Our History

Cancer Lifeline was founded in 1973 by a cancer patient who could not find the support she needed to help her live with her diagnosis.

We began with the Lifeline, a 24 hour phone line designed to offer information and provide emotional support.  Over the years of carefully listening to the needs of cancer patients and survivors, we added other programs; individual and family support, healing arts, health promotion and direct financial assistance and advocacy.

Now, people all over Washington State use the toll-free 24-Hour Lifeline program for emotional support and information. Those in the Puget Sound region can also take advantage of classes, other programs and resources which are offered at Cancer Lifeline’s main office in Seattle and at several hospital partner locations.

Our programs are based on the needs of people living with cancer. We offer you choices and encourage you to take control. We provide information so that you can make better choices. We stress inclusion rather than isolation. And most of all, we provide the environment where you have the freedom to express feelings without being judged.

From the start, the mission of Cancer Lifeline has been to “Optimize the quality of life for all people living with cancer”. Individual gifts and foundation grants provide most of our support, enabling Cancer Lifeline to respond to more than 15,000 contacts from the community annually.