SHiNE: Lighting the Way to Excellence in Cancer Care, Close to Home

BY MARY T. BOYLSTON, ED.D.

There are words that fill us with joy…It’s a girl! It’s a boy! You won the lottery!

And then there are words that cause alarm:

“You have cancer.”

Shock and denial tangle hopelessness and depression around the recipients of these words as the battle against an invisible opponent begins. Innumerable emotions emerge, especially isolation while many shudder helplessly, alone in their fight.

Fortunately, the struggle toward wellness and longevity for a patient living with cancer at The Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital has team support. In fact, the person has not been abandoned but has an entire community helping them as they focus on recovery and health with the assistance of SHiNE.

A unique prototype of community assistance, SHiNE is a volunteer-run organization that provides services and programs to assist patients living with cancer and their families. In 1997, community activist Maria McCool developed the Additions Program to provide cancer patients with a day of beauty which included a wig fitted and styled to make each person feel and look like themselves again. Through her efforts, SHiNE emerged as a community initiative.

The word shine can be associated with brilliance, brightness, sparkle, and radiate. Chester County’s SHiNE embraces the connotation while illuminating the darkness that patients may experience with their cancer diagnosis.

The Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) (2023) maintains nationwide cancer statistics. In 2019, 1,752,735 new cancer cases were reported as 599,589 died from the disease. For every 100,000 people, 439 new cancer cases were reported with 146 deaths. This data indicate trends, demand for preventive efforts, elimination of disparities, and improved patient outcomes.

According to the American Cancer Association (ACA) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) (2022), the number of individuals living with a cancer diagnosis continues to rise nationwide. The ACA disclosed more than 50% of the survivors were diagnosed in the past ten years, and 18% diagnosed more than 20 years ago as two out of three survivors are age 65 or older. These remarkable statistics testify to the success of early detection, treatment, and holistic person-centered care.

According to the Pennsylvania (PA) Department of Health (DOH), cancer is the number two cause of death behind heart disease. Based on data provided between 2016 and 2020, death rates have fallen in Chester County with a lifetime risk of one in five Pennsylvanians dying of cancer. The PA DOH Cancer Statistics Dashboard reveals the number of new cancer cases in 2019 was 79,004 with 27,703 deaths and 725,408 survivorship (between 1985 and 2018). PA rates for men and women for all cancers were lower in Chester County than the PA incidence rates between 2015 and 2019 (PA DOH, 2023). Yet, there are neighbors who have heard or will hear the dreaded words:

“You have cancer.”

SHiNE supports the person’s journey toward wellness. According to the mission, “Our goal is to provide support to the individual so that their strength, courage, and heart will continue to shine. Through the generosity of our neighbors, SHiNE aims to lessen the burdens of this disease by helping patients in Chester County to confront the challenges of cancer with dignity, determination, and hope.” continued on next page >

A cancer diagnosis can impact the entire person. The American Cancer Association (ACA, 2023) asserts patients living with cancer may need extra assistance to deal with the bodily and emotional changes that have been affected by the diagnosis and treatment. Emotions run the gamut between grief, hope, financial worries, and fear of death and dying. The ACA recommends counseling, support groups, education, and spiritual care. To enhance longevity, Life After Cancer Treatment (National Cancer Institute, 2022) suggests the patient develops a survivorship care plan which includes treatment summaries, follow up appointments, preventive measures that assist in wellness, description and abatement of cancer treatment side effects, and methods to manage physical and mental health.

Depicted in Figure 1, SHiNE’s services are part of an evidencebased program of care that aids the individual and family. With a holistic approach, defined as care of the mind, body, spirit, and emotions, SHiNE constructed a model of services and programs that can assist the patient to battle the disease. When a patient is treated holistically, patient-centered care can be actualized. Dr. Andrew Higgins (2022), a board-certified general surgeon, claims a holistic regimen can enhance patient outcomes and complement traditional treatments. For example, diet changes can improve and support overall health. Whereas massage stimulates blood flow and the feeling of wellbeing. Comparably, acupuncture can provide relief for certain ailments. Through donations, SHiNE provides these services free, based upon need, thereby helping to improve the patient’s quality of life.

