| February 2004 Monthly Newsletter p.3 |
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| Carnation Fundraiser: We will be doing a presale this year which will run the week of February 2-6th. Pre sale forms will be picked up from Amy at the February meeting. We need volunteers to help hang them on the bullentin boards as we have a lot of boards on the campus. The ST building only had a few, but the BU has man by all the classroom doors on both floors, and the LA building has many inside the classrooms. So remember if you have classes to hang up one inside, and if not wait until the room is empty. The Campus Center has a few areas, as well as the Library and the Resource Center (where the writing lab, etc...is located). For those who are not aware you may address your classes about this, just first ask permission from the instructor to speak either before class begins or before the class is dismissed. Our Valentine Day Fundraiser will soon be here, and let me assure you that Margaret and all the rest of the board of officers will be looking to our members to help set up a committee to make this a rousing success for the club. These funds will go to renew our coffers, and to help with the scholarship for the spring. This means we will need our members to sign yet another infamous sign up sheet, to help put up flyers, to get the word out that we are taking large order requests the week before the sale, so that we can order enough. For those who have never seen this sale before, let me assure you that these carnations sell like hotcakes. It has been so popular, and large orders have occurred causing us to run out, so this year we don't want to leave anyone out. We carry the traditional red, white, and pink carnations, with the red being the most popular. We make our own cards, wrap the flowers, and this adds such a wonderfully warm touch that the students and facility keep coming back in droves each year. So please let us know as soon as you can if you are able to help with this. The dates for this will be February 12th & 13th, which is on the newsletter's homepage under the link of monthly events. For more details you can contact Margaret Berter as she has done this for several years FYI Health Series: Cancer is one of the most feared words in the English language. A word that, as one cancer patient put it, is thought of by everybody in "capital letters." "There are an enormous amount of reactions and emotions associated with having cancer," says Timothy C. Birdsall, ND, vice president of integrative medicine at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, Ill. "And many people are uncomfortable dealing with those emotions." Because a growing body of research has shown that our mind has a powerful effect on our body, it's important to find an appropriate way to "access those emotions, release them, and reap the positive benefits on the immune system," says Birdsall. That's the theory behind mind-body medicine and an increasingly important part of cancer treatment. Mind-body specialists, however, are quick to point out that mind-body medicine does not guarantee a cure. But it can affect what happens in your body, says Katherine Puckett, LCSW, director of the department of mind-body medicine at Cancer Treatment Centers of America's Midwestern Regional Medical Center. "Using mind-body techniques can enhance your quality of life and may extend your longevity," says Puckett. "Having less pain, being more comfortable, that's a huge thing." Treating the Effects of Chemo Cancer patients face many challenges, says Dan Johnston, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral science for Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Ga. One of them is coping with the stress of treatment. "Whenever we are under stress," says Johnston, "our bodies react with tense muscles, a rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, fast breathing, and a tight belly. We also feel tense, apprehensive, irritated, or frustrated." When facing new treatment procedures, such as chemotherapy and radiation, stress levels may rise and can then aggravate some of the potential side effects of treatment such as nausea, fatigue, and low energy, says Johnston. "If, however, you approach your treatment procedure in a relaxed state of body and mind, you will lessen the likelihood of such side effects. You will create a sense of control over your situation and your emotional state will be more peaceful." Examples of mind-body medicine that Katherine Puckett recommends to cancer patients include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery or visualization, meditation, yoga, tai chi, and even listening to music or enjoying nature. ...continued on p.4 |