Current and former employees of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, known as CAL FIRE, recently donated $20,000 to Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation’s (SPMF) Cancer Support Services program.

Their donation was made possible thanks to monies raised from the Unit’s Forestry Crab Feed. This annual event invites CAL FIRE employees and their family and friends to eat in the name of fundraising.

“Our tradition with this dinner is to help raise money for those in our community in need,” said Ben Nicholls, CAL FIRE Division Chief. “We have retired members battling cancer, so we’ve heard firsthand the impact these counseling groups and other services have on these individuals. We wanted to give this year’s donation in their names. This $20,000 also represents the largest one-time contribution given in our 60-year history of hosting the Forestry Crab Feed.”

Sutter Health’s approach to cancer care combines conventional medical treatments with evidence-based supportive services and integrative practices to strengthen and enhance a patient’s overall well-being.

“Donations like this mean everything,” said Cindi Cantril, RN, MPH, OCN, CBCN, regional director of cancer support services and patient navigation for Sutter Bay Medical Foundation. “We are proud that all the money that’s given, 100 percent of it, impacts patients directly.”

Sutter affiliates provide care for nearly a third of all cancers in Sonoma County.

Cancer care for the mind, body & soul

Cancer Support Services offers a wide range of supportive services to help patients and their families address the many physical, psychological and emotional challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis through navigation, support groups, peer support, and patient education.

SPMF’s Cancer Support Services program helps improve the long-term health of patients by offering services that:

• improve patients’ knowledge of their diagnosis and their ability to practice self-care
• reduce the stress, fear, and anxiety of both patients and their caregivers
• improve adherence to individualized treatment plans and continuing survivorship care
• educate them about local and national resources on a wide range of topics (e.g., finances, nutrition, stress reduction, exercise, and recovery)

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, early cancer detection is still the key to recovery.

Medical experts agree that if you had an appointment postponed or canceled due to COVID-19, such as an annual mammogram, now is the time to reschedule it.

For more information about cancer care at Sutter Health, visit here.