INDIANAPOLIS — The Cancer Support Community Central Indiana offers free support services to cancer patients from its westside location.
Kathleen Spears, executive director for the center, says she loves sharing its mission with anyone who will listen.
“We have information for people with cancer and their caregivers,” Spears said. “We also offer support services for those with cancer and their families.”
The organization has a library filled with free information for people to take home. They also have a lending library, covering a variety of cancer-related topics.
“We even have books for children,” she said. “Kids will ask questions like ‘why is my mom so sick?’ or ‘Why is my dad’s hair falling out?’”
The materials can help families understand the process of battling cancer.
Support groups are a large portion of the services offered to patients and their caregivers.
“We have three rooms for support groups,” Spears said. “And we wanted them to look like your best friend’s home. People can open up when they’re in a comfortable setting.”
The support groups meet at a variety of times — some during the day, but many in the evenings when people are off work or have a ride.
“The sad thing we have come to learn in this economy is that many people are continuing to go to work during their treatment,” she said. “Many of them are very tired after work but they still come here to get the support that they need.”
Cancer patient Valarie Freeman of Greenwood has been utilizing the services of the Cancer Support Community.
“I’ve probably been coming here for a year and have found it very beneficial,” she said. “I wish it was closer, but I come when I feel up to it.”
Freeman was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called parathyroid carcinoma, which has metastasized to her lungs.
“When I first came, I just thought that I was going to a support group,” she said. “I had no idea they had so much going on here.”
Since she started going to the center she has tried several groups and has even participated in Zumba, Yoga, and QiGong classes.
“I think it’s nice knowing you’re not alone,” she said. “We share wonderful information and learn from each other.”
The Cancer Support Community offers an entire schedule of activities from relaxation and visualization classes to art therapy.
“Today we will have a squiggle class, which is a form of art therapy,” Spears said. “They’re asked to only draw squiggles. Then when they’re done, they analyze what they’ve drawn.
“Sometimes when they see a flat line, they’ll see themselves because they’ve had a breast removed or if they’re religious, they may see Christ. It’s all about the process.”
The center even has a room dedicated to book clubs and movie nights.
“We watch a lot of old ‘Saturday Night Live’ videos in here,” she said. “Gilda Radner used a wellness community. We watch a lot of Gilda and have joke night.”
All of the activities at the center are free for cancer patients and their caregivers. The Cancer Support Community Central Indiana is at 5150 West 71st St., Indianapolis.
For more information, call 257-1505 or visit the website at www.cancersupportindy.org.
brenda.holmes@flyergroup.com
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