The Wellness Community of the Jersey Shore is launching new, free programs to support, educate and give hope to people with cancer and their loved ones. Three new programs will be geared toward children that have parents or grandparents with cancer, people with a genetic predisposition to cancer, and long-term cancer survivors. The Wellness Community also offers over 60 programs and support groups each month designed to improve quality of life, foster hope and decrease stress and feelings of isolation.
Advances in the treatment of cancer have dramatically improved patients’ chances for long-term survival. Yet medical science does not help people and their families cope with the psychological impact of physically devastating treatments and living in the face of an uncertain future. Even in remission, cancer survivors can experience depression when coping with long-term physical side-effects that make living a normal life impossible. Family members suffer from feelings of isolation and stress as they try to cope with the demands of supporting their loved one’s battle with cancer while trying to process their own feelings of fear and loss. As a participant at The Wellness Community says,”…the psychological factors associated with having cancer can be just as debilitating - if not more debilitating - than the physical ones. From attending my support groups at The Wellness Community, I have learned that I am one of many, I have strengthened my resolve about fighting my illness, I am more grateful for every day that I live, and I am better equipped to deal with my cancer".
According to a study released by the Institute of Medicine in 2007, failure to address the emotional impacts of cancer can actually have a negative impact on the effectiveness of medical treatments and on long-term health. The study recommends that anyone impacted by cancer should seek out community services that help them cope with the psychological and emotional effects of cancer. In particular, the study suggests that people affected by cancer engage in peer support, group therapy and educational programs.
Hope is a critical coping mechanism when battling cancer. When people maintain hope, they feel better about themselves, are better prepared to face treatments and are more likely to take steps to promote their own health. When family members have hope, they are in a better position to provide the love and strength necessary to support their loved one’s fight.
The Wellness Community is here to help support you, educate you and to help you maintain hope. You are not alone in your battle against cancer. We offer professionally-
http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/
to view our program calendar or call us at (732) 578-9200.
Ilene L. Winters, Executive Director
The Wellness Community, Northern Jersey Shore – The Diney Goldsmith Center
613 Hope Road, Eatontown, NJ 07724
(732) 578-9200
Ilene@twcjerseyshore.org
