A Five Star Program - Cancer Transitions Moving Beyond Treatment

Tonight is the last night of the Cancer Transitions - Moving Beyond Treatment program offered at the Cancer Institute of NJ ( CINJ). Cancer Transitions - Moving Beyond Treatment is a partnership effort between the Wellness Community and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. It is meant to support and educate cancer patients during the transition period following treatment. It began in 2006 and participants have been evaluating and improving it ever since.

My evaluation of the program is 5 Stars.

I highly recommend this program.I have been involved in many different types of programs specifically for ovarian cancer survivors. This program is open to survivors of all types of cancer. And that is why I think this program is especially strong. It is applicable to all survivors - those who have had surgery, those who have had chemo and those who have had radiation or any combination thereof. Topics during the past few weeks included Taking Control of Survivorship, Exercise for Wellness, Emotional Health and Well-Being, Nutrition Beyond Cancer , Medical Management Beyond Cancer and Life Beyond Cancer.

Each week I came home with a piece of information or technique that I could use on my own path of survivorship. The exercise component was incredibly helpful. I walk almost every day but my upper body strength had gotten pretty weak over the past year during my treatment for a recurrence. Rita Musanti, a nurse and our Fitness Instructor, was able to show me exercises to build arm and shoulder strength. Her knowledge of the type of surgery I had allowed her to recommend exercises that would tone my abdominal muscles without causing injury. Last weeks presentation by Marlene McGuire, RN, discussed our awareness of side effects of treatment. In a discussion about neuropathy, I learned that the pain and tingling I feel in my left foot may be intensifying as the weather gets colder. It makes sense but I never heard anyone tell me that might be the case.

So a big thanks go out to all the presenters, and to Ellen Levine , Wellness Community of Central NJ and Julie Murphy, CINJ, for their efforts in making the program available to survivors here in NJ and for offering their insights into the emotional health of cancer survivors.


LiveSTRONG

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Cancer Transitions Moving Beyond Treatment - A program of The Wellness Community and the Lance Armstrong Foundation

Take part in this free six week series for people with ALL types of cancer diagnoses who have completed active treatment one month to two years ago and currently have no evidence of disease. The program addresses exercise, nutrition, emotional health and medical management after cancer treatment ends.

Guest speakers will include a nurse, nutritionist and fitness expert. Information provided will include exercise tailored to each participant’s abilities, training in relaxation and stress management as well as tips for nutritious eating.

Cancer transitions will answer many of your questions about cancer survivorship after treatment ends. The course covers the following topics:

• Get Back to Wellness: Take Control of Your Survivorship
• Exercise for Wellness: Customized Exercise
• Emotional Health and Well-Being: From Patient to Survivor
• Nutrition Beyond Cancer
• Medical Management Beyond Cancer: What You Need to Know
• Life Beyond Cancer
This program is open to any cancer survivor who has completed their active
treatment between one month and two years ago and has no evidence of disease.

Monday evenings, October 5-November 9, 2009
5:30-8:30 PM
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ

Limited space available
Please register by September 15th by calling 908-658-5400



Livestrong

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing

TWC-CNJ Launches Cancer Transitions - Moving Beyond Treatment " program at Survivors Day Celebration

Last night Nick and I spent time at the Bridgewater Manor ( the location of my daughter Theresa's wedding reception last year.) . It was the site of the Wellness Community of Central NJ's Survivor's Day Celebration and marked the Launch of the "Cancer Transitions - Moving Beyond Treatment" program.

"Cancer Transitions" is a free 2 1/2 hour , six-week program designed to help cancer survivors make the transition from active treatment to post-treatment care. The Wellness Community has worked closely with the Lance Armstrong Foundation for the last 3 years to create, pilot and implement this program. Sanofi-aventis US will be providing funding for the program throughout the United States. It just so happens that sanofi-aventis is located just down the road (Route 202-206) from the Wellness Community of Central NJ. We all got a taste of the program through a short introduction by four speakers.

The night also included a keynote speech by Audrey Vitolins who spoke on "Celebrating the Beat of Significance"; Mark Wood and the "Healing Power of Drums"( I love drumming) and the awarding of the Spirit of Courage Award to Deborah Rochon and Spirit of Caring Award to Florence Kelly. A number of other community groups such as NOCC, ACS, Cancer Hope Network, etc. provided information during the registration period. The night concluded with the distribution of Red roses to survivors and yellow roses to caregivers.

