Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute

Offers Patient Comfort, Care

HealtHMattersTo Help People Be Healthy | October 2012

HaysMed

Bryce young, chief operating

officer, haysMed

The Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute is dedicated to providing patients new ways to predict, prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, as well as

transform the quality of life for our cancer patients today and in the future.

Inside the doors of the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute are individuals who have dedicated a life and career to treat and care for cancer patients and their families. Our professionals possess and maintain special-ized education and credentials at every level of service. These people form a team work-ing together on behalf of the patient. Our Team … Your Team.

Our goal is to make it abundantly clear your team is working collectively, collabora-tively and passionately to deliver a custom-ized course of treatment with professional-ism, skill and compassion that is reflective of the initials and titles behind our names. You can be assured we have someone here to see you through every step.

Just as the institute’s namesakes, Leo J. and Albina Dreiling and Robert and Patricia Schmidt were dedicated to enriching the lives of people in the area, the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute remains dedicated to enriching the cancer services available to the people of western Kansas.

We’re here to help

Diet, exercise the first steps to cancer prevention 4

Early detection improves outcomes

14

HealtHMatters

6Therapies, remedies, support available to cancer patients

WHat’s in a naMe?Excerpt from August 2002 Hays

Medical Center Foundation press release:

In 2002, the cancer center at Hays Medical Center was named in recognition of sig-nificant donations received

from the Leo J. and Albina Dreil-ing Charitable Trust and from the Robert E. and Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation.

“It’s difficult to put into words the gratitude the Dreiling Trust and Schmidt Foundation trust deserve for these marvelous gifts,” said Dr. John Jeter, president and CEO of HaysMed. “Everyone in this area knows full well the kind-ness and generosity extended by both of these families to so many worthy programs and projects for so many, many years. The name change today continues to rec-ognize the ongoing support from those generous benefactors.”

“During their lifetimes, Leo and Albina Dreiling were gracious and benevolent people. They would be extremely proud to know that their tradition of supporting im-portant community projects with gifts of love are being continued by mem-bers of their family and by the current trustees of the Dreiling Charitable Trust,” Jeter said. “The names Leo and Albina Dreiling adorn many buildings and pro-grams in this area. Their kind and sincere involvement with projects make Hays a better place to live.

“The names Bob and Pat Schmidt are synonymous with the words giving, caring and shar-

ing,” Jeter said. “They, too, are kind and generous people who have shared themselves and their good fortune with countless worthwhile projects in Hays, Ellis County and other parts of the state of Kansas.

This community is very, very fortunate to have Bob and Pat Schmidt reside here.”

“There is no more fitting tribute to the Dreilings and Schmidts than to rename the Can-cer Center in their

honor,” Jeter said. “Their names will add dignity and strength to an area where dignity and strength are displayed on a daily basis.

“The Dreiling Foundation has chosen to help the medical center purchase new cancer treatment

equipment and help provide some equipment upgrades in the Cancer Center. The Schmidts chose to add their gift to the assets of the Hays Medical Center Foundation to provide future funding for initia-tives and projects that will provide a continuity of progress for better health care in western Kansas.”

• • •In August 2008, the name was

upgraded from “center” to “insti-tute.”

The name change reflects the evolution of services, as the center grows and expands in response to the needs of patients.

Quality service always has been, and will continue to be, the foun-dation of the cancer center’s care. Ongoing success is owed in large part to the physicians’ and staff’s commitment to providing the best care possible.

The medical team at the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute.

was as high as 40 percent for some cancers, such as endometrial cancer and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

It's recommended people con-cerned about their cancer risk con-sume a diet low in saturated fat and high in antioxidants, which are found in fruits and vegetables.

Smoking has been tied to increased incidence of lung, kidney and blad-der cancers, and consuming large amounts of alcohol has been linked to a higher breast cancer risk.

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer and is usually preventable, said Dr. Sameh Abuerreish, a medical oncologist at HaysMed.

Many doctors believe there are simple lifestyle changes people can make to help

reduce their risk of getting cancer.One of the most important things

to remember is eating well and stay-ing active can go a long way in cancer

prevention, said Dr. Anne O'Dea, a medical oncologist.

For example, studies suggest women who are obese have more than double the risk of developing endometrial cancer during their life-times, she said.

