UPCOMING SCHEDULE FOR THE BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

For adult women who have experienced a breast cancer diagnosis and seek support and education, the Breast Cancer Support Group meets the third Thursday of each
month from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Y-9 Support Group Room at City of Hope. Light dinner is served so please arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. The topic schedule for February and March 2007 is as follows:

FEBRUARY 15                                                                                                            Understanding Breast Reconstruction Options
James S. Andersen, M.D., chief, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

MARCH 15                                                                                                                  Personal Empowerment
Shirley Otis-Green, L.C.S.W., Senior Researcher, Nursing Education

For more information, contact facilitator Pat Robertson at probertson@coh.org or 626-256-4673, ext. 60481.

NEW — KIDNEY CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center and City of Hope’s Department of Medical Oncology and Department of Clinical Social Work offer a support group for kidney cancer patients. Patients and families who are seeking information, support and education are invited to attend. The group will meet the first Thursday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Y-9 Support Group Room.

Pat Robertson, L.C.S.W., will facilitate the group. Please call 626-256-4673, ext. 60481, for more information. Light refreshments will be served. Please arrive 5 to 10 minutes early for registration.

“I CAN COPE” — NUTRITION PROGRAM

City of Hope and the American Cancer Society will offer a free class for cancer patients, survivors, family and friends on healthy eating and managing nutrition problems during cancer treatment and recovery, presented by Clinical Dietitian
Dhvani Bhatt, M.S., R.D. Samples of high-protein nutritious drinks, light refreshments and door prizes will be offered.

The program will take place on Thursday, February 15, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the Y-9 Support Group Room.

For more information or to R.S.V.P. (required), please call Lina Mayorga in Patient, Family & Community Education at 626-256-4673, ext. 64053, or e-mail Lmayorga@coh.org.

LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP CLINIC

Breast cancer survivors need constant surveillance, not only physically, but  emotionally as well.  The Long-term Follow-up Clinic at City of Hope’s Rita Cooper-Finkel and J. William Finkel Women’s Health Center has found a unique and streamlined way to meet this need.

The faculty of surgical oncologists, nurse practitioner and physician’s assistant began to assess the volume of patients City of Hope surgeons were treating and identified a need for better transition of patients three to five years after their initial breast cancer diagnosis. Patients often have anxiety at the end of treatment and are suddenly left without a continuous connection to the breast center staff. The clinic helps them adjust back to routine health maintenance with the same team of people while also continuing to have highly specialized breast care and monitoring for disease recurrence.

At its one year anniversary, they are planning to survey approximately 100 patients to determine patient satisfaction with the clinic and the quality of care that they are receiving.  In addition, they will be linking survey data with diagnosis data to determine the efficacy and efficiency of the clinic to help monitor and diagnose recurrence and incidence of new disease.

For more information, please contact Cathy Cole, N.P., at 626-256-4673, ext. 60020.

CHILDREN’S SUPPORT GROUP

The Clinical Social Work Department at City of Hope will offer a support group for children 6 to 14, whose parent or family member has cancer. Clinical Social Work interns Catherine Urday and Winney Lin facilitate the group with oversight provided by Carmen Solis, M.S.W. The first five-week group will meet on Wednesdays starting February 7 to March 7 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The second five-week group will meet on Wednesdays starting April 4 to May 2 at the same time.

To register, please contact group facilitators Catherine Urday or Winney Lin, at 626-256-4673, ext. 62282.

CHILD LIFE PROGRAM HELPS FAMILIES

The Child Life Program at City of Hope addresses the needs of infants, children, teens and families during hospitalization by serving pediatric patients and families as well as the children of adult patients. The program strives to reduce the impact of stressful situations or events by providing appropriate education about illness, treatments, procedures and preparation for stays in the ICU environment.  The program also provides bereavement support for children of adult patients by working in collaboration with the health care team.

The areas of service Child Life covers are:
• Pediatric Inpatient and Outpatient
• Pediatric and Adult Intensive Care                                
• Adult Inpatient and Outpatient

Some of the important services Child Life provides are:
• Clinical education about illness, procedures, treatments, and the hospital environment
• Support through medical events and/or invasive procedures
• Psychosocial support and education for pediatric patients and their families, as well as children/teens of adult patients
• Advocacy for the patient and family
• Appropriate therapeutic activities and other experiences that encourage expression of feelings and promote the
best possible growth and development
• Provision of bereavement and/or end-of-life support for the patient and family members in collaboration with the health care team
• Resources for the health care team

City of Hope professionals, Jo Ann S. Namm M.S., C.C.L.S. — Child Life manager, and Rebecca Bergstrom M.S., C.C.L.S. — Child Life specialist, administer this vital
program. To access their services, an attending physician’s order is required. For more information, please contact Jo Ann Namm at ext. 64513.

Please join us in recognizing the profession of Child Life during the month of March. This will be a time to learn more about the Child Life profession through educational information and visual displays located in Pediatrics.