Issue 2, October 2011
3rd Annual Scrap-Out Cancer Event:
A Scrapbooking event to raise
awareness of women’s health.
The James Beck Cancer Center at Ministry Saint Mary’s Hospital will
host the 3rd Annual Scrap-Out Cancer Event; a scrapbooking event to
raise awareness of maintaining women’s health. The event will be held
on Friday, October 21st from 5 – 9 p.m. at Ministry Saint Mary’s
Hospital galleria/cafeteria area located on the first floor at 2251 North
Shore Drive in Rhinelander. Use the main entrance to the hospital.
Join staff from the James Beck Cancer Center and Ministry Medical
Group Woman’s Health provider, Judy Pagano, MD, for this FREE funfilled evening of scrapbooking, card making, and education.
Bring your own projects, tools, and papers to work on. Scrapbooking
tips and techniques, as well as women’s health educational information
will be shared with participants.
Goody bags, door prizes, raffles, beverages, sandwiches, and snacks
will be provided.
Registration is preferred by calling 888.735.7189.
Content
3rd Annual Scrap-Out Cancer
Event is Announced……….1
Satisfaction Award…………1
Important cancer
information: Which
treatment should I choose
for prostate
cancer?...................……….2
Managing the stress of
cancer during the
holidays….………………….3
Re-cap of the Annual
Celebration of Life Event....3
Did you know?....................3
Support Information….….…4
Events……………………....4
.
Satisfaction Award
Ministry Saint Mary’s Hospital’s James Beck Cancer Center
Department of Radiation Oncology recently received the
award for outstanding Patient Satisfaction by earning an
exceptional national ranking of 10% in the nation for patient
satisfaction excellence.
This award demonstrates the
department’s focus and commitment to their patients by
keeping their patients first in everything they do, throughout
the entire cancer journey.
“Each day comes bearing its
own gifts. Untie the
ribbons.”
--Ruth Ann Schabacker
Issue 2, October 2011
Important
Cancer Information
Which treatment
should I choose for
prostate cancer?
Julie Zilisch, RN OCN
As a nurse in the field of Radiation Oncology for 20 years, a
frequently asked question is “Which treatment should I choose for
my prostate cancer?” With the selection of multiple treatment
options, it is not an easy decision. It is common for a newly
diagnosed man to read articles on the internet, talk to friends and
family, and meet with many doctors. With many differing
opinions, it is difficult to know the correct decision. The following
information will explain some of the treatment options and how
they can be narrowed.
through Friday for about 42 treatments. This can be used for
all stages of localized cancer. Common side effects are urinary
frequency, burning with urination, urgency, or a change in their
bowel movements. Symptoms usually go away with time. In
general, patients who have external beam radiation can not
have a radical prostatectomy later.
Radiation Seed Implants (Brachytherapy):
This is a
procedure where radioactive seeds are placed inside the
prostate. This is done in the operating room under general
anesthesia, usually as an outpatient procedure. It has the
same potential side effects as external beam radiation. Some
patients may not qualify for this procedure if they have a PSA
over 10 or high Gleason score, have high surgical risks, or men
with large prostates.
Active Surveillance (Watchful Waiting): This is used for early
stage or slow growing cancer, or if the risk of treatment is greater
than the benefits. The cancer is monitored closely by a blood lab
test to detect PSA levels and digital rectal exams. Treatment
would begin only when the tumor shows signs of being more
aggressive, when the PSA goes up, or nodules develop on the
prostate. This approach is usually taken by older men and those
with other life threatening medical problems.
Hormone Therapy: This is called hormone therapy, however
it is an anti-hormone treatment. Testosterone (the male sex
hormone) can accelerate prostate cancer so hormone therapy
is used to reduce the testosterone levels. It can also be used
to treat a prostate that continues to grow after surgery and
radiation therapy, or when cancer is widespread at the time of
diagnosis. Hormone therapy can be used prior to external
beam radiation or seed implants to shrink the prostate.
Therapy is usually given as a shot every 4 months, with the
most common side effects being “hot flashes” and impotence.
