History of Cancer Services

Cancer Services is often confused with the American Cancer society, and while the two organizations have a small shared history and similar names, it’s important to know the difference. The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. As significant as research is, Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge’s mission is to improve the lives of those living with cancer. We hope for the day we have to close our doors because research and medicine has eliminated cancer, we are here in the meantime for those people who are currently living with, through and beyond cancer, as well as for their friends and family members.

Cancer Services began as a local affiliate of the American Cancer Society in 1949, funded by the Community Chest (later the United Givers' Fund, now known as Capital Area United Way). Ten years later in 1959 the American Cancer Society asked its local affiliates to withdraw from the United Givers' Fund in order to conduct annual fund-raising efforts in support of national cancer research. While recognizing the importance of research, members of the Board of Directors voted to continue fulfilling the agency's original mission of providing programs and services for local cancer patients.

Today we still proudly maintain our relationship with the Capital Area United Way, and are still providing programs and services for local cancer patients and adapting to meet their changing needs as research and medicine continually improve the landscape of cancer survivorship.

So, until there’s a cure, there’s Cancer Services.

Think Before You Pink

October is breast cancer awareness month and stores and websites have filled their shelves and pages with a myriad of pink items to benefit breast cancer research, awareness, patients and survivors. Purchasing these items can be a great way to show your support for those in your life that are living with cancer but there is concern about the legitimacy of some of these products and how much actually benefits the charities they claim to help.

The Better Business Bureau is warning people to ask questions before buying products linked to breast cancer awareness groups. They suggest the following tips for consumers interested in learning how their pink ribbon product purchases will benefit charity.

• Inspect the product itself for information. Many companies clearly report how much of their sales go to charity and specifically where the money goes.
• Check the company’s website. If the information isn’t on the product itself, it often can be found via the website printed on the product packaging.
• If you still can’t find the information, call the company and ask for it. Firms that use charity tie-ins to market their products should be transparent to consumers.
• Contact the charity directly if you have doubts they are receiving proceeds.
• Check out the charity to decide whether you believe it is worthy of your support. One way to do this is by contacting the BBB to determine whether the charity meets the BBB’s Standards for Accountability. You may reach the BBB by going to www.bbb.org or by calling 314-645-3300.

Think Before You Pink™, a project of Breast Cancer Action, launched in 2002 in response to the growing concern about the number of pink ribbon products on the market. The campaign calls for more transparency and accountability by companies that take part in breast cancer fundraising, and encourages consumers to ask critical questions about pink ribbon promotions.

P.S. If you want to be sure that your dollars are going to stay in this community and directly help those living with breast cancer and all other cancers, consider donating to Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge. For more information call 225-927-2273 or visit our website.

Support Behind Bars: Our Program for Women Fighting Cancer in Prison

There are a few people who might say that going through cancer is like being in prison – that it sometimes feels as if your body is a prisoner to the disease. For a select group of women at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW) in St. Gabriel, that statement has a deeper meaning. They are living with, through or beyond cancer - and living behind bars.

Our Program Director, Esther Sachse, began facilitating the new LCIW Survivors for Life monthly support group in January 2010. LCIW started this group as an innovative way to give support, comfort and information to inmates who were dealing with cancer.

The women in the group say that they look forward to group meetings now more than ever. “We have the same fears about cancer as those in the outside world,” said group member Melanie. “We are scared of the nausea and the side effects. We are scared of what will happen if the cancer progresses. Since we don’t have our family members here to encourage us, this group is our family and our inspiration to keep going.”

Just as with any support group here at Cancer Services, this sense of encouragement can be easily seen. When one group member, Paulette, announced that she was not yet going to pursue treatment for her pancreatic cancer, the group chimed in with words of encouragement. “You must fight for your life,” group member Gail said. “You need to be aggressive with your cancer before it is aggressive with you.”

Paulette expressed that she has all of the same fears that someone who isn’t in prison might have. “I’m scared to get sick from chemotherapy and I’m scared of losing my hair,” she said. But by the end of the meeting, with the group’s encouragement, she had decided she would ask to pursue a doctor’s appointment at Earl K. Long hospital.

The group’s administrator, Ms. Jeanetta Dent, says the program has had a positive impact for the women. “Even though they are incarcerated, they need help and comfort. Some of the women had cancer before they came here and are still dealing with the effects. Some of them are fighting now and some have also had children with cancer. This group gives them an opportunity to connect and to know that they aren’t alone in their situation - that there are others who understand what they are going through, even in this unique circumstance.”

Lorena, a group member who is set to be released by the time this newsletter is delivered, said that she feels the group has prepared her for returning to society as a cancer survivor. “I faced cancer once here and I will need some help when I leave. Now I feel like I have the support necessary in order to address that part of my life.”

Many people say that a positive attitude is half the battle when dealing with a cancer diagnosis. For these women, it may be hard to stay positive while behind bars, but thanks to the new support group, they are finding the courage to deal with their cancer. As Lorena said, “There aren’t a lot of things that we can control in prison. But we can control supporting one another.”

This support group shows that just as cancer can go behind bars, so can our mission. We are here to improve life for those living with cancer - no matter the circumstance.