"Anywhere But Here" - Kay Kerbyson, Ovarian Cancer Together

Anywhere But Here - Kay Kerbyson

“I want to go home”. Those were my Mom’s most memorable words, after “I love you”, just before she passed away from cancer. At that moment, I thought I knew exactly what she meant. It was physical, not a call to God to take her, but a wish to be back in the house she had lived the majority of her adult life; the house where she raised her two kids and watched them go off into the world; where she worked from and happily retired in. It was the home she shared with my Dad and the one in which she outlived him. Home in every sense of the word.

So it came as somewhat of a shock, when one morning, too exhausted from radiation therapy to get out of bed, that I said in a high pitched, strained and desperate tone, the same words. It was as much of a surprise that I said it, as it was confusing. Did I mean England where I grew up and spent my 20s? Was it New Mexico, the only place in adult life that I’d lived for more than 5 years? Or was it not even a physical place? As a curious and open-minded secularist, I knew it wasn’t heaven. But maybe, like all of us who live with chronic disease, it was more meta-physical than solid. Maybe for me it was being in the arms of my beloved parents, in the hold again of the only man I ever loved. Couldn’t that be home too?

So maybe in searching for happiness, that’s the mistake that many of us make. It’s who we’re with, and not where we are, that defines the line between home and away. Or more accurately, it’s who we are when we’re with them. So maybe, after all, my Mom did want to be with my Dad, her love of over 50 years. I thought I knew but now I’m not so sure.

For many years, knowing that my cancer was incurable, I’ve asked myself where I would want to be when I died. But I realize now I’ve been asking the wrong question. And as undeniably fickle as life is, we have to make our choices from the options we have, not the ones we want.

Because trying to find release from unescapable pain, discomfort or fatigue, can make you feel homeless if a place of serenity is not in your life. Isn’t that what anyone wants or feels when they are home, whether it’s a place or a state. A sense of peace, a feeling of being at one with your surroundings. Maybe that’s what I was searching for in that moment. To be anywhere else but here. In front of a beautiful mountain range, the sunset drifting down over the snowcapped peaks, or even better, to be there in the arms of someone who loves me? Wherever home is, for those with chronic disease, it can often be illusive. But isn’t that one of the challenges for any of us? To realize that peace comes from within, not from where we are.

Kay Kerbyson PhD is Founder and former President of Ovarian Cancer Together Inc, and organization which supports and networks survivors while educating the public about this terrible disease. She lives in West Richland with her 2 daughters. Contact her at Kay@ovariancancertogether.org 

Brave People and Improved Health - Rebecca Bowie, RN

Last summer I began teaching the Tobacco Cessation class here at Tri-Cities Cancer Center.  Through that role I have had many rewarding experiences.   It is an honor to meet so many brave people who have decided to make a change and improve their health by quitting tobacco.  I applaud each participant for taking that first step to quitting by signing up for a class.  The class is 90 minutes long and usually one per month.  Because quitting tobacco is a popular new year’s resolution, we held three classes in the month of January.  I am grateful for the heartfelt stories that are shared during class.  It is clear to me that users of tobacco are affected by the stigmatism and magnitude of their habit.  This is a habit that can be emotionally charged with feelings of guilt and personal disappointment.   It also brings along a state of worry for the user and their loved ones.  I truly believe that quitting is the single most important thing one can do to improve their health.  Along with improved health comes a renewed feeling of control over one’s life.  Many participants have shared with me how the tobacco controls them.  In the class we identify the addictive properties of nicotine and how to combat withdrawal while quitting utilizing nicotine replacement products.  These products are proven to be safe and effective.  They help alleviate the ill feelings of withdrawal so one can concentrate on the behavioral and psychological aspects to quitting.  Through the generous support of the TCCC Foundation, participants receive a free 3 week supply of either nicotine patches or gum.  It gives me the greatest pleasure as a nurse to know that I have helped someone make such a positive and truly life saving change.

Rebecca Bowie, RN
Tri-Cities Cancer Center

Rebecca serves as the lead oncology nurse at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. In a continual effort to provide the highest levels of patient care, Rebecca recently earned a Certificate of Added Qualification in Radiation Therapy Nursing by successfully completing the Oncology Nursing Society’s Radiation Oncology Certificate Program.

