MaineHealth
Maine’s cancer disparities and rapidly growing population of cancer, in combination with expanded utilization of the internet, has led MaineHealth to develop a new, virtual Cancer Learning Resource Center. An integral part of MaineHealth’s developing regional oncology plan and a public service to benefit the entire state, the site will go live in the fall of 2010.

Maine Cancer Foundation’s grant will provide focus group sessions to gather critical information on needs, preferences and recommendations from patients and their families. The site will serve patients and their families in a broad service area.

MaineGeneral Medical Center
MCF is contributing $5,000 to pilot and evaluate the introduction of “Move More” Physical Activity program for cancer patients. The aim is to increase physical activity after a diagnosis of cancer as appropriate based on research indicating its benefits.

Research indicates that physical activity after a breast cancer diagnosis, for instance, may be beneficial in improving quality of life, reducing fatigue and assisting with health weight maintenance. One study found that women who exercised moderately had improved survival rates compared with more sedentary women.

The project goals are to create a supportive environment to encourage physical activity, and to reduce the barriers cancer survivors face when trying to be physically active. MaineGeneral serves residents of Kennebec and Somerset counties.

Connecting to Cancer Care,
York County Community Action Program
People living in rural areas are often disadvantaged when it come s to accessing health care. In addition to the physical and emotional aspects of cancer, patients with this diagnosis often face the additional challenge of getting to treatment and appointments.

YCCAC’s Connecting to Cancer Care program makes it possible for York County’s residents seeking cancer care to get to radiation, chemotherapy, oncology visits and other treatment as often as required by means of no-cost, reliable transportation.

Portland Health Department
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, accounting for nearly half of all cancers. The most serious type of skin cancer is melanoma. The incidence rate in Cumberland County (27%) exceeds that of the state (22%). Melanoma is highly curable if detected early.

Cumberland County Healthy Maine Partnerships will conduct a wide-scale educational campaign with updated materials, sun screen samples, UV bead bands and more distributed at various summer events including a Sea Dogs game, the Cumberland Fair, Farmer’s Markets, recreation departments and summer camps. Over 200,000 people live in the service area of Healthy Maine Partnerships Lakes, Rivers, Portland and Casco Bay.

Camp Sunshine
Annually Maine Cancer Foundation awards Camp Sunshine a grant of $1500 to allow for one family affected by childhood cancer to attend a week long summer camp program.

Camp Sunshine in Casco provides respite, joy and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Families can attend camp from Maine, New England and beyond.

Lakes Region Transportation Program
Serving Bridgton and twelve surrounding towns, Lakes Region transportation will provide no-cost and reliable transportation to cancer patients who often need to travel considerable distances to appointments and treatment.

The pool of volunteer drivers will be expanded to insure that access to care is no longer a barrier.

Down East Hospice
Down East Hospice is often the only place where a Washington Co. family facing a terminal illness can find the support they need. Volunteers provide emotional support and practical help, no matter the time of day or location to an average of 30 clients a month.

This grant will help meet the growing need of both bereavement and outreach programs.

Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center
A large number of cancer patients in Hancock and Washington Counties face hurdles in receiving cancer treatment because of the travel distance to and from treatment.

Travel distances from the counties to Cancer Care of Maine in Brewer vary from forty to one hundred miles one way. In some cases, patients find this routine too rigorous and give up.

The purpose of this grant is to define the need for housing assistance to insure access to care, and to develop and implement a pilot program to meet the need for housing while receiving treatment. Patients in Washington and Hancock County will be served.

Cancer Community Center
The Cancer Community Center provides a wide array of programs and classes at no charge to patients, their family and friends.

This grant will help sustain the Maine Buddy program, a foundational pillar of support for people facing their own or a loved ones cancer diagnosis and treatment, or for those grieving a loss to cancer.

The Maine Buddy program matches those dealing with cancers’ effects with trained volunteers who have been in similar cancer situations. Because many individuals are not comfortable in group settings, are physically unable to come to the Center or are geographically distant, the Maine Buddy Program is able to accommodate their need for support.

KidsSkills
A set of three books aimed at helping children deal with a family member or friends cancer diagnosis will be purchased from KidsSkills at a reduced price.

MCF will mail sets to cancer support centers throughout Maine for inclusion on their libraries.