Connecticut Challenge Announces Formation of Statewide Cancer Survivorship Network

May 11, 2009

The Connecticut Challenge, a non-profit advocate for cancer survivors is developing a network of hospitals across the state that will offer specialized care for cancer survivors. The announcement was made today at the third annual Yale Cancer Center Survivorship Symposium attended by representatives from Connecticut’s hospitals. The symposium, sponsored by Yale Cancer Center, the Connecticut Cancer Partnership and the CT Challenge, was titled “Creating an Outstanding Cancer Survivorship Program.”

The Connecticut Challenge funded the first adult cancer survivorship clinic in the state at Yale Cancer Center, which opened in 2006. “Prior to 2006, Connecticut had no resources dedicated to the care of cancer survivors,” said Jeff Keith of Fairfield, a cancer survivor and founder of the CT Challenge.

“More and more people are surviving cancer, but for many of them, their struggles with the disease don’t end at the completion of their treatments,” Keith continued. “What we don’t often see is how these survivors may continue to struggle with the long-term effects of their disease and their treatments. We started the Connecticut Challenge so that the 120,000 cancer survivors in the state didn’t have to leave the state to get help. Now that the clinic is up and running at Yale Cancer Center, we realize that many more programs are needed all across the state to reach survivors where they live. We are starting with a few hospitals that already have or are creating programs and look forward to working with many more,” Keith said.

Currently, the “Connecticut Challenge Survivorship Network” has four members: Yale Cancer Center, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and Stamford Hospital. “We will soon re-launch our website at CTChallenge.org to inform cancer survivors of all the resources available to them in Connecticut. We want to add more hospitals to the website as they start survivorship programs so we can promote those programs to survivors. The bottom line is ensuring that cancer survivors know where to turn for help with their medical and psychosocial challenges,” said CT Challenge Executive Director, Bob Mazzone.

About the Connecticut Challenge

The Connecticut Challenge was founded in 2005 to create supportive care resources for cancer survivors in Connecticut. The organization currently supports existing or developing survivorship programs at Yale Cancer Center, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and Stamford Hospital. The CT Challenge also provides research grants, sponsors medical symposiums and promotes survivor education and awareness events. The organization raises money primarily through the annual Connecticut Challenge charity bike ride. Scheduled for Saturday, July 25th, starting and finishing in Fairfield, CT, riders of all ages and skill levels can register for a 12, 25, 50, 75 or 100-mile ride and raise funds from personal sponsors to support their efforts. To learn more about riding,volunteering or donating to the 2009 event, please visit www.ctchallenge.org

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