Cancer likely touches everyone in our community, whether through a personal diagnosis or by watching a loved one battle the disease. I remember my grandfather, who passed away last summer from cancer, joking that he was a success because he had ‘lived long enough to get cancer,’ as if it were an inevitable part of aging. In Bonner and Boundary counties, over 400 people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Although common, the diagnosis is often overwhelming — and that's where Community Cancer Services (CCS) steps in.
Founded over 20 years ago, CCS provides vital support to those diagnosed with cancer financially, physically, and emotionally. Much like the Community Resource EnVision Center, CCS serves as a local resource hub, guiding patients to essential services like respite care, rent assistance, and more. Executive Director Kailee Stevens and Program Facilitator Lexie McIntire connect their clients to these services while also providing direct assistance, such as gas vouchers, grocery gift cards, support groups, and medical bill relief.
Many CCS clients lack local family support, a gap Kailee and her team fill. This is done through counseling and support groups. Counseling is available both in-person and virtually for those unable to travel. One of the most impactful ways to volunteer with CCS is to drive clients to treatment appointments, sometimes as far as Spokane. Additionally, CCS helps with physical support by offering financial assistance for gym memberships and personal training. They also offer yoga classes tailored to ability. For patients needing home modifications, CCS can connect them with services to help with relevant renovations such as installing walk-in showers.
These services are unique to CCS. So unique that people outside of northern Idaho, in Montana, Washington, and further south frequently seek their help. Though CCS only offers their Cancer Burden Relief Project to those residing in Boundary and Bonner counties they hope to expand their services in the future. Currently, they can direct people outside of Northern Idaho to universal resources, but do not have the capacity to offer their full range of services to other counties.
Over 50% of cancer survivors lose or quit their jobs, and many of CCS’s clients, especially those over 65, are on fixed incomes. The staff at CCS assists with applications for Medicaid and connects patients with other financial resources. They collaborate with organizations like IdaHope Families, Bonner Homeless Transitions, One Change Group, andLocal organizations such as Elks Wednesday Morning Women's Golf League and Schweitzer Mountain also hold fundraisers for CCS. Thanks to partnerships with treatment centers, CCS can often reduce the monthly payment and supplement payments.
Should a client need to navigate a terminal diagnosis, CCS offers legal resources for issues like setting up wills. They will also help establish end-of-life care and walk alongside clients in very difficult times.
More than just services, CCS offers a welcoming, cozy space where patients can relax and connect with others who understand their journey — a break from the cold, sterile doctor’s office environment.
Around 90% of CCS’s referrals come from treatment facilities, and approximately 300 of the 400+ annual cancer diagnoses in the area use CCS’s services. Many patients, overwhelmed by their diagnosis, might not know what help they need. Community Cancer Services is open to all cancer patients, including those still processing their diagnosis. For those in the early stages, they might receive immediate support like a gas voucher or grocery gift card while they take time to digest the news.
Ultimately, when you donate your time or money to CCS, you're directly supporting your neighbors in need. While large cancer organizations are crucial for research, there’s no better way to help cancer patients locally than by supporting Community Cancer Services.
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