New Beginnings Volume 2, Issue 2 Fall 2012 Bienes Comprehensive Center Survivorship Program From the Management Desk: Inside this issue: Chaplain s Corner 2 Integrative Medicines 2 Introduction of Electronic Medical Records The Oncology Social Worker Speaks Radiation Department Updates 2 3 3 Oncology Nursing Voice 3 Links of Love 4 Dietitian s Corner 4 Clinical Trials 5 Welcome to the latest issue of New Beginnings, the Survivors Newsletter for current and former patients and friends of the Michael and Dianne Bienes Center. We plan to resume offering several issues of this publication each year to you with focused topic areas. We hope to feature what is new and different in cancer survivorship today and tomorrow; how we are going to make survivorship a focus of our cancer center; special articles on some of you and in each issue to let you know what is happening here at our growing cancer center. We will also be featuring the ongoing great work of our clinicians and other associates and we will keep you informed of new developments here and in our relationship with Massachusetts General Hospital especially as they relate to cancer survivors. It is a very exciting time to be involved with this cancer center and we want our survivors to be with us every step of the way. We look forward to your feedback on this issue and hope that you will let us know what you want to see in future editions. All the Best - Maureen Mann Executive Director Bienes Comprehensive Center 2012 Celebration of our Survivors at National Survivors Day! Resource Corner 5 November December Calendar of Events 6-7 Editor: Dr. Christina Austin-Valere, LCSW Contributions by Staff! 2012 Survivor, Dr. Valentina Bradley, with her mom and giving her speech at our Celebration of Life Luncheon!
Chaplain s Corner I was delighted to find so many cancer survivors and their families and friends at the Celebration of Life last month. As I listened to a wide variety of survivors tell their stories of life beyond a cancer diagnosis, I realized anew the value of setting aside time and space to be with others who have found life-giving ways to face challenging medical circumstances. I want to encourage you to consider whether or not a survivors support group should be part of your plan for well-being in this phase of your life. You ve already experienced medical treatment stemming from your original diagnosis. Now you need sound information including updates on the latest research findings because in this sense, in the words of Francis Bacon, knowledge IS power. Consider also the value of a community of people sharing their own best practices for a life well and proudly lived as a SURVIVOR, because the word survivor means to outlive, or to live beyond a daunting initial experience. Consider also that on-going spiritual experience, learning and a caring community are all part of a healthy spirituality which can undergird, and yes, transform the way you choose to live your life as a survivor. Many of you have heard the name of Joel Osteen s book: Your Best Life Now. The operative word there is NOW! Let s claim it together! Chaplain Joanne Afshar INTEGRATIVE MEDICINES Holy Cross Hospital s Zachariah Family Wellness Pavilion and the Feldman Center for Optimal Health pride s itself on being able to provide programs that allow you to have a healthier mind, body and spirit. All of our services and programs are designed to allow you to manage your health status regardless if you maybe currently under the care of a physician, continuing rehab, and tailored for a Survivor. Our expert team of degreed and certified Exercise Physiologists and certified practitioners will assist you on your journey to achieve your personal health and wellness goals. In addition, we offer special rates and programs for Survivors designed specifically to continue you on your path of wellness. Our facility offers the following: Full-line of State-of-the-Art Cardiovascular & Strength Training Equipment State-of-the-Art Fitlinxx Computerized tracking system Pilates/Yoga/Group Fitness Classes Nutritional and Lifestyle Counseling Hypnosis Massage Therapy Acupuncture For more information or questions visit our website at www.zfwp.com, Stop by for a tour or contact us at (954) 229-7950. Introduction of Electronic Medical Records... Electronic Medical Records has made its way to the Bienes Comprehensive Center as many of you have already become aware. It has been challenging yet exciting as the staff learns the system and integrate it into the care of our patients. We thank you for bearing with us as we learn the intricacies of the new system. One thing is for sure it will help us to become more efficient in management of chronic illnesses such as cancer because of the capacity of coordinating care, routinely measure quality, and reduce medical errors unlike paper records. We are now able to provide our patients with a clinical summary of what was done each visit or to date, which we were not able to do before this electronic system. The ability to give our patients their treatment plan at each visit or at the end of their treatment is only one of the benefits of our new system! Buried within is a key to unlock our quote of the quarter, can you find the key? Happy hunting!
