Q&A: Sun Safety

Every Sunday, Cancer Services publishes a Cancer Q&A in the Health Section of The Baton Rouge Advocate.

Q:  I love being out in the sun but am afraid of getting skin cancer.  What are some things I can do that will still allow me to enjoy the summer months?

A:  Sun safety is important year around, especially in the southern United States.  To safeguard your skin properly you should take proper precautions daily, regardless of whether or not you plan on being outside.   You are exposed to dangerous UV rays even when you are driving a car.

 According to the National Cancer Institute, non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of cancer.  Basal and squamous cell carcinomas are two of the many non-melanoma skin cancers.  Regardless of age, skin type, sex, or race, anyone can get skin cancer; however, some people have an increased risk of developing skin cancer.  The American Cancer Society has projected more than one million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer for 2007 in the United States, which is approximately half of all diagnosed cancers combined in the U.S.

The National Cancer Institute suggests the following sun safety tips:

• It is best to avoid the midday sun (from mid-morning to late afternoon) whenever possible. You also should protect yourself from UV radiation reflected by sand, water, snow, and ice. UV radiation can penetrate light clothing, windshields, and windows.
• Wear protective clothing.
• Use sunscreen. Sunscreen may help prevent skin cancer, especially sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.   However, sunscreens cannot provide the same protection as avoiding the sun and wearing clothing to protect the skin.
• Stay away from sunlamps and tanning beds.

There are other ways to protect yourself from acquiring one of the most common cancers.

• Women can wear tinted moisturizers with a minimum SPF of 15.  FDA regulations require SPF measures in moisturizer to be the same as the measures found in sunscreen.
• Do NOT sunbathe or use tanning beds; instead, if you feel it’s absolutely necessary, use a sunless tanning product that has DHA, dihydroxyacetone, or other color additives for the skin that have been tested by the industry and approved by the FDA.  Also make sure to read about these products.  For example, DHA is intended to be used in the self-application of creams and lotions.  It is only approved for the application to external body parts and is not to be used on the eyes, lips, and any body surface covered with a mucus membrane.  Sunless tanning does not necessarily provide SPF protection; if your label does not include SPF then make sure to apply sunscreen or lotion with a minimum of SPF 15 when you are exposed to the sun’s UV rays.
• Make sure your sunglasses block both UVB and UVA rays.
• Use aftershave with a minimum SPF 15.
• Wear a hat with a brim that covers more than your face but neck and ears as well.
• Use lip balm with a minimum SPF 15.
• Have moles checked out by your doctors.

Visit these websites for further information on sun safety tips:

• Skin Cancer Foundation 
• National Cancer Institute
• American Cancer Society
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration

For additional information contact Courtney, the librarian at Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge at (225) 927-2273, cbritton@cancerservices.org , or visit the Resource Center at 550 Lobdell Avenue.

Meet Judy: Reiki Master and Cancer Services Volunteer

Judy Alonso has volunteered her time and expertise at Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge for nearly a year, coming in weekly to provide Reiki sessions for interested clients.  For those of you who haven’t met Judy or experienced a Reiki session, here's a little background on Judy, and how and why she came to be a Reiki Master.

“In 2005 after 4 1/2 years of my husband battling throat cancer, some friends suggested that we should go to the Reiki Center in Hollywood, Florida, where we lived for 20 years, and talk to the Reiki Master.  They felt she could probably help him with pain since he was done with his radiation and umpteen chemo sessions, and wasn’t going to do anymore.  Nothing to lose at this point for sure with only a 10% chance of survival.

We did not even know how to pronounce Reiki, let alone what it was.  The Reiki Master, Myrna Farbiash, was in that day (hmmmm, what a coincidence) and spoke with Al first and then took a look at me and spoke with me.  She told me there was a Level 1 Reiki class a couple of months or so down the line, and it was already full, and if I wanted to be in on it to go tell the Reiki Master at the counter to put someone out if she had to, but to make room for me.  Being the kind person she was, she did not put anyone out, and not knowing if Al would even still be with us then, I enrolled us both in the class.

As it turned out, he was still with us, and that was the last thing we did together.  He struggled to get there each day for the 2 day class, but he made it.  A week later, the Lord called him home.  The Lord put me on my path of Reiki through Al’s illness.  Maybe, otherwise, I would not have been able to recognize His road sign.

Funny, in the mid 60’s I had 2 dance schools which I thought I would be doing for the rest of my life.  Then, as life went, I worked for the Postal Service for 30 years and retired a year after my husband passed away, Whew!  During that year, I completed my Level II Reiki Class, Reiki Master Class and finished all of my teaching requirements before moving back home to Baton Rouge.

I had already begun teaching my classes and doing my sessions when I received the Cancer Services Bulletin in the mail and noticed you all were offering alternative methods of body, mind, spirit; and Reiki was one of them.  I immediately called and asked for an appointment to bring my cards, brochure, copies of certificates and ministry and asked to “SIGN ME UP!” This was my chance and my honor to give back to the very thing that put me on this journey in the first place—the wonderful people still battling this disease called CANCER.