Support: "With a little help from my friends" - Michael Novakovich

All day yesterday I found myself singing, "(
I get by) With a little help from my friends." I guess that's what I get for leaving the Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, in my truck's cd player! Isn't it true though? We often need the support of others to do what needs to be done. Whether it is a workplace, civic or household project, help and support are often needed. This is certainly true for individuals and families faced with a cancer diagnosis. A little help from friends goes a long way.

Yesterday in our lobby we had a group of four people laughing, chatting and working on a puzzle (pictured). Together they were assembling the pieces to make a complete picture. It struck me as symbolic of the help which is often needed to pull life's pieces together. What are the benefits of allowing others to help us?

• We may complete the project sooner
• The expertise of others can lead to better outcomes
• The experience of others provides a fresh perspective and creative approaches
• They help share the load
• We aren't alone should challenges arise

I'm sure you can add to the list. In fact, I would encourage you to leave a response post regarding where you have found support or how you have given it. You just might help someone find a new avenue to face a challenge they are facing.

Working at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center I have the privilege of seeing a high-level of support happen on a daily basis. It provides quite an education on how to approach life in a meaningful way. Here we see families helping patients, patients helping patients, staff helping patients and their families as they (staff) help each other provide the highest levels of care. I see volunteers helping patients while they also offer support to staff. Of course, our staff also work diligently with our healthcare partners in the region to provide an integrated system of cancer care for the community we serve.

All of this comes back to the people we serve: patients and their families. Each group has a unique set of needs as it relates to support. I recently interviewed Gayle Bittinger, a local author who is battling breast cancer. Gayle mentioned to me that while she appreciates the numerous support groups we host, sharing in a group setting didn't fit her personality. Instead, she turned to journaling. You would think this is an individual act, one that doesn't require support. If fact, Gayle's journaling involved her family, friends, and healthcare team. Her journal became a book and I am certain she would tell you, it wouldn't have been published if it weren't for the support in her life (join us as Gayle shares excerpts from her book on February 10th - see our Calendar of Events www.tccancer.org).

We all need support in one form or another. It can be hard admitting it. Often we need to let down our guard to receive it. Many of us have been conditioned to go it alone. Yet, there is great truth to the notions that, two heads are better than one, many hands make light work, and the more the merrier.

As for me, I get by with a little help from my friends.

~ Michael

Michael Novakovich
Director of Business Development
Tri-Cities Cancer Center

What does twenty years bring about? For a newborn, twenty years might bring about college, military service, the start of a career or a family. A twenty year span for that college age person would put them in their 40s, mid-career, established and hopefully more mature! That same person twenty years latter might be thinking about retirement while enjoying their grandchildren. Give this person another twenty years and they might be enjoying great-grandchildren, giving of their talents volunteering (we have several volunteers at the TCCC who fit this bill – love ‘em!) and enjoying the time they have with family.

A lot can happen in the span of twenty years. Did the visionaries who dreamed of a world-class cancer center here in the Tri-Cities expect the Tri-Cities Cancer Center to have the capabilities it has today. Was the expectation then to host medical oncology and a laboratory on site along with radiation treatment? Did the community activists who raised funds and championed one community cancer treatment facility envision hosting the region’s largest cancer resources library? Was the expectation then to have a Patient Navigation team who are an integrated part of a patient’s healthcare team, providing patient advocacy, financial counseling, emotional and spiritual support as well as much needed resources? Did our hospital owners ever expect that their joint efforts would one day realize our partnerships would allow the Tri-Cities Cancer Center to screen over 650 people annually, saving countless lives, while offering theses services free to the community.

Did the leadership of the Cancer Center twenty years ago ever expect we would offer monthly community education programs, numerous support groups, classes like Tobacco Cessation, free hats, wigs, scarves, breast prosthetics, haircuts and wig styling, salon facials, WellFitTM classes, yoga, a nutritionist, Look Good…Feel Better classes and offer all of this free of charge thanks to the community’s generous support of our Foundation.

Twenty years can bring about a lot of change. As we look forward to the next twenty years we envision an integrated cancer care system for the region, providing patients with a seamless network of care between the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, our hospital owners and valued healthcare partners. We have already begun this journey by bringing physicians who specialize in specific areas cancer care under our roof, working in a collaborative fashion to provide patients with the very highest levels of care. In fact, our leadership has raised the bar by establishing standards of care that are above nationally recognized best practices.