A National Cancer Institute study estimated approximately 34,000 new cases of cancer in men and 50,500 in women were due to obesity in 2007

in the United States. The percent-age of cases attributed to obesity

Page 4 HealtH MattersPrevention

precautionsTakingCancer prevention starts with right diet, exercise

∆

The risk of lung cancer associated with cigarette smoking increases ac-cording to the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the number of years a person smokes.

It is estimated smokers have approxi-mately 20 times the risk of lung cancer compared to non-smokers, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Those exposed to second-hand smoke also have an increased risk of developing lung cancer, as the concen-tration of some toxic chemicals is higher in second-hand smoke.

Consuming large amounts of alcohol has been linked to a higher risk of several types of cancer, such as breast, colon and liver cancers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states daily consumption of approximately 50 grams of alcohol doubles or triples the risk for mouth, voice box and throat cancers.

While preventive medicines are not yet available for all forms of cancer, wom-en who are shown to have a significant risk of developing breast cancer might be eligible for Federal Drug Administra-tion-approved drugs to help prevent the onset of cancer.

Patients concerned about their cancer risk or family history should begin by visiting with their primary care provider, O'Dea said.

HealtH Matters Page 5Prevention

reducing risksTake control of your health and reduce your

cancer risk.• Stay away from tobacco.• Stay at a healthy weight.• Get moving with regular physical activity.• Eat healthy with plenty of fruits and

vegetables.• Limit how much alcohol you

drink (if you drink at all).• Protect your skin.• Know yourself, your family

history and your risks.• Have regular check-ups and

cancer screening tests.For information on how to

reduce your cancer risk and other questions about cancer, visit Ameri-can Cancer Society online at www.cancer.org.

seven Warning signs

hange in bowel or bladder habits

sore that does not heal

nusual bleeding or discharge

hickening or lump in the breast, testicles or elsewhere

ndigestion or difficulty swallowing

bvious change in size, color, shape, or thickness of wart, mole or mouth sore

agging cough or hoarseness

CAUTI

ON

The American Cancer Society uses the word C-A-U-T-I-O-N to help recognize the seven early signs of cancer:

The following symptoms also could signal the presence of some types of cancer:

• Persistent headaches• Unexplained loss of weight or

loss of appetite• Chronic pain in bones or any

other areas of the body• Persistent fatigue, nausea or

vomiting• Persistent low-grade fever,

either constant or intermittent• Repeated infection

Call your doctor about cancer if:

You develop symptoms that could signal cancer, that are specifi-cally not related to another cause, and/or persist for more than two weeks.

If this occurs, schedule a medical examination.

If the cause of your symptoms is cancer, early diagnosis and treat-ment will offer a better chance of a positive prognosis.

tHe rigHt foodApples, blueberries,

broccoli and cruciferous vegetables, cranberries,

flaxseed, legumes (dry beans, peas and lentils),

squash (winter), beans, garlic, grapes and grape juice,

green tea, soy, tomatoes and whole grain.

∆

When Linda Steele was diag-nosed with breast cancer last year, the Ulysses woman said she took comfort in the com-

passionate care she received at Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute.

“Once we met the staff, we just felt confident that everything was going to be fine, and it was in their hands,” she said. “Whatever they say, we do. They just have an excellent group of people in all their departments.”

From preventive screenings to cancer treatments and support for survivors, Hay-sMed’s Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute strives to meet every patient’s needs. The institute provides state of the art cancer treatments for patients from throughout western Kansas.

The institute’s four physicians offer chemotherapy and radiation therapy, treat-ments for various blood disorders, any type of cancer and comprehensive breast care.

“I would highly recommend for any-body to go there,” Steele said.

HaysMed offers state of the art radia-tion therapy for patients battling cancer.

Innovations during the past several years have made it possible for oncolo-gists to pinpoint the exact location of a

tumor with a CT scan, then administer radiation directly to the tumor, minimiz-ing harm to healthy tissue, said Dr. Babu Prasad, a radiation oncologist. This type of treatment is called conformal radia-tion.

“That way, patients have a lot less side effects and a lot less complications,” he said. “You are able to deliver a very high dose (of radiation) to the target.”

A CT scanner is built into the radiation

equipment, enabling radiation therapists to ensure the treatment is hitting the tumor, even if it has shifted locations. HaysMed obtained Image Guided Radia-tion Therapy in 2007 and was among the first medical centers in the state to do so, Prasad said.

“I would not have imagined that we would have a hospital of this level today when I came back in ‘83,” he said. “I’m proud and I’m glad to be part of that.”

