This November marks 26 years Cancer Support Community Iowa & NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club has provided free emotional, social, and educational support to anyone impacted by cancer. Whether you’ve been diagnosed, are a survivor, supporting a loved one, or have lost someone to cancer, we offer a welcoming community of care throughout every stage of the cancer journey. All services are offered at no cost, removing financial barriers to someone accessing support.
Some of our most exciting news is, after 25 years as Gilda’s Club Quad Cities, we are now Cancer Support Community Iowa & NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club. Our new name reflects our expanded reach and mission, which now includes the entire State of Iowa, thanks to a generous grant from the Iowa Cancer Consortium. This growth and name change honors Gilda Radner’s legacy while helping us reach even more people in need of support.
Why is this expansion crucial? Earlier this year, it was reported that Iowa has the second-highest and fastest-growing cancer incidence rate in the country. Melanoma, breast, prostate, and lung cancers are among those with the largest increases. The cancer mortality rate is decreasing in Iowa, indicating that more people are surviving. While this is great news, many survivors face a lifetime of emotional and physical challenges that our services aim to address. It’s estimated that 1 in 20 people in Iowa are living with cancer.
In many rural areas of Iowa, access to emotional and social support is limited. We are filling that gap by offering virtual support groups and educational workshops accessible from anywhere in Iowa or Illinois. These services help individuals navigate the challenges of cancer, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
This expansion has been a tremendous leap forward but we are also continuing to deepen our impact here in the Quad Cities. Since relocating to hospital-based sites, with locations in Davenport and Moline, we’ve seen a remarkable 61% increase in program visits. So far this year, we’ve served 22% more people, increased visits by 27%, and expanded our programs by 23%. These numbers highlight the growing need for cancer support services in our community, and we are dedicated to meeting that demand.
With the continued support of our community, we will expand our services to ensure that everyone has access to the care, resources, and the community they need because we believe that Community is Stronger than Cancer.
Joy Bush is the executive director of Cancer Support Community Iowa & NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club, Davenport. She can be reached at [email protected].