Thompson Cancer Survival Foundation

Social Services Operating Grant:The Foundation provides grant support for the operations of the Social Services Department of TCSC. The Social Services Department receives referrals from Covenant Health facilities when oncology patients are identified that could benefit from the services provided by this department. In 2024, Social Services supported 2,118 new patient referrals and 6,254 follow-up patients. Additionally, there were 2,763 new patients referred for nutritional counseling and education in 2024 with 4,019 follow-up assessments and 3,254 educational encounters to support those patients. The Social Services Department also offers genetic counseling services including breast cancer and hereditary cancer risk assessments. In 2024, the Genetics Clinic provided services for 1,098 new patients who were in need of genetic counseling. Of those patients, 748 were scheduled, 522 completed genetic counseling, and 412 elected to pursue genetic testing. All patients were able to receive full personal and family history reviews, allowing for a thorough risk assessment for the potential of a hereditary cancer syndrome or other familial risk factors possibly not accounted for through genetic testing. The patients received education and counseling regarding their pursuit of genetic testing. When appropriate, patients received information about support resources for individuals in similar circumstances. Finally, all patients received recommendations for risk-reduction strategies personalized for their individual health history, family history, and genetic test results when available.

Clinical Trials Operating Grant:The Foundation provides a grant to TCSC for the operation of its Clinical Trials program. Since the opening of TCSC in 1988, the Clinical Trials Department has enrolled 2,772 patients in clinical trials. In 2024, the TCSC Clinical Trials Department had 7 active treatment patients and 94 patients in follow-up studies. Due to the excellent research reputation of the program's medical director and research team, TCSC continues to have new clinical trial opportunities offered to its research team on a weekly basis. To help with screening efforts for potential clinical trial participants, Research Nurse Coordinators are assigned to specific physician schedules for screening and to specific locations for coverage, including Thompson Oncology Group's Oak Ridge, Sevierville, West Knoxville, Downtown Knoxville, and Lenoir City. Opening new studies increases referrals locally and regionally and gives current patients the ability to be treated with state-of-the-art care in their own community. Involvement in prevention, treatment, and data and specimen collection trials offers an improved means of health strategies for individuals at risk for certain cancers, as well as access to proven standard cancer treatments and new, developing cutting edge therapies for those diagnosed with cancer.

In addition to the program services detailed above, funding was also provided in 2024 for patient assistance, cancer outreach services, and colon cancer/ostomy education:Patient Assistance:The Thompson Cares Fund, supported by employee and community donations, provides emergency assistance for cancer patients in times of crisis. In 2024, 1,210 patients received assistance with such needs as housing, transportation, utilities, food/nutritional supplements, medical supplies and medications.Cancer Outreach:Thompson Cancer Survival Center Foundation supports the work of TCSC's cancer outreach department that provides free and reduced-cost cancer screenings in the East Tennessee area. In addition to outreach efforts at community health fairs/free clinics, the department provides no-cost mammograms and smoking/vaping cessation education. Early detection and prevention efforts are the first step to help patients be diagnosed quickly or, if possible, never have to battle the disease at all. Colon Cancer/Ostomy Education:In 2022, the foundation began funding a new patient education program focused on colon cancer and ostomy care. Patients benefit from the classes taught both in advance of the following colostomy surgery to prepare patients and their families for successfully living with a colostomy. The classes are taught by a registered nurse and there is no charge to patients.