I have participated in Wellness Community- Central NJ gynecological cancer networking group for over 2 years now. I've also attended a number of other workshops and classes. Walking in the door of that small white building in Plukemin is like going in to your best friend's home. You always feel welcome and comfortable enough to share your joys, your concerns and your pains. Thank you to Eunice, Ellen, Karen, Patty and all your volunteers for giving us a place to do just that.

Livestrong

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

CINJ Receives Community Program Grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation

I am so pleased to report that CINJ ( where I am treated) received a $100,000 Community Grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation to train health care providers in NJ about the emotional and physical needs of cancer survivors. The Buildings and Bridges Program is part of the recently established Center for Cancer Survivorship at CINJ. CINJ is NJ's first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"Receiving a boost from one of the nation’s most highly recognized cancer foundations, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) will be able to expand a successful clinical program that meets the unique needs of cancer survivors. The Buildings and Bridges Program is being made possible by a $100,000 Community Program grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which seeks to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. The award was made recently to the CINJ Foundation. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Through peer-based training, the Buildings and Bridges Program enhances the capacity of nurses, social workers and other healthcare providers to meet the practical and emotional needs of cancer survivors. It is an extension of CINJ’s Center for Cancer Survivorship (CCS), a newly established entity serving as a focal point through which all survivorship research, clinical, educational, and advocacy efforts are coordinated . ...
Denalee O’Malley, MSW, is the supervising program development specialist for the CCS, who designed the Buildings and Bridges Program program. “The aim of this educational program is to build an understanding of cancer as a chronic disease that is survived, with ongoing practical and emotional impacts that can be managed. By educating health care workers we can be sure that we not only enhance the quality of care and resources available to survivors, but that we also increase community awareness about the ongoing challenges experienced through the different phases of survivorship. We are grateful to the Lance Armstrong Foundation for this support,” she stated."
The complete press release can be found here.

On a personal note, I am happy to have been asked to be a member of the Survivors Advisory Board for the CCS.

Livestrong!
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Save the Date- Sept 5, 2008 Stand Up to Cancer

On Sept 5 2008 at 8 pm the program Stand Up to Cancer will be aired simultaneously on 3 networks , NBC, ABC and CBS. The driving force for the presentation is the organization Stand Up to Cancer.

Here is info from a press release provided by Stand Up To Cancer.

May 28, 2008 – NEW YORK, NY/LOS ANGELES, CA: Stand Up To Cancer www.standup2cancer.org), a new initiative to raise philanthropic dollars for accelerating ground-breaking research, launches today through an unprecedented collaboration uniting the major television networks, entertainment industry executives, celebrities and prominent leaders in cancer research and patient advocacy. ABC, CBS and NBC will donate one hour of simultaneous commercial-free primetime for a nationally televised fundraising event to air on September 5, 2008 (8 pm EDT and PDT), aimed at rallying the public around the goal of ending cancer's reign as a leading cause of death.

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If you are on facebook you can join the Stand Up for cancer group here.
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What a great way to make cancer research a priority! I am pleased that the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Wellness Community are involved in this initiative.

LivingStrong
Dee

Help with a LiveStrong Day Project

A fellow LAF volunteer is doing a special project for LiveStrong Day -May 13, 2008.In her e-mail she says:
"I have committed to the Lance Armstrong Foundation that I will obtain 10,000 signatures supporting the requirement that cancer should be a national priority. My goal is to submit these signatures to state and federal legislatures on May 13 -- Livestrong Day."
So please visit her website and sign the petition- I did!


LiveStrong
Dee

I've Been Accepted!

I am thrilled to have received an e-mail letting me know that I have been accepted to attend the LiveStrong Summit 2008 in Columbus, Ohio in July . I had such an awesome time at the Summit in 2006 in Austin that I can't wait to register and meet some old friends and make some new friends. I will wear teal in the hopes of meeting other Ovarian Cancer survivors. I am looking forward to attending the Advocacy workshops.

Unity is strength- Knowledge is Power and Attitude is Everything-

LiveStrong!
Dee