You walk in the door at your treatment center and proceed to whatever ever area you are supposed to go. Everyone is greeting you and smiling and asking you about your kids, your dog, how you feel today. You weigh in and get your vital signs taken and then proceed to another area to wait where there are beverages available and snacks and magazines and tv. You look around at those around you and wonder... are they new here, did they just finish treatment and are here for a check up and are they back because of new issues? It is an awkward time as you just don't know what to say and some people have put a wall up around them although it isn't visible, you can feel it is there. Some couples hold hands, others don't even look at each other. Some of the groups are quite large and you look to figure out who is the patient and what are the rest of the people there to that person? We recently had someone complete their treatment and as they walked out to the main lobby area, there was a whole group of family(I presume) and each one had a Superman shirt on and balloons and smiles all the way around. Sometimes you can see the anguish on a person's face and wonder, what can I say to help? Sometimes it is enough to hold a hand or just sit close and listen. My tears welled up today when I learned of a patient that has been with us a long time and is fading fast and Hospice became part of the conversation. It is difficult for all of us patient, family, and caregiver and healthcare professionals because they are family. We have been with you through the ups and downs, we have laughed and cried with you and we have prayed for you as well. No one likes to see the last day the patient will come to the facility and the goodbyes are so extremely difficult and you wonder if you will give them comfort and love you have for them and put into words and touch. I hope that I can always help you in journey wherever it may lead but know, no matter where you go or what you do, you have left a lasting impression in my heart. You don't ever have to wonder about that. Make it a great day! S
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Now I am sure that is not the first time you heard that diet may be associated with risk of cancer. When we look at our food habits and what types of food are available and how it is prepared and what our food choices are, it all comes into a clearer picture. I am one that is far from perfect on this scene but I do recognize that staying away from fried food is important, limit red meat, incorporate fish in your diet, stay away from processed foods as much as you can, fresh is best, and the proportion of what you eat and what types of product you are consuming is vital. This brings to the forefront the Mediterranean Diet and I can hear you now, asking what is that? Well in a nut shell, Fruits, cooked vegetables and legumes which includes beans and peas, nuts, Olive oil as a primary source of dietary fat, moderate intake of wine( although we see that the guidelines on that reduces the amount of wine and frequency particularly in breast patients) Meals with fish dairy and eggs and low consumption of meat and sweets.
If you are questioning processed foods, think about those things in a box in general, there is more to it than that but it gives you a good start and remember fresh is best and frozen to follow. These little hints are just a small source of information to get you on your way. We are not sure if particular diets and halt the recurrence of cancer but there is a the thought that changing your dietary pattern and following the Mediterranean diet brings more lycopene such as tomatoes, and antioxidants in vegetables have helped curb cancer in various studies. So bottom line, I think we can all improve our diets and if improving our diet, improves our health, there is no down side. As always talk to your doctor and it may be valuable to get a nutrition consult and get on your way to a more beneficial outcome from you diet. As always, make it a great day! S I am happy to provide you with information on an exciting workshop being offered at Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute on November 15th starting at 8:30 am. Cost is $18 per couple or $10 for a single and that includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Highlights include: Diagnosis: it's cancer... now what?, Treatment effects on the individual, Treatment effects on the partnership, Post treatment/ Recovery, and Survivorship. Presenters include Zulfiqar Hussain, MD Medical Oncologist/ Hematologist, Kathy Berkey, PH.D. Licensed Psychologist, and Dana Kirkpatrick, MS, NCC, LPC AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, and myself as facilitator.
We are hoping for a great turnout and would appreciate pre-registration to 814-373-2335 ( as I want enough food for all you lovely people. This program should could conclude early afternoon. We certainly hope you will join us and meet us at : Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute, 16792 Conneaut Lake Road Meadville, PA 16335 Any questions, feel free to contact me at: 814-373-3381 and hope to see you in November! Make it a better day! Well it is that time of year again, the leaves are coming into full color, it is getting dark earlier and I am getting up in the dark to head to work. It is also the time when you see PINK coming out everywhere. For some, it is recognition and awareness, for others it is a reminder of their own struggles. This is breast cancer awareness month and if you have followed me for long, you will understand that I am all for awareness but the pink does not exclude all the other cancers out there. As long as it brings awareness to the need of eradicating this disease, I am all for whatever method (within reason) that it takes barring that it is a merchandising technique to boost sales and no funds going to needed providers or research or cancer care. There are still those out there that aren't doing self breast exams, or getting mammograms, or seeing their health care professional when they have a lump. This goes for men and women. It also hits squarely to the family tie in that may be there but in all reality that is only between 10-15 % of the populace. Age has no regard in relationship to getting cancer and I have seen young and I have seen those that are in the later stages of their life. I have seen smokers and non-smokers, I have seen obese and even thin people as well as tall, short, average that have had or are dealing with cancer. I have see vegetarians, and those whose diet we would cringe at. There are some factors that we can change and we look at eating right, not smoking, exercise, reducing stress, limiting alcohol intake and more. There are some factors we can't change: Age,family history, race, dense breast tissue. So what do we do from here at this point and time since we are looking at cancer as a chronic disease? We help those that are facing the issues, we provide support in whatever is needed, we continue to pursue the hopes for a cure and we become education and make informed choices for our life and our monies and we remain grateful for how far we have come. Pink is only a color, I look at the person and those faces affected by cancer. If I need to buy and Item, it doesn't make me buy it because it is or isn't pink. I buy it because I need it but I do look for those that are supporting other organizations that are pursuing answers. So, bottom line, don't let pink turn you off, turn it into a positive and as always, MAKE IT A GREAT DAY! S
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AuthorMy name is Sue Kilburn and I am a clinical nurse breast cancer educator at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Archives
March 2015
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