Join me for an evening of answers and support

Free Community Event: Living With and Beyond Cancer
May 16, 2012, 6:30-8 pm
Providence Centralia Hospital, basement classroom
Call 360.493.7247 to register or visit www.provregister.org

We are offering this program three more time this year, click here to view all our free resources >>

A diagnosis of cancer can shake your world. Coping with the disease, its treatment, and the aftermath can make you question your identity, decisions, relationships, etc.

What is "normal"? How should I be coping? Why do some people make such unhelpful comments?

Join me (pictured to the left, at a recent survivorship event in Lewis County) for an evening of support, resources and connections whether you are newly diagnosed, in the midst of treatment or a long-term survivor.

Need more information? Here’s what past participants are saying about the program:

"You provided us with hope and good materials, for which I have always been thankful."

"I want to thank you for shedding such a bright light on the emotional, feeling side of this disease. I am so much better equipped to deal with my breast cancer now that I have your information."

"Cobie, your talk was wonderful – enlightening, informative and supportive."

"Thank you for your inspiring presentation. Your comments regarding completing treatment and being pushed from the perceived safety of the infusion/hospital environment truly touched me. Moving from a state of actively treating my disease to watchful waiting is still, a year later, very difficult for me."

"Thanks again for coming to Longview to speak to our group. I have to tell you that during the sharing time they all reflected on what you said and were so grateful for the words of wisdom. You have a gift for sharing such truly remarkable insights that can benefit anyone regardless of their situation. They all loved you!"

How long should a cancer diagnosis take?

Patients are frequently frustrated by the length of time it can take to get a clear cancer diagnosis. They are left in limbo and fear since they know something is wrong, but not exactly what and therefore can have no plan of action.

Often the first signs of an abnormality are non-specific and difficult to pin down or identify:

• Cancer may present with fatigue or weakness only, which everyone experiences at one time or another.
• There may be non localized pains, a nagging cough, a small lump or other signs and symptoms that aren't pursued initially or take some time to find. It is not uncommon for weeks to elapse from initial symptoms to the start of the diagnostic work up.
• Some cancers, for example early colon cancer, can have no symptoms at all, and only be discovered incidentally or by screening (colonoscopy).

Once an abnormality is found, further laboratory tests or diagnostic imaging are usually used to further evaluate it:

• These tests often take a day or two to run (clinical lab tests), or several days to schedule and perform.
• Then a biopsy (in the case of a solid tumor) or blood sample (in the case of leukemia or lymphoma) is usually taken. A biopsy of a solid tumor such as a breast biopsy is usually performed by a radiologist or surgeon and this can take days or weeks to schedule.
• Once the biopsy is performed it goes to the Pathology laboratory for analysis to determine if it is cancer, what type exactly and what prognostic features it has. This usually takes 1-3 days of work and may entail sending the biopsy specimen to other specialized labs to detect specific features that may determine which kinds of treatment are appropriate and this could take additional days or even weeks. Every tumor in every patient is unique and some are very difficult to diagnose based on current medical science and could require the review by a pathology specialist who studies only one kind of tumor. There may only be a few of these specialists in the country and this kind of review could take additional days or weeks. For more information visit, The Pathologist's role in cancer diagnosis and care >>
• Once the diagnosis is made, evaluation by oncologists is necessary to determine the exact type of treatment necessary. These appointments can take days to schedule and more than one opinion is often necessary to get the plan solidified. Sometimes a particular treatment (eg. neutron beam radiotherapy) is only available in a few places in the country and getting into these treatment facilities can take days or weeks. For more information visit, Cancer: What's in a diagnosis?

Thus it takes quite a while to get a diagnosis and get started with the best treatment. Fortunately most cancers are quite slow growing and have often been present in the patient for years prior to diagnosis and so a few weeks delay usually has no outcome consequence, but delays are clearly associated with emotional stress and turmoil.

Although it may not feel like it, your team is working very hard to get a timely and accurate diagnosis for you. However, as with all your health care decisions, if you ever feel as though you are falling through the cracks, speak up.

You might also like:

• Scientifically speaking, what is cancer?
• Cancer: What's in a diagnosis?
• The Pathologist's role in cancer diagnosis and care

My story: Running through cancer

I’m 37. I’m a wife, a runner, a cyclist, an overall fitness enthusiast, and a project manager. But now I have a much bigger title – Breast Cancer Survivor.

In 2009, I was stuck. I was married, I had a good job and yet I didn’t feel fulfilled. So I decided to take up running. I ran my first marathon in October of 2009 and I had an awesome time so I immediately signed up for a ½ marathon for the next month. It was that ½ marathon that I decided 2010 was going to be my year. I was turning 35 and I was going to be unstuck. It was time for me to do something.

