Complete Care Chronicle

A Message from Our Medical Director
Cynthia A. Bergman, M.D.

Complete Care, the Complementary Medicine Program of Fox Chase Cancer Center, addresses the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of cancer patients before, during and after treatment. Designed to help people improve their quality of life, Complete Care is the next logical step in the treatment of cancer patients.

This newsletter has been created to inform you about Complete Care programs and events. Our patients and their families are part of our Fox Chase family. We want to help support you through cancer treatment in every way possible. By offering you Complete Care, we hope to improve the quality of your life while we address your medical needs.

Dr. Cynthia Bergman is a gynecologic oncologist in Fox Chase Cancer Center's department of surgical oncology and is the medical director of Complete Care.

Cancer-Related Fatigue Program
Providers: Andrea Barsevic, D.N.Sc., R.N.
Evangeline Bragitikos, R.N., M.S.N., A.O.C.N.

The Cancer-Related Fatigue Program of Complete Care is designed for cancer patients experiencing fatigue at any stage of the treatment or recovery process. Fatigue is the most common and disruptive symptom experienced by people with cancer. The program starts with a thorough screening, then defines the causes of fatigue. A personalized treatment plan to reduce your fatigue is developed. The program includes:

Screening for specific causes of fatigue
Assessing the findings and discussing them with you
Identifying ways to reduce cancer-related fatigue
Customizing a treatment plan and schedule
Referring you to specific treatment programs.

Fatigue can be controlled. Through a combination of energy-conservation strategies, exercise, nutrition and techniques to focus attention, this program will help people with cancer and their families improve their lives.

Appointment Schedule:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 8:00 a.m. - Noon
Mondays, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The Wig & Skin Care Program of Complete Care is designed to make you look and feel better. This program makes use of the nationally acclaimed "Look Good . . . Feel Better" program, designed to help women undergoing cancer treatment cope with appearance-related side effects of treatment.

Cancer treatments temporarily change the way a person looks, leading to a loss of confidence and feelings of depression. This program offers hair replacement and cosmetics completed by licensed cosmetologists.

Appointment Schedule:
Open appointments; just call 215-728-7000 to schedule

Elise is the nurse practitioner for Complete Care. She takes medical histories and does physical examinations for cancer patients who enroll in various programs, including cancer-related fatigue management, lymphedema therapy, nutrition management, osteoporosis and fracture therapy and physical therapy.

Elise's special priority is the Nutrition Management Program. Staff assess each patient's and dietary history. This program focuses on beneficial diets for individuals based upon their type of cancer and treatment plan. Our program includes the following:

Taking your dietary history and assessing your current nutritional status
Counseling to address specific problems, such as weight loss or gain and changes in appetite or taste
Advising you about adequate diet and nutritional supplements to help relieve systems, avoid harmful environmental effects, optimize energy levels and combat fatigue

Appointment Schedule:
Mondays, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Also by appointment

The Yoga Therapy Program of Complete Care will focus on inspiring you to deal with change in your life through exercise, relaxation and meditation. Yoga increases energy, strength and flexibility as well as providing daily coping mechanisms. The program introduces the use of yoga during cancer treatment, and demonstrates yoga movements. The instructor will also assess each participant's needs and customize an individual program.

Specific goals include:

Improving general and localized strength of muscles
Increasing range of motion of specific joints to desirable levels
Increasing energy levels
Relieving stress

Appointment Schedule
Mondays, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. or 6:45 - 7:45 p.m.

Patient of the Month: Naureen Schnee
Her name is Naureen Schnee. She is a lymph-edema patient and an advocate. She has been a patient of Complete Care's Lymphedema Management Program since August 1999.

Diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in 1989, she developed lymphedema several years later. She previously sought treatment at a number of locations but did not want to travel too far.

This year she had another episode of lymphedema in her upper arm. A Complete Care flyer in her mailbox led her to schedule an appointment.

"One of the reasons I got involved with the Complete Care Lymphedema Program was because I could not find another program on the East Coast that was as comprehensive and structured," Naureen said. "This program provides continual care for all of the swelling and pain.

"In my opinion, the physical therapists are easy to work with. I am able to talk to my therapist on a more personal basis. I need this because I have concerns about my arm and my health," she explained.

"With the lymphedema in my arm, I want to reduce the swelling and any infection so every day and every night, I do what I can. I want my arm to function the way that I am used to."

As an advocate of the Lymphedema Management Program, Naureen feels she needs to keep educated so that she can focus on her quality of life. That is what Complete Care is all about.

Upcoming Events

Lymphedema Support Group
Provider: Cheri Doll, M.S.P.T., M.L.D.T.
September 15, 1999 & October 19, 1999
This group meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month

For more information and scheduling of an appointment, please call 215-728-7000.

Complete Care Chronicle Volume 1, Number 2
Published by Fox Chase Cancer Center
1-888-FOXCHASE www.fccc.edu

Editor:
Rose Pollock, Health Educator
Physicians Services Department
215-728-7409
r_pollock@fccc.edu