Cancer Connection to offer therapies, services at Springfield location

Cancer Connection Executive Director Chelsea Kline walks through the Integrative Health Group offices that offer services to cancer patients as well as carers.
Republican photo by Douglas Hook

SPRINGFIELD — An organization that has cared for cancer patients in Northampton for more than 25 years is looking to provide the same care to patients in the Springfield area.

Cancer Connection is opening a second location in Bicentennial Plaza.

Executive Director Chelsea Kline described Cancer Connection as a “warm haven” for cancer patients and their families.

She first became familiar with Cancer Connection years ago when her mother was diagnosed with cancer, and Kline was her primary care giver. Her mother — now cancer free — still volunteers with the organization.

Cancer Connection offers integrative therapies including massage, reiki, acupuncture and reflexology. According to Cancer Connection website, these therapies can help relieve stress and the side effects of some cancer treatments. The organization also offers support groups, workshops and weekly programs, such as knitting, cooking, rest to heal, qigong, yoga, creative writing and mindfulness. All Cancer Connection services are free of charge.

One of Cancer Connections’s services is the befriender, a person dedicated to speaking with and listening, either in-person or over the phone, to the patient or their caregiver. “Our one-on-one emotional support is a safe place to scream, cry and anything in between,” Kline said. In addition to listening, befrienders can help people determine which of Cancer Connection’s other services might benefit them or refer the person to another organization for specialty services.

When asked why now was the time to open a second location, Kline said, “We long had a dream of being able to help more people.” With cancer diagnoses continuing to rise, she said, “The need for our services is greater than ever.” Springfield was chosen because it is relatively close to the organization’s existing location, and Kline said the organization was seeking somewhere that was more racially diverse.

Because the organization’s Northampton model of a site for services and a thrift shop to help fund services has been successful, she said the same model was used for the Springfield location.

Integrative Health Group is located at 1502 Allen St. Kline said Cancer connection will be co-locating there, as their services are aligned. A few doors over, at 1510 Allen St., will be the thrift shop.

Kline said Cancer Connection is hiring more staff for the Springfield location, including a bilingual befriender to serve the Spanish-speaking population. They are also seeking volunteers to operate the thrift shop.

While the ribbon cutting for the new location will take place on Saturday, April 25, Kline. said she expects Cancer Connection to be fully open and offering all services by late May. The thrift shop will accept donations in early May.

To learn more about Cancer Connection, visit cancer-connection.org.