IN THISISSUE: 4 Navigating

Rough Waters6 Using Fruits

and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight

7 Million Dollar Marathon

What You Can Do to Prevent Skin CancerProtection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation is important all year round, not just during the summer or at the beach. UV rays from the sun can reach you on cloudy and hazy days, as well as bright and sunny days. UV rays also reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow. Indoor tanning (using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan) exposes users to UV radiation.

The hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daylight savings time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time) are the most hazardous for UV exposure outdoors in the continental United States. UV rays from sunlight are the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends easy options for protection from UV radiation—

• Seek shade, especially during midday hours.

• Wear clothing to protect exposed skin.

• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.

• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.

• Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.

• Avoid indoor tanning.

Shade

You can reduce your risk of skin damage and skin cancer by seeking shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter before you need relief from the sun. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you’re outside—even when you’re in the shade.

Clothing

Loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts and long pants made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection from the sun’s UV rays. A wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one. Darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors.

If wearing this type of clothing isn’t practical, at least try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Keep in mind that a typical T-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15, so use other types of protection as well.

(continued on page 5)

A newsletter for those affected by cancer

SUMMER 2013

HEALING

National Cancer Survivors Day®

From family members to close friends, everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by cancer. On Sunday, June 2, 2013, thousands of people around the world will gather to observe the 26th annual National Cancer Survivors Day. Hundreds of communities across the U.S. and abroad will hold celebrations on this day to honor cancer survivors and show that there is life after a cancer diagnosis – and it’s worth celebrating.

National Cancer Survivors Day is a cherished annual worldwide celebration of life. It is the one day each year that we pause to honor everyone who is living with a history of cancer – including America’s

nearly 14 million cancer survivors. “A ‘survivor’ is anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life,” according to the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation.

NCSD provides an opportunity for cancer survivors to connect with other survivors, celebrate milestones, and recognize the healthcare providers, family, and friends who have supported them along the way. It is a day for cancer survivors to stand together and show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be meaningful, productive, and even inspiring.

NCSD activities will be as diverse as the communities where the events are being held and will include parades, carnivals, walks, races, art exhibits, health fairs, inspirational programs, and more. There will be laughter and tears, shouts of joy and moments of quiet reflection, hope for the future and strength to endure today, and maybe even a little music and dancing.

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation, administrator for the celebration, is encouraging everyone to participate in their community’s event. To locate the one nearest you, check with your local cancer treatment center, hospital, or American Cancer Society office.

2

SUN SAFETY: Test your KnowledgeFACT OR FICTION? You don’t have to be very old to get skin cancer.

25% of people with melanoma are under the age of 40, and for women between 25-29 years of age, melanoma is the most common form of cancer.

FACT

FACT OR FICTION? If I use a sunscreen with a high SPF, I’m all set.

A sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher is important, but you also need a “broad spectrum” product that protects against both types of harmful rays, UVA and UVB. SPF sunscreen provides protection from UVB rays. To protect against UVA rays, look for a combination of the following ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, oxybenzone, avobenzone, and Mexoryl™ SX.

FICTION

Cancer Survivors to Celebrate Life on National Cancer Survivors Day – Sunday, June 2, 2013

Press release courtesy of www.ncsd.org

3

In the CommunityA look at the upcoming events in your area

ONGOING MONTHLY PROGRAMS Good Samaritan:

• Breast Cancer Support Group meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Good Samaritan Cancer Center

Saint Elizabeth:

• Breast Cancer Support Group meets the first Wednesday of the month in the waiting room of the Radiation Therapy Center from 7-8:30pm.

• Expressions of Art and Hope Classes with the Lux Center for the Arts for Cancer Survivors meet the second Monday of the month at Saint Elizabeth. Upcoming topics: June – fused glass; July – clay tiles; August – drawing.

• Clinical Breast Exam/Prostate Screening Clinics take place the third Tuesday of the month at People’s Health Center, 5:30-7pm.

Saint Francis:

• Breast Cancer Support Group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7pm in Conference Room 4, Saint Francis Medical Center

• Cansurmount support group meets the first Wednesday of the month at 1:30pm in the Telehealth conference room at Saint Francis Memorial Health Center

• From Surviving to Thriving support group meets the second Wednesday of the month at 3pm in the Telehealth conference room at Saint Francis Memorial Health Center

SPECIAL EVENTSGood Samaritan:

• Relay For Life Buffalo County will take place at Yanney Park on June 7 at 6pm.

