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