This year we celebrate our 20th anniversary. We celebrate the people who helped to establish the Tri-Cities Cancer Center and those who have traveled this journey with us. We celebrate our growth. More than anything else, we celebrate our future as patients realize a higher level of quality care, improved outcomes and greater quality of life. 

A Healthy 2014 - Michael Novakovich, TCCC

Climbing Badger Mt. with my mentee, Nathan (left),
and my two pups, Primo and Marciano.

Diet and exercise. My guess is…diet and exercise, or their desired benefits, are at the top of most New Year’s resolution lists. I think it’s safe to say that we all want to be healthy. We want to feel good and enjoy the benefits a healthy lifestyle provides, including the prevention of cancer.

Working our way towards better health doesn’t have to be a monumental task. In fact, time and a again you’ll read tips from healthcare professionals suggesting you should start by making small/manageable changes and continue to build on these. Maybe you start by getting active. No, this doesn’t mean you need to train for a marathon! Instead, commit to talking a walk then grow the number of days you walk and the length/duration. From there you might be able to work you way up to a Zumba class (Lori Lott, our Foundation Special Events Coordinator, is an instructor) or another activity that gets your heart rate going. Already active, good for you! Stay the course and perhaps find ways to keep your routine fresh. The good news is, numerous studies have shown physical activity reduces your risk of cancer and improves survivorship of those diagnosed with cancer.

What about diet? Glad you asked! Diet is critical to your health and wellbeing. Portion control is often a good place to start. The “Super Sized” society we live in has warped the perceptions of many as to what is a reasonable portion size. I speak from experience here… While we do need to gain control over our food intake, what we eat plays an even bigger role. There are several foods that have cancer-fighting properties. Do a search on Cruciferous Vegetables and Cancer Prevention and you will find a wealth of information.

Cancer screenings such as mammograms, cervical examinations, colorectal screenings and many others are key in staying healthy along with regular check ups with your doctor. Avoid risky behaviors such as smoking and excessive use of alcohol. Educate yourself on sun protection and put into practice what you have learned. Get immunized! This list is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to cancer prevention. Nor is it medical advice. Our hope is that this information sparks a conversation between you and your doctor about what is the right path for you to follow so you may enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle!

The links below provide a wealth of information on diet, exercise and general cancer prevention. There are many other great sites as well, including information provided by the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, which we are a Network Member of: http://www.seattlecca.org/prevention-early-detection.cfm

Hope you all have a healthy 2014. I have to run, just heading out the door to take my dogs for a walk!

~ Michael

Michael Novakovich
Director Business Development
Tri-Cities Cancer Center

Nation Cancer Institute prevention information: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/overview/patient

National Cancer Institute physical activity information: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/physicalactivity

National Cancer Institute nutrition information: http://www.nutrition.gov/nutrition-and-health-issues/cancer

USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-PolicyDocument.htm

My TCCC Internship - Eilonwy Shugars, Delta High School

Me and Dr. Mandell

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a doctor. But when my Career Choices teacher, Mrs. Blankingship, started talking about internships I could not imagine finding a medical internship that was not going to be more than filing patient papers. When I was starting internship with the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, I was super excited as well as nervous to be in a medical institution, without being a patient. I knew I was going to be spending time in three different areas, but I wasn’t sure what exactly I was going to be doing on a daily basis.

The month of September was spent learning the ins and outs of the nursing area of the clinic. I would help the nurses take back the patients and go in with the doctors. It was amazing to observe doctor-patient interactions. I was able to gain a different perspective from the patient point of view,which I feel I have mastered, and the doctor point of view, which I hope to master in the future. I would have to say that my favorite experience during my time in this area was where I had gone in with Dr. Mandell. While she was chatting with the patient when out of the blue either the patient or a family member of the patient, complimented me on my shoes. Now I know that that was a petty sort of compliment, but it meant the world to me. It signified to me that I was capable of being personable to a patient as well as professional.

I spent October back in the dosimetry lab, learning the ropes of patient treatment planning. Alot of what I did was the contouring of the organs of various CT scan using the program that the dosimetrist complete the actual treatment plans with. I had to do some reading every week because the contouring I was going to do was based on the text of the textbook I got to read. Every week I essentially had this a unit that I had to complete the reading and then I got to contour the organs. Shelley Cole and Kristi Rhodes showed me the ropes of the program, and were available to help me with any questions I had. I enjoyed being able to use the computer, to essentially create this hypothetical person, or at least a portion of one, that was displayed anatomically on the screen in front of me.

