CANCER RESOURCE CENTER OF WESTERN MAINE
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Mission Statement
We embrace anyone affected by cancer through creating a hopeful and caring community providing support, resources, education, and wellness services.
About This Cause
Facing a cancer diagnosis and associated treatment can be a daunting challenge for many people as it often impacts all aspects of a person’s life, as well as those in their family. Finding support for those impacted by cancer outside of Maine’s populated centers is often difficult. The inspiration to help patients navigate the emotional terrain of a cancer diagnosis in Western Maine was spearheaded by three local survivors who founded the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine (CRCofWM) in 2014. The CRCofWM is an independent 501(c)3, offering patients, families and caregivers the ease and convenience of support and resources within their community. The CRCofWM provides support to all of Oxford county, as well as bordering towns. Unfortunately, income level can sometimes determine what type of care people can receive, and nearly 20% of Oxford County residents live in poverty. Oxford County’s sprawling natural landscape has fragmented the population, creating a density of 26 people per square mile. As economic opportunities in Oxford County have declined, poverty has become an increasing concern for residents. The CRCofWM works with the three local hospitals in out catchment plus those patients who live in our catchment area but receive treatment elsewhere like Boston and Portland. Our patients come to us in a variety of ways such as referrals from hospitals, towns, a family member to friend, other non profits or they just walk in. The Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine provides a variety of services to cancer patients: 1) Access to a cancer resource navigator and oncology social worker navigator One of our navigators meets one on one with each new cancer patient to assess their basic needs are met and to identify any barriers they might be facing and work with client to connect them to any needed resources. 2) Access to our Live Well Program: a) cancer patients and one caregiver can have access to FREE complementary therapies with participating wellness providers throughout western Maine. b) They also have access to wellness programs such as regular support groups for men and women, weekly chair yoga, craft groups, healthy cooking classes and more. 3) Soup program for patients undergoing treatment, food gift cards and travel assistance to get to cancer appointments. 4) Comfort items such as: wigs, arm and neck pillows, port protectors, rice bags, wrap quilts, hats, afghans etc. 5) A library of recorded classes on our website and on our YouTube channel. 6) We are beginning to work on a community based prevention screen program to get public health information out about the importance of regular cancer screening and early detection. We are hoping to get this information out to the community in multiple ways.