Coping With Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- a time for everyone to recognize that while the number of cases is dropping, more than 178,000 Americans will still be diagnosed this year.

Once patients move beyond the shock, they need to find a way to cope. In October's Health Check: one focus on body, mind, and spirit.

Tai chi and yoga do more than keep Eileen Kenney fit. They helped her through the battle of a lifetime four years ago when doctors found breast cancer.

Eileen says, "When you get diagnosed it just kind of knocks you for such a loop. You don't want to get off the sofa. You don't want to get out of bed. You don't want to leave the house. So this was an opportunity to get out of the house."

She joined other cancer patients at free classes offered by Alegent Health.

Respiratory Therapist Dawn Staszko started the program eight years ago and now works with women and men: some just diagnosed; others on the road to recovery.

Dawn says, "Having cancer is very, very stressful and this helps to teach them ways to cope, gives them coping techniques."

At the same time it lowers stress, reducing blood pressure and improving flexibility and balance. And while this looks like an exercise class, it's much more. Participants become part of a support group sharing their struggles and their joys.

Staszko discovered the benefits for herself.

"In 2001, I was diagnosed with breast cancer," she says. "They were my teachers and shared with me and got me through it."

An architect helped Eileen Kenney.

Eileen says, "She was the first person I met. Shared all kinds of information and was such an amazing person. Unfortunately she didn't make it but we were all there for her. She was great and I am thrilled to have had her as a friend."

It was a special relationships developed in a unique class where Kenney learned that a double mastectomy and four rounds of chemotherapy were no match for her mind, body, and spirit.

Alegent offers the classes at Bergan Mercy, Immanuel, and Midlands Hospital. They are free for anyone receiving treatment at Alegent.

Get The Latest Health Care News from Alegent Health

You choose the topics, such as "Women's Health" then, each month, Alegent Health will send you a free health e-newsletter. Your newsletter articles are: personalized to your interests; medically reviewed; selected from hundreds of publications; always current. Click here.

Bergan Mercy Medical Center	Immanuel Medical Center
Lakeside Hospital	Midlands Hospital
Mercy Hospital	Alegent Health Clinic