Introducing Jan Crawford, Breast Cancer Survivor

Photo Caption: Jan Crawford, and her daughter Cortney Crawford stand with James Lechner, MD, medical director of the Providence Regional Cancer System, following his lecture at the Cancer Survivor Event in June of 2011.

I've had the honor of meeting Jan Crawford three separate times in the past month. When we met most recently, she was excited to share the news about her latest accomplishment. She had just been credentialed as a Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist. This meant she could officially start turning her passion into a profession. She wants to use her exercise expertise and her personal experience with cancer to help others figure out how activity can help them get through cancer, too.

Jan's path towards this goal started three years ago. In October 2007, she had a mammogram that revealed lumps in her breasts. She wasn't overly worried, though. Ever since high school, she had dealt with an unusual number of benign breast lumps. However, this time was a little different. She decided she wanted to end the underlying stress she felt whenever she found a lump. Her solution: to undergo a prophylactic (preventive) double mastectomy.

Her surgery took place on December 19, 2007. Expecting a routine recovery and a little downtime to enjoy the holidays, she was devastated to learn instead that she had breast cancer -- including aggressive cancer on her right side. Her surgeon told her she needed more surgery as soon as possible, and she was back in the operating room the next day.

In January she started chemotherapy treatments. And in May she underwent reconstructive breast surgery. All of this left her unable to work for 10 months; not surprising due to her on-the-feet job as a flight attendant. She finally went back to work, but then learned that surgery was not quite finished for her. Possible side effects of her chemotherapy drugs included uterine or endometrial cancers, so she decided to have a hysterectomy. She says she doesn't regret that decision because her physician found suspicious areas during surgery that may have led to cancer in the not-so-distant future.

Today Jan talks easily about her cancer, treatment and the many emotional and psychological issues that have accompanied her experience. She emphasizes how much exercise helped her cope with what she was going through, including the "fog of cancer" that she felt stuck in frequently. Now she wants to help other people with cancer discover how activity can improve the quality of their lives, too. She's currently exploring the practical side of how she can make this happen, and hopes to have a place available soon where she can offer guided exercise sessions for other cancer survivors.

In future blog entries that Jan is planning on writing, she'll talk more about her experiences as a breast cancer survivor and her dream of sharing the benefits of exercise with other survivors.

Please, welcome Jan to the blog.

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Still considering Integrative Care Services? Here's what others are saying

Integrative Cancer Care Staff & Advisors: Back row: Jana Wiley, LAc, RN, BSN, MPA, OCN; Evan Hirsch, MD, ABHM; Chad Aschtgen, ND, FABNO; Maureen Oar, RYT; Chris Lower, Rosemary Spyhalsky, RN, OCN, HN-BD; Karen Buckley, LICSW, ACSW, OSW-C; Dennis Clarin, MTCM, LAc, Dipl.Ac Front row: James Stegenga, LAc; Joanna Cashman, RN, E-RYT Patients at Providence Regional Cancer System have access to body-mind-spirit resources, which complement traditional therapies, enhance quality of life and encourage the best possible outcomes for the whole person.

Here's what people are saying about these resources:

• I had cancer the first time in early 1980’s; there was no supportive care. I am so grateful to have it for my second (and recent) cancer diagnosis. It has made the healing process (including mental, physical, nutrition and support) all extremely valuable to me in my recovery. Thank you for being in Thurston County!
• I would not want to go through cancer treatment without these services − they all help so much.
• These programs are great and help in all ways to help us fight our battle with [being] 'just a statistic;' gives us more tools for the fight.
• My naturopathy visits have provided a wealth of information to strengthen my diet and supplement program. I feel this has given me the best possible plan to support my traditional treatments.
• One day, out of the blue, it dawned on me that the burning sensation was gone from my feet. Hooray for acupuncture!
• t’s great to have an experienced person doing the massage since deep tissue massage is not good for those during chemo.
• The yoga class is a wonderful journey, interacting with and supporting each other as we go through the cancer journey together.

Integrative Care Services

• Therapeutic Yoga
• Oncology Massage
• Naturopathic Oncology
• Acupuncture
• Nutrition

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Wanted: DVDs, Blu-Rays, Books, Magazines & CDs

A PRCS patient in Centralia watches a donated DVD on one of the available dvd players.Attention Lewis County Residents!

Bring in and donate your used or new DVD’s, Blu-Rays, Books and CDs (in good condition) and magazines (no more than one year old). 

Please be sure that the material you donate is appropriate for viewing in a public  and/or family-oriented setting.

Items can be dropped off in one of the donation collection boxes found throughout Providence Centralia Hospital at:

• Carolyn’s Café (near back wall/computer)
• Front Desk
• Providence Professional Building Employee Break Room (2^nd floor)
• Foundation and Volunteer Offices (2^nd floor Providence Professional Building, rooms 204, 205, 216).

Items donated will benefit the patients of Providence Centralia Hospital and Providence Regional Cancer System-Centralia. See one of our patients benefiting from a donated DVD in our post, "Your first chemotherapy session"

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Boosting your gut - Probiotics and chemotherapy

There’s a good body of research around probiotics helping with the side-effects of cancer treatment—especially those currently undergoing chemotherapy.

What are probiotics?
Formally, probiotics are live microorganisms existing in the human body. Informally, probiotics are the good bacteria found in our gut. While that may seem harsh, consider this. When our bodies are functioning correctly there is actually more good bacteria living inside us than there are actual human cells.

So how does this affect chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is like a really big antibiotic treatment. Its mission is to try and kill as many rapidly dividing “things” in our body—which, unfortunately, includes probiotics. This is a common reason why those undergoing chemotherapy suffer from diarrhea.

There is evidence that a huge dose of probiotics following a chemotherapy session could reinvigorate your gut helping to get your body back on track.

Probiotics is in no way a universal cure for cancer, but it can drastically help the person going through the cancer.

If you think probiotics can help you talk with your doctor about how to safely build probiotics into your cancer treatment plan.

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Bagpipes and fiddles are good for your soul!

Harmony & Hope
Tuesday, July 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Providence Regional Cancer System
4525 Third Avenue SE, Lacey
All are invited, to RSVP call 360.493.7768
View flyer >>

James Lechner, MD, oncologist and medical director of the Providence Regional Cancer System, had a brainstorm last year at band camp. An accomplished fiddle player himself, Dr. Lechner and his wife Michele, a bagpiper, regularly attend music schools, where they take intensive instruction from well-known, professional musicians.

Dr. Lechner was energized by the music of an ensemble of acclaimed Cape Breton fiddlers—and the idea for Harmony and Hope was born. Dr. Lechner invited his musical mentors to perform at the first Harmony and Hope concert in January of this year, featuring Cape Breton fiddlers Andrea Beaton and Glenn Graham playing alongside bagpiper Colin Gemmell.

Nearly 200 people attended; the enthusiastic reviews poured in.

Soon, a second Harmony and Hope celebration was on the books for July 12. Dr. Lechner says he has wanted to present an event like this for years. “I’ve had a desire to do some kind of culture and humanities program for local cancer patients, although I wasn’t sure what shape it might take,” he says. “I believe we humans need arts in our life. Patients in the middle of cancer treatment are not always able to enjoy art and music. They are wrapped up in therapy, they very likely feel ill a lot of the time. The pleasures of life are often put on the back burner during treatment.”

We hope all patients, family members, staff and others will enjoy the performance as part of a social outing, in a safe place where you already feel comfortable. See you there!

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