Year ago, I recall meeting a stranger at a grocery store in Columbia. I told her how much I liked her stylish haircut (having just moved to the area and recently finished my treatments, I wanted to do something stylish with my hair as I was pleased once again that I had hair). In talking to this woman I learned that she was a five-year breast cancer survivor, and she cut and styled her own hair — something that I was not about to do! After sharing this with me, she added, “You know I had not thought about my cancer in a long time.” You may ask why I’m describing this encounter? Simply put, barring any setbacks we will be like the survivor I encountered and the fear of recurrence will no longer take center stage.

As we complete our cancer treatment, we are usually filled with a sense of relief. However, it is at this time that we may begin to feel anxious and have fears that the cancer may return. These feelings are quite normal during the first years after completing treatment. One of the keys to coping with this fear is to be aware that we are not in control of whether the cancer returns or not, but we can control how we let fear impact our daily life.

Here are some suggestions from cancer.net for coping with fear of recurrence:

• Accept that you will experience this fear and that you are not alone.
• Find a way to manage the anxiety created by the fear.
• Know that the fears lessen as time passes.
• Try not to worry alone — talk to someone, join a group, or write down your thoughts in a diary or journal. Give worry time limits for example only 10 minutes a day.
• Talk to your doctor about regular follow-up care; find out more about cancer treatment plans and summaries (previously discussed in a blog) and remember to think of yourself and your doctor as partners in charge of your care.
• Be a well informed patient and become familiar with the fact that most cancers have a predictable pattern of recurrence.
• Focus on becoming healthier: eat healthy, exercise, and get enough sleep.
• Reduce stress by enjoying time with family and friends; walking; laughing; reading a funny book or watching a wacky movie; finding humor in as many situations as possible; joining a support group; and getting rid of clutter in your life

Is this easy? No, but it is worth a try!

Just a quick reminder: Shelby’s Group meets again this Thursday, October 20, 2011, at the McLeod Resource Center at 6:00 p.m. Please consider joining us for a night of sharing with others.

Enjoy,

Raquel

During the past year, our members have bonded as they have shared their fears, frustrations, humor, resiliency, laughter, and support for one another as well as encouraging those new members who joined us.

We were also honored to receive interesting educational presentations by our phenomenal and talented McLeod staff. We thank again each and every one of them for taking the time to share their knowledge with us. These presenters included Ashley Atkinson, Senior Lymphedema Therapist; McLeod Oncologist Rajesh Bajaj; Radiologist Dr. Bruce White; McLeod Radiation Oncologist Dr. Rhett Spencer; Pathologist Dr. Sharon Mitchell; and McLeod Chaplain Rev. Stuart Harrell. In addition, we want to thank Denise Richbourg for sharing the American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better program with us.

I also personally want to thank each group member for their commitment to making Shelby’s Group a reality and for being available for those breast cancer survivors (whether beginning their journey, being treated, or having finished treatment) in their time of need and support.

We meet again this Thursday, September 15, 2011, at the McLeod Resource Center at 6:00 p.m. Please consider joining us for a night of sharing.

To life,

Raquel

Wikipedia defines a cancer survivor as “an individual with cancer of any type, current or past, who still lives.” The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship believes a person diagnosed with cancer is a survivor from the time of diagnosis and for the balance of their life.

Some people reject the term survivor as being “a narrow definition of highly variable human experiences.” Yet others believe that the “idea of survivorship emphasizes and values longevity of life after diagnosis, while overlooking issues of quality of life.” Alternatives to the word survivor include “alivers” and “thrivers” which place emphasis on living as well as you possibly can despite limitations and disability.

We know that those of us who have experienced cancer often will have physical and psychosocial challenges. “These effects vary from person to person and statistics show that cancer survivors suffer from more psychological distress than those who have never experienced cancer (5.6% compared to 3.0%). Serious psychological distress is seen 40% more in cancer survivors of 5 years or longer than in those who have never experienced cancer. In addition, around 10% of cancer survivors develop depressive disorder, others experience an adjustment disorder, and many are fearful that their cancer could recur (9 in 10 patients).”

The medical challenges experienced by survivors can include among others: cancer- related fatigue, long-term side effects from cancer and treatments, and temporary or persistent cognitive problems (chemo brain). In a nutshell, cancer survivors frequently need medical monitoring and complementary modalities to address the psychosocial effects of cancer.

I also reviewed the definition of the word survive in the Merrian Webster Dictionary and one definition caught my eye. This definition comes from Latin and the word is supervivere = the word super and the word vivere which means to live. As survivors, we often reflect on our cancer journey by evaluating our priorities, looking within for our strengths and ways to cope, dwelling on cancer and how it has changed our lives, and assessing our fears and finding how best to manage those. We now reflect on what really matters in our lives and how we should move forward. And, we review passions we may have had in the past and make those a priority and goal. We also take a hard look at our lives as we get a second chance to live.

