Cancer Support Community (CSC) is a national nonprofit organization that provides support, education and hope to people with cancer and their loved ones. Through participation in professionally led support groups, educational workshops and mind/body classes, people affected by cancer learn vital skills that enable them to regain control reduce isolation and restore hope regardless of the stage of disease. Most importantly, CSC provides a home-like setting for people fighting cancer to connect with and learn from each other. At Cancer Support Community, all programs are free of charge.
Dr. Harold Benjamin founded Cancer Support Community in Santa Monica, California in 1982 as a result of his family’s experience with his wife’s breast cancer and through subsequent years of study on the psychological and social impact of cancer. From Dr. Benjamin’s first program in a little yellow house in Santa Monica, Cancer Support Community has grown to twenty-two facilities throughout the country with four additional facilities currently in development. In addition, Cancer Support Community has two facilities abroad in Tel Aviv, Israel and Tokyo, Japan, and The Virtual CSC Community on the Internet.
A significant factor in expansion of facilities in the early 1990′s can be directly attributed to Gilda Radner, a participant at CSC until her death from ovarian cancer in 1989. In her book, “It’s Always Something”, she shared extensively about her experience at Cancer Support Community. As countless patients have read her book, many have gone on to help bring a facility to their area.
The National organization was officially formed in 1989 to facilitate expansion outside California. In 1997, the National headquarters moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. A new Board of Directors was formed that reflected more national representation and a new CEO was hired. In 2002, the National headquarters relocated to Washington, DC and Cancer Support Community celebrated its 20th Anniversary. A new national staff has been mobilized that will lead Cancer Support Community well into the future.
