Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the most difficult things a person can go through, but the challenges continue far beyond the diagnosis.
Since 1982, the Cancer Support Community – Benjamin Center has served the Los Angeles community, including those in Malibu, with free-of-charge, essential programs overseen by licensed therapists, including support groups, mind/body classes, educational and nutritional workshops, social activities and individual counseling sessions.
Patients, volunteers and therapists from Malibu have benefited from Benjamin Center’s services. Incorporating the idea that the body and mind are connected, and psychosocial support is a key element for quality of life and may even help with recovery, the Benjamin Center served more than 1,600 individuals with more than 18,000 visits last year alone.
“In 1982 it was a very unusual thing to be doing what we’re doing,” Julia Forth, executive director, said. “It made no sense to get together and talk about cancer.”
Forth has been working at the Benjamin Center for 18 years and cancer hits close to home for her.
“My father died of colon cancer,” Forth said. “He was on the east coast with no support other than my mother. I wish they had something like this for him and for her.”
The Cancer Support Community – Benjamin Center’s programs include educational workshops and seminars, stress reduction and exercise classes, group support and networking, family and caregiver groups, individual counseling, social gatherings, and much more.
“It’s amazing to me how the groups just form themselves,” program manager and clinical intern Bill Kavanagh said. “We just had a new group form of young people with parents with cancer who live far away and they feel guilty that they can’t be there for them.”
Kavanagh was diagnosed with stage four of Lymphoma when he started attending the Benjamin Center. It’s now five years later and he’s cancer free and back as a facilitator.
“I never thought that would happen,” Kavanagh said. “I wanted to find purpose and meaning when I came here. People here understood.”
Kavanagh says that the biggest myth about cancer is that cancer has to be sad.
“I told my doctor that I’m going to treat my cancer with humor,” he said. “Every individual needs to know that you should treat cancer like you want to, not how it should be.”
A longtime therapist for the Benjamin Center and Malibuite Lynne Silbert has been facilitating cancer participants and family groups for 32 years. She is often asked if her job is depressing and why she would want to do something like that. Her answer has always been the same.
“There is no place I would rather be,” Silbert said. “Each time I walk into the community I find the human spirit in its best form. The laughter is loud, the tears are understood and nurtured — no matter where you are in life’s journey you can reach out and help someone else.”
Mona Gerecht started attending a weekly support group at the Benjamin Center when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013 and was referred there by her therapist because she was having a hard time with her diagnosis. Her husband started attending a support group for family members.
“My husband and I have benefited tremendously by going to the Benjamin Center,” Gerecht said. “Cancer is a very challenging experience to go through. You’re going through chemotherapy and psychological and emotional difficulties. It’s been wonderfully helpful for me and my husband to go and talk about it and have the support of people who understand you. I can’t imagine how people go through cancer without a support group.”
Gerecht is now cancer-free but still attends a wellness connection group and she and her husband both volunteer for orientation groups for new members.
The Cancer Community is headquartered in Washington, D.C, and is part of a network of 50 affiliates nationally and internationally, 120 satellite locations and online support and telephone communities that reaches more than one million people a year.
A nonprofit organization, all funding for the Cancer Support Community comes from individual donors, grants, foundations and special events.
The center will be hosting its 12th annual luncheon, silent auction and boutique on Nov. 6 at the Skirball Cultural Center. All proceeds will benefit Cancer Support Community — Benjamin Center. The keynote speaker will be Rabbi David Wolpe.
“We have never charged a penny since 1982,” Forth said.
“Which is pretty amazing for such a robust program.” Kavanagh added.
For more information about the Cancer Support Community – Benjamin Center, visit cancersupportcommunitybenjamincenter.org.
