The Gathering Place offers cancer support for patients in Cleveland

Nov 30, 2009

The Gathering Place became Northeast Ohio’s first nonprofit cancer support center in January 2000, founded by a social worker named Eileen Saffran whose parents had both died of cancer. A decade later, it has moved to a location twice its original size and added a second location. But Saffran is not interested in becoming a franchise; she wants to remain an independent organization serving the greater Cleveland area and avoid the bureaucracy involved with a franchise.

Patients who come to the Gathering Place do not need a medical referral to confirm their cancer diagnosis. Referrals generally come from an oncologist, a social worker, an oncology nurse or a child life coordinator. Saffran said that most patients need to hear the suggestion an average of seven times before they finally seek outside support, generally because seeking support means they have accepted the reality of their cancer diagnosis.

The Gathering Place has done outreach among African-American and Hispanic populations. It has also seen an increase in the number of young adult cancer patients. Aside from the services most people have come to expect from cancer support centers, they also offer medical bill consultation, resume writing services and volunteer attorneys who can help patients with living wills and estate planning.

For the full story, go to Cleveland.com.

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