• Livewell Nebraska is being held at the Kearney Family YMCA on June 26, 4-7pm. Health information and on-site screenings will be available.

• Million Dollar Marathon runs through Kearney and Grand Island on July 12.

• A Skin Cancer Awareness Event will take place in the West Tower classrooms at Good Samaritan Hospital on August 1 from 3-7pm; Dermascan screenings will be available.

• The annual Kearney Tackles Cancer BBQ will be held on August 9 at Harmon Park.

Saint Elizabeth:

• Cancer Survivor Day will be held at the Children’s Zoo in Lincoln on June 9, 5:30-7pm

• Men’s Health Night will take place at Champion’s Club on June 13 at 5pm; Dermascan screenings will be available.

• Juneteenth, a celebration of African-American heritage, will take place on June22. Saint Elizabeth will be present to do health screenings from 11-1pm.

• Million Dollar Marathon runs through Lincoln on July 13.

• The Bariatric Support Group will hold a presentation regarding cancer prevention and recommended screenings at Saint Elizabeth on July 16, 6-7pm.

FACT OR FICTION? Just one or two severe sunburns during your childhood increases your risk of melanoma.

More than 90% of all skin cancers are caused by too much sun exposure. It only takes two severe sunburns as a child to double your risk for melanoma later in life.

FACT

(continued on page 7)

4

Navigating Rough Waters >>>

Facing a cancer diagnosis is a very confusing and frightening time, and knowing where to go next and what resources are available to you can become overwhelming. Wouldn’t it be great to have someone to help each step of the way? An expert who could schedule appointments, help improve communication with physicians, and explain treatment options? This expert is the cancer navigator, and the service is available at no charge to cancer patients at Good Samaritan Cancer Center, Saint Elizabeth Cancer Institute and Saint Francis Cancer Treatment Center.

While cancer treatment has advanced in leaps and bounds over the past few decades, it has also opened up a whole new world of options and has made treatment decisions far more complex for patients than ever before. Hospitals found that, without guidance, there were inconsistencies in the way patients were going through the system, their care was fragmented, there were often delays in treatment, and it was difficult for patients to have effective communication with their multiple doctors.

To address these problems, the navigation program was adopted at the three Catholic Health Initiatives cancer centers in Nebraska. At the beginning of the program, there were three

navigators – only one at each hospital, and two of the three were only available to breast patients. Since that time, the program has expanded both the number of navigators and the different types of cancer that are navigated. Saint Francis currently has a breast cancer nurse navigator and a colorectal navigator, while Good Samaritan and Saint Elizabeth each have three navigators who cover all types of cancers. All three sites offer pre-diagnostic, diagnostic and survivorship navigation.

So what exactly does a navigator do? “Navigators work closely with other health team members to coordinate testing, appointments, and be proactive while patients go through treatment,” said Karen Pribnow, breast cancer nurse navigator at Saint Elizabeth Cancer Institute.

While not all navigators are registered nurses, they all have specialized training in oncology and are well-versed in working with the entire team of cancer professionals that a patient will see during treatment. The navigator will work hard to remove any barriers to the patient and ensure that he or she receives the best possible care.

Specifically, navigators will work with patients to accomplish any or all of the following:

• Find the information needed to make decisions

• Coordinate appointments with physicians and other care providers

• Coordinate referrals to other support services

• Talk about what to expect during appointments and treatment

• Help arrange transportation to appointments

• Arrange translation/interpreter services

• Organize and understand paperwork

• Identify sources of financial support

• Educate the patient on all of resources available to them

• Identify cancer research trials for which the patient may qualify

• Provide emotional support and understanding

The services of the navigator typically begin at the time cancer is detected, before treatment begins – which is often when the most vital decisions will be made. The navigator will typically meet with the patient when they receive the results of an abnormal biopsy, capturing important information that the patient often doesn’t absorb during this stressful time. From that point on, the navigator’s job is to provide seamless, integrated care as the patient transitions between specialists. This care continues through the patient’s treatment and into survivorship.

“Navigation is so very important because when someone is diagnosed with cancer they need to know that someone is there to be an advocate for them,” Pribnow said.

“They need a constant in their life that is able to help them understand the diagnosis, treatment, and any other needs that come up. Navigation provides emotional comfort for patients when they need it the most. ”

To learn more about the navigation program at the cancer center nearest you, visit http://gshs.org/, http://www.saintelizabethonline.com/ or http://saintfrancisgi.org/. v

Karen Pribnow, nurse navigator at Saint Elizabeth Cancer Institute

5

Hats

For the most protection, wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker hat may offer more UV protection.

