We exist to share cancer resource information in order to enrich our work and to strengthen the support network for those living with cancer.
The cancer consortium was first known as the Western North Carolina Resource Consortium and held its first meeting Tuesday, November 8, 2005. The agenda outlined the sharing of organizational information, discussing ways organizations had been effective independently, meeting the challenges people living with cancer faced, and collaborating on the common issues of people diagnosed with cancer.
A steering committee helped define the consortium, guided interested persons in determining where their provided services fit, arranged funding for a community needs assessments, and worked together to bring about training opportunities.
The consortium consisted of members from cancer centers, hospitals, oncology practices, medical specialists, counselors, cancer survivors, and nonprofit directors dedicated to presenting preventive education to supporting patients from diagnosis to palliative and hospice care.
Meetings, then, were held on the second Tuesday of February, May, August and November. Over the years, guest and host speakers gave talks on assistance programs, community resources, patient care continuum, gaps in services, support systems, caregiving, survivorship, and insurance. In recent years, the presentations have focused on cancer transitions, lay/patient navigation, compassion fatigue, among other topics of interest.
Though many of our founding leaders have retired, moved away, or are no longer in a cancer-related field, the solid commitment of the membership has continued the patient-focused mission to share cancer resource information in order to enrich our work and to strengthen the support network for those living with cancer.