For me, survivorship is about living and making a difference. It is about living in spite of the fears and the aches and pain. It is about taking the time to enjoy life fully and enjoying every opportunity to celebrate life. I invite you to share a comment on what it means for you to be a survivor.

I hope you all plan to attend the 19th Annual McLeod Cancer Survivor’s Day Celebration this Saturday! The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the McLeod Medical Plaza Conference Center. All cancer survivors in the region are welcome to attend whether you are newly diagnosed or you have been a survivor for 20 plus years.

In addition, our breast cancer support group, Shelby’s Group, meets this Thursday, June 16, at 6:00 p.m. at the McLeod Resource Center. Our guest will be Stuart Harrell, Assistant Director of McLeod Pastoral Care, as we explore Spirituality and Healing. Come join us!

Raquel

“THE LATEST CANCER TREATMENTS AREN’T  ALWAYS PRESCRIBED BY YOUR DOCTOR”
Isn’t that the truth! Have you noticed how your skin has changed during and after treatment, how your hair has fallen out, thinned out, changed, how your nails have also taken a dive, perhaps your self image has even plummeted with all the changes that are occurring in your look and body?

Well now that summer is approaching and spring has brought a sense of
renewal this is the best time for a detour to pamper ourselves and have some fun.

That is the agenda for Thursday May 19, 2011 as we host a Look Good…Feel Better Self Image Workshop with make up, and new ways to take care of our skin and hair.  We will definitely feel pampered at this end of this session.

Come join us and get ready to have some fun.  Remember most of us used to
play dress up so why not now!!!

Raquel and Rena

The After Cancer Treatment Care Plan attempts to improve/enhance the care a cancer patient receives once active treatment has ended. During treatment, patients are receiving constant care from their health care team. However, after treatment ends, many patients feel like they are in limbo not knowing what to expect next in their follow up care. A Care Plan that addresses post-treatment cancer survivor care “can improve quality of life for the cancer patient.”

You may ask what is a Care Plan? A Care Plan begins with an end of treatment summary, date of diagnosis, type of cancer, stage of cancer, and what your treatment included. The following list includes some things you can do to empower yourself and become an active member of your care team:

• Ask your doctor for an end of treatment summary.
• Ask questions about potential long-term health conditions that can develop throughout your life both in the short-term and long-term.
• What treatment consisted of and the names of your chemotherapies or any therapeutic agents you received.
• What the health risks associated with those treatments could pose to you in the future.
• Symptoms that could potentially indicate recurrence.
• Information regarding how often you might need health screenings and check-ups.
• A personal wellness plan that includes ways to care for your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
• A list of support resources.

To answer the question as to whether you should include the subject of pain in your Care Plan the answer is yes as this would fall under information on both short and long-term effects of cancer. It is also important that as part of your follow up care with your physician you should make him aware of any symptoms that are bothersome or new, including pain. For additional information or to look at samples of After Cancer Treatment Care Plans, you may contact me at rserrano@mcleodhealth.org or call 843-777-5695.

By the way, the next meeting of Shelby’s Group is Thursday, April 21, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. at the McLeod Resource Room, 927 E. Day Street. Please consider joining us and remember new members are always welcome!

Thanks,

Raquel

It is fascinating for all of us as we learn breathing exercises and actually begin to experience a calmness as we stretch and feel our bodies relax. And, at the end of our group session, everyone seems to feel at peace with their bodies. Thank you Teresa for sharing of yourself as you teach us yoga. Everyone in the group is very grateful. We will also never forget the Lion’s Breath as it has brought laughter to all of us.

Yoga for members of Shelby’s Group meets the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Thursday of each month at McLeod Medical Park West. Please call Rena Hondros at 843-615-3593 or myself at 843-777-5695 for additional information.

The next meeting of Shelby’s Group will be this Thursday, March 17, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. at the McLeod Resource Room, 927 E. Day Street. We will have a great program as our guest speaker will be Dr. Bruce W. White who is a Radiologist with the McLeod Radiology Department. The subject of his presentation will be Mammograms as a Screening Tool: All You Wanted to Know, Ask, and See.

We look forward to seeing you this Thursday. Please consider joining us and remember new members are always welcome!

Raquel

Or maybe you have just finished treatment and you are experiencing an increase in emotions about what you may have just gone through or you are fearful of a re-occurrence.

For others of you, time may have passed and you are beginning to ask “Now What?” as you move forward with your life. You are not as preoccupied with thoughts about your cancer but you are beginning to focus on what you want to do next, what you want to accomplish or change in your life.

During these stages in a person’s cancer journey, you can sometimes become impatient expecting the body to respond the same way it did prior to treatments. You may also have been the type of person that plowed through aches and pains or exhaustion without taking the time to recharge your “batteries,” in other words it was difficult to give yourself permission to allow your body to recover without feeling guilty. However, after treatment ends, you need to give yourself permission to allow your body to heal physically and emotionally.

