CancerConnects’ executive director explains how the organization helps people diagnosed with cancer
By Mary Beth Roach
Q: What is the mission of CancerConnects?
A: Our mission is to help ease the journey of a patient who has been diagnosed with cancer by offering programs and services to address their financial needs, their practical needs, to help them know there’s resources available.
Q: What are some of these specific services that you offer?
A: We offer the mentor program, which is pairing newly diagnosed patients with cancer survivors for guidance, emotional support and encouragement; a complementary therapy program, which provides access to integrative therapies such as meditation, reiki, yoga, massage and acupuncture; and nutritional counseling as well. We also have our financial assistance program, which is through the Saint Agatha Foundation with whom we partner, which helps in the payment of medical expenses, such as medical bills or health insurance premiums, living expenses; we offer gas and grocery cards too so they focus on their healing instead of the financial burdens they might have. And we have an Angel Fund, which is through community donations and fundraising. The financial assistance program which is supported by Saint Agatha Foundation is particularly for breast cancer patients. The Angel Fund is for all other cancers, apart from breast cancer.
Q: How many people did the organization serve last year?
A: Probably 1500. New patients would be around 800.
Q: Is that an increase from the previous year?
A: It is an increase because there’s more awareness of the programs.
Q: What do you see ahead for the organization?
A: What I’m looking for is to expand our reach, deepen our impact, grow our programs to include more therapies, reach patients in rural areas, strengthen our mentorship network by recruiting more survivor volunteers, build partnerships with healthcare providers to integrate supportive care into standard treatment pathways and secure sustainable funding so that every patient who needs help can access it without worrying of cost or limitations. My vision is that CancerConnects becomes a model of community-driven cancer support, showing that when you care for the whole person, outcomes improve.
Q: How do the national healthcare issues impact CancerConnects?
A: I think programs like ours are becoming even more important with the rising treatment costs, the gaps in insurance coverage. I think it’s all the more necessary for programs like ours to bridge that gap and help the patients be able to afford cancer treatment accessibility, which is why it’s important to reach that rural community as well.
Q: When did you start with Cancer-Connects?
A: I started in January of 2025.
Q: And what drew you to the organization?
A: I have been a trained physician for over 20 years and I’m passionate about supporting patients beyond medicine. I’m also a holistic health coach. The mission of CancerConnects is to help our patients through their journey after the diagnosis. That’s what I was passionate about, healing the whole person.