The Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine Submitted

NORWAY — The Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine (CRCofWM) launched its Annual Appeal Campaign in early June. Funds raised from this appeal are critical to the Center’s mission to embrace anyone affected by cancer in a community that offers hope and caring through support, education, and concepts in healthy living – because no one should face cancer alone.

Finding support and resources for those impacted by cancer outside of Maine’s populated areas is often difficult – especially for cancer patients living in rural western Maine, where oncology services are limited. The CRCOFWM serves cancer patients and their families in Oxford County and surrounding towns with a focus on non-medical needs. The Center provides a patient-centered approach, offering one-to-one support from a cancer resource navigator and an oncology social worker. This support includes travel and food assistance, help with basic needs, support groups for men and women, educational programs, in-person and virtual wellness programs, help with accessing complementary therapy services through the Live Well Program, new wigs, and a variety of comfort items for those going through active treatment. These services are all free to anyone impacted by cancer in Oxford County and the surrounding towns. The Center also collaborates with the Oncology offices at Stephens Memorial, Rumford, and Bridgton Hospitals, all of whom often refer Oxford county clients they think would benefit from one-to-one cancer resource navigation and support. In 2021, despite the restrictions imposed by COVID, the Center served 130 new cancer patients from 46 different towns in western Maine – a 50% increase from 2020.

According to Diane Madden, the Executive Director of the Center, the Center has benefited from generous grant funding from the Maine Cancer Foundation, which goes directly to help patients with travel needs. The high cost of gasoline is a barrier for many cancer patients who need to travel to Lewiston or Portland for daily radiation treatments, often over the course of 5-7 weeks. In addition, many patients must travel multiple times to Boston for more specific cancer evaluation and treatment. Even as the price of gas comes down, many patients find they need to spend upwards of $350 for treatment-related travel. “We see patients struggling with making a decision between getting to treatment, paying their bills, or putting food on the table,” Madden reports. While the Center is grateful for the grant funding they receive, the money only goes so far, especially when the need is so high. The Center tries to keep its overhead costs low, allowing them to put more dollars back into the communities they serve. “This is why this annual appeal is so important,” Madden said.

“We are very grateful for the amazing donations we have received thus far for our annual appeal,” said Judy Stone, CRCofWM Board President, “and we are a little more than halfway to meeting our 2022 campaign goal. Every dollar donated makes an impact: A $50 donation will cover gas costs for a patient to make four trips (out of thirty) for radiation treatments in Lewiston or Portland or provide a gift card to a grocery store, and a $100 donation will provide a gift card to purchase non-covered medical supplies or personal hygiene/cleaning supplies not covered by food stamps.”

The CRCofWM Annual Appeal Campaign continues through the end of December 2022. Donations can be sent to the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine, 59 Winter St., Norway ME 04268, online at www.crcofwm.org, by visiting the Center, or by calling (207) 890-0329.