All posts tagged: Cancer Support

Cancer Support Now

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Go to the Cancer Support Now website and check the Spring Conference and a wonderful local cancer support organization right here in ABQ.                      http://cancersupportnow.org/  Announcing  Fourth  Annual Long Term Effects of Cancer Survivorship Conference March 28, 2015   8:30 am to 4:30 pm at Central United Methodist Church   in Albuquerque The Conference includes 4 breakout sessions  held twice, morning & afternoon 1. Fatigue/Sleep Issues 2. Lymphedema 3. Creative Movement/Visual Art an interactive, experiential session 4. End of Life Planning and Support Keynote sessions: The Morning  keynote speaker is  Michael N. Linver, MD, FACR. Dr. Linver is a busy lecturer on mammography, having presented over 900 talks throughout the United States and in over 20 countries around the world. The Lunch keynote session is a panel of experts on rehabilitation topics of concern to post-treatment survivors and their caregivers. Location: Central United Methodist Church, 201 University Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 1 block north of Central For more information call 505.307.3414 ore-mail ptorn@comcast.net Registration is required & opens mid-February  

The Infusion Room

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For the last two days I have taken a friend for her chemotherapy at Presbyterian Kaseman Cancer Center.  This is the fifth month of a six month round of therapy. My friend is resilient, independent and self-sufficient.  She has no choice.  She has no one at home to care for her. Her cancer is stage four. We check in and go into the center. There is no wait. One of her favorite nurses comes to get her. He brings her into a two recliner room  and inserts her IV catheter. Blood is drawn for the labs. Expertly done. Next is the weigh in and the doctor’s visit. We have the same doctor. Pleasant man. Today he takes all the time she needs and helps her solve the at home nausea problem and he reviews the labs taken 10 minutes ago. On to the infusion room. It is a squarish room.  Large windows, mountain view.  Lining the walls are recliners each having an IV pole on a stand with a controller. The nurse for the day …

Bring out the best you through exercise workshop

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Recovering from cancer,  Addressing  the issues Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital  >>open to all cancer patients>>Wednesdays 1-3>>                        call  505-559-8761 to join group or come to an individual class. FREE and Supportive +++good for any level of ability 10-1-14                                                                                                                                          Lymphedema discussion                                                                                                                      …

Cancer story 2

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  Ageless, petite, dressed in her usual ankle length tights and colorful full shirt.  Sitting next to me.  Waiting for our turn to get zapped in the radiation room. She said when her mother died of cancer, she didn’t know how to help.  Now she knows how to help. She volunteers her hair dressing services to hospice. Very helpful and very satisfying. She is worried.  Her cancer is progressing.  Who will take care of her hospice patients when she is gone? I said, “Then, you need to get better so you can continue to take care of them.”  

After cancer treatment what next?

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Surviving Cancer is a tough trip.   After the treatment is done,  before the next tests,  there will always be the worry that the cancer will come back.  There will be the worry that a new one will soon reveal its ugly form.  After all, the body betrayed itself once. Then,  after all the dust has settled and friends and family have disappeared back into their own lives,  the long term effects of treatment settle into roost.  Fatigue.  Fatigue and more fatigue.  So common.  So very hard to deal with.  Chemo brain. Peripheral neuropathy.  Feeling fragile.  Being fragile.  Reality.  Then there is the huge financial upheavals. Maybe a visit to the Caring Hearts Support Group at Kaseman in Albuquerque is in order. This group embodies what human spirit is all about.  A  group sharing a common experience, meeting for a late lunch, a presentation by a medical oncology specialist, time for talking. People who understand your issues and are willing to help.  Be brave come for a visit. Caring Hearts Support Group meets in six …

Cancer Club thoughts-helping

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Cancer victims have concrete problems.  Cancer makes a person face his mortality.  Suddenly life is no longer taken for granted.  Survival becomes an issue.  Add to that the  scary thought of the big C spreading throughout the body.  There is a feeling of loss of control. Unnerving!  Life becomes uncertain forever. Still, many cancer worries are  about everyday issues. Am I going to be able to function independently during treatment?  Where do I turn for help? How do I get to the pharmacy for prescriptions?  How to I make meals when I feel so sick?  What if I become very sick during the night, will I die alone?  How will I pay for my treatment?  Are my friends avoiding me because I have cancer? Cancer can be fatal. Some cancers can be cured. Cancer can also be a chronic condition. There are many cancers that cannot be cured but can be managed. These cancers require careful monitoring and intermittent treatment.  Cancer can recur. It can recur any time after treatment. It can recur after years of …

Cancer Club Thoughts for the day: MOJO

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I am working a plan to get my mojo back. Still recovering from two radiation treatments with more treatments on the horizon, I’m still a woman of little energy. The Health Plex associated with Presbyterian Hospital Systems here in ABQ offers a 10 week cancer rehabilitation program called Thrive. I decided that it was just what I needed. On my last visit to my endocrinologist, I did persuade her to sign off on the program. I paid my $90 and submitted my paperwork. Fairly quickly I had an appointment with an exercise specialist for an evaluation.  Vitals, O2 sat, balance, body fat, weight(ugh!) and all those important numbers to see where my fitness level stood. The next day I was started on a plan with several exercise machines. The routine is to check in and have my blood pressure, O2 sat and well being checked. On Tuesday and Thursday I work the machines supervised. Pulse rate is checked between machines. BP and sat are checked  when I am done. Monday I go to a special …

Cancer support now

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Cancer Support Now Inc.                                                                                                                              “We are a community of survivors reaching out, supporting, informing and advocating for survivors, their loved ones and caregivers.” One resource for addressing life after cancer in a community of people who have been there. PO Box 37338   Albuquerque, NM 87176 http://www.cancersupportnow.org info@cancersupportnow.org Helpline:   505-255-0405    855-955-3500  Offers immediate support Matches you with one on one trained volunteers Refers you to support groups  A few support groups The Women’s North Valley Cancer Support Now Group. This support group has been active for years. Meets every other Thursday night 6:30 to 8:30pm in the North Valley for caregivers and those with a diagnosis of cancer. Call Cancer Support Now, Inc for location 255-0405 Survivors Writing Together Writing support group every Monday 3 to 4:30pm at UNM Cancer Center. Call 255-0405 Fourth Saturday Cancer Support Now Survivors Group For those with a diagnosis of cancer, men and women, meets the 4th Saturday of each month from 10:30 to noon. At Adelante on  Osuna west of Jefferson. Young breast cancer survivor facilitator available to …