Newsletter of the Breast Center at SIU
Summer 2010
Simmons Cancer Institute
Opens Doors
I
t’s official! The Breast Center at SIU will start seeing patients in
the new Simmons Cancer Institute, 315 W. Carpenter Street,
July 2010. The staff is extremely excited about the opportunity
to network with other providers and serve patients in the new
clinic space. Patients should be receiving letters about their
future appointments, location, and parking very soon.
A channel 20 reporter interviews Dr. Tom Robbins regarding
the opening of the new building.
Dr. Tom Robbins, director of the Simmons Cancer Institute, assists
nurses Pam and Karen with installing a new piece of screening
equipment into the new building.
Dr. Robert Mocharnuk, SIU medical oncologist, and Cancer
Institute clinic manager Patty Young prepare for the oncology
patients.
Mary Linkul inspects the video tower used for direct laryngoscopy.
Photo credits: M.Meyer, SIU
Patients Benefit from
Digital Mammography
You Don’t Have to be a Mouse
to Participate in Research
D
D
igital mammography has replaced analog film
mammography at both Springfield hospitals. The
digital allows radiologists to process images more quickly
and make diagnoses earlier. The images appear on a
computer screen allowing the radiologists to focus on
suspicious areas and enlarge them on the screen for a
more enhanced view. It provides better images of dense
breast tissue as well.
Memorial Medical Center’s Baylis Building has had
digital mammography since March 2008 and at the Koke
Mill site since June 2008. Radiologist Dr. Lisa Wichterman
cited information from the Digital Mammography Images
Screening Trial (DMIST) study sponsored by the National
Cancer Institute and published in the online New England
Journal of Medicine in September 2005. The study
r. Laura Q. Rogers,
Associate Professor
of Internal Medicine at
SIU, is seeking women
with breast cancer and
breast cancer survivors
to participate in two
research projects she
has underway. One is
focused on the effects
of exercise and breast
cancer and the other is
to see how persons who
are fatigued or don’t
sleep well are affected
when they begin to exercise.
She is specifically looking for individuals who are
not already exercising to participate in the study.
Participants must also be able to speak English and be
between the ages of 18 and 70 with Stage I, II, or IIIA
breast cancer. If you would like to know more about
either of the research projects, please contact Dr. Rogers’
office at 217-545-7750 or contact the research team at
BEATCancer@siumed.edu. All information is confidential
and participation is free.
showed digital mammography to be superior for women
under age 50, women with dense breasts, and women
who are premenopausal or perimenopausal.
The Carol Jo Vecchie Women and Children’s Center at
St. John’s Hospital has provided digital mammography
since October 2007. Dr. Jill Sullivan is very pleased with
this enhancement in breast imaging. She states digital
mammography provides improved image quality to aid
in earlier detection of breast cancer, quicker imaging
acquisition, a more streamlined process in providing
results faster to the patient, and also is a platform for
future anticipated advancements in breast imaging.
Both Drs. Sullivan and Wichterman stressed the use
of digital technology to improve breast cancer detection
especially in women with dense breast tissue.
Wanted: "Just for You"
Boutique Volunteers
T
he American Cancer Society (ACS) has partnered with
the Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI) at SIU to open the
“Just for You Boutique”. The Boutique provides cancer
patients with wigs, bras, and breast prosthesis at no
charge. We are looking for individuals who would like to
become ACS volunteers to help fit patients with wigs.
We are also looking for individuals who would like
further training to help fit breast cancer patients with
bras and breast prosthesis. Hours are flexible. The
Boutique is currently located on the 1st floor Baylis
Medical Building but will be moving to the new SCI
building in early summer. If you, a family member, or
friend would be interested in becoming an ACS volunteer
at SCI, please contact Katherine Howerter, LCSW, at 217545-6122.
Cancer Institute Partners with
Patient Navigator for Optimum Care
Q: What is a patient navigator?
