Events
Save the Date
Encourage Support Group on WWL-TV Morning News EnCourage provides a forum for breast cancer patients, survivors, their families and caregivers to join with others to encourage emotional and social support and educate one another on the healing journey. Our meetings are free and open to the public and take place every second Wednesday of the month. Reservations are required since space is limited. Unless otherwise noted, the schedule for each meeting is:
Please see below for past and current EnCourage
topics.
New Orleans (5:00pm - 7:00pm cst)
Indianapolis (6:00pm - 8:00pm est)
Los Angeles (2:00pm - 5:00pm pst)
Cancer is not uncommon among women who are at the age where they are raising their children. The American Cancer Society reports that one in seven women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, and roughly a quarter of them will do so while they still have children living at home. The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery will host an important support group meeting to discuss how to talk about cancer care and treatment with your children. The monthly Encourage meeting will host Barbara LeBlanc, MSW, LCSW, Director of The Parenting Center at Children's Hospital. "Parents often struggle with what to tell their children when they are diagnosed with cancer," states LeBlanc. "How much they need to know and can handle depends on the children's age and level of maturity. Even small children will figure out that something is wrong, even if you don't tell them."
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 Journaling in its various forms is a means for recording personal thoughts, daily experiences, and evolving insights. The process often evokes conversations with self, another person, or even an imagined other person. Recent scientific studies have concluded that the practice of journaling has a significant impact on the status of chronic disease and provides both a sense of well-being and health benefits that include pain reduction; immune function improvement, including raised T-cell counts; resistance to minor illnesses such as colds and flu; relief of physical stress shown by lowered blood pressure and heart rate and generally improved physical health.
Sharon Henry, a licensed clinical social worker, will
speak about the healing effects of journaling during
cancer treatment and beyond. Margaret Jones from
Scriptura stationary store will join Henry to talk about
how to begin your journaling experience.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 You have your father's eyes, your mother's smile and your grandmother's sense of humor, but you may have inherited more from your family than you realize. Knowing your family's health history can help in the prevention and detection of many diseases. In particular, some cancers can be hereditary, such as breast and ovarian cancer. This March, The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery will offer a special breast cancer support group meeting focused on Genetic Testing. "BRCA1, located on chromosome 17 and BRCA 2 located on chromosome 13 are the genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer. With the ability to now assess a woman's risk of developing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer there is no doubt that genetic testing saves lives," comments Dr. Alan Stolier MD, Surgical Oncologist who specializes in diseases of the breast, and who will lead this month's group.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Susan Cooley, PhD will discuss many aspects of this subject, such as coping with an altered body image, changes in sexual desire, and side effects of treatment. "With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we want to open up the lines of communication between partners," states Cooley. "We will discuss some of the issues which may concern the patient or her partner, including sexual changes, relationship issues, and the overall impact of cancer treatment on sexuality, and provide a starting point for discussion of these concerns." Liz Markey, CRBS New Patient Contact & Educator, says "Sexuality after breast cancer is an often neglected issue, as many women feel uncomfortable raising the issue with their partner or doctor. We encourage all our patients to talk to their doctor about potential sexual changes. By knowing what may happen, you may be more knowledgeable and better prepared for what's ahead."
The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery will present the topic of reflexology as a complementary therapy along side traditional breast cancer treatment at its monthly EnCourage support group meeting. Rob Gray, reflexologist with Belladonna Day Spa, will explain how reflexology can be used to support patients through treatment such as chemotherapy or for enhancing the well-being for cancer-free individuals. Gray, along with Belladonna's lead therapist Christine Mencken, will offer a hands-on demonstration of the techniques used in reflexology. "Relaxation with the removal of stress is the first priority followed by enhanced circulation," states Gray. "The results allow the body to experience physiological changes that will incorporate the automatic process of the body to begin healing. Patients utilizing the science of reflexology adjust better to treatment and have a more positive outlook with a decrease in depression and anxiety, and improvements in emotional quality of life." With the removal of stress the body's parasympathetic response enables the blockages to be released by a physiological change in the body. With stress removed and the circulation enhanced, the body is allowed to return to a state of homeostasis, the automatic process that the body incorporates to bring it back to the "normal" state.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery presents Nutritionist Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD at the December EnCourage Support Group meeting. Kimball will focus on the best tips for maintaining a healthy weight, and not gaining throughout the holiday season. "Eating without regret is still possible while going through breast cancer treatment," states Kimball. "And managing your weight does not have to be a daunting task." At this meeting Kimball will discuss simple ways to maintain a healthy weight during and after breast cancer treatment and offer suggestions on how to optimize nutritious eating, especially during the holidays, while still enjoying this indulgent time of year. "Mocktails" and hors d'oeuvres will be served offering good alternatives to the traditionally rich and opulent foods served at holiday parties.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery (CRBS) will host its monthly EnCourage Support Group meeting, focusing on environmental influences affecting the development of breast cancer. Dr. Steven Hill will speak specifically about the possible connection of melatonin and breast cancer. His research shows that the pineal hormone melatonin has significant inhibitory effects on the development and growth of human breast cancer. "Research has made it clear that breast cancer and other cancers result from a complex web of causation in which multiple factors interact," states Hill. "By sharing our studies, and those of other scientists, we hope to set women on a path to better understanding and enlightenment," Hill continued.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery (CRBS) will host a special EnCourage Support Group meeting in October, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. An exclusive screening of P.O.V.** In the Family will take place at the Center. The film, which intimately explores the lives of the women Joanna Rudnick met through FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), an organization that helps those with the BRCA mutation, is an eloquently moving tribute to those facing the question of whether to find out their risk and what to do afterward. This October, CRBS will exclusively underwrite the airing of P.O.V. In the Family on WYES. Visit www.wyes.org for airdate. |
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