Founded in 1998, The Cancer Wellness Center of NEPA is a nonprofit resource center in Forty Fort dedicated to supporting individuals affected by cancer. The center offers free services to anyone age 18 or older with any cancer diagnosis, as well as up to three caregivers per client.

Penny Cunningham founded the organization in memory of her sister, Candice Vincent-Mamary. “Candy,” a beloved social worker, passed away in 1998 after a courageous battle with end-stage lung cancer. In her final days, Candy envisioned a better way to help, support, and care for those who too often face cancer alone. With the help of a generous community, Penny brought her sister’s dream to life.

From its inception, The Cancer Wellness Center of NEPA, formerly Candy’s Place, has always focused on the individual and their unique journey. We took a closer look at this enduring mission and found perhaps the truest testament to the organization’s longevity, persistence, and dedication to care—the kind, honest words of survivors.

Accepting your new self 

In October 2017, after a routine mammogram, Sheila Brandon was diagnosed with breast cancer. Soon, she underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. After 10 of 12 scheduled rounds of chemotherapy, neuropathy set in and she could no longer feel her feet. She had enough. Following treatment, Sheila spent six long months on the couch.

Before the diagnosis, Sheila made her living cleaning houses. Unfortunately, she wasn’t physically capable of working during treatment. Remarkably, and thanks to her devoted clients, she didn’t lose a single job. They waited for her to get well.

Sheila reminisced about her long, dark brown hair. It reached below her hips at one point. The chemo took that from her. When her hair eventually did grow back, it was white. There was also a steroid “cocktail,” as she describes it, that made her put on some weight. Everything changes with cancer and treatment. There are physical changes, of course, but it also changes who you are and how you view yourself. And that was a harsh, new reality for Sheila. “When I look in the mirror and I see the white hair, I have to accept that I’m no longer the person I used to be. I have to accept who I am now.”

Unexpected, charming and immediately calming

While undergoing treatments, a good friend scheduled her for a free massage at The Cancer Wellness Center of NEPA. Initially, she didn’t know what to expect, so she took the tour and learned about their services. She then returned for a yoga class to help with nerve damage, followed by a personal training session and a facial. Before she knew it, Sheila says, she was “hooked.” Since then, she has never looked back.

“The staff is absolutely phenomenal. They treat you like you’re an actual human being and they care. You build a rapport with them,” Sheila says.

Sheila has participated in many of the services at The Cancer Wellness Center, including yoga classes, personal training sessions, massage therapy and vibrational sound therapy, among others. Now, she’s spending much of her time giving back, routinely volunteering with veteran’s organizations.

A caring, supportive environment for all

While auditioning for a musical at the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, Mike Hague began to feel ill. As a diabetic, he initially assumed his blood sugar was low, so he drank a soda, but it didn’t help. Mike started feeling dizzy, and soon, he had trouble speaking. The next thing he remembers is waking up after surgery with 70 staples in the side of his head. Everything in between was a blur. It turns out Mike had a seizure caused by a brain tumor and was soon diagnosed with Stage 3 Astrocytoma, a form of brain cancer.

After his first surgery, Mike attempted to return to work, but it didn’t last long. He says it took him a while to realize that he wouldn’t be as productive as he had been before. He had to move back in with his parents and even had to give up driving for a while. Mike describes his cancer as always present, though not necessarily active. As far as he knows, he can never be considered cured or in remission.

The He-Man Cancer Haters Support Group

Mike learned about The Cancer Wellness Center while in the hospital. Initially, he thought most of the programs were geared toward women with breast cancer. However, his perception changed in the fall of 2019 when he received a call from The Cancer Wellness Center’s former Executive Director, Lisa Orlandini. She explained that the center had evolved to meet the needs of both men and women diagnosed with cancer.

He revisited, and this time, he decided to get involved in a big way. Mike teamed up with Jeff Thomas, a stage 3 esophageal cancer survivor, and together, they created the He-Man Cancer Haters support group, designed to provide a space for men facing cancer to share their experiences and support each other.

Sharing the pain, the hope, the healing

Rick Berry was diagnosed with throat cancer in December 2017 and began treatments in January 2018. Over the course of his treatment, Rick underwent three rounds of chemotherapy and 35 radiation sessions. “It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever gone through. It was really depressing,” he says. “Understand that if you don’t see progress when you go through an ailment, you just see no light at the end of the tunnel.”

Before cancer, Rick describes himself as a very healthy, outgoing person. He often remarks that the cancer had simply beaten him up. On the other side of treatment, Rick found himself dealing with constant ringing in his ears, hearing loss, and neuropathy in his feet. “It was hard to deal with that—knowing where I was pre-cancer and then post-treatment.” He also struggled with PTSD throughout his recovery.

As his physical recovery progressed, Rick realized that it wasn’t all just about the body. He was also recovering from the emotional and psychological trauma of cancer. He sought out The Cancer Wellness Center in October of 2019.

Bonding through stories of survival and strength

Rick felt compelled to share his story, and he was able to do so in the Peer-to-Peer support group at The Cancer Wellness Center. He also listened as other survivors shared their journeys and struggles. In one of these initial group sessions, Rick recalls hearing exactly what he needed to hear: one of the members said, “You have to grieve who you were.”

For Rick, that moment was a turning point. “I realized that I had to grieve who I was and accept who I am.” He now regularly attends meetings for the He-Man Cancer Haters and the Peer-to-Peer Group.

Today, Rick is focused on giving back to the place that was there for him during his darkest moments. He has since joined the Board of Directors at The Cancer Wellness Center. For him, helping just one person, even in a small way, would be enough. “If I can help one person not have to suffer like I did, that’s a hell of a success for me.”

Move your body. Heal your mind.

Services at The Cancer Wellness Center include activities focused on wellness, movement, healing arts and meditation. Clients can sign up for yoga, deep relaxation, personal training sessions, reiki, massage therapy, reflexology, spa services and so much more. The center features a state-of-the-art gym and licensed, certified and experienced instructors, trainers and therapists.

Emotional, Social & Psychological Support Services

The Cancer Wellness Center brings clients together to share stories, grieve and offer a community of support. The center features comfortable, private meeting space for various support groups. Current groups include: Peer to Peer Support, Breast Cancer Support, Men’s Cancer Support and Caregivers Support.

Boutique and Haberdashery

The Boutique and Haberdashery offers a full line of wigs, hairpieces, scarves, turbans, hats, bandanas, lap blankets, comfort shawls, chest buddies (for post-surgery needs) and seat belt covers for those with ports.