What’s Happening This Week in Our Cancer Community?

January 25th-February 5th

Thursday,January 26th:“The Well” Caregiver Support Group:Learning to Say Yes. Facilitated conversation topic on Family/Friend Meetings for Caregivers. 2-3pm. Providence Cancer Center (1st Floor). (907) 212-6870 to RSVP.

Thursday,January 26th:Art Venture- Glass Painting. Come and learn a little bit about the art of glass painting and bring home a couple cups of your own!.  Providence Cancer Center. 2-6pm. (907)212-6870 to register.

Thursday,January 26th:New Norm Cancer Survivorship Series:Workshop 1:Long Term Physical Side-Effects of Cancer Treatment. Join the Alaska Cancer Care Alliance and Anchorage Radiation Therapy Center’s newest team member,Dr. Kara Bucci in a presentation and discussion of long term side-effects of cancer treatment (such as surgery,chemo-therapy,radiation,hormone therapy,etc.).  Alaska Regional Hospital Cancer Care Center:2801 DeBarr Road,Building C,Suite 414. 6-8pm. (907) 264-1501 to RSVP.

Friday,January 27th:Women LISTEN Support Group. Any woman with any type of cancer is invited to attend. Weekly support group meetings every Friday 10—11:30AM Metro Music &Books in the Metro Mall at a big table in the greeting card section of the store. All are welcome- Newly Diagnosed to Long Term Survivor (907)222-6285 or www.womenlisten.org.

Saturday,January 28th:Art Venture:Needle Felting. Come and learn to dry needle felt. Make a pin,bead and other decor. Providence Cancer Center. 10am-12pm. (907)212-6870 to register.

Tuesday,January 31st: Coffee with Don. Meet with fellow prostate cancer survivors to go over any new information or resources that have been encountered,talk about how to help anyone who has contacted the Kenai Peninsula Prostate Cancer Support Group and just have fellowship and support among their core members. Available to anyone,just show up;they can be recognized by the blue PC baseball hats we wear. Every Tuesday 11am. Kenai Safeway Store in Kenai,AK. (907) 283-9206.

 Tuesday,January 31st: Living with Advanced Cancer. A supportive,healing session for people with advanced metastatic cancer incorporating gentle movement,discussion,education,and relaxation techniques. Every Tuesday 12:30-2:30pm. Providence Cancer Center (1st Floor Meditation Room). (907) 212-6872.

Tuesday,January 31st:Art Venture- Acrylic Painting. Come and learn the basics of acrylic painting! Providence Cancer Center. 2-6pm. (907)212-6870 to register.

Tuesday,January 31st:American Cancer Society Support Group. Weekly support group for cancer patients,survivors,family and caregivers. Every Tuesday,7-8:30pm at Wells Fargo Bank. 301 W. Northern Lights,second floor conference room. (907) 273-2077.

 Tuesday,January 31st:Look Good Feel Better by the American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society brings you this class,a non-medical,brand-neutral public service program that teaches beauty techniques to cancer patients to help them manage the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. Providence Cancer Center. 6-8pm. 212-6870 to RSVP.

 Thursday,February 2nd:“The Well” Caregiver Support Group:Staying Healthy and Well. Facilitated conversation topic on Family/Friend Meetings for Caregivers. 2-3pm. Providence Cancer Center (1st Floor). (907) 212-6870 to RSVP.

Thursday,February 2nd:New Norm Cancer Survivorship Series:Workshop 2:Sexuality and Intimacy During and After Cancer Treatment. Join the Alaska Cancer Care Alliance and Dr. Barbara Maryan ANP,LMFT a local counselor in a discussion of how treatment affects you physically and mentally in relation to intimacy/sexuality and tools to cope and regain strengths in this area. Alaska Regional Hospital Cancer Care Center:2801 DeBarr Road,Building C,Suite 414. 6-8pm. (907) 264-1501 to RSVP.

 Friday,February 3rd:Women LISTEN Support Group. Any woman with any type of cancer is invited to attend. Weekly support group meetings every Friday 10—11:30AM Metro Music &Books in the Metro Mall at a big table in the greeting card section of the store. All are welcome- Newly Diagnosed to Long Term Survivor (907)222-6285 or www.womenlisten.org.

 Sunday,February 5th:Cancer’s Intimate Partners. This support group is for the spouse or partner of the cancer patient. Meets the first &third Sunday of every month,9:00-10:30am,Providence Cancer Center Meditation Room.

