2013 Mid-Columbia STEM Catalyst Award Winner

This past Monday the the Tri-Cities Cancer Center was recognized as the 2013 Mid-Columbia STEM Catalyst Award winner. We are deeply honored by this recognition. We have had the pleasure and privilege to host four Delta High School interns this year. A young man named Isaac spent a trimester working with our physicist (visit the following to read a blog about his experience: http://tccancer.blogspot.com/). Two students, Cecily (more about Cecily below) and Ignacio have interned in our clinic working with our radiation oncologist, dosimetrists, radiation therapists and nurses. Our fourth intern, Jasmin, has spent the entire year with us. She has worked with our business office, marketing & public relations department and with our Foundation working on event planning and fundraising.

All of our Delta interns have been incredibly talented and deeply committed to their internship positions and personal development. In fact, just this past Friday, Jasmin created an event called, Paintings for Patients, as her senior project. She solicited donated works of art and photography for local artists, planned, promoted and hosted a silent auction, which was open to the public, and raised $2145 to provide non-reimbursed services to local cancer patients and their families. Amazing success!

Cecily also chose the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, and our community, as the beneficiary of her culminating senior project. Next Friday, April 5th, she has put together public educational presentation call Cancer Nutrition Information. She is working with Dietitian Gretchen Millard who will be presenting the necessity of good nutrition during cancer treatment, how to make and keep a nutritional plan, and the role of diet as it relates to cancer risk. Tasty samples of nutritional recipes will be provided to attendees along with additional nutritional information. This presentation is open to the public. View our Calendar of Events to RSVP online: www.tccancer.org. We are so proud of all of our interns!

Many positions within our organization require national recruiting from a limited pool of qualified individuals. STEM education is helping to provide for our future. Not only are STEM studies fundamental to a career in radiation oncology, the exposure afforded our industry through internship programs is paramount. It isn’t just the students who benefit from the internship. They share their experiences with their peer group as well as their family – enlightening friends, siblings and others to career options that they may not otherwise considered. Truly a winning combination for all involved.

We are grateful to have an opportunity to partner with Delta High School and again, very honored to be recognized in this fashion. However, it is the educators, administrators, supporters and students of STEM education that need to be recognized. They are the true catalyst for change, helping to fuel our industry along with so many others. As it relates to our industry, their efforts are sure to positively affect the quality of cancer care for future generations.

We love our sponsors!

We love our sponsors! You might be thinking, “Well…of course you do. They help to finance your various fundraising efforts.” While it’s true, we greatly appreciate their contributions which allow us to host various events, raising cancer awareness in our community and funds for numerous free-of-charge services we offer cancer patients, our sponsors provide much more than financial support. They provide leadership as employees of several sponsors serve on our Foundation Board of Directors. Their staff provides time through volunteerism and often services to support our efforts as we endeavor to create a healthier Tri-Cities community. They also work as ambassadors of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center as they engage others in their professional and personal lives. Our relationships with our sponsors are key in elevating the level of cancer care, treatment and services offered at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. 

That said, it is with great appreciation that we welcome CH2M HILL as Presenting Sponsor of Run for Ribbons 2013! CH2M HILL has generously supported the Tri-Cities Cancer Center for many years. Their contributions support a variety of programs and services and a generous commitment in 2009 has afforded our community the cancer resource library located here at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, The Ralph R. Peterson Resource Library. CH2M HILL has also contributed numerous man-hours to ensure the success of our community supported, not-for-profit, Cancer Center. We look forward to their staff volunteers helping us to host a successful run/walk at Howard Amon Park on April 27th!  

To learn more about Run For Ribbons visit our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/RunForRibbons or register at: www.runforribbons.org

Thank you Sponsors! It is through your support and the support of the Tri-Cities community that we are able to make a meaningful difference in lives of cancer patients and their families.

Paintings for Patients - Jasmin Garcia (TCCC Intern) Senior Project

Hello! Jasmin Garcia here – Delta High School Senior and Tri-Cities Cancer Center Intern. I have created a fundraising event for the TCCC as my senior project and we would like you to attend!