Clinical Oncology Social Work section: Approaching the end of one s cancer treatment is often met with a feeling of ambivalence for many patients because they are happy to be done with treatment but fearful at times about how they will manage without the safety net of the treatment team they have been so closely aligned. They also have difficulty in reconciling their feelings when they are done with treatment and life as they once knew it does not return to normal functioning. The focus also had been on finishing treatment and often many of the psychosocial issues were ignored unless it presents a problem during the course of treatment. It is, important, for me to remind our cancer survivors that it is not unusual to begin to experience more psychological issues post treatment. One of the common issues that survivors find difficult to understand is the feeling of depression. Depression is a state of hopelessness and unexplained sadness that overshadows the patient s life. One would say that the person should feel happy to have completed treatment but often this is not the case. Why is that you might ask? The mind often has a way of anesthetizing the body through major situation and once the situation begins to resolve, the endorphins fade and our subconscious feelings emerge. The oncology social worker is trained to work with patients during and after treatment in managing the psychological aspects of treatment including depression, which is only one the emotional disturbances, which affect the patients diagnosed with cancer. This is a major life change and depression is often one of the reactions to loss of health, previous roles, financial status, and personal relationships. There is help available through several therapeutic interventions. Speak to your doctor, nurse, and social worker about your emotional issues. Christina Austin-Valere, PhD, LCSW Radiation Department Updates: Oncology Nursing Voice: Radiation Oncology will be starting a new procedure to treat different types of cancer. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is a technique of delivering high doses of radiation during surgical procedures while the surrounding sensitive organs are moved or shielded from the treatment field. This technique is growing in popularity due to advances in technology, techniques and the availability to physicians and organizations across the country. Holy Cross Hospital will be the first in South Florida to offer this new technique to patients. Pat Bartzokis, RT Survivorship is recognized as a distinct phase in the continuum of cancer care. Nurses are ready to play an important role in providing efficient, safe care, cost effectiveness, and to improve patient care particularly in improving the quality of life for our cancer survivors. The social, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients with cancer are not consistently evaluated or addressed by healthcare providers, whose primary goals are cancer treatment and physical symptom management. Some of the more frequent and distressing symptoms reported by patients that can be addressed in survivorship programs are fatigue, sleep disturbance, managing stress, body changes, and managing difficult emotions, long-term effects of treatment, pain, fear of recurrence, and living with uncertainty. The nurse is an integral member of the team, which works toward promoting care to our cancer survivors. Please continue to look for nursing input! Cindy Guyette, RN, OCN
Links of Love Prayer Ministry...Alma Wilson Dedicated to lifting up the needs and concerns of others in prayer. The prayer chain is activated when we receive a prayer request. Center Patients, loved ones and our Center Associates are invited to place their requests in the prayer baskets available in various locations throughout the Center. The prayers are then linked as each intention is prayed for and presented once a month during Mass, which is held in the Holy Cross Chapel. During National Survivorship Week, we anticipate gathering, preferably at the Grotto on the main campus of the hospital, and hosting a special offering of all prayer intentions we have received. Contact: Chaplain Margaret Kimber, MPS - 954.267.7494 Alma Wilson, Group Practice Manager, Center - 954.267.7700 Dietitian s Corner: Research shows that nutrition support and intervention are relevant to all aspects of cancer treatment. A healthy diet can help prevent or control comorbidities such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension and may help prevent the formation and growth of additional tumors. Recommendations for cancer patients typically are designed to help build strength and withstand the effects of cancer and its treatment. Uncontrolled or excessive weight loss can negatively affect quality of life, delay or prevent treatment completion, prolong healing and increase the risk of complications. These American Society guidelines for cancer prevention should be followed during and after treatment: Consume a healthy diet with emphasis on plant sources. Choose foods and beverages in amounts that help achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Eat five or more servings a day of a variety of vegetables and fruits. Choose whole grains in preference to processed refined grains. Limit consumption of processed and red meats. Generally 45% to 65% of energy intake should come from carbohydrates. Patients having difficulty tolerating whole foods may need some modifications. Homemade shakes or nutritional drinks can be very useful to patients during these times. Hydration is critically important for health maintenance. In general patients should consume 64 oz of fluid per day. Proteins contain essential amino acids and are a key part of daily nutrition. Protein, which include meat, poultry, fish, eggs diary, nuts, legumes and soy, helps the body repair cells and makes new ones. Often patients do not take in enough protein due to their illness. Supplements and nutrition shakes can provide protein, calories and other nutrients. To your health and well-being!
