Executive Director Monica Murrietta speaks with Gary Butterworth about the Cancer Support Community.
- Purpose & Importance of Psychosocial Support
Total Wellness Care: Cancer care involves more than just medical treatment. Psychosocial (emotional and social) support is essential for total wellness, affecting not only the patient but also family members and caregivers.
Overcoming Isolation: A cancer diagnosis often leads to feelings of isolation. Friends and loved ones may feel hesitant or afraid of saying the wrong thing, sometimes resulting in them withdrawing entirely. The Cancer Support Community emphasizes surrounding patients with tailored, open support.
- History & Reach
35 Years of Service: Founded in 1991 by two oncology nurses (Marty Nason and Beth Kin) who identified a severe lack of local support services in the Conejo Valley, inspired by the original Wellness Community model in Santa Monica.
Community Impact: The non-profit supports roughly 900 to 1,200 individuals annually, offering completely free services with no limits on how long or how often participants can utilize them.
- Five Core Programs
Support Groups: Around 22 group meetings per month, led by licensed mental health professionals. Groups include cancer-specific topics, survivorship, general cancer, caregivers, and bereavement.
Individual Counseling: Limited individual counseling sessions with licensed facilitators or graduate interns to help individuals transition into group settings if they aren’t ready right away.
Wellness Classes: Classes aimed at physical and mental well-being, including yoga, Tai Chi, and mindful breathing (offered both in-person and online via Zoom).
Educational Workshops: 2 to 3 sessions per month featuring medical and health experts discussing requested topics such as nutrition and side-effect management.
Social Events: Non-cancer-focused social gatherings—such as comedy nights, holiday parties, and fall arts and crafts—designed to foster friendship, joy, and community.
- Caregiver Support & Special Initiatives
Caregiver Relief: Caregivers experience significant stress and potential secondary trauma. The organization provides sacred spaces for caregivers to freely express fear, frustration, and joy without burdening their loved ones undergoing treatment.
Fundraising Events: Major annual events funding these free programs include a Walk in June, a Malibu Car Show Caravan/BBQ in the summer, and the Celebration of Hope Garden Party in the fall honoring local oncology heroes.
Getting Started: Anyone seeking help can attend an orientation session and receive a personalized follow-up consultation to match them with suitable resources, including connections to local transportation or financial aid.
TV broadcast week beginning 09/27/26
Producer: George Alger
Sponsor: NONPROFIT FIRE, Google Ad Grants Community Building NonProfitFire.org
Sponsor: SKYWORKS MARKETING, Performance Advertising SkyworksMarketing.com