Dartmouth Health expands cancer survivorship support online

The Living With and Beyond Cancer group is part of Dartmouth Health’s Complementary Care Program and operates online.

Dartmouth Health is now offering a virtual support option for people living after cancer treatment through its Connect, Share, Care peer network. The program is designed to help survivors deal with the emotional strain of cancer as well as the physical recovery that follows diagnosis and treatment.

The Living With and Beyond Cancer group is part of Dartmouth Health’s Complementary Care Program and operates as an online, peer-led discussion space. Sandra Knowlton-Soho, the program manager, said members can join conversations whenever they need support, post throughout the day or night, and respond at their own pace. She said the group uses an application process and has eligibility requirements, but new participants are still welcome.

Heather Allin, Dartmouth Health’s director of oncology survivorship, said the service fits into a broader approach that treats the full person rather than focusing only on medical care. She said the program is intended to support mind, body, and spirit.

For Christine Coyle of Thetford Center, the group has become an important part of life after treatment. Coyle was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer and has completed six rounds of chemotherapy as well as surgery. She said the online meetings help her keep moving forward, and she described the group’s 53 survivors as something like an extended family. She said the members understand one another in a way others often cannot.

Dartmouth Health says the virtual network gives survivors a place to process what cancer has done to their lives while also connecting with others facing similar challenges.