Many of our group members are currently engaged in the process of self care focusing on educating themselves about cancer, nutrition, supporting each other, etc. To enhance this stage of your journey, we are pleased to announce that group members will soon receive an opportunity to participate in Yoga to learn breathing/relaxation techniques. Teresa Dullaghan, a Yoga Instructor with McLeod Health & Fitness Center, has agreed to teach Yoga to our group members on a weekly basis for five-week increments beginning in March. This is exciting and we appreciate Teresa’s interest in supporting the group’s healing journey.

Our next group meeting will take place on February 17, 2011, at the McLeod Resource Center from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Contact Rena Hondros at RHondros@twcbc.com or 843-615-3593 or myself, rserrano@mcleodhealth.org or 843-777-5695 if you would like to join us.  We would love to have you participate in Shelby’s Group!

Raquel

Recently as you know, I attended a Survivorship Conference for Cancer Clinicians sponsored by Harvard University Medical School at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The focus or theme of the conference was Living Well Beyond Cancer, which is certainly a goal this group with each other’s support can accomplish, whether you have just been diagnosed, are in treatment, just finished treatment, or are a long term survivor. We can all learn to “Live Well Beyond Cancer” or as Tracy Fitzpatrick, a coach and cancer survivor, describes as becoming a “thriver.”  As a group we have embraced this concept and in a sense are focusing on a survivorship model to improve both our physical and emotional health. 

So as we learn to “Live Well Beyond Cancer,” the New Year brings us Teresa Dullaghan, a yoga instructor, who has graciously and excitedly offered to meet with our group on an ongoing basis to provide yoga techniques that will enhance our well being.  As all of you know, research shows that yoga can help cancer patients improve: feelings of fatigue, anxiety related to the cancer experience, and your overall health. Teresa will be joining us at our January meeting, which will take place at the McLeod Resource Room on January 20, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. 

Do join us as we look forward to an invigorating 2011!

Raquel

Raquel Serrano, LMSW, ACSW, McLeod Cancer Social Worker

The next meeting of Shelby’s Group, a breast cancer support group, will take place at a group member’s home on Thursday, December 16. During this meeting, we will be treated to a vegan sampling of dishes as each of us look for ways to expand our nutrition knowledge and take care of our bodies.

We hope you will join us if you are currently coping with breast cancer. Please contact either Rena Hondros by email at rhondros@sc.twcbc.com or myself, Raquel Serrano, at rserrano@mcleodhealth.org if you plan to attend for directions, etc.

Who is Shelby and why are we offering a breast cancer support group?
A local woman in our region, Shelby was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She was in the midst of undergoing chemotherapy, and she began feeling isolated and in need of the opportunity to talk and share with other women about their journey through cancer. Shelby reached out to both Rena and I in an effort to enlist our assistance in getting the group together. Because of Shelby’s passion, the group became a reality and now we have a wonderful group of smart, funny, knowledgeable women who are at different stages of their survivorship journey and who share not only their struggles but also their love of life, their support for each other, and their humor.

Every other month the group offers a topic of interest chosen by group
members; we will alternate these topics with meetings designed to share and
continue to get to know each other.

So, why a support group? When you hear the “C” word not only are you in
shock, but you feel like your world has been thrown off kilter. You are
left speechless and feeling as though life has changed forever for you and
your loved ones. Patients often feel isolated and scared of this little
companion which they did not invite into their lives. The emotions of a
cancer patient make a roller coaster seem tame. And, as the cancer has you
going into unfamiliar territory that has fear and uncertainty as its hallmark, you may come face to face with your mortality and feelings of loneliness can become more pronounced.

Perhaps you just finished your treatment or you are continuing some form of therapy. At this time, it may feel as if you are emerging from this dark
tunnel into sunshine and you are elated.  You feel like celebrating…but wait a minute how long did that feeling last before you suddenly became aware that you were beginning another aspect of your cancer journey? That of facing your grief, confusion, exhaustion, anger, and fear among the many feelings you have relegated to the back burner as you were busy focusing on the treatment aspect of cancer. Yes, you are grateful and elated to have finished treatment, however you now experience physical as well as emotional pain, you grieve for the person you were, you are fatigued, you are confused… then guess what? You want your life back but you are at a new place in time and you have to move forward with the “new” you.  These issues and many others make the beauty of a support group a tool for addressing survivorship challenges. In addition, the group can serve as a safe, healing place for participants.

As a clinically trained (mental health) licensed social worker and a breast
cancer survivor myself working in Oncology, I am privileged to be part of
this support group. Please consider joining us on this journey. I will provide updates on the group through this blog.

Thanks,
Raquel

Dr. Rajesh Bajaj, Medical Director of the McLeod Cancer Center, will be the featured speaker during the November meeting.

Shelby’s Group meets the third Thursday of each month offering information, support, and understanding to women coping with breast cancer.

For more information, please contact the group facilitators: Raquel Serrano, McLeod Cancer Social Worker at 777-5695 or Rena Hondros, a Breast Prosthesis Consultant at 615-3593.