Cancer Patient Information

Gut Health During Cancer Treatment

Come and learn how you can help maintain your gut health to minimize symptoms and optimize your nutritional status during cancer treatment.  Questions are Welcome! 

Date: Every Thursday starting August 19th 
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Location: SCCA 3rd floor Resource Center Library

Sponsored by the SCCA Nutrition and Patient and Family Education Program.

Gut Health During Cancer Treatment

Come and learn how you can help maintain your gut health to minimize symptoms and optimize your nutritional status during cancer treatment.  Questions are Welcome!

Date: Every Thursday starting August 19th 
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Location: SCCA 3rd floor Resource Center Library

Sponsored by the SCCA Nutrition and Patient and Family Education Program.

Ask the Nurse

Stop and ask the nurse questions you have regarding your cancer treatment journey, symptoms and coping.  The nurse will help you find information and assist you with formulating question for your doctor and nurse.

Date:  Every Thursday Starting August 19th
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Location: SCCA 3rd floor Resource Center Library

Sponsored by the Patient and Family Education Program.

Fatigue - Did You Know?

Fatigue is a very common complaint for cancer patients.
Regular physical activity helps reduce fatigue. 

Helpful Suggestions for Self Care: 
• Conserve energy
• Eat as well as you can
• Eat easy-to-prepare foods
• Take short naps rather than long rest periods
• Organize time to avoid rushing
• Take short walks
• Sit down to bathe and dry off
• Obtain patient safety equipment as needed
• Modify your home environment
• Delegate tasks
• Save your energy for things that are important to you

For Additional suggestions on Fatigue please review the Fatigue Symptom Sheet

Knowledge is Power
SCCA Patient and Family Education Department

Source of information: Oncology Nursing Society

De-Stress Fest

May 19th
Presented by Ann Breen  RN, APRN, OCN and Sara Olsen MS, CHES
12 noon to 1 p.m. SCCA Room 1006-1008.

Please pre-register by signing up at the Guest Services Desk, 1st floor, or call Sara Olsen 288-1472 to RSVP.

Nausea and vomiting - Just the facts

Many patients experience nausea and vomiting at some time during the treatment process. Contrary to what most people think, nausea and vomiting have little to do with your stomach. They are actions controlled by certain centers in your brain and are involuntary. Willpower alone cannot stop nausea and vomiting.

A number of things can trigger nausea and vomiting:

• Chemotherapy agents
• Radiation
• Medications such as some narcotics
• Infections of the gastrointestinal tract

Anti-nausea (antiemetic) medications are often started before radiation and chemotherapy and then continued on a regular schedule. Even if you do not feel nauseated, you should take the medicine. The fact that you have not vomited means that the medicine is working.

What you can do at home:

• Take your anti-nausea medicine as instructed before nausea starts.
• Use distraction, relaxation, or deep-breathing techniques such as tapes, visualization, or hypnosis techniques. 
• Try breathing through your mouth.
• If you notice that the anti-nausea medicine does not seem to be controlling your nausea let the nurse know. Different medicine may be used to better control the nausea.
• Do not take any over-the-counter medicines without checking first with your nurse or doctor.
• Eat small meals during the day so stomach is not too full.  
• Avoid eating and drinking one hour before and one hour after chemotherapy.
• Avoid odors that bother you.

Take care!

~ Ann and Sara

Lymphedema

What Every Woman Facing Breast Cancer Should Know About Lymphedema

We have created a handy 4-page pamphlet of information about lymphedema. It's a PDF, so double click to open it and print it for easier reading.   Download Lymphedema

~Ann and Sara