(excerpted from Cornucopia's first Sharings newsletter Spring 1996)
Cancer is much more than a disease of the body. A diagnosis of cancer changes how we feel about ourselves as well as impacting our relationships, our jobs, our lives. The world turns upside down in that one moment when we hear the words "you have cancer."
Most of us are not prepared to deal with the kind of isolation, fear, hopelessness and chaos those words bring with them. In addition, we need to learn about treatment options, make informed choices, navigate the hospital structure, deal with chemotherapy and radiation side-effects, cope with insurance plans, and the list goes on. Our families and friends are drawn into the fray as well, struggling with their own feelings about what it is like to deeply love someone with cancer.
At Cornucopia House, we believe that people with cancer, their families, and their friends need a wealth of support and resources to help learn how to cope and live with the impact of cancer on their lives. From orientation groups for newly diagnosed patients to ongoing support groups for cancer patients, spouses, to resource groups, yoga for relaxation, educational classes and workshops, here at Cornucopia House we work to create a nurturing environment for the special needs of individuals with cancer and their extended families.
People with cancer learn they are not alone, that there is hope, and that they can affect the quality of how they live their lives. All our services are free and open to individuals with cancer, their families and friends at any phase of their treatment and recovery process. In addition, our programs both support and complement conventional medical treatment.
