New Beginnings. Winter Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center Survivorship Program. Volume 1, Issue 3. From Our Executive Director: Happy Holidays!

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1 New Beginnings Volume 1, Issue 3 Winter 2012 Bienes Comprehensive Center hip Program From Our Executive Director: Inside this issue: hip Greeting from Dr. Bradley, 2 News from Research 2 Happy Holidays! It is incredible how fast 2012 has gone. For many of you it marks your first year of survival; for others it marks many years. As some of you know, my dad was treated here for his stage 4 B-Cell Lymphoma as part of a clinical trial and I am pleased to report to you that he just had his 10 year physician check up as part of the trial follow-up and got a perfect bill of health. He is now 84 and counting, and sends his best holiday wishes to all of you whom he met while he was here for his treatments and to those he has yet to meet! Coping with the Holidays Special Upcoming Events 3 3 We have so many things to be thankful for here at the Bienes Center, and we count each of you among those blessings. Please enjoy the holiday season and remember to take care of yourselves first and foremost! From me, my family and all of us here at Holy Cross, our best wishes for a healthy and happy 2013! Important Websites 3 Maureen Mann, MBA, FACHE Eating During the Holidays Calendar of Support s and Pro Ringing from the Radiation Department Editor: Dr. Christina Austin-Valere, LCSW Contributions by staff members at the Bienes Comprehensive Center We hear bells ring during the holiday season all around town. Some jingle on the handles of doors, on the tip of Santa s hats, or on holiday decorations. Children see Santa and get a bell to place around their necks, and throughout the hustle and bustle of shopping centers and malls, the Salvation Army volunteers ring their bell loudly for our donations. But no bell could have more meaning to the patients in Radiation Oncology than the bell rung on their last day of treatment. The Radiation Oncology staff invites the patient to celebrate their accomplishment by ringing the End of Treatment Bell. The Staff recites, Your day has come to strike the bell! Your Silent heart has much to tell, and much to toll this proud new day, Treatment s done, you re on your Way! The Patient then rings the bell which is heard joyfully throughout the department. And the Patient is on their way.pat Bartzokis

2 Greetings from our 2012 Survivor of the Year... Happy Holidays and welcome 2013! This is my third holiday season as a breast cancer thriver, and I am thankful for each year that God gives me! So what does happy mean to me? Happiness is going from two years ago celebrating the season completely couch-bound, to this year dancing at a Christmas party relishing in the joy of not being treated like a cancer patient. The weekend before Christmas I attended a bat mitzvah of a special niece and found happiness in the world of possibilities ahead for this beautiful young woman. The celebration was so grand that it left no room for limitation or negativity. You could see the promise of a bright future in her eyes. Happiness for me is the realization that cancer does not limit my promise or possibility. The whole world is ahead of you and me each day we choose to embrace the gift that surviving another day brings! Dr. Valentina Bradley Dr. Valentina Bradley celebrating life and enjoying the holidays!!! Clinical Trials at Bienes Center During the Holiday season it is time to appreciate the good and accept the bad. Now that 2012 is winding down, we need to reflect on the positive experiences we have shared. The Bienes Research Team is grateful for those that give their time, spirit, and dedication by participating in a clinical trial to further our mission of promoting wellness among cancer survivors. We are grateful to all staff and volunteers that contribute to the welfare of our patients. We have shared laughter and tears together but we never give up. We develop good friendships with patients and their family members. We remember those that have given their life while participating in a clinical trial to help future patients in hopes of a better quality of life. The Research Team wishes all of you Happy Holidays and look forward to what the New Year will bring!...lorraine Hickson Buried within is a key to unlock our quote of the quarter, can you find the key? Happy hunting!

3 Clinical Oncology Social Work section: Coping with the holidays and the New Year can be bitter sweet for people, who are also dealing with major illnesses such as a cancer diagnosis. Holidays can be a very challenging time for us. Why? I think it is because it is sometimes hard for us to think about celebrating when life presents the challenges relating to the harsh reality of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. In addition, the holidays brings a lot of hustle and bustle and many stresses. The challenge then is to find ways to balance one s own stresses related to the cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as the stressors brought on by holidays. In dealing with the holidays, it is important to make realistic goals for getting through it and to begin the new year. I always tell patients about the importance of embracing new traditions, so if you are the person that usually hosted the family gatherings, you may have to rethink the how and where for the upcoming holidays and getting others to help prepare the foods. Family relationship can also be another source of stress so we need to understand our own family dynamics and how to manage those issues. Surround yourself with positive and nurturing people and vibes. Enjoy the holidays, and with God s blessing, I hope to see you all in 2013! Christina Austin-Valere, PhD, LCSW Special Upcoming Event: Look Good Feel Better (ACS): Bienes Comprehensive Center First Floor Conference Center Monday, January 14, :30 9:00 p.m Winter Symposium: Holy Cross Hospital Sister Innocent Conference Center Saturday, January 26, :00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Ring out the old, ring in the new. Ring happy.across the snow Alfred, Lord Tennyson Important website or blog site at: The Michael and Dianne Bienes Comprehensive Center at Holy Cross Hospital Our patients receive a comprehensive range of services provided by a multidisciplinary team of specialists. Our entire staff strives to meet the care needs of our patients and families with a sincere focus on personal commitment and compassionate care. We provide and array of services ranging from physician and staff support, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, patient and family education, survivorship treatment, integrative medicines to needed psychosocial support, including support groups (See our calendar).

4 Dietitian s Corner As Seen By Monica Malinetescu: Nutrition support and intervention remains relevant to all aspects of cancer treatment. Why? It provides the opportunity to help prevent or control comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, heart disease, and may help prevent the formation and growth of more cancer tumors. During the holiday season, it is easy to forget guidelines set by the American Society guidelines for cancer prevention during and after treatment: Consume a healthy diet with emphasis on plant sources. As we look below we tend to think more of the holiday table with all the delectable foods pictured on the right. While nothing is wrong with the setting on the right, it is important for us to 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. The plate on the left is the new way that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has formulated to help us accomplish healthier eating. You can access the plate by visiting Remember to hydrate daily because it is critical to health maintenance. We should have at least 64 ounces of water daily. The plate on the left shows how to balance much needed proteins, which contain essential amino acids for the repair of our cells and creation of new ones, fruits and vegetables, plus grains including carbohydrates. Make sure to include your dairy products as well. I hope that over the holidays and into the new year 2013 you will practice good nutrition for proper body healing and an improved quality of life. Food is as critical to the soul as one s state of mind. To your health and well-being! Happy Holidays! To join our list, to receive the e-newsletter or for questions you wished you could ask, simply your request or questions to: Chris.Austin-Valere@holy-cross.com

5 January 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat General Caregivers Support 2:30 3:30 p.m. Bereavement :00-9:00 p.m. Look Good Feel Better Program 4:00-5:00 p.m. Prostate 5:30-7:00 p.m. LLMM (Blood) 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m Winter Symposium Breast 2:30 3:30 p.m. Bereavement

6 February 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat General Caregivers 2:30 3:30 p.m. Bereavement Support 7:00-9:00 p.m. Look Good Feel Better Program (ACS) Breast 2:30 3:30 p.m. Bereavement Support 26 4:00-5:00 p.m. Prostate Support :30-7:00 p.m. LLMM (Blood)