4<str<strong>on</strong>g>Focused</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> youThis idea came to fruiti<strong>on</strong>, and TORCH: Tales of Remarkable Courage and Hope premiered<strong>on</strong> August 27, 2007. The 25 compelling stories in <strong>the</strong> book reveal how <strong>the</strong> women drew from<strong>the</strong>ir emoti<strong>on</strong>al and spiritual resources to complement <strong>the</strong> medical treatment <strong>the</strong>y received.The stories emphasize <strong>the</strong> meaning and hope <strong>the</strong>y have found through <strong>the</strong>ir cancer journey.This book comes as a gift of hope and encouragement to o<strong>the</strong>r cancer <strong>patient</strong>s, <strong>the</strong>ir families,friends, and professi<strong>on</strong>al healthcare providers.TORCH is given to women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is available at Ernie’s AppearanceCenter in <strong>the</strong> Samm<strong>on</strong>s Cancer Center and also through Amaz<strong>on</strong>.com.On September 17, not l<strong>on</strong>g after <strong>the</strong> book was released, <strong>the</strong> Cvetko Patient Educati<strong>on</strong>Center hosted a special survivorship celebrati<strong>on</strong>. The program featured Joan Sommer, arehabilitati<strong>on</strong> nurse who is a 13-year ovarian cancer survivor and a frequent speaker for <strong>the</strong>Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives program through <strong>the</strong> Ovarian CancerNati<strong>on</strong>al Alliance. Allen Stringer, MD, medical director of <strong>the</strong> Cvetko Center, hosted <strong>the</strong>event. A special lunche<strong>on</strong> followed for <strong>the</strong> more than 100 attendees.New Educati<strong>on</strong>al Programs for PatientsIn 2007, <strong>the</strong> Virginia R. Cvetko Patient Educati<strong>on</strong> Center added several new programs to itsofferings, which already included seven disease-specific groups and o<strong>the</strong>r programs focused<strong>on</strong> exercise and complementary <strong>the</strong>rapies.First was <strong>the</strong> m<strong>on</strong>thly series Clinical Updates, a series of presentati<strong>on</strong>s covering topics suchas deep vein thrombosis, oral health c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s during cancer treatment, and updates<strong>on</strong> treatment for specific types of cancer. Later, <strong>the</strong> Wisdom for Women with Cancer Serieswas added.Healing Through Art and Writing for Wellness were two o<strong>the</strong>r new programs, offered to bothcancer <strong>patient</strong>s and <strong>the</strong>ir friends and family twice a m<strong>on</strong>th. Expressing <strong>on</strong>eself ei<strong>the</strong>r throughimages or words has been shown to be a powerful tool for gaining insight and reducing anxiety.Ongoing series called Imagine That! and Relaxati<strong>on</strong> Made Easy were also added in 2007.Workshop <strong>on</strong> Complementary TherapiesThe Cvetko Patient Educati<strong>on</strong> Center and <strong>Baylor</strong>’s Healing Envir<strong>on</strong>ment program presenteda workshop <strong>on</strong> complementary <strong>the</strong>rapies <strong>on</strong> October 13. Nurses, social workers, o<strong>the</strong>r alliedhealth professi<strong>on</strong>als, and <strong>the</strong> public heard about and experienced complementary <strong>the</strong>rapiesduring breakout sessi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> Tai Chi, Xig<strong>on</strong>g, art, writing, and relaxati<strong>on</strong>. Physical and rehabilitati<strong>on</strong>medicine physician Amy Wils<strong>on</strong>, MD, gave <strong>the</strong> keynote address entitled “ComplementaryTherapies for Healing: Can They Work for You?”
