CanSurround offers online resources for cancer patients

Helping those affected by cancer achieve their best possible outcomes is a top priority for Cancer Care Connection, a JFS affiliate.

The organization’s dedicated oncology social workers have always been a source of information and support for cancer patients and their loved ones.

Now, Cancer Care Connection is providing access to a 24-hour online platform designed to reduce distress and enhance mental wellness through resources and activities which inspire, inform and help cancer patients on every step of their journey.

CanSurround is a web-based portal developed by oncology nurses and social workers to address the mental and emotional wellness of cancer patients that is often overlooked.

While advances have been made in medical research and treatments for cancer, the fear, anxiety and other emotional aspects that come with a cancer diagnosis often go undetected, unacknowledged or untreated. Emotional wellness is an important part of any person’s health, especially for someone navigating the twists and turns of cancer. Access to the right support tools, space for reflection, and the autonomy to explore resources can help cancer patients regain a sense of control and take charge of their cancer journey.

“No other disease strikes fear in people like cancer does,” said Meg Maley, founder of CanSurround and a registered nurse who has worked with cancer patients over the last 30 years. “Our goal with CanSurround is to translate what we know is helpful – what can often be lifesaving emotional support – on a digital platform, available 24 hours a day. With CanSurround, we can help people look into their cancer and themselves in a way medicine just can’t.”

CanSurround’s interactive features include checklists and trackers, a multimedia journal, mind-body relaxation exercises, educational and inspirational resources, and more. Users of the CanSurround platform can log their emotional journey, engage in mindfulness activities, and access a library of well-vetted and highly researched resources from trusted professionals. Members of the patient’s support circle, such as loved ones and doctors, can be invited to connect on the platform to follow along the emotional journey and check in when needed.

“I’m so glad we can guide our callers to CanSurround,” said Janet Teixeira, Cancer Care Connection executive director. “It provides supportive resources for people affected by cancer at the click of a button, any time of the day or night, no matter where you are.”

To learn more, go to CanSurround.com and can-connect.org.

Cancer Care Connection helps people affected by cancer navigate the full range of the issue they face, make informed decisions, and take action on their own behalf. Cancer Care Connection’s oncology social workers help cancer patients and their caring circle reduce any cancer-related distress through counseling services and guidance to find resources and information needed to overcome obstacles and obtain the best possible outcomes.