 Participants Needed for Cancer Survivorship Research. The goal of this study is to find out how cancer impacts adults living in rural and urban settings in Alaska. The study will look at experiences of adults who have survived cancer,and compare these experiences between the adults living in the rural and urban settings. For more information about this study or to volunteer for this study,contact Julie McNulty,RN,at (907)729-2937,(907)230-5996,877-678-5996 or mcnultyj@ohsu.edu.

Mentorship and Newly Diagnosed Cancer Guide Workshops. The Alaska Cancer Care Alliance has a mentorship program to match up survivors with those who are newly diagnosed with cancer. We’ve taken this program a few steps further and provide weekly,structured workshops for the newly diagnosed. As survivors and caregivers yourselves,ACCA invites you to give your knowledge and feedback in a workshop or via phone/email to critique existing “101” materials and what helped you out during your experience to create a unique resource for Alaskans and/or become a volunteer to meet with newly diagnosed to put these resources to use! Contact Shelley at shelleyromer@acsalaska.net or (907)264-1501 for more info and to participate!

The “New Norm”Series

New Norm Flyer January-February 2012
From the moment you have heard the words “You Have Cancer,” your life has changed:physically,mentally,and emotionally. What you thought of as “normal” no longer means the same thing anymore and that’s why the Alaska Cancer Care Alliance is putting on a series of presentations and workshops called the “New Norm”. Come learn about and interact with specialists who address the physical side effects of treatment,ways to relax and calm the mind,actively participate in your health with nutrition and exercise,and ways to give back to the community. Call (907) 264-1501 for more information and to RSVP!

Workshop 1:Long-Term Physical Side Effects of Cancer Treatment.

Join Anchorage Radiation Therapy Center’s newest team member,Dr. Kara Bucci in a presentation and discussion of long term side-effects of cancer treatment (such as surgery,chemotherapy,radiation,hormone therapy,etc.).

When:         January 26th,  6-8pm

Where:       Alaska Regional Hospital:2801 DeBarr Road,Building C,Suite 414

 

Workshop 2:Sexuality and Intimacy During and After Cancer Treatment

Join the Alaska Cancer Care Alliance and Dr. Barbara Maryan,ANP,LMFT a local counselor in a discuss of how treatment affects you physically and mentally in relation to relationship intimacy and tools to regain strengths in this area.

When:             February 2nd,  6-8pm

Where:            Alaska Regional Hospital:2801 DeBarr Road,Building C,Suite 414

 

Workshop 3:  Mind/Body Connection

Come and learn some easy techniques to help reduce stress,assist mind-body harmony and thereby promote healing with Aleta Vail,a local therapist and PHD candidate in clinical psychology. In this class we will learn about the mind-body connection and learn different imagery and mindfulness practices being studied that are relevant to cancer as well as try out some simple breathing,relaxation and imagery techniques.

When:         February 9th,  6-8pm

Where:        2550 Denali Street,Suite 1608 (16th Floor Conference Room)

 

Workshop 4:  Nutrition and Exercise

Dr. Markian Babij,NDFABNO (naturopathic doctor from Avante Medical Center) and Cynthia Decker,RN (Providence  Oncology Rehabilitation program nurse) to discuss healthy choices before,during and after cancer treatment. Learn about supporting the immune system,making lifestyle changes and the latest in research on nutrition and exercise.

When: February 16th,  6-8pm

Where: Alaska Regional Hospital:2801 DeBarr Road,Building C,Suite 414

 

 

 

Financial Workshops

Cancer is tough:mentally,physically,emotionally and last but not least:financially. Whether it be the lack of insurance,being underinsured,navigating what insurance covers,or organizing finances to adjust to the new burden,this aspect of the disease is a stressful one. That’s why ACCA hosted a “Financial Workshop”with experts in the field of insurance,social work,financial consulting,Medicaid,Medicare and many other resources to gather in one room for survivors to ask questions and work through some of these burdens in person at no cost. People brought their insurance papers,questions and concerns and we put our heads together to help them. If we could help 1 person we would be happy but a dozen or so had great things to say such as:  

  • “Excellent workshop,I appreciate it very much!”
  • “The style was wonderful as it wasn’t just a boring lecture. The reps were knowledgeable and helpful,”
  • “Good to have all these resources in one meeting! 

Due to the wonderful feedback from the participants and experts,we will be hosting another workshop in the near future. If you are interested and would like to give your feedback as to the kind of information you are looking to get help with,contact 264-1501 for more information.