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.