Katherine A. Howerter,
MSW, LCSW
American Cancer Society Navigators are trained to assist
patients with physical, psychological, and social problems that occur throughout
the cancer journey. Navigators provide seamless access
to services and resources for
cancer patients and their
families at any point in the
cancer experience.
Q: Are there education requirements or other
credentials you must have to be a patient navigator?
There are many different kinds of patient navigators.
Some are licensed clinical social workers, registered nurses or lay persons. It depends on the setting of the patient
navigator program and services that are provided. The
Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society Patient
Navigator Program is made up of licensed professionals
for this role.
Q: What is the best way to reach you if someone needs
your help?
For patients and families in the surrounding area, feel
free to contact me at 217-545-6122. To find out if there
is a Patient Navigator Program in your area, please visit
the American Cancer Society’s website at www.cancer.
org, www.illinoiscancerhelp.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345.
Breast Center Presents 31st
Annual Women’s Distance Festival
J
oin breast cancer survivors and their friends and family
for the Springfield Road Runners Club (SRRC) 31st
Annual Women’s Distance Festival 2-mile run, Health
Fair, and Children’s Fun Runs at Washington Park, 1400
Williams Blvd., Springfield, at 8:00 a.m., Saturday, July
10. This popular all female race is being presented by
the Breast Center at SIU, a specialized breast cancer care
clinic of the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU, with some
of the proceeds going towards breast cancer research.
This year’s race covers a 2-mile course starting at the
picnic shelter and winding along Washington Park’s
Q: How does the patient navigator help patients?
Cancer patients often feel overwhelmed physically, emotionally, and financially. The patient navigator is there to
listen, answer questions, and connect you with area resources. Help may include free wigs, hats, and temporary
prostheses, transportation to and from treatments, information about support groups and programs, answers
to insurance questions, information about clinical trials,
help locating financial assistance programs, and services
and resources at the Simmons Cancer Institute.
Q: Is there a fee for your services?
No. All services provided by a patient navigator with the
American Cancer Society are provided free of charge.
Q: Is the patient navigator only for SIU patients?
No. Access to the patient navigator is for anyone touched
by cancer regardless of where they are being treated.
duck ponds, beautiful woods, and historic homes. The
race was started 30 years ago in response to the lack of
distance races for women in the Olympic Games.
“This SRRC points race is often the beginning of a
woman’s fitness journey,” said co-race director Susan
Helm. “This year we’re doing a totally pink theme from
pink dri-release shirts to pink cotton candy to a pink
balloon arch. We are extremely pleased to team with
an important women’s health issue – prevention and
(Continued over)
treatment of breast cancer.” Awards
will be given to the overall winner in the
runner category and top three finishers in
all age categories. The women’s race will
start at 8 a.m. followed by the children’s
fun run and health fair at 8:40 a.m.
For registration information, visit www.
womensdistance.com or www.getmeregistered.com through July 7th or register race day until
7:30 a.m.
The cost is $22 to register online or $25 to register
with a paper application which includes dri-release
women’s fitted shirt. There is a $5 fee per child for the
children’s fun run and the first 200 children who register
will receive a cotton T-shirt. Race results will be posted
on the SRRC website.
For more information, contact Susan Helm at
susan.helm@comcast.net or 217-502-3992, Maria
Ansley at mariaansley@comcast.net or 217-899-9594 or
Melanie Reynolds at grace32003@comcast.net or
217-741-6469.
SIU School of Medicine Recognizes
Breast Center Staff Member
B
reast Center receptionist
Terri Webster always
brings a smile and a positive
attitude to her work, knowing
that many of the patients and
families she faces are going
through tough times. SIU
School of Medicine recently
recognized Terri’s winning
attitude by naming her
Employee of the Month for
March 2010. Her nominator said Terri deserved it “for
enthusiastically supporting the School of Medicine and
its programs and for considerate and courteous attitudes
towards patients, visitors, and fellow employees during
the performance of her duties.” Congratulations, Terri.
www.siumed.edu/cancer
SIU School of Medicine
P.O. Box 19654
Springfield, IL 62794-9654