During my time with the dosimetrists, I also had the pleasure to work the medical physicist, Rex Ayers, and help him perform a quality assurance test on a patient’s treatment plan. I was shocked when we went into the room, he handed me the pendant to the machine, and essentially said here is what we are doing, here is how YOU are going to do it, and I will be right here making sure you don’t run the table into the machine. These treatment machines are huge, and being a high school student, I surprised that I was even going to be able to touch it, let alone make it move. When we were outside performing the actual tests, he did the same exact thing, he told me how and when to essentially deliver radiation to a theoretical patient, and the entire time I had nothing less than an enormous grin on my face.

November and the first half of December has been spent with the radiation therapists. I was able to complete the lining up with the lasers, with patients actually on the table. This time around, I wasn’t able to pretend that I was delivering the treatment to the patient. Mainly due to the fact that the patient was actually on the table, and I do not have the training or hold the certification to actually deliver the treatment to said patients.  However, I believe that the more important experience was being able to get to know the patients that were being treated during the afternoon for the short time that I was there. I remember early on in my time at this “station”, that I came into the room as they were taking the patient off the table and taking her out of the room. She pats me on the shoulder and says, “See you tomorrow.” She quickly became my favorite patient to see after school. I was able to listen to her stories as we were setting her up on the table, and it was just amazing getting to learn about the person that we were treating.

My internship has been nothing short of amazing, and to be perfectly honest, it reaffirmed my belief that I need to be in the medical field within the first week. I not only learned the inner-workings of a medical facility and how the different roles of people mesh together to make operations of a medical facility  as smooth as possible, but I was also able to get to know people who truly care about their patients. You can see it in the way with the patients and with each other to provide the best care for the patients that they can. My experiences here at the Cancer Center have shown me what it means to be a health-care provider, regardless of what specialty you are in. Professional, personable, dedicated, and caring; these are the attributes I have learned through my experiences at the Cancer Center that are important to my career path. I will take these lessons and experiences and use them to improve the world that I live in, by improving the world of others. I hope one day I can be a fraction of a team of extraordinary people that make a difference in people’s lives every single day.

Eilonwy Shugars
Delta High School
Class of 2014

Partners, Amigos, Teammates... - Michael Novakovich

Partners - The TCCC crew at Autumn Affair.

Partner, amigo, teammate, ally, buddy, companion, friend... so much we do in life is enhanced through partnership. Think about work-life, personal relations, or activities like team sports. Great success can be had in these arenas through partnership. Partners make us better, allow us to do more, offer more and go farther. Through partnership we often learn, stretch and grow. Pretty cool when you think about it.

Partnership not only enhances much of what we do, it is often a requirement for success. We have some great partners at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. Too many for me to list and recognize here. However, I find it heartwarming to know how committed our community is to the health and well being of its members. Yesterday I was speaking to Genna at the Tri-City Court Club about a program we partner on called WellFit™. WellFit™ is a customized exercise program for cancer patients and cancer survivors. The goal of this program is to help patients build muscle mass and strength, improve range of motion, and increase endurance and flexibility. The positive responses we receive from participants are incredible. What makes this even better is, this program is offered to cancer patients free-of-charge thanks to our partnership with the Tri-City Court Club. Cancer Survivor Sadie Haff wrote a wonderful piece for our June newsletter that highlights this program. Definitely worth a read: http://interactivepdf.uniflip.com/2/59887/303906/pub/.

We are fortunate to have many partnerships like this throughout our community. I also see partnership within our walls on a daily basis. Our physicians, clinical staff and support services staff partner with one another to meet each patient’s unique and specific needs. This same group of people partner with other physicians and healthcare providers in our region and beyond to provide the highest levels of care. Patients partner with their spouses, children, brothers, sisters, grandchildren and more to support them as they face a journey fighting cancer. Bringing it full circle, our community partners with the Cancer Center so we can best serve those people whose life will be enhanced by partnering with us for their care.

Partners, its hard to imagine life without partners. We truly appreciate each and every partnership we have. Consider this a virtual Hi-Five, knuckle bump, pat on the back - we appreciate you for taking the time read our blog and for being a part of the TCCC family.

Until next time... Adiós Amigos!

~ Michael


Michael Novakovich
Director of Business Development
Tri-Cities Cancer Center