Enloe Regional Cancer Center

April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Learn the symptoms of head and neck cancers these include a lump or a sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing and a hoarseness in the voice. Alcohol and tobacco use increases your risk for these cancers. Infection with cancer-causing types of HPV can also increase your risk. Talk to your provider and learn more at https://www.headandneck.org/types/.

Best Book recommendation for March! Yoga for Cancer by #cancer survivor Tari Prinster offers personal insights, inspiration and essential yoga tools specifically for those living with this disease. Designed for all levels of ability, this book is simple in its design and comprehensive in its scope. The Enloe Regional Cancer Center Library is closed for browsing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but you can check out materials by contacting us. Search our online catalog below then call (530) 332-3856 to arrange pick up: https://www.enloe.org//cance/library/cancer-center-library

At #Enloe Medical Center, we’ve earned accolades for our #cancer care. But what makes Enloe really special is the people who are here for you, like surgeon Karen Ching-Tismal, M.D. Hear what drives her as part of your cancer care team. Learn more: www.enloe.org/services-and-t/cancer-care/cancer-center-home

March is #ColorectalCancerAwarenessMonth. In the past, colorectal #cancer mainly affected those 50 years of age and older. But in recent years, it has been appearing more and more among younger adults. Protect yourself! Talk to your provider about screening options starting at age 45. Learn more: https://coloncancercoalition.org//what/colon-cancer-facts/

Tap into your power through #Enloe’s Patient #Empowerment Program. Uncover skills to help shift how you experience your treatment and restore balance to your life. Open to all patients and caregivers facing serious illness, this free training is based on the Community Resiliency Model. Upcoming sessions with instructor and cancer thriver Emiliano Cornejo take place April 13 and April 15 on Zoom. Regular booster sessions are offered the second and fourth Friday of every month from 3:30-4:45 p.m. For more information, call (530) 332-3856.

Cancer won’t wait and neither should you! That’s the message from a coalition of 76 organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The groups are concerned about a decline in #cancer screenings due to COVID-19. Over 10,000 excess deaths in the U.S. from breast and colorectal cancer alone over the next 10 years will be because of pandemic-related delays in #cancer screenings and treatment, according to the National Cancer Institute. Learn more and talk to your provider: https://www.nccn.org/res//RESUMESCREENING-FACT%20SHEET.pdf

Tip from three-time #cancer #survivor and nurse Cindy Stewart: "I was treated at both UC Davis and Enloe, and how very grateful I am for my treatment at Enloe! I started work as an #Enloe caregiver in 1973 and retired in 2011. The goal while I was working was to always put the needs of the patient first, and that same theme resonated while I was a patient. The care, concern, and follow-up proved how everyone on the team is on my side with the same goal: Survive and live. My helpful tip is to keep a notebook handy. When a question ran through my mind, I could write it down and ask the appropriate person. Sometimes it took time to get an answer, but I was able to keep track with my list!"

Thank you, Bridging the Gap for Breast Cancer Fund for donating $10,000 two years in a row to the #Enloe Lymphedema Clinic. For 25 years the charity has hosted the Pink Ribbon Open golf tournament which is supported by the Canyon Oaks Women’s Club and held at Canyon Oaks Country Club to raise money for the charity. The donations are used to help breast cancer patients who do not have insurance or funds to pay for sleeves, wraps, bras and other tools to treat #lymphedema. ... The clinic’s Lead Occupational Therapist Karen Fleming says, We can offer education about lymphedema, but patients need tools to go with the education to effectively treat or prevent lymphedema. These things are not covered by Medicare, so these donations have benefited hundreds of patients. It’s made a huge impact! Note: This photo was taken in 2020 before the pandemic.

#Enloe is committed to bringing new physicians to meet the needs of our growing community. Recently, Soumya Pai, M.D., a breast surgeon, joined our medical staff. Welcome to the team!

