At St. Charles Cancer Center, our team believes in providing support services alongside the medical treatment our cancer patients receive. As soon as you are diagnosed, you are a survivor and your friends and family are co-survivors. 

Our programs are available free of charge to anyone facing cancer regardless of where they are treated. 

Cancer survivors treated at the St. Charles Cancer Center may also take advantage of integrative care options such as acupuncture, massage and Reiki, as well as one-on-one nutritional support.

For more information, please call our survivorship coordinator at 541-706-2969.

Nutrition 101 teaches participants how to choose foods that optimize health, healing and address changes to appetite, weight and fatigue both during and after treatment. It also includes cooking classes and weight management.

Restorative Yoga, Qigong and Meditation for survivors improves physical, mental and spiritual vitality through gentle stretching, focused movement, breathing and visualization.

Community Education focuses on areas of cancer, cancer prevention, nutrition and general wellness.

Physical Education is a gentle introduction to fitness that supports movement such as walking, hiking and light resistance training. Program encourages fitness, friendship and camaraderie for survivors and caregivers.

Equine therapy is designed to help survivors and caregivers identify, face and work through life issues while working alongside horses and through therapeutic riding.

Support groups are small groups facilitated by social workers that meet once or twice a month. Adult survivors, family members, caregivers and friends are welcome.

Cancer and the Arts uses art, writing and music to support healing, reduce anxiety and stress and increase overall well-being.

Talk to a survivor/caregiver and get one-on-one peer support for newly diagnosed cancer survivors and caregivers. Program provides emotional and informational support and is coordinated through Cancer Hope Network.

Library Resource Center provides information and educational resources on a variety of cancer-related topics: treatment, nutrition, relaxation, guided imagery, children’s resources and more. Library is located in the lobby of the Cancer Center.

Harvest of Hope is a program that helps patients going through treatment and their families with nutritious meals. Program provides canned and fresh groceries along with easy-to-follow recipes that are healthy, quick and easy.

Assistance Programs provide help with gas cards, groceries, utilities, lodging and transportation for cancer survivors during active treatment.

Cancer Connection provides education, connection and support to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. We bring leading experts, advocates and the community together to provide information on a wide range of topics. Cancer Connection classes are hosted at St. Charles Bend and take place every other month on the second Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the St. Charles Conference Center. Admission is free, but RSVP is required.

The hardest step to take is the first one. You took the first step by courageously facing cancer and completing active treatment. Now it's time to continue the ascent.

The word Ascent means a climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill; to rise, climb, launch, takeoff. “Ascent Wellness and Prevention” can take you to new heights by restoring health, hope and quality of life.

Our vision is to influence healthier lifestyles through evidence-based programs that prevent cancer, enhance quality of life and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in cancer survivors.

Our mission is to empower cancer survivors and their caregivers by restoring health, hope and quality of life through physical activity, nutrition, social support and integrative therapies.

Ascent is a twelve-month transitional program that is broken up into small, manageable steps. It is available to all cancer survivors, once active treatment is complete and up to three months post-treatment. It focuses on fitness, nutrition, education, stress reduction and lifestyle change. The program includes three phases along with quarterly mini health retreats. Each phase will be a catalyst for the next in helping you transition from survivor to "thriver" and becoming the primary care manager for your health and lifestyle change.

Ascent is being offered to you as part of your on-going care plan to provide all of the tools, knowledge and support needed to make healthy lifelong changes in an effort to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. It is being funded by generous donors, individuals and other community partners.

A small group of dedicated Cancer Center staff will continue to provide education, guidance and support in order for you to reach new heights in your journey through cancer "thrivership." It might be scary, it might be hard. You are not alone, we are with you each step of the way.

It is your time to rise up, to take off and reach new heights. Ascent Wellness and Prevention is exactly what you need to start.

For more information contact Wendy Rudy at 541-706-2969.