Free Cancer Survivorship Workshop Offered on Caregiving

The fourth and final in a series of free Cancer Survivorship Workshops will be held Thursday, May 16 from 6-8 p.m. at the Bismarck Public Library.

In this workshop, entitled “Taking Care of the Caregiver”, speakers will provide information specific to the emotional, spiritual and physical needs of the caregiver.  Speakers include Terri Camp, Parish Nurse Good Shepherd Lutheran Church; Charisse Fandrich, Caregiver; Sarah Klein, Survivorship Nurse, Bismarck Cancer Center; and Deb Colton, REACH Coordinator, Bismarck Cancer Center.

This Workshop is open to all cancer survivors and caregivers and includes a free meal.

Third Cancer Survivorship Workshop Focuses on Nutrition

The third in a series of free Cancer Survivorship Workshops will be held Thursday, April 18 from 6-8 p.m. at the Bismarck Public Library.

In this workshop, entitled “Nutritional Needs for the Cancer Survivor”, speakers will talk about healthy eating, cooking ideas and shopping tips. In addition, a short food demonstration will be held.  Speakers include Amanda Ihmels, Dietitian with Bismarck Cancer Center and Sanford Health; Karen Ehrens, Health and nutrition consultant and registered dietitian;  and Duane Ehrens, Chef and Supervisor at St. Alexius Medical Center.

This Workshop is open to all cancer survivors and a guest and includes a free meal.  The last workshop  scheduled is “Taking Care of the Caregiver” on May 16.  All workshops take place at the Bismarck Public Library.

The Bismarck Cancer Center, a radiation therapy center, is a cooperative venture of Sanford Bismarck and St. Alexius Medical Center. For more information on the Survivorship Workshops, please contact Sarah Klein at 701-222-6100 or visit the Bismarck Cancer Center’s website at www.bismarckcancercenter.com

My Hero Program

My Hero programThe Bismarck Cancer Center knows that the battle with cancer is difficult and life-changing.  During this personal journey, different people may have touched you in special ways that helped you win your battle or merely lessened your load. For others, a professional or a friend may have made a significant contribution to our fight against cancer that made a positive impact on the others or the community.

The Bismarck Cancer Center has developed the “My Hero” program as a way to give back and honor your hero.  All “Hero” nominees will be invited to a special reception next spring in their honor where they will be recognized for making a difference in your life.  In addition, your nomination will be listed on our website.

 

The guidelines to nominate someone are as follows:

  • Individuals that may be “My Hero”: a friend, family member, community professional, a volunteer, a clergy member or other.
  • My Hero has made a significant or meaningful contribution to my cancer journey or the journey of others.
  • My Hero has contributed to individuals in their cancer journeys through education, screening, care, support, time, assistance or other significant way.

To nominate your Hero, complete the application

We can’t wait to hear about your Hero!

Building 429 Benefit Concert Tickets now on Sale

Concert graphicChristian bands Building 429 with Rhett Walker Band, Finding Favour and special guest Carlos Whittaker  will be holding a concert to benefit the Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation (BCCF) on Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Shiloh Christian School in Bismarck.

Building 429 is an award winning band whose has had many 10 songs in the Christian contemporary arena.  Sponsored by Dvorak Motors, this concert provides an opportunity for the community of Bismarck/Mandan to enjoy Christian music, while supporting the BCCF. Concert organizer and Bismarck Cancer Center REACH Coordinator Deb Colton stated, “The Foundation benefits so many people and helps in a very stressful time.  Christian music brings hope and helps people get through these times along with other life adversity.”

Gold Circle Tickets are $30, with a 10% discount for groups of 9 or less before April 1 ($27) and a 20% discount for groups of 10 or more ($24). General Admission Tickets are $20, with a 10% discount for groups of 9 or less before April 1st ($18) and a 20% discount for groups of 10 or more ($16). Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at itickets.com; by phone at 800-965-9324; and in-person at the Rainbow Shop or at the Bismarck Cancer Center. All group tickets sales must be made at the Bismarck Cancer Center.

For more information on this event, visit www.bismarckcancercenter.com and for more information on Building 429 go to www.building429.com.

project HOPE

project Hope logoJoin the Community in project HOPE Casual Days!

Join area businesses in supporting project HOPE, an exciting week-long community event building awareness and providing wellness tips to employees about prevalent cancers in North Dakota.  This year’s Bismarck/Mandan project HOPE event is scheduled for April 15-19, 2013. This community wellness event is designed to educate employees about healthy lifestyles, cancer prevention and early detection and to promote hope for a healthier tomorrow.

Participating businesses are asked to allow their employees to dress casually and/or wear the cancer ribbon colors on the designated day in support of cancer awareness.

To participate in project HOPE, each employee is typically asked to make a donation of $10 to the Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation. In return for their donation and participation, Bismarck Cancer Center provides each business with posters, an awareness newsletter, stickers, wellness information and more.

All proceeds from project HOPE support the Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation. Donations stay local and are used to support cancer patients with financial, transportation, lodging, emotional, and additional needs.

