Sheri Biller is a cancer care advocate, philanthropist and the co-founder and president of The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation. Brandon Hotham is the president and CEO of the Dempsey Center.

Anyone who has faced cancer — or stood beside someone who has — knows that cancer is not just a medical condition. It is a life-altering experience that affects every part of a person’s world.

And yet, too often, patients and their caregivers are left to navigate that journey alone. That’s especially true in rural communities like many across Maine, where access to comprehensive support can be limited.

As a national cancer care advocate and as the leader of Maine’s Dempsey Center that provides cancer care services, we know it doesn’t have to be this way.

There is growing recognition of an approach to care called supportive cancer care — a model that focuses on treating the whole person, not just the disease. Supportive cancer care goes beyond clinical treatments like chemotherapy, radiation and surgery and includes a broad range of services such as financial guidance, counseling, pain and symptom management, caregiver support and help navigating practical challenges like transportation, insurance and goals-of-care conversations.

These services are delivered across both healthcare and community-based settings, often through a combination of providers and organizations working together to support patients and families throughout their cancer journey.

When these systems work well, the impact is clear. Access to supportive care improves quality of life and treatment adherence, reduces unnecessary emergency room visits and helps patients and families feel more confident navigating an incredibly complex experience. Just as importantly, it reinforces something deeply human: no one should have to face cancer alone.

Maine is helping show what’s possible in cancer care for the whole person.

The Dempsey Center is part of that broader network — providing community-based, evidence-informed supportive cancer care services that complement clinical treatment. We offer counseling, nutrition support, integrative therapies, movement and fitness programs and caregiver support, all designed to meet the evolving needs of individuals and families affected by cancer.

As a nonprofit organization, these services are provided at no cost to clients and are made possible entirely through philanthropy — through the generosity of donors, sponsors and community members who believe that everyone deserves access to this kind of care.

You can see the power of that community every year through the Dempsey Challenge, where thousands of participants — from Maine and around the world — come together to raise critical funds that sustain these services and ensure that no one faces cancer alone. As the need for these services continues to grow, so too does the importance of that support.

Maine is also making meaningful progress at the policy level. The state has taken important steps to support access to palliative care through MaineCare reimbursement, reinforcing that supportive care is not a luxury, but an essential part of high-quality cancer care. Initiatives like Maine’s specialty cancer license plates further invest in programs that provide patient support, fund research and expand access to care across the state.

Across Maine, a growing network of community-based supportive cancer care organizations — including members of the Association of Maine Cancer Support Centers — is working collectively to expand access to these services for as many Mainers as possible. And yet, despite this progress, access remains far from universal — both in Maine and across the country.

Nationally, only a fraction of patients can access supportive cancer care services like counseling, financial navigation or structured conversations about goals of care. Even when services exist, patients may not know to ask for them — or may assume they are not accessible or affordable. This leaves too many people and their loved ones carrying burdens they should not have to carry alone.

We need to continue building and strengthening these networks of care — across Maine and across the country. That means investing in community-based organizations, supporting policies that expand access and ensuring that patients and caregivers understand what supportive cancer care is and how to access it.

That’s also why the Dempsey Center is proud to support Support Is Care, a national campaign by The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation. It’s focused on helping people living with cancer and those who love them understand that this kind of support exists, that it’s part of high-quality care and that everyone has every right to ask their provider for it.

Last month, we gathered in our nation’s capital alongside providers, patients, caregivers and advocates from across our country — uplifting their voices, sharing their stories and advancing the case for supportive cancer care on Capitol Hill. We have to make sure that supportive cancer care is more widely understood, more consistently delivered and more equitably accessible.

Supportive cancer care isn’t “nice to have” — it’s a “must-have.” Research continues to show that when people have access to this kind of support, their outcomes and quality of life improve, and they experience fewer unnecessary visits to the emergency room.