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Focused</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> you 5Special Programs <strong>on</strong> Waldenström’s MacroglobulinemiaOn May 19, <strong>the</strong> Cvetko Patient Educati<strong>on</strong> Center and <strong>the</strong> North Texas Waldenström’s MacroglobulinemiaSupport Group hosted a special program <strong>on</strong> Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia,which was open to both <strong>patient</strong>s and health care professi<strong>on</strong>als. This disease is an uncomm<strong>on</strong>B-cell lymphoma with about 1,000 to 1,500 cases diagnosed each year in <strong>the</strong> UnitedStates. Marvin J. St<strong>on</strong>e, MD, chief of <strong>on</strong>cology at <strong>Baylor</strong> University Medical Center at Dallasand director of <strong>Baylor</strong> Samm<strong>on</strong>s Cancer Center, began by presenting “Diagnosis and ClinicalFeatures of Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia.” Afterwards, Steven P. Tre<strong>on</strong>, MD, PhD, programdirector at <strong>the</strong> Bing Center for Waldenström’s Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,presented “Advances in <strong>the</strong> Biology and Therapy of Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia.”The sec<strong>on</strong>d Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia program was held <strong>on</strong> November 17. Theprogram featured Irene Ghobrial, MD, from <strong>the</strong> Bing Center for Waldenström’s Research,who presented “Novel Agents in Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia.” Both programs werecosp<strong>on</strong>sored by <strong>the</strong> Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Exercise ProgramsTwo new exercise programs for cancer <strong>patient</strong>s began in 2007:• First, a pilot study began to examine <strong>the</strong> effectiveness of aquatic exercise in reducinglymphedema. Breast cancer <strong>patient</strong>s who developed lymphedema after cancer treatmentand had already explored c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al treatments, such as dec<strong>on</strong>gestive <strong>the</strong>rapy andlymph drainage massage, were encouraged to participate. Patients in <strong>the</strong> study attend12 <strong>on</strong>e-hour aquatic exercise classes two or three times a week at <strong>the</strong> <strong>Baylor</strong> Tom LandryFitness Center.Marvin J. St<strong>on</strong>e, MD, andSteven P. Tre<strong>on</strong>, MD, PhD,wearing his “welcome toDallas” hat presented byDr. St<strong>on</strong>e.• Sec<strong>on</strong>d, <strong>Baylor</strong> Samm<strong>on</strong>s Cancer Center collaborated with <strong>the</strong> Cancer Foundati<strong>on</strong> forLife to offer Fit Steps , which focuses <strong>on</strong> exercise and c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>ing to improve <strong>the</strong> physicaland psychological well-being of <strong>patient</strong>s regardless of <strong>the</strong>ir health status. Patients arereferred to this program by <strong>the</strong>ir physician. They receive a thorough assessment of <strong>the</strong>ircurrent c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> and a customized program to help increase <strong>the</strong>ir physical functi<strong>on</strong>ing.FitSteps focuses <strong>on</strong> execiseand c<strong>on</strong>dti<strong>on</strong>ing to improve<strong>the</strong> physical and psychologicalwell-being of <strong>patient</strong>s.Celebrating Cancer Survivors and Barrett LectureshipThe Virginia R. Cvetko Patient Educati<strong>on</strong> Center and US Oncology toge<strong>the</strong>r sp<strong>on</strong>sored <strong>Baylor</strong>’scelebrati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Cancer Survivors Day from June 5 through 8. Refreshmentsand informati<strong>on</strong> were available in <strong>the</strong> lobby of <strong>the</strong> Samm<strong>on</strong>s Cancer Center all week. Tableswere manned by Cvetko Center volunteers and staff, as well as representatives from manylocal cancer support organizati<strong>on</strong>s including American Cancer Society, Gilda’s Club NorthTexas, and <strong>the</strong> Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Informati<strong>on</strong> was available <strong>on</strong> survivorshipissues, early detecti<strong>on</strong> and preventi<strong>on</strong>, and support groups offered in <strong>the</strong> Dallas area.In c<strong>on</strong>juncti<strong>on</strong> with <strong>the</strong> celebrati<strong>on</strong>, <strong>the</strong> Charlotte Johns<strong>on</strong> Barrett Lectureship was held.At <strong>the</strong> 2007 event, <strong>the</strong> speaker was Julie Silver, MD, assistant professor at Harvard Medi-