Life with Cancer Fact Sheet
Media Contact
Erin Kirkpatrick
erin.kirkpatrick@inova.org
703-776-3915 (Office)
301-758-7703 (Cell)
LWC Mission
To enhance the quality of life of those affected by cancer by providing education, information and support.
LWC Boilerplate
Life with Cancer, a part of Northern Virginia’s Inova Health System, is the region’s only community-based, nonprofit cancer support and education center, dedicated to helping patients and their loved ones learn about and cope with cancer and its treatments. Life with Cancer offers educational classes and consultations, an annual survivorship conference, support groups, individual and family counseling, and mind-body/wellness programs designed to help those affected by cancer understand and live with its impact. All services are provided by certified oncology nurses and licensed clinical social workers and are offered entirely free of charge, thanks to generous contributions by individuals, foundations and corporate donors. To learn more, please visit Life with Cancer’s new Web site at www.lifewithcancer.org
Fast Facts
- Founded: 1987 at Inova Fairfax Hospital
- Staff Members: 26
- Board Members: 24
- Volunteers: 90
- Service Locations:
- Inova Fairfax Hospital
- Inova Loudoun Hospital
- Inova Mount Vernon Hospital
- Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
- Inova Alexandria Hospital
- Dewberry Life with Cancer Family Center
- Regional Clinic Facilities
- Nationally, Internationally, via consults and presentations
Dewberry Life with Cancer Family Center
- Dewberry Life with Cancer Family Center Opening: February 2009
- Also known as “Carolyn’s House,” after Carolyn Peterson, Founding Board President, Chair Emeritus
- Address:
- 8411 Pennell Street, Fairfax, VA, 22031
- Land donated by: Sid Dewberry, Dewberry Inc.
- Architecture Firm: Wilmot Sanz, Inc.
- General Contractor: Scott Long
- Square Footage: 16,900
- Featured in Healthcare Design Magazine, Sept. 2009 Architectural Showcase
- Within the building’s three stories are rooms for art therapy, meditation, counseling, exercise, massage, beautification services, nutrition education, digital information resources and community meeting spaces, in a natural setting enhanced by landscaped healing gardens and areas for outdoor functions.
Cancer Facts
- U.S. Cancer Statistics
- 12 million Americans are living with cancer
- More than 560,000 Americans will lose their lives to cancer this year
- In 2009 there were 1,479,350 new cancer cases in the US
- 562,340 Americans died from cancer in 2009
- Cost of cancer in the US:Â $228 billion in treatment and lost productivity
- Virginia Cancer Statistics:
- In 2009 there were 34,150 new cancer cases in VA
- 13,920 Virginians died from cancer in 2009
- 97 Virginians a day are told by their physician that they have cancer
- 38 people in VA die of cancer every day
2009 LWC at a Glance
- Individuals Served: 3,438
- Non-English Speaking Participants Served: 959
- Total Service Hours: 32,583
- Total Volunteer Hours: 2,738
- Clinical Staff Members: 21
- Monthly Average Groups and Classes: 71
- Monthly Average Programs for Children/Teens: 12
- Monthly Average Participants: 675
- Monthly Average Individuals served: 287
- Monthly Average Inpatient/Outpatient Consults: 533
- Monthly Average Inpatient/Outpatient Participants: 589
LWC Web Information
- Visit us at www.lifewithcancer.org
- Unique Monthly Website Visitors: 2,400
- Social Media Followers: 2,620
- Visit LWC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Inspire:
Research at Life with Cancer
The Research Committee at Life with Cancer works to evaluate the needs of patients and families at all points along the cancer experience continuum, to monitor the effectiveness of ongoing programs, and to use data from these efforts to develop innovative interventions to improve the lives of cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers. Research activities often involve healthcare professionals including nurses and social workers, as well as survivors, their families and organizations that support cancer survivorship.
Clinical Management Team
Gordon Hay, MSW, MPA, Director
Gordon joined the Inova Health System in 1987 to establish Life with Cancer. In his capacity as Director, Gordon manages a 24-member board of directors made up of prominent community residents and a staff comprised of nurses, social workers, development personnel, counselors, and a business manager. Gordon did his graduate studies in community organizing, at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Community Planning. Prior to his employment with Inova Health System, he worked as Associate Director of the Epilepsy Foundation of America, where he provided technical assistance to the Foundation’s local and statewide affiliates across the country. He also served in prior years as Executive Director of a regional youth service agency that served abused, neglected and runaway children.
Sabine Gnesdiloff, LCSW, OSW-C, Program Manager
Sabine joined Life with Cancer in February 1989. Prior to that, she was a social worker in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital. She earned her master’s in social work in 1987 from Catholic University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Oncology Social Worker. Sabine has developed and facilitated many of the groups and programs offered at Life with Cancer, and has a special interest in survivorship, complementary therapies, and bereavement. She is responsible for support programs and groups provided by the Life with Cancer staff, seeing the clinicians’ role as supporting and empowering patients in their care and choices.
Eric Cohen, RN, BSN, OCN®, Program Manager
Eric came to Life with Cancer in 2004 after working as an oncology and bone marrow transplant nurse on the inpatient unit of the Inova Fairfax Cancer Center. As Program Manager of Patient and Family Education, Eric meets with both inpatients and outpatients to discuss their diagnosis, treatment plan, management of side-effects and available resources. Eric is also responsible for developing Life with Cancer’s website, social media outlets, and patient teaching materials that are currently used throughout Inova Health System. Additionally, he specializes in issues that young adults with cancer face. Eric
is an Oncology Certified Nurse Educator, and is an active member of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) where he is currently serving at the national level on the ONS Nominating Committee.
Jennifer Eckert, LCSW, Children’s Program Manager
Jenny began work at Life with Cancer in 2001. She came from East Carolina University School of Medicine where she was a pediatric hematology/oncology social worker in the outpatient clinic. She also worked as a social worker in the emergency department for 13 years. In addition to managing Life with Cancer’s children’s and teens programs, Jenny oversees the art therapy programs and managing the pediatric oncology social work staff. Jenny holds a master’s in social work from East Carolina University.
How to Get Involved:
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- 8411 Pennell Street
- Fairfax, VA 22031 Map It
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