If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen with at least SPF 15, or by staying in the shade.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure.

Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side.

Sunscreen

The sun’s UV rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Put on sunscreen before you go outside, even on slightly cloudy or cool days. Don’t forget to put a thick layer on all parts of exposed skin. Get help for hard-to-reach places like your back.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has announced significant changes to sunscreen product labels that will help consumers decide how to buy and use sunscreen, and allow them to protect themselves and their families from sun-induced damage more effectively.

How sunscreen works. Most sun protection products work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight. They contain chemicals that interact with the skin to protect it from UV rays. All products do not have the same ingredients; if your skin reacts badly to one product, try another one or call a doctor.

SPF. Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF) number that rates their effectiveness in blocking UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. You should use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15.

Reapplication. Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours, and after you swim or do things that make you sweat.

Expiration date. Check the sunscreen’s expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.

Cosmetics. Some make-up and lip balms contain some of the same chemicals used in sunscreens. If they do not have at least SPF 15, don’t use them by themselves.

Avoid Indoor Tanning

Using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan is called “indoor tanning.” Indoor tanning has been linked with skin cancers including melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer), squamous cell carcinoma, and cancers of the eye (ocular melanoma). v

Article courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC) cdc.gov

What You Can Do to Prevent Skin Cancer (continued from cover)

When you spend time outdoors, be sure to take the proper precautions to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

6

Fruits and vegetables are part of a well-balanced and healthy eating plan. There are many different ways to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Using more fruits and vegetables along with whole grains and lean meats, nuts, and beans is a safe and healthy one. Helping control your weight is not the only benefit of eating more fruits and vegetables. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and other chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables also provide essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and other substances that are important for good health.

To lose weight, you must eat fewer calories than your body uses.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to eat less food. You can create lower-calorie versions of some of your favorite dishes by substituting low-calorie fruits and vegetables in place of higher-calorie ingredients. The water and fiber in fruits and vegetables will add volume to your dishes, so you can eat the same amount of food with fewer calories. Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories and are filling.

Here are some simple ways to cut calories and eat fruits and vegetables throughout your day:

Breakfast• Substitute some spinach, onions, or mushrooms for

one of the eggs or half of the cheese in your morning omelet. The vegetables will add volume and flavor to the dish with fewer calories than the egg or cheese.

• Cut back on the amount of cereal in your bowl to make room for some cut-up bananas, peaches, or strawberries. You can still eat a full bowl, but with fewer calories.

Lunch• Substitute vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes,

cucumbers, or onions for 2 ounces of the cheese and 2 ounces of the meat in your sandwich, wrap, or burrito. The new version will fill you up with fewer calories than the original.

• Add a cup of chopped vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, beans, or red peppers, in place of 2 ounces of

the meat or 1 cup of noodles in your favorite broth-based soup. The vegetables will help fill you up, so you won’t miss those extra calories.

Dinner• Add in 1 cup of chopped vegetables such as broccoli,

tomatoes, squash, onions, or peppers, while removing 1 cup of the rice or pasta in your favorite dish. The dish with the vegetables will be just as satisfying but have fewer calories than the same amount of the original version.

• Take a good look at your dinner plate. Vegetables, fruit, and whole grains should take up the largest portion of your plate. If they do not, replace some of the meat, cheese, white pasta, or rice with legumes, steamed broccoli, asparagus, greens, or another favorite vegetable. This will reduce the total calories in your meal without reducing the amount of food you eat. BUT remember to use a normal- or small-size plate — not a platter. The total number of calories that you eat counts, even if a good proportion of them come from fruits and vegetables.

Smart Snacks• Most healthy eating plans allow for one or two small

snacks a day. Choosing most fruits and vegetables will allow you to eat a snack with only 100 calories.

Instead of a high-calorie snack from a vending machine, bring some cut-up vegetables or fruit from home. One snack-sized bag of corn chips (1 ounce) has the same number of calories as a small apple, 1 cup of whole strawberries, AND 1 cup of carrots with 1/4 cup of low-calorie dip. Substitute one or two of these options for the chips, and you will have a satisfying snack with fewer calories.

Remember: Substitution is the key.It’s true that fruits and vegetables are lower in calories than many other foods, but they do contain some calories. If you start eating fruits and vegetables in addition to what you usually eat, you are adding calories and may gain weight. The key is substitution. Eat fruits and vegetables instead of some other higher-calorie food.

