Optimizing the Lives of People Living with Cancer
Cancer Lifeline Online Support Groups & Classes
All online classes and support groups are FREE for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Check out our website for online access instructions and current program listings. You can also download a copy of our current class catalog here.

Here is a selection of featured upcoming programs:

Long-Hauler Covid-19 May 20, 1-2pm
Chemo-Brain & Memory Support Jun 14, 5:30-6:30pm
Register Now for Spring/Summer Term
All online classes and support groups are FREE for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Click here for a downloadable pdf of our current catalog.

Check out our website for online access instructions and current program listings.
Monthly Blog: Helping vs. Rescuing
 as a Caregiver
Most people have an innate desire to be helpful and supportive, especially when someone we love and care about is having a difficult time. When a friend or family member has cancer, we instinctively want to do whatever we can to help. However, few people have caregiving experience and, despite our best intentions, helping someone living with cancer can get complicated. Many of the challenges caregivers face result from not realizing that there is a big difference between helping someone and rescuing someone. Understanding the difference and engaging in helping behaviors can reduce tension and frustration not only for the caregiver, but also for our loved one. Read more.
Cancer: Don't Go Through It Alone
Cancer Lifeline Volunteer Nancy Werner (center) cuts the cake with former staffer, Mary Ellen Shands and Cancer Lifeline Community Program Manager, Basha Brownstein when the gang was finally reunited at the Dorothy O'Brien Center
in April 2022.
As a Breast Cancer Survivor and a Cancer Lifeline volunteer, I take calls from people who are as overwhelmed as I once was, and are scared of losing their lives, or being too sick to work or care for their family. I hear their voices and I know that no matter how dark it seems for them at the moment, I can give them hope and support like someone did for me. Sometimes something as simple as a kind voice or help with a support group registration brings a bit of joy to our callers. It is a perfect way to give back to those who helped me through. As a mother, a wife, a business owner and a cancer survivor, the one thing that I know for sure is that the only thing worse than having cancer, is having cancer alone. With Cancer Lifeline, you are never alone. Read more.
Program Spotlight: Unleash your Creativity
Open Studio Process
May 28, June 8 & June 22
10:30am-1pm
The Open Studio Process allows for creative exploration in parallel with others and includes three simple steps: setting an intention, making art, and witnessing what we create. It is a creative experience for everyone – no prior artistic experience of any kind is needed! Meets in-person and online. Learn more.
Creative expression can be a powerful way to explore personal feelings about cancer and life in general, and release stressful emotions. Our classes provide hands-on engagement, fun and sometimes distraction. Since all of the participants share a connection with cancer, it can be a safe place to talk and learn from others, outside of a traditional support group.
Introducing Diverse Health Hub
Cancer Lifeline welcomes Diverse Health Hub as a new collaborative community partner. Diverse Health Hub is committed to exploring the social determinants of health, increasing cultural competence among providers, and raising awareness about the roadblocks to equitable care.

Diverse Health offers information about specific cancers for cancer patients and care partners through their Health Hubs. Learn more.
June 4th is World Cancer Day
In celebration of World Cancer Day, the Fred Hutch Survivorship Program and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance are hosting the 16th annual "Moving Beyond Cancer to Wellness" on June 4th from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. Open to cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, friends, family and health care professionals, this free event provides education on wellness after cancer. This year it will be held in-person with Keynote Speaker Kikkan Randall, Olympic Champion and Breast Cancer Survivor. Register here.
Spring Fundraising Updates
Thanks to the support of 659 donors, 36 fundraisers, three teams, and 19 sponsors, Cancer Lifeline is pleased to announce that we have raised $293,000 which includes $25,000 in sponsorship during this year's Fundraising with Friends online campaign.
We are grateful for the 49 donors who stepped up for this year’s GiveBIG, a statewide online giving campaign, and donated $13,177 to Cancer Lifeline. A special shout-out to Advisory Board member Lisa Dawson for being our GiveBig champion.
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made a contribution to one or both campaigns. Your generosity makes it possible for us to help people during one of the most difficult times in their lives by providing free educational presentations, experiential classes, financial assistance, and personalized emotional support.
Our Sponsors Make It Possible
Cancer Lifeline is grateful for the leadership and support of the following sponsors:

