Complementary Cancer Care

Complementary Cancer Care, Inc

We provide non-medical complementary services accessible to all cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors. These services are designed to complement standard medical treatment and are free of cost.

 

Complementary Cancer Care began with one idea in mind:

GIVE ANYONE DEALING WITH CANCER THE TOOLS TO HEAL MIND, BODY, HEART, AND SOUL


In this context, HEAL does not necessarily mean CURE, but instead refers to a state where someone experiences less suffering and feels more whole, no matter their diagnosis or prognosis or their stage of treatment or recovery.

Our programs complement medical treatment and fill the gaps between patient and person, encouraging self-expression, relief from stress and anxiety, a sense of community with people who are likely to provide you with a profound understanding of what you are going through, because they have similar feelings, worries, everyday problems, treatment decisions, or treatment side effects.


Our Statement of Mission and Values

Our mission is to promote an overall sense of wellbeing in individuals impacted by cancer by providing accessible complementary therapies.

Statement of Values
    • Accessibility – We pledge to provide programs and services that are free of cost to relieve financial burdens, that are physically accessible whether online or onsite in order to accommodate any disabilities or physical restrictions, and to give our community a voice in our program and services development.
    • Inclusive – We pledge that all of the programs and services we offer are available to any and all cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and providers regardless of where they receive treatment, regardless of the type of cancer they are experiencing, or what stage of treatment or recovery, they are in.  In addition, we welcome all regardless of age, gender, race, socio-economic status, class, sexual orientation, country of origin, ability, intellectual traditions and perspectives, as well as cultural, political, religious, and other affiliations.
    • Professional – We pledge to engage instructors, facilitators, and providers who are qualified/certified in their field of expertise.
    • Fiscal Responsibility – We pledge to be good stewards of the charitable donations and sponsorships we receive, to spend these funds wisely, and to provide transparency on how funds are spent by posting monthly financial reports on our website.
    • Leadership – We pledge to seek out and engage volunteers with leadership skills to serve on our Board who are passionate about serving the cancer community, who will represent our organization in a professional manner, with a primary focus on the needs of the community we serve.
    • Community – We pledge to uplift and strengthen people impacted by cancer by building all types of compassionate communities – from support groups to each of our classes and events. We have seen how being around people with shared experiences supports people in need and reminds all of us that we are not alone.
    • Confidentiality – We pledge to respect the confidential nature of our clients and the information they may share.  We further pledge to provide a safe and comfortable environment for our clients to express their concerns.

Our commitment to uphold these values is hereby affirmed by unanimous declaration of the Board of Directors.


Our services are FREE to anyone affected by cancer – patients, survivors, caregivers, and providers, no matter where you receive/received treatment.

We welcome you to join us by creating an account on our website – Account Registration

Once you have set up your account, check out our Event Calendar, listing both on-site and online classes and support groups.


Help us continue to provide services free of cost through your generous donations.  We are a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all donations are tax deductible.


Now celebrating 5 years of service to the cancer community!

~ Mind-Body Classes ~ Creative Expressions ~ Support Groups ~ Oncology Advocate ~ Educational Presentations ~

 

2024 Programs

Your Board of Directors are excited to announce our new programs for 2024 and are delighted to now offer programs in South County and Beach-Side! We continue to offer the online Tai Chi, Mediation, and Creative Therapeutic Journaling classes.  Cancer Care Centers of Brevard continues to provide the monthly Rockledge Support Group and Health First provides the monthly Viera Support Group.


Therapeutic Art with Jenn Gallo provides a way to improve psychological wellbeing by focusing more on creativity and less on mental stressors and to enjoy the companionship of fellow cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.  Classes are free and open for anyone dealing with cancer regardless of diagnosis, prognosis, or where treatment is received.

Throughout the year, classes will cover one of the following 5 Art Genres:

CANVAS ACRYLIC PAINTING ~ POT PAINTING W/ PLANTS ~ MOSAIC ART ~ WATERCOLOR ART ~ OIL PASTELS

No art experience is necessary.  Come and enjoy the fun of creative expression. Classes will be held on the 2nd Friday of the month at 11:00 am at Cocoa Rock in Cocoa.


Cancer Community Support Group – Cocoa Beach.  This will be held IN PERSON at The Space Next Door, 126 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach.