Right on target

High doses of comfortCancer Institute strives for patient success

“Once we met the staff, we just felt confident that everything was going to be fine,

and it was in their hands.”Linda Steele, Cancer Institute patient

Page 6 HealtH Mattersin focus

Dr. Babu Prasad, radiation oncologist, demonstrates the linear accelerator used to deliver radiation treatment for cancer.

diagnosed with cancer is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy encompasses drugs

that are taken by mouth or administered through an IV.

There are two types of chemotherapy offered at HaysMed — cytotoxic and targeted chemotherapy.

Cytotoxic chemotherapy is the more traditional treatment, while newer target-ed treatments were developed to treat a specific cancer growth, said Dr. January Fields, a medical oncologist and hema-tologist at HaysMed.

HealtH Matters Page 7in focus

Prasad, right, dem-onstrates the linear accelerator used to deliver radiation treat-ment for cancer at HaysMed.

continued on Page 8

Garrett Roe, certified medical dosimetrist, illustrates a prescribed radiation treatment for a cancer patient.

There are two forms of conformal radiation, 3-D or IMRT, short for Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, which is the more advanced form of treatment.

Another advanced form of treatment is hypofraction. Patients who qualify for this treatment will receive a higher dose of radiation in a shorter amount of time.

The treatment currently is most often used in treating breast cancer patients, Prasad said, noting he expects it to become more widespread in the near future.

“Patients like it because they don’t have to travel for seven weeks. We have patients traveling long distances,” he said.

“For them, taking three weeks of breast radiation is a lot more convenient than taking seven weeks of treatment,” Prasad said.

All of these advances have revolution-ized the way doctors are able to cure cancer. Prasad said surgery often was the best option for many patients when he first began to practice medicine.

“With early diagnoses, you don’t need radical operations,” he said. “This day and age, patients are treated with radical radiations.”

Radiation therapy most often is sug-gested for patients with localized forms of cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer. Radiation sometimes is com-bined with other treatment methods such as surgery or chemotherapy.

While not all advanced cancer cases can be cured medically, radiation also can help offset symptoms and relieve pain to help those patients, he said.

“Many cancers are cured, and many patients with advanced cancers can be helped,” Prasad said. “Because of confor-mal techniques and because of IGRT, we can do radiation with a lot of safety.”

Another treatment option for patients

“With early diagnoses, you don’t need radical operations. This day and age,

patients are treated with radical radiations.”Dr. Babu Prasad, Radiation Oncologist

Page 8 HealtH Mattersin focus

Dr. January Fields, medical oncologist at HaysMed, talks with Cancer Institute staff.

Shanahan, right, is checked by pharma-cist James Meier after preparing the che-motherapy drugs.

The targeted treatments have been offered at HaysMed for approximately 10 years, and more types of drugs have been added through the years. While traditional chemotherapy often is associ-ated with side effects such as hair loss and nausea, the targeted approach has milder repercussions.

“There are less side effects than with more traditional drugs,” she said.

The Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute also provides care to patients with various blood disorders.

Hematology is a separate specialty dealing with the blood, bone marrow and the lymph system.

The most common cancers of the bone marrow are leukemia, in which a clone cell has taken over and is filling the bone marrow. Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system that usually is found in the lymph nodes.

“We treat those here with chemother-apy,” Fields said. “Occasionally, we need outside help. Some of those patients will be looking at a bone marrow transplant or a stem cell transplant.”

For those patients, the Institute uses their partnerships with academic insti-tutions through the Midwest Cancer Alliance. The oncologists at HaysMed hold clinical faculty positions at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Many benign, or non-cancerous, disorders also are treated at the cancer institute. Those disorders include blood clotting disorders, iron deficiencies and illnesses in which the bone marrow produces too many or not enough white blood cells.

“We see benign problems in the cancer center, which does concern some pa-tients (wondering) why they’re referred

In the veins

“Families of patients are always asking what they can do to help. If they could donate blood or platelets,

that would be very helpful for somebody else.”Dr. January Fields, Medical Oncologist

here,” she said. “But it does not necessarily mean they have cancer.”

Some patients with blood-related illnesses do not even require treatment. Others are treated with medication. In fact, chemotherapy also can be used for some non-cancerous disorders.

Blood and platelet transfusions also can be used. Fields stressed the importance of donating blood.

“Families (of patients) are always asking what they can do to help,” she said. “If they could donate blood or platelets, that would be very helpful for somebody else.”