Our work cannot stop there. We must all commit to building and sustaining the networks that make supportive cancer care accessible to everyone — regardless of where they live. That means continued investment in community-based programs, training providers and ensuring that every patient — regardless of ZIP code — knows what supportive cancer care is and feels empowered to ask for it.

No one should face cancer alone. Ask your providers about supportive cancer care. Advocate for systems that expand access. And consider how you can be part of the solution — whether by supporting community-based organizations or by showing up for those in your community who need help — because strength is built through connection, and connection starts with us.

Together, we can create a world where every patient and caregiver affected by cancer feels supported and heard.

Noah Day hit an RBI double and Chace Lubchansky ended the game with a walk-off single as top-seeded Fryeburg Academy rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat fourth-seeded Cape Elizabeth, 4-3, in a Class B South baseball semifinal Saturday in Fryeburg.

Fryeburg (15-3) advances to play No. 3 Greely in the regional final on Tuesday in Standish.

The Raiders pulled within a run in the bottom of the fifth when Day scored on an error. Cape (12-6) had taken the lead in the fourth on an RBI double by Finn Connolly, who scored on an error to make it 3-1.

Connolly also had an RBI single in the first inning. Fryeburg scored on an error in the bottom of the first.

GREELY 7, LEAVITT 2: Jonah Clorius pitched a two-hitter and the third-seeded Rangers (13-5) scored five runs in the third inning on their way to a Class B South semifinal win over the second-seeded Hornets (15-3) in Turner.

Clorius allowed one earned run while striking out four and walking two.

Kyle Soule and Jarrett Bush both had two hits and drove in two runs for Greely. Rocky Axelson hit a triple and scored twice.

Ryder Sawyer-Brown and Brody Poland each had a hit for Leavitt.

MARANACOOK 6, OLD ORCHARD BEACH 5: The second-seeded Black Bears (16-2) took a 6-0 lead in the first inning and held off the third-seeded Seagulls (13-5) in a Class C South semifinal in Readfield.

Cam Jones had three hits and two RBI for Maranacook, which advances to the regional final Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine against No. 1 Monmouth Academy. Will Watson had two hits and scored two runs.

Wes Gallant and Aiden Hodgkins both had two hits for Old Orchard Beach, which scored four runs in the sixth and one in the seventh before its comeback bid fell short.

MONMOUTH ACADEMY 13, WAYNFLETE/NYA 3: Bryce Fletcher drove in three runs and Jake Harmon and Noah Schultz knocked in two apiece as the defending Class C champions (17-1) advanced to the regional final by taking down Waynflete/NYA (11-7) in a Class C South semifinal in Monmouth.

Monmouth, the No. 1 seed, will face No. 2 Maranacook (16-2) for the regional championship Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine. The Black Bears dealt the Mustangs their only loss of the season, 3-2, on April 29.

Fletcher finished with three hits, including a double, and scored three runs. Rory and Zane Foyt each had two hits and drove in a run.

Kellen Gardiner doubled and had three of fifth-seeded Waynflete/NYA’s seven hits.

SOFTBALL

CHEVERUS 10, GORHAM 0: Addison DeRoche struck out 10, and the top-seeded Stags (18-0) earned a spot in the Class A South final with a five-inning win over the fourth-seeded Rams (14-4) in Portland.

Cheverus which will face second-seeded Bonny Eagle on Tuesday in Auburn. The Stags are the No. 1 team in the Varsity Maine poll.

DeRoche allowed four hits and walked one.

The game was scoreless until the fourth, when Cheverus struck for five runs. The Stags put the mercy rule into effect by adding five runs in the fifth.

Sadie Collins had two hits, two RBI and scored twice. Anna Goodman and Anna Kennedy-Jensen also recorded two hits, and Tempy Lovejoy smacked a double, as did Goodman.

Sawyer VonderHaar hit a double for Gorham.

