Empowering Communities Through Cancer Support: Amy Sutton on Navigating Care, Building Trust, and Bridging Gaps in Healthcare

In this episode of the SEAM Podcast, SEAM founder Amy Cohen Epstein speaks with Amy Sutton, Chief Executive Officer of Crossroads4Hope, a New Jersey–based nonprofit providing psychosocial support and resources to individuals and families impacted by cancer. Amy shares how the organization is changing the way people navigate cancer care—especially those in under-resourced communities—by bringing evidence-based, emotionally supportive services directly to those who need them most. With a focus on equity, trust-building, and the use of technology to reach people where they are, Amy and her team are redefining what it means to care for the whole person. This conversation highlights the vital role of community, the need for culturally responsive healthcare partnerships, and how preventive care and holistic support can work hand in hand with medical treatment to improve outcomes across the entire cancer journey.

Amy Cohen Epstein:
All right, so we're here this afternoon with Amy Sutton, the CEO of Crossroads4Hope. Sometimes I interview entrepreneurs, sometimes cancer survivors, sometimes experts in wellness—and every once in a while, I get to talk to someone who runs a like-minded organization to the Lynne Cohen Foundation. Crossroads4Hope really complements what we do. This is our first time meeting, so in addition to asking questions, I'm genuinely excited to hear directly from you. I could read all I want on your website, but hearing your mission, how Crossroads4Hope got started, and what you’re doing today—straight from you—is the best way to understand the heart of the organization. So welcome, Amy.

Amy Sutton:
Thank you!

Amy:
Let’s dive in. Just give me the overview—how did Crossroads4Hope begin?

Amy Sutton:
Our organization was founded by four women in the community who had both personal and professional connections to cancer. They believed that individuals and families needed access to supportive services that helped them live day to day in the face of a diagnosis—whether it was their own or that of a loved one. Crossroads4Hope has been on this journey since 2001. I always say the founders had the harder job because they had to convince people to join them based solely on passion. They had no tangible examples to show at the start.

I joined in 2012 and was asked to help take the organization to the next level. We began shifting our model—from being a place people had to come to, to one that actively goes into the community. We asked: What does it really mean to ensure that no one faces cancer alone? What communities are experiencing the greatest gaps in access to fundamental support services? We found those answers, and we took action.

Today, we help individuals and families access support, information, and resources—plus the professionals who guide them through every step of the journey. That includes mental health services, social work, child life specialists, oncology dietitians—all working together as one interdisciplinary team. From diagnosis to survivorship, and even through end-of-life care, our services are always free. And we bring that care to the people, not the other way around.

Amy:
So much of what you just said really resonates. Two words stand out: holistic and "previvor." To me, a holistic approach to cancer means helping people not just get through treatment but rally emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Especially for those who don’t know where to begin.

That other word—previvor—is newer, but so important. Back when the Lynne Cohen Foundation started in 1998, no one was using that term. And yet, many women today identify that way. Whether it’s because of genetic risk, family history, or environmental exposure, they take proactive steps—anything from monitoring to surgery—to reduce their risk. It’s incredibly empowering.

How does Crossroads4Hope approach people at different points in their journey, including those who might identify as previvors?

Amy Sutton:
Traditionally, we think of previvors as individuals with a genetic predisposition—but we also support people who are at risk due to occupational or environmental exposures. Firefighters, military veterans, even people living in low-income neighborhoods located near polluting industries—all of them live with real concerns about future cancer diagnoses.

And here's the problem: there's no space in the current healthcare system for people carrying that worry but without a diagnosis. The emotional burden is very real. And often, there’s nowhere to turn.

Amy:
That’s so important. My brother was in the Navy for over a decade. He was stationed in places where they burned electronics and hazardous materials in giant pits. No protection, no masks—just toxic exposure. And now, people like him are living with that uncertainty: What’s going to happen to me? That psychological burden is massive.

Amy Sutton:
Exactly. Whether it’s veterans, 9/11 responders, or people living in polluted communities, the emotional stress is profound. At Crossroads4Hope, our work is grounded in social work principles. That means we meet people where they are—in the context of their life, their family, and their community.

For example, one of our oncology dietitians worked with someone who had previously seen a hospital dietitian and felt dismissed. With us, it was a different experience. Our RD asked about their emotional relationship with food, their stress levels, and how they approached meals. It's a more human-centered approach.

Amy:
You’re treating the person, not just the disease.

Amy Sutton:
Exactly. The WHO has said for decades that health is more than the absence of disease—it’s about emotional, spiritual, and social well-being. The traditional system doesn’t address that. But in the community, we do.

Amy:
You’re right. And we see this especially with caregivers. I think about my own experience—my mom battled ovarian cancer for five years. My younger brother was just ten. The toll it takes on families is enormous. We didn’t talk about it much back then. And I always wonder—were there resources we just didn’t know about? Or did they not exist yet?

Amy Sutton:
Probably both. And many of the resources that did exist felt clinical or isolating. What we’re trying to do now is create support that feels human. That’s why we screen every week for things like depression, isolation, and distress. If someone flags high, they’re connected to our social work team. We help close those gaps before they become barriers to care.

Amy:
And you're using technology to do that, right?

Amy Sutton:
Yes. Since the pandemic, we’ve dramatically expanded our virtual programs. We're now in 45 states and even reaching people internationally. We developed a mobile platform called My Go-To Support—there’s no app to download, it's all accessible via text link. Users get weekly check-ins, supportive content, and triage to our team if needed.

We’ve also launched a public health model in New Jersey. We partner with community-based organizations—churches, consulates, nonprofits—and train local laypeople to become "Health Champions." Think of it like CPR, but for cancer support. We’re embedding ourselves into communities, not asking people to come to us.

Amy:
That’s brilliant. It reminds me of how we've embedded our preventive care clinics within hospitals, rather than building standalone centers. Why duplicate infrastructure when we can work within what already exists?

Amy Sutton:
Exactly. Sustainability is everything. And partnering with organizations already trusted in the community is the best way to expand our reach.

Amy:
We’re on the same page. Thank you so much, Amy. What Crossroads4Hope is doing is incredible—grounded, scalable, and deeply human.

Amy Sutton:
Thank you. I'm grateful for this connection and look forward to future collaboration.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.