Surgery: This is used to try to remove the cancer before it
spreads outside the prostate. Patients have either a Radical
(open) Prostatectomy or a Robotic (Laparoscopic)
Prostatectomy.
Radical Prostatectomy is the removal of the prostate
gland, seminal vesicles, and sometimes the lymph nodes in the
pelvic area. Nerve sparing surgery can sometimes be done which
helps to preserve sexual function. Patients often have problems
with urinary incontinence and need to have a Foley catheter in
place for several weeks after surgery.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is used in patients that have
advanced prostate cancer that is no longer responsive to
hormone therapy.
Robotic Prostatectomy is a less invasive, newer
procedure with a shorter recovery time. The patient has less
bleeding and pain, but impotence and urinary incontinence may
occur. Patients with multiple medical problems may not be good
candidates for this procedure. If your cancer is of high grade or
known to be metastatic, this may not be an option. If all the
cancer is not removed some patients may also need to have
external beam radiation.
Talk to your Urologist and Radiation Oncologist to better
understand your options. If you are still uncertain, speak to
your primary care provider.
Cryosurgery: This procedure freezes the tissue with liquid
nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide. It is also called Cryotherapy or
Cryoablation. A metal probe is inserted through a small incision in
the area between the scrotum and rectum. This can be used for
early stage cancer and men who can not have Radical
Prostatectomy’s.
External Beam Radiation: This is sometimes called X-Ray
therapy. It uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and
stop them from spreading. Usually patients come Monday
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Issue 2, October 2011
Managing the stress of
cancer during the holidays
When you have cancer, treatment can leave you exhausted and
stressed. The holiday season can sometimes leave you feeling
“out of step” from the rest of the world. Managing the rush of the
holidays and taking care of yourself at the same time can seem
impossible. Here are some tips for helping you enjoy the
holidays:



Set Limits – This can be difficult at any time, but it is
especially important when you are not feeling like your
normal self. It is OK to change your usual holiday
activities in order to make the most of your energy. Do
take time to be together with friends and family, but find
the right balance of celebrating with others and spending
the time you need on your own. If phone calls and
visitors are overwhelming you, ask a family member or
friend to help you by screening phone calls and limiting
visitors.
Enlist help – Cooking, shopping and decorating can
become overwhelming. If you usually host the holiday
meal, have each family member bring a dish to pass,
order food from a restaurant or ask someone else to host
the dinner this year.
Holiday decorating can be
exhausting! Letting others help is a good way to save
energy and still enjoy some holiday traditions. Think
about sharing your thoughts and feelings as a gift to
others instead of giving expensive presents. Writing a
short note or making a phone call to let others know you
are thinking about them is an expression of love that no
material gift can convey.
Acknowledge your feelings – During the holidays it is
normal to have a range of emotions, especially if you are
experiencing difficult family circumstances. Be kind to
yourself and accept your feelings. Find someone to talk
to for support and comfort – family, friend or a
professional if it’s hard to talk to those you are closest to.
Communicating your feelings can help you feel less
alone and more connected over the holidays.
Did you know?
The James Beck Cancer Center at Ministry Saint
Mary’s Hospital has a wig room. Funded by donations,
this program offers wigs, turbans, and scarves at no
cost. To set up an appointment, call Julie Zilisch at
715.361.2143.
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4th Annual
Celebration of Life
Event Review
The 4th Annual Celebration of
Life…Together we Soar took place on
August 14, 2011 at Ministry Saint
Mary’s Hospital. Community members,
cancer survivors, and caregivers
attended. The annual celebration
honors cancer survivors for their
strength and courage; recognizes the
contributions of their families, friends,
and healthcare providers; promotes
awareness that knowledge, hope and
inspiration can help beat cancer; and
emphasizes that cancer survivors can
live active, productive lives even though
they still face many challenges.
The keynote speaker was Nina Miller,
Director of Breast Cancer Recovery, a
non-profit
and
Madison-based
organization whose mission is to
provide environments for women breast
cancer survivors to heal emotionally.
