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I have been in the helping profession for a long time as an educator, volunteer outreach program director, interfaith minister, non-profit administrator and chaplain. During the aftermath of 9/11, I served as a volunteer chaplain helping families and survivors in crisis.

Rasheen noticed a suspicious lump after having difficulties breastfeeding her youngest son, Abraham. In 2009, the mother of five was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. “I was only 38 and didn’t think it was anything at first. It turned into an ultrasound, a biopsy, then an MRI and then a mastectomy,” remembers Rasheen.

CancerCare CEO and cancer survivor Patricia J. Goldsmith will lead the webinar “Cancer in the Workplace: What Every CEO Should Know” on February 5, 2015 at 1PM EST. The presentation will look at how employers can support their employees affected by cancer while improving their bottom line.

For the third year, Caribou Coffee offered its Caribou Coffee Amy’s Blend collection of coffee, tea and merchandise from September 27 through October 31, donating 10% of all retail coffeehouse proceeds to CancerCare. The collection was named in honor of the company’s original roastmaster, Amy Erickson.

Advocating for the well-being of others has always been a priority for Vera, who is the founder of a career advancement firm specializing in diversity recruiting. But she quickly began to realize the importance of advocating for oneself after being diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2014.

CancerCare social workers were recently honored for their contributions to the field of social work. Learn more about the oncology social workers at CancerCare who are making a difference in the lives of people affected by cancer.

Cancer. The word itself provokes a vast array of emotional responses: fear, anger, sadness, confusion. People are fearful of this diagnosis, of the way it can change someone’s life and the various “unknowns” that surround an individual and his or her loved ones.

Cancer is a difficult subject to talk about, and many parents coping with a diagnosis may try to avoid the topic in fear that they will upset their children. What to say about cancer, how to say it, and how much information to share are common concerns.

In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, CancerCare is encouraging anyone affected by cancer to recognize caregivers by sharing a photo that represents this important role. We want to know how being a caregiver, or being cared for when you needed it most, has impacted your life. Honor your family, friends, your pet, a health care professional or tell us how you were a caregiver – the choice is yours!

Xiomara, 46, had never been affected by cancer until her son Jaeden was suddenly diagnosed at age three with ependymoma, a rare type of brain tumor. “No one in my family had ever had cancer. When you hear about it, it is totally different than when it actually hits your family – especially a toddler,” she explains.