SHiNE’s Services

Nurse Navigators

Transportation to and from therapies

Wig or headwear

Emotional support through participation in support groups

Treatment padfolios to track appointments, treatments, and documents through a custom organizer

Fitness membership at a participating gym

Therapeutic massage performed by an oncology-certified masseuse

Acupuncture

As a volunteer organization, SHiNE’s fund-raising efforts offer patients an advantage in their battle as they maintain an administrative overhead of less than 2%. It is a grassroots and community effort that assists the lives of people who may need it the most. Upon arrival at The Abramson Cancer Center at Chester County Hospital, the newly diagnosed patient living with cancer is given a padfolio to organize treatments and services. The nurse navigator helps patients schedule appointments and assists in obtaining other services, such as emotional support. Transportation to treatments is offered to patients who do not have any alternatives to stay on schedule without interruption.

The wig program, created by Maria McCool, offers patients the capability to look like their former self with a wig styled by one of the stylists at Calista Salon in West Chester.

SHiNE’s additional services include fitness memberships, acupuncture, and therapeutic massage. The goal is to promote determination, nurture dignity, and inspire hope.

As COVID-19 negatively impacted community organizations like SHiNE, Chester County businesses found unique ways to support one another. For example, Andiario Restaurant in West Chester sponsored An Evening to SHiNE and donated 100% of the proceeds to patients living with cancer. Similarly, Exton Place located in Exton, PA holds SHiNE Days with a donation of a percentage of sales.

Volunteers organize fundraising events annually, which include but are not limited to individual and corporate donations, SHiNE in the Vines events, West Chester’s Side Bar & Restaurant’s SHiNE golf outing and popular beard-growing contest Shave-Off for SHiNE, and The Eagles Home Association of West Chester golf outing. Annually, Ivan and Lisa Kaplan of Kaplan’s Fine Jewelers on Market Street in West Chester donate a stunning piece of jewelry to be raffled off with all proceeds earmarked to the care of patients who are battling cancer.

Neighbor helping neighbor is a paradigm associated with SHiNE as many individuals have been impacted by the generosity of the community. For example, Ann, an 85-year-old wife and mother of six, led an active life going to daily church, attending family and community events, and enjoying life as a senior citizen. Ann was diagnosed with cancer during a routine procedure. She entered The Abramson Cancer Center at Chester County Hospital for chemotherapy. Anxious about the treatment, she relaxed when she met her chemotherapy nurse and was given a SHiNE padfolio presenting their programs and services.

Overwhelmed by the kindness of individuals and families she did not know; Ann was strengthened by their benevolence. Although donors of the services are anonymous, Ann knew that someone was generous enough to think about the unique needs of patients living with cancer. Her resolve to fight her diagnosis grew. With holistic, patient-centered treatment, Ann lived two more fulfilling years and spent time with family, friends, church, and her community. She took trips, headed ‘down the shore’, and enjoyed the simple joys of life. Although eventually succumbing to cancer, Ann finished her loving life uplifted by the encouragement of SHiNE supporters. She testified how SHiNE’s services and volunteers strengthened her during the darkest of times. In Ann’s memory, donations were sent to SHiNE to assist other patients in need.

Ann’s story is one of many as there are others who work diligently to fund SHiNE’s services and programs. Laurie Hissey, a West Chester resident, embraced the mission and annually hosts a paddle tournament at Radley Run, Kennett Square, and Concord Country Clubs to raise funds. Her efforts as a patient living with cancer have raised more than $60,000 for her community.

SHiNE’s profile asserts “our community, our patients, our responsibility.” With organizations like SHiNE and volunteers like Laurie, the words:

“You have cancer,” continue to be a call to step up and support the vulnerable.

As SHiNE celebrates its 25th anniversary, tenacious volunteers will continue to seek creative ways to actualize its mission. For more information about SHiNE and its services:

The Chester County Hospital Foundation ATTN: SHiNE

701 E. Market Street

West Chester, PA 19380

To access SHiNE Patient Services, please speak to a Chester County Hospital Social Worker, Nurse Navigator, or Health Care Provider.