LAKE REGION 5, YORK 1: Haley Hamlin struck out 11 while throwing a four-hitter and also was 2 for 3 at the plate as the third-seeded Lakers (14-4) beat the No. 2 Wildcats (16-2) in a Class B South semifinal in York.

Lake Region opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning, then added two more in the third on consecutive singles by Haley Hamlin, Ava Cole and Vylet Robbins.

Emily Blake drove in York’s run with a single in the fourth inning.

The Lakers will play for the regional title Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College against top-seeded Medomak Valley.

NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY 10, FOREST HILLS 0: Lily Fortin homered for the game’s first run and struck out 14 while pitching a one-hitter as the second-seeded Panthers (16-1) defeated the third-seeded Tigers (14-3) in a five-inning Class D South semifinal in Yarmouth.

Fortin and Cami Casserly (two hits) both drove in two runs. NYA broke the game open with six runs in the fourth inning.

In the circle, Fortin walked two and allowed only two hitters to put the ball in play. Losing pitcher Janessa Moffitt got the lone hit for Forest Hills.

NYA will play No. 1 Buckfield in the regional final Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College.

DIRIGO 9, OLD ORCHARD BEACH 1: Leah Turnbull tossed a one-hitter, and the top-seeded Cougars (17-1) rolled past the No. 5 Seagulls (10-8) in a Class C South semifinal in Dixfield.

Dirigo will meet second-seeded Monmouth Academy (16-2) in the regional final Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine.

Turnbull struck out four and didn’t allow a walk. She also contributed offensively with a hit, a run and an RBI.

The Cougars finished with 13 hits and didn’t strike out once. Xandria Libby went 3 for 3 and drove in a run. Lana Waite and Abby Luczynski each had a single and a double, Emma Witas also notched two hits, and Zoey Bordeau drove in two runs and scored twice.

Reagan Partridge scored Old Orchard Beach’s run on an RBI double from Hannah Webber.

GIRLS LACROSSE

KENNEBUNK 15, BONNY EAGLE 5: Anna McCarron recorded four goals and two assists to lead the top-seeded Rams (14-1) to a Class A quarterfinal win over the eighth-seeded Scots (9-7) in Kennebunk.

Camdyn Keenan added a goal and seven assists for Kennebunk, the No. 1 team in the Varsity Maine poll. The Rams face No. 4 Cheverus on Wednesday.

Julianna Urban added three goals, Alexandra Foy, Helen Kennie and Madeline Dowling both scored twice, and Sofia Olsen had one goal. Kennebunk’s Eliza Nass and Brielle Thompson combined for five saves.

Elizabeth Hamilton led Bonny Eagle with two goals. Caroline Krunkkala, Kalia Davis and Allie Ryan each were the other goal scorers.

Summertime means packed touring schedules for bands of many musical genres, and plenty of them are making stops in Maine. From ’90s alternative darlings The Breeders to legends like Joe Jackson and Barry Manilow, along with Maine acts 12/OC and The Ghost of Paul Revere, there are many ways to make this a live music summer to remember.

Here are 19 shows to consider between now and early September at some of Maine’s biggest indoor and outdoor venues.

Mumford & Sons

6 p.m. June 16. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $63.75-$159.75. waterfrontconcerts.com.

One of the biggest events of the summer of 2013 was Mumford & Sons bringing their “Gentlemen of the Road Stopover” festival to Portland’s Eastern Prom. This summer, the band will be performing in Bangor, in support of its sixth album “Prizefighter.” Dylan Gossett opens.

The Breeders

8 p.m. June 18. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $49.50 in advance, $55 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.

Alternative rock darlings The Breeders is sisters Kim and Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs and Jim MacPherson. Since 1990, the band has released five albums and gone through several hiatuses while members were involved with other projects. Most notable is their 1993 release “Last Splash,” home to quintessential ’90s tune “Cannonball.”

Jelly Roll

7:30 p.m. June 20. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $85.25-$223.95. waterfrontconcerts.com.

