Every year at the Capital Chefs' Showcase Silent Auction, attendees can bid on a bench painted by our Candlelighters at Camp Care.
Part of our Children's Programs, Candlelighters are children living with cancer and their siblings. For one week during the summer, they get to attend a day camp free of charge created especially for them at Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge. A highlight every year is getting their hands on a special convertible bench/table – who doesn’t love finger-painting? The bench then becomes part of the Silent Auction to raise money for Cancer Services to ensure the continuation of programs like Camp Care to aid those living with cancer in our community.
For more information about Camp Care, Showcase, the Silent Auction or Cancer Services, call 225-927-2273 or visit our website.
Remember summer camp? It’s often a highlight of childhood. However, if you are a child with cancer, your special needs may keep you from those fun activities. Cancer Services’ Camp Care fills this void with a week-long day camp for children with cancer and their siblings. With the help of an on-site nurse and fabulous volunteers, over 50 campers enjoy fishing, bowling, laser tag, movies, and so much more.
Camp Director Jana Poché says Camp Care is so important because these kids “are taken out of the mainstream with their cancer. Camp Care becomes the highlight of their year.” Laurina Conger, mother of 11-year-old camper Mikey, agrees, “Camp Care was our first chance for normalcy in his chaotic life. Mikey’s now post-treatment and he still looks forward to Camp Care every year.”
Campers attend free – but having the chance to laugh, play and experience a childhood outside of their diagnosis is really the priceless part. Log on to our Facebook page to see more pictures!
Cancer 101 a 4-part series, offers you insight into the world of cancer jargon from a panel of oncology professionals on topics including: Understanding a Cancer Diagnosis, Radiation Treatment, Chemotherapy Treatment and Coping as a Cancer Survivor. Dr. Andrew Lauve, one of the panel participants, explains, “Educational opportunities like this are extremely important. Doctors sometimes take for granted that others know all that we know. Lack of knowledge during a diagnosis or treatment is a huge struggle for many patients. It’s important for them to get as many resources as possible so they can absorb the information they need.”
After our first session “Understanding a Cancer Diagnosis” with Dr. Jay Brooks of Oschner Health Center, one participant commented that “Dr. Brooks did an excellent job of sharing information in a way that wasn’t intimidating or overly intellectual. It was a great introduction to an often scary subject.” Dr. Brooks joined Dr. William Russell of Baton Rouge General Pennington Cancer Center who spoke on Radiation Therapy, Dr. David Hanson and Judy Owens, PA, of Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates who discussed Chemotherapy and its side effects and a panel of oncology professionals, Dr. Andrew Lauve of Baton Rouge General Pennington Cancer Center, Esther Sachse of Cancer Services, and Dr. Mary Katherine Rodrigue, Ph.D of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. They covered how cancer is staged, explained the side effects of treatments and offered suggestions on how to merge cancer survivor status with everyday life.
Esther Sachse, a licensed clinical social worker and Director of Support Programs at Cancer Services, commented “Newly diagnosed cancer survivors need access to accurate and in-depth information. They need every opportunity to have oncology professionals address their questions and concerns. We anticipate this program will grow and Cancer 101 will become an important resource for cancer survivors in the community.”
Cancer Services’ free library/ resource center is open to clients and anyone interested in cancer-related information. We also offer a host of educational programs such as Make Today Count speaker meetings, teleconferences and special education programs. Check out our website for more information or a schedule of educational programs or call 225-927-2273.