Many of these disorders, both benign and cancerous, can be detected with blood tests. HaysMed offers monthly community blood screenings, which is a good way to detect early problems, Fields said.

“I have had numerous patients who have come in because of seeing blood counts be abnormal on that,” she said.

Rural cancer patients have been able to receive highly specialized care previously only available in urban areas, thanks to a partnership between HaysMed and the University of Kansas Medical Center.

The Midwest Cancer Alliance is a net-work of 13 hospitals that brings together patient care, research and support professionals throughout Kansas and western Missouri. HaysMed was a found-ing member of the alliance, first joining several years ago.

“The mantra for the alliance is care close to home,” said Dr. Gary Doolittle, a KU Medical Center oncologist.

Too often, cancer patients have had to travel far from their homes to gain access to leading-edge clinical trials.

“Say we got a new drug for testing for a particular cancer. We want to have that drug in Hays,” Doolittle said. “We don’t want to have the patient drive to Kansas City.”

Through the partnership, Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute is working to bring the best cancer clinical trials the region has to offer into the community and directly to patients.

KU Medical Center recently was des-ignated as a National Cancer Institute, which means more clinical trials will be available to western Kansas patients.

HealtH Matters Page 9in focus

continued on Page 10

“Say we got a new drug for testing for a particular cancer. We want to have that drug in Hays. We don’t

want to have the patient drive to Kansas City.”Dr. Gary Doolittle, KU Medical Center oncologist

‘Close to home’

The Midwest Cancer Alliance is a membership-based organization cre-ated by the University of Kansas Cancer Center that links member hospitals, physician groups, cancer support and advocacy organizations, industry and government throughout Kansas and western Missouri. Its purpose is to provide strong support to community oncologists and cancer care profession-als. Its goal is to advance the quality and reach of cancer prevention, early detec-tion, treatment and survivorship in the Heartland.

Cancer continues to take a signifi-cant toll on the lives of patients, as well as their families and friends. The MCA builds on the strengths of cancer pro-fessionals in the region to find the best resources.

As part of this organization, Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute is teaming with other cancer care leaders to ensure patients receive the best options to heal.

Benefits• Advanced care for patients• Cancer treatment is disruptive

enough in patients’ lives. The MCA’s core goal is to facilitate advanced clini-cal trials for cancer patients as close to their homes as possible, helping to remove one of the burdens of receiv-ing cancer care.

• Oncologists affiliated with MCA can share information efficiently to help diagnose and treat patients,

which advances Dreiling/Schmidt’s high standards of care.

• Patients at MCA-affiliated hospitals and physician practices have access to comprehensive cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and care informa-tion, along with other health resources.

• Patients can receive second opin-ion services through the University of Kansas Cancer Center and multidisci-plinary care for every diagnosis.

• Patients can be enrolled in MCA-sponsored prevention, screening and early detection trials at HaysMed. Patients who have had standard thera-pies fail can receive access to state of the art clinical trials, thanks to the collaboration.

• MCA members share information and best practices for the benefit of patients in the region. Cancer care professionals have access to member networking events and conferences, continuing medical and nursing credits and members-only Web resources.

• Dreiling/Schmidt physicians can share valuable resources with a host of other regional cancer care leaders and be part of a team dedicated to finding answers.

• Advances in cancer care and therapies close to home help Dreiling/Schmidt attract and retain top physi-cians, nurses and staff in rural areas. These advances create and maintain jobs, and they spur related economic development.

To learn more, visit www.midwestcanceralliance.org.

MidWest cancer alliance

New drugs typically come to National Cancer Institute-designated centers first. It’s estimated NCI centers throughout the nation care for approximately 10 percent of cancer patients, leaving the majority of care to community hospitals, Doolittle said. The University of Kansas Cancer Center obtained NCI designation in June 2012.

“So it doesn’t make sense to have new drugs and new treatment options at cancer centers, because they’re only going to serve 10 percent of the people,” Doolittle said. “So the whole idea with the Midwest Cancer Alliance is to spread that throughout the region.”

Clinical trials are available for many different types, and stages, of cancer. Jo-sette Klaus, a clinical research registered nurse, reviews patient files and notifies physicians if a patient qualifies for a clinical trial. HaysMed offers several trials in-house, but some patients might be referred to Kansas City for more complex treatments. Clinical trials typically involve new chemotherapy drugs or treatment regimens.