Jelly Roll is the professional name of Jason Bradley DeFord. Popular songs by the country, rock and hip-hop singer-songwriter include “Need a Favor” and “Son of a Sinner.” Jelly Roll won a 2024 Best Contemporary County Album Grammy for “Beautifully Broken.” His Little Ass Shed Tour pulls into Bangor with blues, country, rock and folk artist Kashus Culpepper opening the show.

Wilco

7 p.m. June 21. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $62 in advance, $70 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.

Chicago-based rock band Wilco has played in Maine many times through the decades, and the next show is an outdoor one. Fronted by Jeff Tweedy, Wilco also features bassist John Stirratt, who owns a home in the Midcoast. With 13 albums of material to choose from, the show should satisfy new fans and longtime ones.

Barry Manilow

7 p.m. July 3. Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, $77-$385. crossarenaportland.com.

Pop singer Barry Manilow’s final concert in Portland is one of the crown jewels of the summer, after being rescheduled from April 19 because Manilow was ill. With classic songs like “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Copacabana (At the Copa),” the legacy artist will likely draw a huge crowd as he takes his final bow in Maine.

Joe Jackson

8 p.m. July 11. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $55.50-$99.50. statetheatreportland.com.

British singer, songwriter and pianist Joe Jackson released the album “Hope and Fury,” his 20th, in April. The Grammy winner’s discography dates back to the 1979 debut album “Look Sharp!,” home to Jackson staples “Sunday Papers,” “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” and “Fools in Love.” His piano chops are as impressive as his vocals, so you expect a first-rate show from Jackson and his band.

Alison Krauss & Union Station

6 p.m. July 11. The Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts,  1 Geranium Lane, Sidney, $70-$153. snowpond.org.

Alison Krauss & Union Station have been in the forefront of bluegrass and roots music for more than 40 years. With a show that will include songs from their latest album, “Arcadia,” you can look forward to a fantastic performance from the multiple Grammy winners. The band includes Krauss (fiddle, vocals), Jerry Douglas (Dobro, lap steel), Ron Block (banjo, guitar, vocals), Barry Bales (bass, vocals) and Russell Moore (guitar, mandolin, vocals). Theo Lawrence opens the show.

12/OC

6:30 p.m. July 18. The Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts,  1 Geranium Lane, Sidney, $27.76. snowpond.org.

This on-the-rise Maine country band was founded by Portland brothers Will and Reid Nichols, who started playing gigs when they were 10 and 13. 12 O/C has been building a loyal following in Maine for several years and moved to Nashville about two years ago. The show is a benefit for the Travis Mills Foundation, with Kelsey Hart opening.

Weird Al Yankovic

7:30 p.m. July 19. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $56.75-$213.45. waterfrontconcerts.com.

No one writes and sings pop parodies quite like Weird Al Yankovic. The Grammy winner has been at it for more than 45 years, and has sold more than 12 million albums. Hits include parodies of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” (“Eat It”) in 1984, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” (“Like a Surgeon”) in 1985 and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (“Smells Like Nirvana”) in 1992. Yankovic’s “Bigger & Weirder” show will kick off with Puddles Pity Party, a sad clown character who sings covers.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

6:30 p.m. July 21. The Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, Sidney, $63.43-$120.06. snowpond.org.

For a summer night full of rock, funk, soul, jazz, blues, hip-hop and Caribbean-influenced music, head to Sidney for Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Shorty is the pride of New Orleans and his shows are both celebratory and musically tremendous. JJ Grey & Mofro will open the show.

Toto, Christopher Cross and the Romantics

6:45 p.m. July 23. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $35-$233.50. waterfrontconcerts.com.

Relive the heyday of ’80s pop music with a trio of acts who know how to pack a Top 40 punch. Toto will have you scream-singing along to “Africa,” Christopher Cross will remind you that the canvas can do miracles with “Sailing,” and the Romantics will have you jumping up and down with “What I Like About You.” All three have multiple hits, so plan on a highly entertaining and nostalgic night of music.

