Cancer Support Community Montana to support resources center at Big Sky Medical Center
By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Forty percent of Montanans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and almost twice as many will have a close relationship with someone who is diagnosed, according to leaders with Cancer Support Community Montana.
Cancer Support Community is a global not-for-profit organization focused on supporting the non-medical aspects of a cancer journey for patients and others affected by diagnosis. In Montana, CSCMT is based in Bozeman and has another facility in Missoula. In addition to CSCMT’s two brick and mortar establishments, it provides resource centers in 14 smaller communities across the state in partnership with local health care facilities, now including Big Sky through the Bozeman Health Big Sky Regional Medical Center.
Jasmine Surina, director of development for CSCMT, is proud that the organization is Montana’s leader in providing the psychosocial and emotional support sides of cancer care. She explained the non-medical services that CSCMT provides, including support groups and counseling, education, fitness and yoga. CSCMT offers various support groups online—some specific to cancer type or where people are at in their cancer journey—plus special programming is designed for families and kids of various ages.
All of CSCMT’s services are provided free of charge, and available to not only the cancer patient, but to family, friends, coworkers or anyone else impacted by an individual’s diagnosis or in their support system.
Surina told Explore Big Sky she’s spent two-and-a-half years with CSCMT, and she’s most proud of the “incredible” improvements in participants’ spirit after a tough diagnosis, resulting from CSCMT’s programming.
“Our participants and the work that we do, simply enough, is what keeps me around here. It’s extremely impactful in different ways for different people, but it’s all really important,” Surina said.
On June 25, CSCMT announced its hiring of a new CEO, Chris Darnell, who previously served as administrator of the Big Sky Medical Center. Darnell clarified that his transition is unrelated to Big Sky Medical Center’s recent addition of the CSCMT resource center. Bozeman Health already had a longstanding relationship with CSCMT, and he took the job because he saw the right opportunity at the right time.
“It’s a local not-for-profit organization that supports people who have been affected by cancer… For me, I was really looking for an opportunity to impact people in a more personal way,” Darnell said.
Darnell said there’s always been interest in increasing cancer services for the Big Sky community. Two months ago, Bozeman Health Cancer Center expanded its oncology services to the Big Sky Medical Center.
The new satellite clinic helps overcome the distance- and travel-related barriers to care commonly experienced by patients in rural communities, allowing them to receive care in the communities where they live, according to Bozeman Health. Dr. Mark Hancock, Bozeman Health oncologist and oncology program medical director, now visits Big Sky Medical Center twice per month to provide clinical care for patients. As demand grows, he plans to increase the frequency of his visits.
“We are committed to improving the health of the communities we serve and are proud to bring expanded oncology care and expertise to residents across southwest Montana,” Hancock stated in an email to EBS. “Access to cancer care, close to home, undoubtedly leads to improved health outcomes for patients and their families.”
Bozeman Health Foundation is raising philanthropic support to expand cancer services in satellite clinics to include infusion therapy. Funds raised will support expansion of patient care space and new equipment.
Darnell said a lot has happened in the past two or three months for cancer care in Big Sky—Bozeman Health added its oncology clinic and CSCMT formalized its concept for a Big Sky resource center.
“When we put it all together, it’s wonderful for folks in the greater Big Sky community,” Darnell said.
Cancer Support Community to host events in Big Sky this summer
As CSCMT establishes itself in Big Sky, it plans to host events to share the word and build connections with community members. Surina said anyone interested can keep up with events by following CSCMT on Facebook and Instagram.
To start, CSCMT will post up at the Big Sky Farmers Market on July 17.
On Aug. 8, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices will host a block party before Music in the Mountains to benefit CSCMT. Surina said Berkshire Hathaway—particularly realtor Jamie Roberts, who previously served on CSCMT’s board—has been a key supporter of CSCMT’s push into Big Sky.
Finally, on Aug. 13, CSCMT will host its Stronger than Cancer barbecue in partnership with the Big Sky Medical Center. Survivors of cancer and their loved ones are invited.
As Big Sky welcomes new care and resources to combat cancer, Darnell said the challenge is to get the word out about CSCMT’s programs and offerings, and making sure the community knows they are cost-free.
Surina and Darnell agreed that when people impacted by cancer learn about resources provided by CSCMT, it can feel life-changing, especially near the time of diagnosis. Ultimately, Darnell believes CSCMT’s programming can improve outcomes for patients diagnosed with cancer in rural and underserved areas, and will work to bring the organization’s services across the state.
“Obviously, the direct medical care services are vitally, critically important,” Darnell said. “And so are those wraparound psychosocial services that we provide.”
