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer.

But sadly, the miracle is often unattainable because the cost of cancer treatment can be unaffordable unless the patient is fortunate enough to have an insurer willing to approve expensive coverage. For instance, the well-known drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is priced at $4,800 per dose (100mg/4mL vial). The drug is typically administered every 3 weeks, for a period as long as two years, depending upon the patient’s response and other conditions. The cost of cancer treatment quickly adds up to tens of thousands of dollars!

While we sadly cannot offer a solution that would make these new cancer therapies affordable for all, we feel strongly that we cannot lose sight of those who are impacted by the disease today, here and now, in our community. While there are hundreds upon hundreds of research entities across the nation planning new strategies in the war against cancer, the battle on the front line rages on. You likely know someone saying, “I’ve got it – now, today. What do I do?”

Cancer Care Services can provide a safety net (for those who qualify for financial assistance), a cushion to soften the blow when people find themselves up against this devastating disease. Even with health insurance, it’s all too common to hear stories of entire life savings being spent on the cost of cancer treatment. (The number one cause of personal bankruptcy is medical debt.) And you may be surprised to know that Cancer Care Services provides navigation services for everyone, no matter your income level.

The truth of the matter is that a cancer diagnosis can throw anyone into sudden, unexpected, and debilitating financial jeopardy. The financial stress of cancer is proven to increase the risk of death in cancer patients by more than 70%. That “financial toxicity” leads to patients worrying that, even if they survive, they’ll have nothing. Or worse yet, the longer they survive, the less their family will have. These are deep, dark fears that, honestly, you can help Cancer Care Services alleviate. Our team of social workers provide expert guidance that is difficult to find in an out-of-hospital setting.

So while researchers are doing amazing things in the lab, we are proud to be doing some amazing things right here in Tarrant County. We invite you to come take a tour of our offices and meet some of the social workers and clients who can tell you their real-life stories. Because reducing the devastating impact of cancer on an individual’s life can have a healing effect as profound as any miracle drug.

If you need help with the cost of cancer treatment, please contact us at 817-921-0653 or our online form to see if you qualify for our financial assistance or navigation programs.