Even if a doctor recommends partici-pation in a clinical trial, the final decision is up to the patient, Klaus said, noting the trial is explained thoroughly to patients beforehand.

All new drugs given at HaysMed are FDA approved. Patients undergoing clini-cal trials also are closely monitored by HaysMed staff, she said.

“We do nothing that is not safe,” she said. “We are the advocate of the patient here.”

Genetic testing and counseling are other services offered at the cancer institute. Genetic counseling is recom-mended for patients who might have

or be at risk of developing a hereditary form of cancer. It is estimated hereditary cancer syndromes comprise 5 percent of all cancers encountered, said Dr. Sameh Abuerreish, a medical oncologist at HaysMed.

The genetic counseling process often begins when physicians first visit with a patient. Factors such as age, ethnic-ity and whether first-degree relatives developed cancer at an early age can help doctors decide if specialized tests are necessary.

“A family pedigree is a good start,” he said.

Genetic testing identifies mutations in certain genes that occur frequently in families with hereditary cancers, such as breast, colon, stomach and brain can-cers. The mutations are passed from one generation to the next, increasing an individual’s risk of developing cancer.

But even if a patient tests positive for these mutations, it does not necessar-ily mean that person will get cancer, he said. If a mutation is identified, younger relatives who also might be at risk can be tested.

Cancer genetics specialists from KU Medical Center are available for consulta-tion via telemedicine.

Second opinions also are available at HaysMed for patients from outlying com-munities.

“Often, patients tell me they have been told by well-meaning friends and relatives to ‘get a second opinion,’ “ Fields said. “They are confused as to what a sec-ond opinion even is or how they should go about it.”

A second opinion is when a patient has questions about their treatment plan, pathology specimen, diagnosis or other health care issues.

Page 10 HealtH Mattersin focus

Dr. Babu Prasad presents findings from a case to members of the tumor board at HaysMed.

Comprehensive care

“Cancer treatment is a team effort. ... With the help of other team members, you can make a better diagnosis and you can offer better treatment.”

Dr. Babu Prasad, Radiation Oncologist

When a patient is diagnosed with a new cancer at HaysMed, the case has been reviewed by two pathologists, she said.

However, patients sometimes are referred to a larger institution.

“It may be we recommend travel-ing for a ‘second opinion’ to enroll in a treatment trial not open at Hays Medical Center,” she said. “It may also be that cer-tain treatments cannot be administered at Hays Medical Center, such as induc-tion treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia.”

HaysMed oncologists also host “tumor board” discussion groups twice a month. Doctors and nurses from Hays and the region gather to share information about complex cases and seek input from others.

The meetings seek to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to treating cancer, thus providing better patient care, Prasad said.

“Cancer treatment is a team effort. One person cannot do it,” he said. “So different specialists are involved. With the help of other team members, you can make a better treatment plan and you can offer better treatment.”

The meetings also serve as a platform

for continuing professional education for health care professionals.

Beginning when a patient is diag-nosed and continuing through the treat-ment’s duration, HaysMed has staff on hand to help patients and their families.

New patients complete an orienta-tion process, during which they are provided a wealth of information.

Information about the specific type of disease and available resources is provided, as well as a health manage-ment tool to help patients keep track of various appointments and medications.

Stephanie Bedore, cancer support programs coordinator, helps families identify support programs, both local and nationwide, they might qualify for. HaysMed offers lodging assistance for qualifying patients, enabling them to stay at a Hays hotel for as little as $10 per night.

“It’s huge,” Bedore said. “Numerous patients probably wouldn’t have re-ceived their treatments if there wouldn’t have been a place for them to stay while they did get treatments.”

HealtH Matters Page 11in focus

continued on Page 12

Cathy Carney receives a makeover from Janel Weigel as part of Look Good ... Feel Better at HaysMed.

HaysMed’s cancer support group is for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer and family members dealing with cancer. Support people and caregivers are invited to attend, too.

The group meets at 6 p.m. at the Center for Health Improve-ment Education Room on the following days:

• Oct. 11• Nov. 15• Dec. 13The group is free to attend.

Call (785) 623-5757 for more information.

suPPort

look good ... feel BetterLook Good ... Feel Better is a free

program from the American Cancer Society designed for women dealing with hair loss and skin changes from chemotherapy and radiation.

You can learn specific techniques to help you make the most of your ap-

pearance while undergoing treatment. You also will take home a makeup package valued at $200.