Swedish Cancer Institute has been a steady sponsor of Cancer Lifeline's events for several years. Cancer Lifeline works alongside Swedish to help advance the field of emotional support for people living with cancer. Our heartfelt thanks for their continued support.
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance brings together the leading research teams and cancer specialists of Fred Hutch, Seattle Children's, and UW Medicine. We are grateful for their ongoing support of our programs.
We are thrilled to welcome Genentech as a new 2022 monthly program sponsor. While this biotechnology corporation is committed to advancing science for the greater good, they are also committed to supporting our local cancer community.
We are grateful for the support of members of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center organization on so many levels - for our current Board Directors who are on the staff at Fred Hutch: Bethany Murphy, Joanna Diallo, and Reetu Ghumman, and for so many informative presenters over many years.
We began our formal hospital partnership with Overlake Medical Center in September of 2017, but our relationship reaches back to 2004 when Cancer Lifeline had office space in Bellevue. We are grateful for Overlake's ongoing support of our events.
Cancer Lifeline's relationship with the University of Washington goes back to 1973 when members of the UW faculty sat down with our founder Gloria Gutkowski to talk about the lack of emotional support programs for cancer patients and what might be done about it. Cancer Lifeline salutes UW Medicine for their ongoing support of our events and welcomes them back for 2022.
One of Cancer Lifeline's hospital partners, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has locations in both downtown Seattle and Federal Way. Cancer Lifeline is grateful for Virginia Mason's sponsorship of our events.
The Commerce Bank of Washington has been supporting Cancer Lifeline since 1995. Several bank staff members have served on our Board, including former TCBW staff, Steven Gerlock and Susan Finneran, who now sits on our Advisory Board. We are grateful for The Commerce Bank of Washington's ongoing partnership.
Reaching as far back as 2006, Pathstone 
(formerly Cornerstone Advisors) has been a steadfast sponsor of Cancer Lifeline's events. Our thanks to Cancer Lifeline Advisory Board Member Dave Drews and Pathstone for their continued leadership. We welcome them back for 2022.
We have counted on ROI Technology Inc. to keep us safe, secure, and active on the internet since 2015. Cancer Lifeline salutes ROI Technology for their ongoing support of our events.



We are grateful for the steadfast support of Lilly as a sponsor of our fundraising events over the years. Our thanks to Advisory Board Member Nate Miles.
Freestone Capital, an independent wealth and advisory firm, joins Cancer Lifeline this year as a first-time event sponsor. Our thanks to Cancer Lifeline Board Director and Treasurer Bobby Gentry.
Mercer advises on global strategic health, benefits programs, health plan management, brokerage solutions, individual insurance and benefits solutions. Mercer joins Cancer Lifeline this year as a 2022 event sponsor thanks to the stewardship of Board Director Elizabeth Zech.
Dedicated to promoting the economic benefits of life science business and research for Washington state's economy and patients around the world, We Work For Health seeks to educate our elected leaders, the news media, and the communities they serve about these key contributions. Cancer Lifeline welcomes We Work for Health Washington back as a 2022 sponsor.



Thanks to the leadership of Board Director Ben Hicks, Cancer Lifeline welcomes back Soundmark Wealth Management as a sponsor in 2022.
Over 17 years ago, Cancer Lifeline was invited to host a support group at EvergreenHealth. That was just the beginning of our strong partnership. Cancer Lifeline thanks Evergreen for their continued support.


This year's Fundraising with Friends event is sponsored by HomeLight, an innovative online real estate company dedicated to providing equitable solutions for all people interested in buying or selling a home.
Certified Public Accounting firm Greenwood Ohlund not only conducts Cancer Lifeline's annual audit, but they also join us this year as a first-time sponsor of Fundraising with Friends. Thank you to Board Member Sue Drummond.
As we expand our services to serve cancer patients and their families in Pierce County, Cancer Lifeline is grateful for our collaboration with Northwest Medical Specialties and we welcome them as our first sponsor for 2022.
Inquiries regarding opportunities to sponsor events and new online programs can be directed to Executive Director Joseph Yurgevich 
or Development Director Beth Brooks.