There was a time when ‘support’ and ‘cancer treatment’ weren’t synonymous

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Not too long ago, a discussion about cancer treatment was largely limited to drugs and surgery. The Wellness Community helped broaden that discussion.

It was founded in 1982 by the husband of Harriet Benjamin, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and it emphasized the social and emotional needs of cancer patients.

Benjamin died earlier this month in Marina del Rey. Her obituary is published in Thursday’s Los Angeles Times. Harold Benjamin died in 2004.

The Wellness Community has since become the Cancer Support Community. Says Cancer Support Community President Kim Thiboldeaux in Thursday’s article: ‘It was a brave and bold move for her years ago to decide she was going to be very public about her own cancer experience. She did not want people to face cancer alone.’

What a legacy.

-- Tami Dennis