The next events will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 29, Nov. 26 and Dec. 17 at the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute.

Call (785) 623-5757 to register.

For a complete list of patient resources, visit www.haysmed.com/supportservices

Full support

“Numerous patients probably wouldn’t have received their treatments if there wouldn’t have been a place for them to stay while they did get their treatments.”

Stephanie Bedore, Cancer Support Programs

Page 12 HealtH MatterssPecialty

After recognizing a need to provide comprehensive care to breast cancer patients and survivors,

HaysMed founded the Breast Care Center in 2011.

The center offers a wide array of pre-ventive services, striving to help women who might be at an increased risk of the disease because of family history.

“Some of our patients have risks as high as 85 to 90 percent at some point during their lifetime,” said Dr. Anne O’Dea, an oncologist specializing in breast care. “So obviously, these patients want to be proactive and do everything they can with their health to try to minimize the risk.”

Patients can ask their primary care

physicians to refer them to the Breast Care Center, or they can make appoint-ments themselves.

Genetic testing and counseling are available, and health care providers educate patients about healthy lifestyle choices. Approximately 50 women have qualified for genetic testing at the center during the past year, O’Dea said.

“There are actually quite a lot of women in the region who would benefit and meet the eligibility criteria for ge-netic testing,” she said, “which obviously is highly beneficial to that woman and also for their family.”

If a patient is found to have a genetic predisposition that could increase the risk of developing breast cancer, they

might be given preventive medicines.The center, currently located in the

Oak Park medical complex, 2501 E. 13th, is housed adjacent to the imag-ing center, making it a one-stop shop for women needing mammograms. The center will move to the hospital’s main campus, along with imaging, following ongoing renovations.

Thanks partly to a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Breast Care Center also offers patient navigation services, led by nurse practitioner Nicole Spray.

She helps coordinate care for breast cancer patients, helping them find the resources they need and schedule nec-essary appointments.

Nurse practitioner Nicole Spray and oncologist Dr. Anne O’Dea staff the Breast Care Center at HaysMed.

Patients, survivors benefit from center

∆

“We’re trying to make the best use of a lady’s time and expedite their care so we can get them the answers they need in a timely manner,” Spray said.

The Komen grant also will enable HaysMed to offer a new gas voucher program for women who might need financial assistance when traveling to Hays for appointments and procedures.

“There are some people out in the community we serve who have difficul-ty getting to an appointment specific to their breast health,” Spray said. “Whether it be getting here to have a biopsy or just getting here to have a mammo-gram.”

Staff also work to help identify out-side resources from which breast cancer patients can benefit. The ultimate goal is to help eliminate the obstacles that might keep women from achieving the level of care they need.

Once a patient is diagnosed with breast cancer, staff work closely with other specialties, such as radiation on-cology, general surgery and reconstruc-tive surgery, to help women achieve their desired results.

The center also helps breast cancer patients identify and take advantage of clinical trials through the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. Approximately 50 northwest Kansas women are participating in a diet and exercise study for breast cancer survivors, O’Dea said.

“We’re seeing fabulous results from that,” she said. “Women are able to par-ticipate in this program, and by doing so, they are significantly reducing their risk of recurrence of breast cancer.”

The center also provides several education events each year for breast cancer survivors. Previous sessions have offered tips for healthful eating and dealing with anxiety and depression.

“We want to help the ladies who have had breast cancer from the time their medical oncologist releases them to 20 years out,” Spray said. “We follow those ladies and help manage those long-term side effects or problems that arise.”

• • •For more information, contact the Breast

Care Center at (785) 623-5114 or visit www.haysmed.com/breastcarecenter.

HealtH Matters Page 13sPecialty

Oct. 13 — Flamingo 5K Run/Walk at Breast Care Center

Advanced registration informa-tion available at www.haysmed.com/flamingo. Race day check-in at 8 a.m.; race starts at 8:30 a.m.

Oct. 15 — Pink Zumbathon at Center for Health Improvement

“Get Your Pink On” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the CHI gym.

Oct. 16 — Women’s Health Sym-posium for Cancer Survivors

Question and Answer Panel Pre-sentation for Women, 7 p.m., Center for Health Improvement, west Orthopedic entrance.

uPcoMing events

Bedore also helps patients identify other resources, such as the Cancer Council of Ellis County, the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The ACS offers a popular transporta-tion assistance program to help qualify-ing patients offset fuel costs.

