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.

Q&A: Cancer Vaccines

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

Q: What are cancer vaccines?

A: In order to understand vaccines, it is important to know about the immune system. A person’s immune system, from birth, knows to protect the body from foreign substances like bacteria and viruses and then remembers it in order to fight it off if the foreign substance tries to attack again. A vaccine is a type of medicine that helps the body prepare to fight disease and infection. A weakened version of the virus or bacteria is introduced into the body so that the immune system learns how to fight it.

There are two types of vaccines: preventative and treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three preventative vaccines, Gardasil®, Cervarix®, and a vaccine for the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Gardasil® and Cervarix®, protect against two types of HPV (types 16 and 18) that are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer cases. The HBV vaccine is important because it prevents hepatitis B infections, which can lead to liver cancer. Most children receive this vaccine shortly after birth.

The first treatment vaccine for cancer was approved in April 2010. Provenge® is approved for use in some men with metastatic prostate cancer. It is designed to stimulate an immune response to prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), an antigen that is found on most prostate cancer cells. In a clinical trial, sipuleucel-T increased the survival of men with a certain type of metastatic prostate cancer by about 4 months.

Other treatment vaccines are still in the development phase, being tested to see if they can prevent a cancer from growing, keep a cancer from recurring, shrink tumors, or kill cancer cells left by other treatments.

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

Teal Toes!

Did you know that September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month? Inspired by Teal Toes, Inc., the (female) staff at Cancer Services painted our toenails various shades of teal, the ovarian cancer color.

To learn more about this unique endeavor to spread awareness about the "whispering killer," check out Teal Toes, Inc.

Go Bald for Cancer Services!

Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge has been chosen as a beneficiary of Be Bold, Be Bald! a national awareness and fundraising event for cancer organizations. Too many of us have been touched by cancer and often we search for a way to make a meaningful contribution. Be Bold, Be Bald! enables participants to honor and better understand cancer patients by wearing a bald cap for an entire day (10/21/11). It is not a physical challenge – it is a vanity challenge, and one that many cancer patients do not have a choice about. Participants get people to sponsor them for wearing the cap (just as they would get someone to sponsor them for doing a walk), and they can choose to keep their donations in the Baton Rouge community by selecting Cancer Services as their beneficiary.
You can join our team or start your own with your family, school, organization or business - just be sure to select Cancer Services as your beneficiary! By going bald for a day, you can personally connect with the cancer survivors in your life in a tangible and meaningful way. Plus your participation helps the thousands of people living with cancer in the Baton Rouge area.

When people sign up to participate, they are immediately given access to a variety of online fundraising tools, including a personal fundraising page. They also receive, via email, a complete participation package including a bald cap, -t-shirt and other materials.
Join the Cancer Services Team! Or you can visit the Be Bold, Be Bald! website to join as an individual or start your own team to be bald on October 21st. We'll have events and photo ops going on all day at Cancer Services so if you go bald - be sure to stop by our office and show it off!

Contact Connie at Cancer Services at 225-927-2273 for questions or more information.

Be Bold, Be Bald! is run by Small Army for a Cause, a 501c3 organization founded by Boston Ad Agency, Small Army, in honor of one of its founders who lost his battle to cancer in November 2007. To date, the organization has raised over $250,000. Cancer Services is so thankful to be affiliated with this cause.

We'll Keep the Light On!

New After Hours Support Group

We invite you to come on by. Even if it’s after hours we’ll keep the lights on for Cancer Services new After Hours Support Group offering more group options for survivors and their families.

In its 52 years of operation, Cancer Services has learned the importance of adapting to the changing needs of those living with cancer. In the 1970s the agency opened the wig boutique to help survivors with the side effects of chemotherapy. When doctors began advocating for survivors to stay active, Cancer Services began its Fit & Fearless, Yoga and Zumba exercise programs. This year, we recognized that many cancer patients continue working during treatment and are unable to attend support groups during the day. Therefore, the After Hours Support Group was born.

Natalie Depp, Adult Program Coordinator founded the group. “Having something available for clients and their families outside of the traditional 9-5 work week is a need for today’s cancer survivor who may continue working while undergoing treatment,” she shared. While most of the cancer-specific groups meet only once a month during the noon hour, the After Hours Group meets every week.

Depp continued, “It’s an excellent opportunity for anyone effected by cancer to get connected with other survivors. We provide an atmosphere where they can develop new friendships and have an enjoyable time while sharing information, experiences, fears and hopes.”

In addition to the fellowship and information sharing, the group also watches cancer-related TV shows and movies which promote lively discussion and sometimes work on creative art or multi-media projects that can be therapeutic as well as fun! The group is open to anyone in the community coping with a cancer diagnosis – including survivors, their caregivers and family members.

Check out the full list and schedule of the support groups Cancer Services offers!

Cancer Services now on YouTube!

You can now watch Cancer Services on YouTube! Hear from our clients and supporters and watch videos of our events! Check out Cancer Services' YouTube channel or see below for the videos that premiered at Capital Chefs' Showcase!

Thank YOU for helping those with cancer!



Thank you for attending Cancer Services' Capital Chefs' Showcase last week. We hope you enjoyed great food and great music for a great cause. We also hope you take pride in the fact that by your attendance and support, you directly help those living with cancer in the Greater Baton Rouge community.

Cancer Services is a local, independent nonprofit - 100% dependent on the generosity of our community. Attending Capital Chefs' Showcase is just one of many ways you can improve life for those living with cancer. To see other opportunities like Annual Giving, Planned Giving and general contributions please visit the Cancer Services’ website.

Now that we are friends, we want to see you more often! Join us for one of our Open House events. They are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about our agency, meet our staff and see firsthand the work that your investment makes possible. Check out our Open House schedule for more information. The next one is Wednesday, September 21^st, 8-9 a.m. Just call 927-2273 to let us know you'll attend.

All of us at Cancer Services feel continually blessed to be a part of the Baton Rouge community and have the support of residents like you.

Pictured: Honorary Chair Coach Paul Mainieri, Mayor Kip Holden, Karen Mainieri and Executive Director Mimi Riché at Capital Chefs' Showcase.

Showcase Silent Auction Highlights!

Each year at the Capital Chefs’ Showcase, Cancer Services hosts a HUGE Silent Auction to accompany the evening of food, music and fun to benefit those living with cancer in the Baton Rouge area. This year is no different and includes over 200 exciting items from businesses and artists throughout the Greater Baton Rouge area. Highlights include the “Fabulous Four:” a Duck Hunt for four at the Lamar Lodge with an accompanying Sportsman’s Package, a beautiful dining room table by Paul Naquin, dinner for four with Coach Paul Mainieri and his wife Karen at Fleming’s Steakhouse AND an original painting by Donna West! ALSO: don't forget about our raffle for a $4,000 Shopping Spree at Lee Michaels! Check out the pictures of some of the items below and don’t forget that all 100% of all money raised here, stays here to benefit those living with cancer in THIS community.

Call 927-2273 for tickets and we’ll see y’all on September 8^th!