Our programs, all free of charge, offer cancer patients and their loved ones ways to actively participate in the management of their health. CSCET programs include weekly and monthly support groups, educational workshops on managing cancer, health and wellness classes and opportunities to connect socially with others facing cancer. Our programs were developed to offer options to cancer patients and their caregivers/loved ones to improve their physical and mental function, educate about stress reduction techniques and encourage engagement in behaviors necessary to manage illness and promote health and a sense of hope for the future. At Cancer Support Community East Tennessee, people affected by cancer are able to unite together, under the guidance of trained professionals, to face their diagnosis in a compassionate, supportive environment. Research shows that psychosocial distress caused by a cancer diagnosis is associated with decreased adherence to treatment, relapse of disease, diminished survival rates, higher medical costs and additional burden on existing medical systems. These challenges require a mobilization of resources and support systems, use of problem solving skills and the ability to understand complex information about a disease and options for treatment. CSCET programs have been developed to help meet these psychological, social and educational needs in order to improve adherence to treatment, quality of life and perhaps survival.