Survivor tip from breast cancer survivor Amy Roberts: A cancer diagnosis can be disorienting. Almost immediately after diagnosis you are asked to make decisions that affect the rest of your life, you are faced with explaining things to friends and loved ones that may not even make sense to you, and you may feel that your life and future are no longer under your control. Reorient yourself by looking for ways to exercise your control. One of the key areas of control to focus on... is your attitude ... Whatever attitude you embrace is the attitude everyone around you will mirror back to you. A positive outlook will greatly influence the outcome of your treatment and recovery. Go forward in faith, know that you are strong and find ways to enjoy the journey. And get a pink wig! They truly have a magical effect on everyone’s attitude yours and others.

During cancer treatment, your mouth, skin, hair and nails need extra care! Dermatologist Kafele T. Hodari, M.D., and dental hygienist Luciana Crawford will offer tips and answer questions during our next Brighter Days Skin Care Program class. Join us on Zoom on Nov. 6 at 2:30 p.m. Call (530) 332-3856 for the Zoom invite.

Do you know the 12 signs of #BreastCancer? Know Your Lemons is a fun way to learn about important breast changes that can indicate breast cancer. Check it out: www.knowyourlemons.com/symptoms

Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto is our Best Book recommendation this month. A cartoonist for The New Yorker and Glamour, Marchetto’s full-color memoir about her cancer journey will make you laugh out loud and will touch your heart. The Enloe Regional Cancer Center Library is closed for browsing due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but you can check out materials by contacting us. Search our online catalog below then call (530) 332-3856 to arrange pick up: https://www.enloe.org//cance/library/cancer-center-library

Catch this virtual conference! The Wellness & Wisdom: Living Beyond Breast Cancer Conference takes place Oct. 24 and 25. Offered by Living Beyond Breast Cancer, the event will feature live sessions with experts, videos and opportunities to connect with other attendees all from the comfort of your own home. Learn more and register: https://www.lbbc.org//wellness-wisdom-living-beyond-breast

Tap into your power through Enloe’s Patient Empowerment Program. Uncover skills to help shift how you experience your treatment and restore balance to your life. Open to all patients and caregivers facing serious illness, this free training is based on the Community Resiliency Model. Sessions take place Nov. 10 and 12 through Zoom. For more information, please call (530) 332-3856.

Every year more than 200,000 women and 2,300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The best protection is early detection. Learn more from Karen Ching-Tismal, M.D., and Soumya Pai, M.D., from Enloe Comprehensive Breast Care on Facebook. They’ll go over the signs of breast cancer, screening and treatment options, what you can do to reduce your risk, and more in honor of #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth. Follow Enloe on Facebook to view the broadcast and be sure to ask your questions.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life Butte County prevailed in spite of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic! A few familiar faces from the Enloe Regional Cancer Center offered encouragement to cancer survivors and relay participants during the drive-thru Luminaria and virtual event. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFXIHrfps8Y

Cancer survivors, there’s still time to sign up for the Faces of Hope photo shoot! This year marks the 15th anniversary of the portrait exhibit that displays at the Enloe Regional Cancer Center. For more information on the exhibit or to participate, call Rebecca Senoglu, Enloe’s Cancer Support Program coordinator, at (530) 332-3856.

The Cancer Support Team is available to provide one-on-one support and educational resources through the phone, online, and through mail during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To reach the team, call (530) 332-3856. Caregivers will continue to serve you in any way they can!

Survivor tip from Ericka Fellersen: I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was very fortunate that it was visible on my neck, which led to early treatment. Having a good doctor and a good support system helped more than I can say. A major positive was that I was still on my parents’ insurance and young enough to still live at home. As terrible as it is to get cancer as a young adult, that was one silver lining. I say, embrace the bald! Buy a bunch of cheap wigs and watch YouTube video...s on how to make them nicer. This is the perfect time to try out weird and whacky styles. I started wearing crop tops! You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. You’re battling a terrible disease. That was another silver lining: having fun with fashion free of judgements! Seriously, do what you want while you can. Decide you are going to enjoy the time you have, and no one can stop you!

Join the Relay For Life of Butte County tomorrow from 6-8 p.m. at 2080 E. 20th St. in Chico for a special drive-thru Luminaria event. #Enloe Medical Center is a proud sponsor. For more information or to view the event on Facebook Live, follow Relay For Life of Butte County on Facebook. Here’s to a great #RelayForLifeButteCounty2020!