HaysMed also offers a financial consultation, during which patients visit with financial customer service repre-sentatives to discuss billing practices, insurance policies and other concerns patients might have.

The institute also offers a resource library. Patients can obtain materials pertaining to cancer, treatments and how to cope through the process.

An image boutique also is available to help patients, particularly females, who have lost their hair or are strug-gling with changes in appearance through cancer treatments. Patients can obtain wigs, scarves and other acces-sories.

Another program, “Look Good and Feel Better,” is a two-hour session with li-censed cosmetologists. Patients receive complete makeovers, and are given tips for applying makeup and using different head coverings.

The ACS also provides a free beauty kit valued at about $200 to each patient.

“Patients have said to me, ‘Wow, I’ve wanted to face the day now that I look like myself,’ “ Bedore said. “It makes them feel normal again, and it also gives them that boost of security to go out and

continue to push forward with their cancer treatment.”

The hospital’s Center for Health Im-provement offers massage therapy and a Healing in Motion program, in which patients can work with a cancer exercise specialist.

There also are several support groups available for patients and families dur-ing and beyond the healing process. The cancer institute has its own sup-port group, and there are other options, such as the nationally known 4th Angel programs.

Another major focus of the institute is educating patients about nutrition. Coupons are available for nutritional supplements, and some patients are referred to HaysMed’s nutritional spe-cialists.

“Cancer treatments will affect your taste, your smell, your appetite and the ability to eat foods,” Bedore said. “So nutrition is a big thing for our patients. Patients who come in well nourished, they do have a better prognosis or chance of recovery.”

• • •The Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Insti-

tute program is one of the oldest ac-credited cancer programs in the nation, first receiving approval in 1951 from the American College of Surgeons and having continuous approval ever since. The program is approved as a cancer program by the American College of Surgeons’ prestigious Commission on Cancer.

froM Page 11

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Page 14 HealtH Mattersintervention

Early detection improves outcomes

When it comes to cancer treat-ment, one thing is clear: Patient outcomes usually are

better when the disease is detected in its early stages.

Screenings are available for some of the most common forms of cancer, and patients should know the recommen-dations and remember to get checked regularly, said Dr. Sameh Abuerreish, a medical oncologist at HaysMed.

“We really can double or triple our early detection rates just by apply-ing the existing screening guidelines,” Abuerreish said.

When cancer is detected at stage 1, the cure rate averages 80 percent to 90 percent.

By the time the disease reaches stage 4, it can be incurable. That’s why, he said, it’s important for patients to follow screening recommendations to help catch the disease before symptoms begin.

Patients who are unsure of the recommendations or who think they might need screenings earlier due to increased risk should visit with their primary care physicians, he said.

As a general rule, patients who are older than 50 should be screened for

colon cancer, which is the second most commonly diagnosed type of can-cer in females and third in males. The recommended screening procedure is a colonoscopy, which can be done by general surgeons at HaysMed.

For those preferring a less invasive

approach, a stool test also is available. That test, however, will not detect polyps, the pre-cancer-stages, as well as the colonoscopy does.

“Unfortunately, almost all (colon) cancer patients, who are referred to us, never had a colon cancer screening. It is striking,” Abuerreish said. “Nation-wide, 70 percent of the patients who are eligible for colon cancer screening do not get it. This has a huge impact on patients’ quality of life and a huge impact on the cost of health care.”

Women older than 40 also are en-couraged to have yearly mammograms. Patients who have a strong family his-tory of the disease can begin getting screened at an age 10 years younger than the age at which a first-degree relative developed cancer.

It’s also important for women to conduct self breast exams each month. More than half of breast cancers are de-tected by the patients, Abuerreish said.

Men between the ages of 50 and 75 also are encouraged to undergo annual PSA tests to check for prostate cancer.

Pre-emptive lung screenings are currently recommended for detection of lung cancer, and these tests are cur-rently available at HaysMed.

uPcoMing eventStress and Your

Immune SystemWhen: 3 to 4 p.m. Oct. 24Where: St. Agnes #1Who: Moira Mulhern, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO, Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing

Stress just seems to be part of everyday life. It can affect physical health, with chronic illnesses often flaring up during repeated times of stress. When hit repeatedly with stress, your immune system defenses often are impaired. Learn about the inner workings of your stress response system, its links to the immune system and strategies for managing this common aspect of life in more effective ways.

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