My senior project event is titled Paintings for Patients—a silent auction gallery night to raise money for Support Service offered through the Tri-Cities Cancer Center to area cancer patients in need. Resources at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center provide cancer patients with numerous free services such as:

·         Cancer screenings

·         Wigs

·         Hats

·         Scarves

·         Tobacco cessation classes and products

·         Educational classes

·         Support groups

·         And More!

I created this event because I love art (especially local art), planning events, marketing and of course the Tri-Cities Cancer Center! We live in a community where art has a strong presence. I incorporated that aspect into Paintings for Patients by having all of the artwork at the auction come from local artists and photographers. In addition to artwork, local photographers have offered gift certificates for photography sessions and more. All proceeds will benefit the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation, and will be used to continue providing the best care for cancer patients in our community.

The event will take place on March 22, 2013 here at the Wellness Center from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM.

Paintings for Patients is open to the public. Hope to see you there!

Please contact me, Jasmin Garcia, if you have any questions: jasming@tccancer.org

I Love Peanut Butter - Michael Novakovich

Vicki, our Director of Finance & Operations, and I at
our "Let's Make Pink Just Another Color" event.

I love peanut butter. Yup, it’s true…I love peanut butter. It is a staple in my diet. My daily breakfast always contains some amount of peanut buttery goodness: peanut butter on a banana with coffee, all natural rolled oats with peanut butter and banana (yum!) or a peanut butter and banana smoothie made with frozen strawberries (no sugar added) and organic soy milk…delicious! I don’t go in for the sugary peanut butter the choosy moms choose. No sir. I love all natural, nothing but peanuts, peanut butter. Mmm…

Seems we have a few peanut butter lovers down here at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. Earlier this week Marilin, Administrative Assistant to our Clinical Director, wandered into my office at around 7 a.m. with a jar of peanut butter. Even though I had just enjoyed my daily dose, I got excited. Convinced she came to share some of her spreadable deliciousness I began to reach for the spoon I keep in my desk drawer for just such an occasion! Turns out she was having trouble opening the lid on her new jar of Jif®. Marilin proceeded to tell me she has been enjoying peanut butter as a breakfast tradition since she was in college. Just yesterday I saw our Patient Registrar, Brenda, enjoying what looked like a milkshake first thing in the morning. When asked what she was drinking she provided the in-depth details of a delightful sounding peanut butter smoothie! A woman after my own heart…

So, you might be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with cancer?” Peanuts are actually “legumes” which are high in nutritional value and according to the National Cancer Institute, have shown to lower the risk of prostate cancer.  Be sure to select an all-natural, organic variety, which does not contain any pesticides (carcinogens/cancer-causing agents). Organic, all natural, peanut butter is also free of nasty preservatives and contains a good amount of vitamin E, which helps to fight free radicals (damage caused by free radicals may lead to cancer).  

If you are a cancer patient or at high risk for cancer be sure to speak with your physician to see if peanut butter is a healthy option for you.

As for me, I’m off to get a spoonful of my favorite treat! - Michael


Michael Novakovich
Director of Business Development
Tri-Cities Cancer Center

Isaac Chassin - Delta High School Intern

I am Isaac Chassin; I recently finished my internship at the Tri Cities Cancer Center working with their Medical Physicist. My time at the Tri Cities Cancer Center was a great experience. I learned things that cannot be taught from a book. Having the hands on experience, working with the treatment machines and being behind the scenes, showed me just how much work goes into a patient’s treatment. Before the patient is even treated their treatment is planned from scans taken. The plan is tested for quality assurance so that the patient remains safe and their cancer is treated properly. The employees at the Tri Cities Cancer each work hard for the best patient care.  Each patient is treated like family, we get to know our patients and patients get to know each other. To some, radiation treatment may seem scary, after all it is radiation. However, it is safe. Every employee double-checks each others’ work, and everything is watched during treatment to ensure the patient, guest and employees are perfectly safe. If anyone ever asked me where I think the best cancer treatment center is around the Tri Cities I would not waste a second thinking about it: the best is without a doubt the Tri Cities CancerCenter.