What is one of the most important things I have learned in life, you ask?  It is said so many ways but this is one of my favorites:

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD

Difficult moments, SEEK GOD

Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD

Painful moments, TRUST GOD

Every moment, THANK GOD

And, when you feel you have come to the end of all you know, and are about to step off into the darkness, trust and have faith in God that he will either give you something solid to stand on, or wings to fly.” 

Love, Light and Angels,

Judy Alonso

Reiki Master Teacher

Baton Rouge, LA

Making Their Cancer Care Complete

Cancer Services continued our Survivorship Events, marking Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with a luncheon for our Digestive and Urinary Support Group this past Monday.

At the luncheon, attending survivors and their loved ones shared their stories as well as talked their concerns and asked questions about their colorectal, bladder, liver, testicular or prostate cancer. Several of the survivors emphasized the importance of getting tested regularly and urged everyone at the luncheon to encourage their family and friends to forgo the embarrassment and get colonoscopies and exams.

Also at the luncheon, Cindy Schneider was introduced as a new aspect of the support group. Cindy is an ostomy nurse who will attend the monthly meetings and be available to provide support and answer questions needed by the survivors. This is made possible through a grant from Get Your Rear in Gear and the Colon Cancer Coalition. (The next Get Your Rear in Gear 5K is coming up on April 28. Click here to register and support local colorectal cancer initiatives!)

The survivorship luncheon and support groups are a great way to share experiences from cancer treatment and to find encouragement and hope. One survivor spoke about how great it was to see a fellow liver cancer survivor who is about to have a 10 year anniversary since diagnosis. Another survivor stressed the importance of having a positive attitude during treatment.

Cancer Services fully recognizes the importance of support as part of our clients’ cancer care and we offer over 15 support groups that meet monthly; our Digestive and Urinary Group that meets every third Monday of the month at noon at Cancer Services. For more information on this support group or other services offered by Cancer Services please visit our website or call Esther at 225-927-2273.

Stretch, Strength and Support: Yoga at Cancer Services

Cancer Services offers multiple exercise classes that allow survivors to get a great workout and a chance to meet other survivors. But one class in particular has become much more than just a workout. The Yoga Thrive class, offered every Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Red Shoes, has become its very own support group for the survivors who participate in the class.

Some of the yoga regulars before class at The Red Shoes

Every week survivors attend the class to get strength and support from each other as well as a good exercise - most are regulars, scheduling their appointments around these classes. One survivor even described the class as a family saying, “When someone’s missing we miss them.”

All of the survivors reiterated how special this class is and how they never want to miss out on it. One survivor said this was “one of the best classes I’ve ever seen in my life.” Another survivor spoke about how everyone’s backgrounds were not important because they were all the same because they all have cancer.

Many of the survivors emphasized how important the instructor, Kate, was to the class. When asked what she thought made this class so special, Kate responded that the emotional connection she feels and sees with this class is different from any other class she teaches. She also spoke about the amazing strength of spirit and will the participants in the class have.

The routine of the class is gentler than others and the survivors do not feel any pressure to perform any moves that make them feel uncomfortable. One survivor said that she liked the class because there was no judgment and that it did not matter what you were able to do. Several survivors said that the class was great because they all are coming from the same place because they all have cancer and they understand what the other people in the class are going through.
Each yoga class ends with "Namaste," which translates to "I bow to you." These survivors bow to each other, bows full of meaning in their shared experience, and Cancer Services bows to all our clients as we do all we can to improve their lives and their cancer journey.

One participant in particular emphasized the importance of getting exercise several times a week for cancer patients. According the National Cancer Institute website, several studies find that physical activity can improve the quality of life for cancer patients who are undergoing treatment or for those who have completed treatment.

Cancer Services offers multiple exercise programs to help cancer survivors improve their quality of life and stay healthy. For a list of exercise programs visit the Cancer Services’ website or call Natalie at 225-927-2273 for more information.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Dark Blue is Colorectal's Cancer Awareness Color.

March is colorectal cancer awareness month. Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer among men behind skin, prostate and lung cancer, and the fourth most common among women after skin, breast and lung cancer. The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age with more than 90 percent of cases occurring in people who are 50 years old or older (CDC).



According to the NCI, risk factors for colorectal cancer are:

• being 50 years old or older,
• having a family history of colon cancer or polyps,
• colorectal polyps,
• a personal history of cancer, especially ovarian, endometrial or breast cancer,
• ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease,
• hereditary conditions like familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC),
• a diet of high fat and low calcium, folate and fiber and
• cigarette smoking.

It is important to get tested for colorectal cancer if you are 50 years old or older because it can save your life. Many cancers in the early, treatable stages do not cause symptoms so it is important to get tested regularly. Symptoms usually begin to emerge when the cancer has progressed. Some of the symptoms of colorectal cancer include:

• Constipation or Diarrhea
• Blood in or on the stool
• Weight loss with no known reason
• Fatigue
• Vomiting or nausea
• The sensation that the bowel does not empty completely
• Narrow stools (which indicate an obstruction in the colon)
• Chronic abdominal discomfort, like gas pains or cramps or feeling bloated or full

These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but it is important to visit a doctor so that a proper diagnosis can be made. For more information about colon cancer or screenings in our area, call the Cancer Services Library/Resource Center at 225-927-2273.

Each week, Cancer Services posts a Cancer Q&A in the Health section of The Advocate.