For more information, call 701-222-6100 or to register your business online visit project HOPE.

Free Survivorship Workshop – Importance of Exercise

Live Well logo copy - purple and greenThe second in a series of free educational classes for cancer patients to embrace survivorship

The workshop, entitled “The Importance of Physical Exercise After Cancer”, will talk about the importance of physical exercise after cancer. Those attending will be able to participate in a half hour guided relaxation/gentle stretching exercise. Speakers for this workshop include Melanie Carvell, Director, Sanford Women’s Health Center, Dave Ukestad, Exercise Physiologist, St. Alexius Medical Center, and Renee Schwab,Pilates Instructor, YMCA.

This workshop is open to all cancer survivors and a guest and includes a free meal.  Other workshops scheduled are as follows: “Nutrition Needs for the Cancer Survivor” on April 18 and “Taking care of the Caregiver” on May 16. All workshops take place at the Bismarck Public Library.

For more information, please contact Sarah Klein at 222-6100 or by email at sklein@bismarckcancercenter.com

Give 5 to Cancer Gives Back

give5tocancerlogoGive5ToCancer.com is an online shopping company committed to providing their customers with the highest quality products and customer service while supporting a great cause. Give5ToCancer currently donates $1 for every product sold to The Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation!

Give 5 To Cancer, Inc. was started in 2012, after co-owner Loren Balkowitsch lost his sister-in-law to cancer. Loren realized he needed to do more to help anyone else going through the same battle and then started Give 5 to Cancer with co-owner Rick Schock. On www.give5tocancer.com you will find a wide variety of products from automobile and truck accessories, to home and garden items, outdoor gear, sporting goods and much more.

“We like to donate to a great foundation that provides so much for so many people who are dealing with this disease, we are all in this battle together and every little bit helps”, states Loren. In addition, Loren hosts a cancer charity golf tournament each year called the Volkowitsch Open. This wacky and fun tournament features challenges at each of the 18 holes, a helicopter golf ball drop, prizes and more! To find out more about this event visit www.bismarckcancercenter.com/event/volkowitsch-open/ or www.facebook.com/volkowitsch.

We are very thankful for Give 5 to Cancer’s continuous support of our Foundation! Check them out today at www.give5tocancer.com and www.facebook.com/give5tocancer.

Why Our New Agility Equipment Will Impact Your Radiation Treatments

Agility SynergyWe have acquired a new piece of technology called “Agility” that is going to revolutionize your radiation treatments…

What is Agility?

Agility is the next-generation, high resolution beam shaping solution from Elekta, a company with a long history of pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancers and brain disorders.

Left_190x320_LeavesTopHow does Agility work?

First, your Radiation Oncologist prescribes a treatment course to best meet your specific needs.He or she then works closely with your physicist and dosimetrist to plan the optimal radiation beams and the number of doses required for maximum treatment effectiveness without compromising your safety.

External beam radiation therapy is delivered by a machine called a linear accelerator (“linac”). As they exit the machine, high energy x-rays are shaped to conform to the targeted tumor. This shaping is achieved by a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) incorporated into the head of the machine.

The MLC controls the shape of the beam through the movement of many tungsten leaves to block various portions of the beam. Agility allows sophisticated customization of the beam that is directed to the target tumor.

How does Agility benefit patients:

The more the shape of the beam conforms to the size, shape and volume of the tumor, the more accurately it targets the tumor with minimal damage to surrounding tissues. The enhanced targeting capabilities support advanced radiation treatment techniques, such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic therapy (SRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT).

Agility’s sophisticated beam shaping capabilities enable higher dosage with reduced risk of side effects, for optimal treatment customization to support improved results. And, Agility enables faster treatment delivery, to help keep your time in treatment at a minimum.

What cancers are diagnosed most frequently in North Dakota?

Each year approximately 3,400 North Dakotans are diagnosed with a new cancer. Four cancer sites-lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate account for 56% of cancer cases in North Dakota. The good news is that survivorship is growing. Nearly 70% of people are surviving more than five years. In fact, nationally the number of post-treatment survivors has grown to nearly 12 million, with almost 24,000 cancer survivors living in North Dakota.

-Dr. Tarek Dufan

Where can I find information about the latest cancer research?

While there are innumerable websites offering anecdotes, products, op-ed articles, and even real-time chat sessions, the best quality information for patients is typically found in the websites of reputable patient advocacy organizations, such as the American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/Research/) and/or the National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials).

Since there are details specific to each patient’s diagnosis which affect the applicability of newly published research (or open studies/trials), your local oncologist is most likely to be the best resource in terms of distilling new research findings and discussing the applicability to each patient’s case. In fact, the medical and radiation oncologists here in Bismarck participate in national cooperative group trials, allowing our patients access to cancer research studies open at major academic centers around the country (e.g., M.D. Anderson, Mayo Clinic), without the burden of long-distance travel and time away from home.

-Dr. John Watkins