Herbie Hancock

7:30 p.m. Aug. 1. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, $75-$110. porttix.com.

Herbie Hancock, 86, has been a huge presence in modern jazz, funk, electronic music, rock and other genres for his entire career. It’s no wonder he’s won 14 Grammys, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. You may recall Hancock’s 1983 instrumental hit “Rockit,” and his 2007 release “River: The Joni Letters” with its lush piano interpretations of Joni Mitchell’s songs like “Both Sides Now” and “Sweet Bird.”

Guster on the Ocean

4 p.m. Aug. 8 & 9. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $70, $40 kids, $130 adult two-day pass, $30 kids two-day pass. statetheatreportland.com.

This will be the eighth year that the rock band Guster, featuring Cape Elizabeth singer and guitarist Adam Gardner, has made Portland the home of its summer festival. The Merrill Auditorium show on Aug. 7 with the Portland Symphony Orchestra is long sold out, but there are still tickets to two big outdoor shows at Thompson’s Point. The lineup features Iron & Wine, Watchhouse, The Barr Brothers, Neal Francis, Eggy, Dave Butler & Friends, Bebe Stockwell, Khatumu and Cilla Bonnie.

Billy Idol

7:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $44.50-$181.50. waterfrontconcerts.com.

British rocker Billy Idol will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with the ceremony taking place in Los Angeles in November. Before that happens, he’ll be on a huge tour that includes a show in Bangor. Sing along with hits like “White Wedding,” “Eyes Without a Face,” “Dancing With Myself” and “Rebel Yell,” among others.

Brandi Carlile

7 p.m. Aug. 13. Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, $85-$497. crossarenaportland.com.

Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile’s latest record is “Returning To Myself.” The Human Tour, named for its second track, swings through Portland in August. Since 2005, Carlile has released nine studio albums, including a collaboration with Elton John, and has won 11 Grammy Awards. Some of Carlile’s best known songs include “The Story,” “Hold Out Your Hand” and “The Joke.”

Indigo Girls

7 p.m. Aug. 25. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $53 in advance, $61 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.

Indigo Girls is the folk duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, known for their vocal harmonies, songwriting and musicianship. The show will feature sing-alongs of Indigo Girls’ signature songs like “Closer to Fine,” “Galileo” and if we’re lucky, “Kid Fears.”

ZZ Top

7 p.m. Sept. 6. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $65.20-$304.70. waterfrontconcerts.com.

Texas rock band ZZ Top’s hits include “Legs,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Sharp Dressed Man.” The band continues to play righteous shows after losing original Dusty Hill, bassist, in 2021. “The Big One!” tour features opening act George Thorogood & The Destroyers. Be ready to belt out “Bad to the Bone.” B-b-b-bad!

Ghostland

5 p.m. Sept. 6. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $55 in advance, $65 day of show, free for kids 3 and under. statetheatreportland.com.

Take part in a festival that’s a reunion for one of Maine’s best-loved bands. The Ghost of Paul Revere, started by childhood friends Griffin William Sherry, Sean McCarthy and Max Davis from Buxton and Hollis, were together for more than a decade and toured nationally before breaking up in 2022. The band hosted its own annual festival, Ghostland, usually at Thompson’s Point. They’ll play this year’s Thompson’s Point show with Futurebirds, Weakened Friends and Mikaela Davis.

LCD Soundsystem

7 p.m. Sept. 9. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $75 in advance, $85 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.

With a devoted following, dance-punk act LCD Soundsystem is led by James Murphy. Popular tracks include “Dance Yrself Clean” and “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House.” They called it quits in 2011, then rebooted in 2016. They’ve released five albums, starting with their breakthrough self-titled 2005 release.

This story was originally published by the Maine Trust for Local News. Aimsel Ponti can be reached at aponti@pressherald.com.