Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources celebrates 20 years of empowering and supporting people with cancer & their families

Living Well Geneva

GENEVA, Ill. — September 2, 2025 — Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources, a center dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals affected by cancer, proudly marks its 20^th anniversary in September.

Since its founding in 2005, Living Well has been a beacon of hope, resilience, and community for tens of thousands of survivors, caregivers, and families. Over the past two decades, Living Well has grown from a small grassroots initiative to a nationally recognized endeavor, with two locations in Geneva and Warrenville, and a satellite location in Orland Park, opening this fall.

Living Well offers a wide range of services including counseling and social work services; support groups; fitness, yoga, art and nutrition classes; medical presentations and a wig boutique. All programs are offered at no cost to those diagnosed and their families.

“This milestone is a testament to the strength of our community and the unwavering commitment of our volunteers, staff, and supporters,” said Candy Domke-Hochberg, operations administrator, Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources. “We are honored to have walked alongside so many individuals on their cancer journeys and remain dedicated to providing hope and healing for years to come.”

“Support from Living Well has been enormously helpful to my patients,” said Christopher George, MD, medical director of oncology. “In the cancer clinic, there often isn’t time to address all the holistic needs of cancer patients. Living Well more than fills that gap, providing patients and families with practical tools that improve well-being.”

Mindful movement class

Inspiring those with cancer to live well

When Living Well first opened on September 1, 2005, its mission was to instill people living with cancer with knowledge, optimism and the inspiration to live well.

That mission statement came directly from the experiences of the Living Well founders, Fred Dornbach, Joanne Hansen, Susan Lyons and Terry Murphy.

Joanne Hansen was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1984, at the age of 44. Drawing from her own experience, she recognized the need to pull support services for cancer patients and their families under one roof.

“You can’t go through a cancer journey alone. Often your spouse and loved ones don’t understand and, truthfully, your spouse and your family need support as well, which is why creating Living Well was so important to me,” Hansen said.

Terry Murphy, another co-founder, believed in the project after witnessing his wife, Rosemary “Posey” Murphy, live with breast cancer for 12 years before passing away in 2003.

He watched Posey work to find resources to help manage the side effects of chemotherapy through diet and nutrition, exercise classes to help improve stamina, counseling services for Terry and their children, and rehabilitation therapy services to help her move when her body began to fail.

“Our aspirations were to be able to make these services available in the Fox Valley area. That's what our original charter said,” Murphy said. “The fact that we're able to look at all of Northern Illinois and say that our footprint encompasses all of that, that exceeds my wildest dreams.”

“After 20 years, the enthusiasm for Living Well is still so great. So many people believe in the mission. I often say it is more than I dreamed of and all that I hoped for,” Hansen said.

Living Well table

Living Well expands its reach

The mission continued when Living Well programs became part of Northwestern Medicine in 2012. With a goal of ensuring no one faces cancer alone, Living Well Cancer Resources has touched countless lives with compassion and care. 

Through virtual and in-person offerings, Living Well has supported people living in 287 counties across the United States and in countries around the world.

Celebrating 20 years of Living Well

To commemorate the 20^th anniversary of Living Well, a celebration will be held at the Northwestern Medicine Walk & 5k on October 11, 2025. The event is an opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors with a 5k run and 1-mile walk, followed by a family-friends festival.

Net proceeds from the event will go toward the educational and clinical support programs and services provided by Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources. Registration information can be found here.

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