The
celebration
included
the
presentation of $4,600.00 in donations
from three area organizations. The
donors included Lisa and Erik
Wierschke, Rhinelander Cross County
Bar
and
Grill;
Julie
Bronson,
Rhinelander Country Club Woman’s
League; and Northwood Golf Woman’s
League. The donated dollars go toward
patient wigs, turbans, and hats as well
as assist in the funding of future
Celebration of Life events.
The celebration concluded with a
butterfly release, and a blessing of the
extended
commemorative
brick
pathway and new picnic table.
Issue 2, October 2011
Support Information
Monthly Cancer Support Group: This support group for people facing cancer meets on the second Thursday of
each month for one hour at 10 am at Ministry’s James Beck Cancer Center. For more information call 715.361.2027.
Look Good Feel Better Class: For some people, one of the most traumatic consequences of certain cancer
treatments is the loss of hair or change in appearance. Through this program created by the American Cancer
Society, patients are taught how to restore their appearance and self-image while going through chemotherapy and
radiation treatments. The program is a non-medical, product neutral program. Registered cosmetologist volunteers
who have received special training for this program will conduct the workshop. The class is free of charge, and is a
one time 1-2 hour workshop. You will receive a bag of brand name cosmetics to take home. If interested, call Julie
Zilisch 715.361.2143 for more information on the next session.
Tomahawk Area Interfaith Volunteers, Inc.: This group of volunteers from the Tomahawk community helps to fill
the gaps where extra help is needed so that senior citizens, disabled persons of any age, and others living alone may
continue to remain living in their own homes as long as possible with dignity and respect. The volunteers provide
friendly visits, telephone reassurance, light housekeeping, respite for caregivers, minor home repairs, light yard work,
transportation, shopping and errands, social outings and assistance with paperwork. For more information call
715.453.4242.
Events
James Beck Cancer Center: Scrap-Out Cancer. Friday October 21, 2011. 5-9pm in the galleria/cafeteria
area of Ministry Saint Mary’s Hospital. See page one of this newsletter for more details.
Community Health Screening Event: Saturday October 22, 2011 8-11:30am. Sponsored by Ministry Health
Care and the Sacred Heart Hospital Foundation. Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital/Ministry Medical Group
Clinic. 401 W. Mohawk Drive, Tomahawk. FREE Screenings available: Diabetes Screen, PSA Prostate
Screen, Cholesterol Screen, Blood Pressure, Balance, Throat Screen, Depression & Anxiety Take-Home
Quiz, and Colorectal Take-Home Kit. Call to make appointments for Hearing Screens and Breast Health
Exams. Medication disposal is also available. Medications should be brought in their original containers
(please do not mix medications together). For prescription medications, the patient’s name should be crossed
out with a black permanent marker to comply with HIPPA requirements. No chemotherapy drugs or sharps
please! Funding provided by the Sacred Heart Hospital Foundation
The Great American Smokeout. Thursday November 17, 2011. If you are currently a smoker, consider
taking a step towards improving your health by participating in the Great American Smokeout. It has helped
to spotlight the dangers of tobacco use and the challenges of quitting. If you are ready to take the step
towards kicking the habit, know that you are not alone. Ministry Rehabilitation Services is here to help you
every step of the way. For more information: call 888-843-1367 or 715-369-2300
Coming Soon! A Fitness Program for Cancer Survivors at the YMCA in Rhinelander. The LIVESTRONG
at the Y fitness program is for adult cancer survivors who have become de-conditioned from recent cancer
treatment. The 12-week program provides survivors the opportunity to rebuild strength and stamina under the
guidance of a highly trained YMCA instructor. Using a combination of individual instruction and group
activities, survivors can participate in resistance training, cardio and functional activities as well as flexibility
exercises.
The YMCA is committed to helping all participants develop their own fitness program to continue healthy
lifestyle habits, not only as part of recovery, but as a way of life. To register for an upcoming LIVESTRONG
program, call Marilyn Duschl at 715-362-9622 ext. 118 or e-mail mduschl@ymcanw.org subject line
LiveStrong.
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