Clinical Trials at Holy Cross Hospital. Holy Cross Hospital s Michael and Dianne Bienes Comprehensive Center is committed to providing the best cancer care possible including access to the latest clinical trials and treatments. We work closely with the Massachusetts General Hospital Center to provide South Florida residents with rapid access to specialized cancer care and genetic counseling. We offer multidisciplinary care in a compassionate, spiritual and healing environment. A disease-specific approach and commitment to innovation make us South Florida s leader in all aspects of cancer research, diagnosis and treatment. Our mission is providing the most comprehensive care so you can look forward to spending time with those you love. Our mission is you! Clinical trials are scientific research studies designed to test the effects of a drug (or vaccine) administered to human participants. The goal is to define the safety, effectiveness and pharmacological effects (including toxicity, side effects, incompatibilities or interactions) of the drug. These trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases. Each phase is designed to answer a separate research question. Holy Cross Hospital is one of the few hospitals in South Florida able to offer early Phase I trials of new investigational agents for cancer patients who have limited treatment options. Holy Cross achieved the highest enrollment in the USA in two Phase I clinical trials for advanced solid tumors. Holy Cross has also been selected as the first site in the USA to open a new Phase I study for hematologic malignancy. In addition, we also offer Phase II and III trials with the intent of trying to find better ways to treat cancer. The Center involves multiple approaches to cancer treatment, including vaccines, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, chemotherapy and clinical trials. We are continually opening new clinical trials at Holy Cross. Therefore, at any given time we may be conducting trials on many different types of cancer including, but not limited to: breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecologic, lymphomas, melanoma and lung cancer. Susan Jones Regulatory Coordinator To join our mailing list for our enewsletter, please send us an email at: Chris.Austin-Valere@holy-cross.com For questions you wished you could ask, simply email your questions to: Chris.Austin-Valere@holy.cross.com Important website or blog site at: http://cancer.holy-cross.com http://holycrosscancercenterblog.com www.cancer.org www.cancercare.org www.clinicaltrials.gov
November 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Lung Awareness Month Pancreatic Awareness 1 2 3 4 6:00-7:00 p.m. General Survivors 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6:00-7:00 p.m. Caregiver 18 7:00-9:00 p.m. Look Good Feel Better 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 22 5:30-7:00 p.m. LLMM Support Group **Great American Smoke Out Thanksgiving 16 17 23 24 8:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. I Can Cope Program 25 6:00-7:00 p.m. Breast Survivor 26 4:00 5:00 p.m. Prostate 27 28 29 30 National Family Caregiver
December 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Safe Toys and Gifts Month World AIDS Day 2 6:00 7:30 pm General Survivors 9 6:00-7:00 p.m. Caregiver 16 Hanukkah ends 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hanukkah begins 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 1:00 3:00 p.m. Children s Holiday Party! 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 No Breast No Prostate Christmas Day Kwanzaa begins No LLMM 30 31 Jan 1 Kwanzaa ends
The Michael and Dianne Bienes Comprehensive Center at Holy Cross Hospital The place where our patients receive a comprehensive range of services provided by our multidisciplinary team of specialists. Our entire staff is prepared to meet challenges with a sincere focus on personal commitment and compassionate care. We provide and array of services including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, medical oncology, pain management, patient and family education, symptom management, psychosocial support, integrative medicines,, weekly patient and family support groups. For an update on new happenings Laughter makes the unbearable bearable Bernie Siegel, M.D. Stay tuned for more happenings around our wonderful cancer center. Please feel free to share the e- newsletter with family, friends, and neighbors. To be added to the e-newsletter email list or have news or pearls of wisdom to share with other cancer survivors, please contact Dr. Christina Austin-Valere at: Chris.Austin-Valere@holy-cross.com.