My plan was to sign up for an event for each month – whether it be full, ½ or century ride. In February of 2010 I was on track and ran a ½ marathon in Jacksonville, FL called "26.2 with Donna" (that's me, to the right, at the race). This marathon is known as the marathon to finish breast cancer. I was there by myself and ended up meeting a wonderful couple from Alabama and it turns out the wife was a breast cancer survivor. I didn’t really know what to say. Everyone in my family who had breast cancer didn’t survive or had a really rough time going through treatment. I asked her how she got through it. How did she survive? She said she ran – her and her husband ran every day through treatment. I was completely amazed. As she told me this, I began to think of myself – thankful for my health and ability to run and be active. I also thought if I ever have to go through cancer, I want to run – I hope I can run. If she could do it, I could too.

We arrived at the starting line and I was going through my usual routine – checking shoe laces, going to the bathroom, but I couldn't stop thinking about that survivor. I also thought about the small lump in my left breast that almost a year before my doctor said it was nothing. If 2010 was going to be my year, I need to get this checked and make sure it's nothing serious. A few months went by and I finally found a doctor that I was comfortable with and who was willing to ‘go through the motions’ to see what the lump was. I was 35. Too young for a mammogram, too young for cancer, right? Well, not really. I had a ultrasound, mammogram and then a biopsy.

On June 4th, the voice on the other end of the phone apologized but said it was cancer. All those years where everyone told me I wasn’t at risk – my gut was telling me that I was at risk. Both grandmother’s had breast cancer – one diagnosed at 28 the other at 60; my aunt, 28; and my cousin, 30. Unfortunately I lost my grandmother and aunt before I really got to know them - they died at 34. The doctors I had before told me I wasn’t at risk because the cancer was on my father’s side. It turns out after having genetic testing I’m BRCA 2 positive which means I carry the breast cancer gene.

I had my double mastectomy on July 26th and recovered quite well – thanks to my enthusiasm for staying in shape and eating properly. I began chemo on September 2nd and finished on November 29th. I couldn’t let cancer take me or stop me from what I love doing best. If that woman at the race in February hadn’t told me her story, well I don’t know that I would have gone into with a positive attitude. I went on to complete 2010 with reaching my goal of 12 events – actually 13 if you count the breast cancer. I accomplished my goal and I survived. I didn’t let cancer take me away.

Breast cancer patient navigator achieves nationwide status

Andrea receives her certification at the NCBC Conference as a breast navigator in Imaging and Cancer Care. Pictured with Karry Trout of Mason General Hospital, who is the Diagnostic Imaging Breast Navigator and who also received her certification.Editor's Note: We are excited to announce that Andrea Potter, our breast cancer patient navigator, has earned certification through the National Consortium of Breast Centers in the fields of Imaging and Cancer Care.

The Breast Patient Navigator Certification Program is a certification that has been developed by a peer review team of the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC). The purpose of this certification is to set standards of achievement and the professional's role; enhance patient safety, quality of care and delivery of services; and recognize professionals who advance beyond basic knowledge in a field of specialty.

What does that mean for me, the patient?
Moving a patient through a breast care/cancer continuum is a complex and highly individualized process. The complexity is significantly reduced with the assistance of an individual who is trained to navigate a patient through the processes of care, often referred to as a breast patient navigator. However, just as the breast care/cancer diagnosis and treatment process may differ from facility to facility, so do the definitions, activities, knowledge and job descriptions of a breast patient navigator. These disparities can adversely affect the breast care/cancer treatment provided to women across the nation and around the world. In an effort to minimize and eventually eliminate the variances in a breast patient's continuum of care and the definition/function of a breast patient navigator providing care within that continuum, the NCBC created this program.

In plain terms:

• I was able to network directly with Breast Navigators all over the country meaning I learned about new information for Breast Cancer patients. From radiology equipment, lab testing, treatments, and more!
• New information brought back from the conference has allowed me to build and re-outline my program so that I may be able to navigate more patients than previously done so that less women may "fall through the cracks".
• I am now a member of the NCBC which will allow me to continue networking with other navigators from a distance.

If you would like to get in touch with me, please call at 360.493.4746.

Professor, researcher, 26-year cancer survivor

Dr. Brad Zebrack is Associate Professor at the University of Michigan, School of Social Work, where he teaches and conducts research on cancer survivorship and quality of life. His professional interest in cancer research comes from personal experience.

Brad is a 26-year survivor of Hodgkin’s disease, diagnosed in 1985 at the age of 25. He will share his story as part of the keynote presentation, “Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life: Shaken, Stirred, Movin’ On,” at Providence Regional Cancer System’s 2^nd annual Survivor Celebration.

He is especially interested in the impact of cancer on teens and young adults, and his research has been funded over the past thirteen years by the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Lymphoma Research Foundation, Lance Armstrong Foundation, and HopeLab, Inc.

We are very fortunate and excited to have Brad join us on June 2! Won’t you come, too? Register>>