In this complicated age of hospital mergers and managed care, you and your family have an important locally accessible ally. In October of 1997, the New England Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NECCS) will celebrate its second anniversary. This regional chapter is an associate member of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. Both the parent coalition, founded in 1986, and this relatively new local chapter, are grass roots organizations of, for, and by cancer survivors. Their goal, according to NECCS president, Alice Dawn, is "to address common issues which affect quality of life and fair treatment of all cancer survivors". For example, when regional and national members participated in a national survey of cancer survivorship issues, the result was the establishment of the Office of Cancer Survivorship within the National Cancer Institute.NECCS is your regional link to the national survivorship movement. When you become a member of NECCS, you will receive the national and regional news letters. You will also be invited to attend a variety of interesting programs about health insurance, employment, advocacy, doctor/patient relationships, the long term effects of treatment, and psychosocial issues. And most importantly, your membership will help impact legislation and education that will enhance the quality of life all cancer survivors.
Stepping Stones' members Margie Rath and co-founder Phyllis Truesdell are on the board of directors of the NECCS. If you would like to empower yourself and other cancer survivors politically and otherwise; then become a member of this important new organization. Write the New England Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, 18 Allenwood Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132-2048, or call Alice Dawn at 617-325-1757 for further information.