Using Fruits and Vegetables to Help

Manage Your Weight

(continued on back cover)

7

SPECIAL EVENTS (cont.)Saint Elizabeth (cont.):

• Relay For Life Lincoln will be held at Haymarket Park on July 19 at 7pm.

• The Back to School Jam and Health Fair will take place at the Malone Community Center on August 11 from 3-5pm.

• A Time to Heal, a 12-week holistic cancer rehabilitation program, begins August 29.

Saint Francis:

• The Case New Holland Health Fair will be held on June 5; Saint Francis will be present for screenings and cancer education.

• Workplace Wellness, presented by Central District Health Department, will take place at Central Community College on June 6.

Different agencies will be present to showcase the wellness initiatives available to businesses.

• Million Dollar Marathon runs through Kearney and Grand Island on July 12.

• Relay For Life Hall County will be held at Northwest High School on July 21 at 5pm. v

In the Community (continued from page 3)

The Run

On June 21st, the Million Dollar Marathon will begin its 4,000 mile relay across America. The marathon team will be made up people who have been touched by cancer - survivors, caregivers and advocates, all working together to beat this disease. One marathon at a time, the event will cross 15 states and more than 500 communities as the baton is passed from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

Each day the team will run four marathons, running a total of 160 marathons during this extraordinary journey. Good Samaritan Cancer Center and Saint Francis Cancer Treatment Center are proud to be a part of this journey, and will participate in their portion of the marathon when it comes through Kearney and Grand Island on July 12. It will pass through Lincoln on July 13.

The Purpose

In the next year, nearly 600,000 people in America will die of cancer. The American Cancer Society has determined that one-third of these deaths are the result of poor diet and lack of exercise. The Million Dollar Marathon has been organized to educate the public about this issue through an event that is inspirational and motivational.

The Million Dollar Marathon is also working to raise funds for cancer research and programs that support cancer survivors and their families. To join the team, each runner has made a commitment to raise money for this cause. All funds raised by the Cancer Treatment Center team will directly benefit Saint Francis cancer patients. To support the team and local cancer patients, donations can be made at http://coasttocoastforcancer.org/saintfrancis/.

About Above + Beyond Cancer

The Million Dollar Marathon is being organized and presented by Above + Beyond Cancer. Above + Beyond is a public charity that was organized in 2011 to elevate the lives of those touched by cancer. In 2013, the organization is focused on reducing new cancer cases and cancer recurrence through programs that emphasis diet and vigorous physical exercise. Learn more at

http://aboveandbeyondcancer.org/ and http://coasttocoastforcancer.org/.

Million Dollar Marathon

Eat fruits and vegetables the way nature provided—or with fat-free or low-fat cooking techniques.

Try steaming your vegetables, using low-calorie or low-fat dressings, and using herbs and spices to add flavor. Some cooking techniques, such as breading and frying, or using high-fat dressings or sauces will greatly increase the calories and fat in the dish. And eat your fruit raw to enjoy its natural sweetness.

Canned or frozen fruits and vegetables are good options when fresh produce is not available.

However, be careful to choose those without added sugar, syrup, cream sauces, or other ingredients that will add calories.

Choose whole fruit over fruit drinks and juices. Fruit juices have lost fiber from the fruit.

It is better to eat the whole fruit

because it contains the added fiber that helps you feel full. One 6-ounce serving of orange juice has 85 calories, compared to just 65 calories in a medium orange.

Whole fruit gives you a bigger size snack than the same fruit dried—for the same number of calories.

A small box of raisins (1/4 cup) is about 100 calories. For the same number of calories, you can eat 1 cup of grapes. v

Using Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight(continued from page 6)

Saint Francis Medical CenterSaintFrancisGI.org

2620 West Faidley Avenue • Grand Island, NE 68803(308) 384-5450

A newsletter for those affected by cancer

SUMMER 2013

Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical CenterSaintElizabethOnline.com

555 South 70th Street • Lincoln, NE 68510(402) 219-5000

Good Samaritan HospitalGSHS.org

10 East 31st Street • Kearney, NE 68847(308) 865-7985

If you have questions or comments about this

newsletter, or would like to unsubscribe, please

contact Erin Martinez at emartinez@sfmc-gi.org

or (308) 398-6787.

HEALING

More Tips for Making Fruits and Vegetables Part of Your Weight Management Plan

Article courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cdc.gov