Come join your Cancer Community in a safe, compassionate space where cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones can share their experiences, concerns, and feelings with others who can relate to their struggles. Skillfully led by Complementary Cancer Care MHC candidate, Cathy Johnson, this support group is open to anyone impacted by cancer, regardless of diagnosis or prognosis, or where treatment is received.

This group will meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, at 1:00 pm and will occasionally feature a Guest Speaker.  (The weekly Chair Yoga class will meet after the Support Group.)


Cancer Community Support Group – Melbourne.  This will be held IN PERSON at The Melbourne Library 540 E Fee Ave, Melbourne.

Come join your Cancer Community in a safe, compassionate space where cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones can share their experiences, concerns, and feelings with others who can relate to their struggles. Skillfully led by a Complementary Cancer Care MSW candidate, Christine Jaehne, this support group is open to anyone impacted by cancer, regardless of diagnosis or prognosis, or where treatment is received.

This group will meet on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 3:45 pm and will occasionally feature a Guest Speaker.


Free In-Person Chair Yoga classes, held weekly in Cocoa Beach and Melbourne Village!  Chair Yoga incorporates stretching, strengthening and awareness practices, all done in a seated position.  This is a beginner’s class.  No prior experience is required, all levels of health are welcome, and the classes are available to patients, caregivers, cancer survivors, as well as any professionals working with cancer patients.

Beach-Side – come join Cathy Johnson on Tuesdays at 3:00 pm, as she leads Chair Yoga at The Space Next Door, Cocoa Beach.  Space is limited to 15, so please pre-register to ensure you have a seat.

South County – come join Gray Dix on Wednesdays at 3:00 pm, as he leads Chair Yoga at the AHF Hall in Melbourne Village.


Join Rob Leiter, MS, MT-BC, NMT, of Florida Music Therapy in Melbourne for bi-monthly, onsite Music Therapy classes. Multiple areas of wellbeing can be addressed through music therapy. Music therapy in cancer care can improve mood, decrease anxiety, improve physical gross and fine motor skills, support self-expression, enhanced communication, and process trauma.  No musical experience is necessary.

Classes will be held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 2:30 – 3:30 pm.  To learn more about Florida Music Therapy, visit their website.


We are offering monthly Reiki Sound Bath sessions by Unified Therapy Practitioner, Laura Scott, LMT of Laura Scott Holistic Healing in Cocoa Beach. Enjoy the healing power of sound, frequency and vibration.  Allow your mind, body, and spirit to relax. Tibetan singing bowls, chimes, rain sticks, and tuning forks are all used to move and release stuck energy in the body.  It is a relaxing experience.  Sessions will be held on the first Friday of the month from 3:00 – 4:00 pm at the Space Next Door in Cocoa Beach.

Space is limited to 10, so please pre-register.  We will maintain a waitlist in the event this event is sold out.


Online Classes – Join from Anywhere!


Creative Therapeutic Journaling is offered ONLINE via Zoom on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.  Join life-long journalist and author, Miss Charlotte, and learn to state your mind in fiction or non-fiction form! Whatever your skill or comfort level, everyone has the capacity to write creatively and joyfully. Increased comfort with writing in any form of self-expression has been demonstrated to facilitate healing.


Tai Chi with Allen!  Join us each week on Monday afternoons at 1:30pm and Thursday evenings at 5:15 pm Tai Chi.  Classes are held ONLINE via Zoom and we do logon early to chat a bit.  Our class incorporates slow, gentle movements, mindful breathing, and visualization to counter the stress of managing cancer. In this class you will learn to reduce stress with breathing and mindfulness techniques, increase range of motion and balance, and circulate blood, lymph, and energy.

Most of the class participates while sitting in a chair.


Meditation with Robin!  Held ONLINE via Zoom our weekly meditation class meets on Tuesdays at 1:30 pm. Our class provides simple and effective breath and meditation exercises designed to release mental, emotional, and physical tension. We will use the breath and a variety of styles of meditation to enhance our capacity to be calm, aware, and fully present.  Again, we do logon early to chat a bit!

Meditations can be done seated comfortably in a chair or recliner, while lying in bed, or anywhere you feel comfortable.


Visit our calendar to register for classes.  We look forward to you joining us!

 

Thank You, Sponsors!

 

 

St John’s Episcopal Church of Melbourne