2012 Annual Report: "A Life with Less Worry"

On top of all the health problems that come with a cancer diagnosis, many families struggle with serious financial worries as well. Cancer Services is here to help lessen that worry for our clients. Our Direct Assistance program is designed to help families cope with the high costs of a diagnosis through financial assistance, loan of medical equipment and distribution of nutritional supplement and medical supplies. After being diagnosed with tonsil cancer, Gary “Lee” Bihms began to worry about how much it affected his family’s finances. Not only did his treatments and medications cost substantial dollars, he had to take a year off work. Thankfully, Cancer Services could help. He took advantage of our mileage reimbursement service to help cover the gas expense of going to oncology-related appointments, as well as our nutritional supplement service when Lee’s treatment kept him from eating. “It would’ve been really hard without Cancer Services. They really helped me with what I needed to get by.”  Additionally, through our Healthcare Navigation program, we’re able to refer hundreds of families like Lee’s to other resources through our extensive network of other financial and healthcare agencies and programs. 

Lee’s story is just one example of how Cancer Services helps fill in the gaps for those living with, through and beyond a cancer diagnosis. And through our Support Program, he’s helping others fill in their own gaps. Now a few years out of treatment, Lee attends the Oral, Head and Neck Cancers Support Group, where he and other cancer “veterans” pass on advice to those just starting their journeys. He has even donated supplies to pay forward the support he received. For more information about Direct Assistance services call 225-927-2273.

2012 Annual Report: "A Life More Fun!"

Because of medical or financial limitations, many children living with cancer do not have the opportunity to attend a typical summer camp.  Before Camp Care at Cancer Services, there was no local resource for children living with cancer to have a normal summer camp experience. In 2012, Cancer Services hosted the 18th Annual Camp Care for kids like Courtney Ross and her siblings. When doctors discovered that Courtney had leukemia at age 5, her and her family’s lives dramatically changed. Before her diagnosis, her life was full of crayons, toys, and simple joys. Now hospitals, needles, medicine and feeling sick overshadowed all of this. Courtney went to Memphis to receive treatment but once she felt better, she was able to attend Camp Care right here in Baton Rouge with her siblings and new friends. Under the careful eye of Camp Director Jana Poché, 20 volunteer counselors and oncology nurses to provide medical oversight, Courtney and 40 other children attended camp for a week in July.  They enjoyed rock climbing, fishing, bowling, movies and art projects but mostly, the children enjoy just being kids. Courtney testifies, “I love camp!”

In addition to Camp Care, monetary grants, medical equipment and supplies, Cancer Services helps families affected by cancer experience as normal a life as possible with our monthly children’s events. Families are able to surround themselves with supportive friends and spend time as a family outside of that world of childhood cancer. Things like riding go-karts at Celebration Station, witnessing the wonders of Disney on Ice, enjoying a day of fishing or horseback riding can seem small, but it can mean so much. These families are able to have a life, an almost-normal life, a life removed from the world of cancer.

2012 Annual Report: "A Life More Supported"

What is an ostomy? For many of our clients living with digestive and urinary cancers it’s a word they know all too well. An ostomy is an opening of the intestine into the wall of the abdomen, required for some patients after the surgical removal or the healing of part of their colons, rectums or intestines. Many are sent home after surgery with little long-term training or resources to help them adjust. This is where Cancer Services comes in to help support their new way of life. Thanks to a new partnership with Get Your Rear in Gear, our clients have access to Cindy Schneider, a Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse. In addition to attending support group meetings, Cindy is available for phone consultations and home visits to coach patients on how to make their ostomys work with their lives, as well as offer emotional support. Cindy says, “The best advice I can give to ostomy patients is that you can still do everything you did before your ostomy. If something isn’t working for you, I can help fix it.”

David J. Smith can personally testify to the turmoil many ostomy patients encounter. Sent home from the hospital with only a short lesson on how his new bladder worked, David came to our Digestive System Cancers Support Group meeting with plenty of questions for Cindy and fellow cancer survivors. He not only got his questions answered but found more of what he desperately needed. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without Cancer Services. I don’t have insurance to cover the expense of all the supplies I need and without them, I’m not able to go to work or live my life normally.” From Cancer Services’ ostomy closet, David was able to find the best fits for his lifestyle, which helped to ease the expense as well as the anxiety. But worth even more than the tangible items, he received the emotional support he needed to get back to his life. “Cancer Services helped me see that things were not as bad as they seemed and that I did not have to face this alone. They know my name when I come by. Now I not only accept my ostomy, but also see it as proof of my inner strength.”

The Digestive and Urinary Cancers Support Group meets the third Monday of each month at noon at Cancer Services. Call 225-927-2273 to learn more about any of our support groups or our ostomy support services.

2012 Annual Report: "A Life More Fit"

Staying active is so important for the health and well-being of survivors in any stage of treatment. In partnership with BREC and The Red Shoes, our three exercise classes: Fit and Fearless, Yoga and Zumba Gold, meet multiple times a week. But as important as the physical benefits, these classes have become emotionally valuable for the participants. Instructor Laura LeBlanc designed Fit and Fearless, our original aerobic exercise program, specifically for those living with, through and beyond cancer. The class celebrated 5 years in September 2012 and many of the charter members still attend every week. “We think of ourselves as a gift to each other,” says participant Gloria Graham, “We can talk about anything here.”  Carolyn Cavalier, another longtime Fit and Fearless devotee, agrees, “Besides great exercise, it’s been a wonderful opportunity to share stories, offer support and draw strength from others.” 

Donna Hincks, a cancer survivor herself, teaches Zumba Gold once a week, giving attendees an opportunity to have a fun and unique workout. They dance to Latin songs wearing coin skirts that add jingle to every movement. For an hour every Thursday morning, they laugh and enjoy themselves, all while getting fitter and improving their life with every twist, shake and shimmy. 

The Yoga class also has a strong and dedicated following. 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 even described the class as a family saying, “When someone’s missing we miss them.” Each yoga class ends with "Namaste," which translates to "I bow to you." These survivors bow to each other, a movement full of meaning in their shared experience. Cancer Services bows to all our clients as we do all we can to improve life during their cancer journey. Like all our programs and services, exercise classes are free of charge for those living with cancer in the Greater Baton Rouge area. Call Cancer Services at 225-927-2273 for more information or to register. A written doctor’s permission is required. 

If you can’t make the classes, the Cancer Services Library/Resource Center loans DVDs of Fit and Fearless classes and these 3 different discs are also available for purchase at $15 each – proceeds benefit Cancer Services.

2012 Annual Report: "A Mission Stronger When Shared"

Albemarle and Cancer Services staff gather to lay the groundwork for corporate expansion of Cancer Services’ Annual Giving Program: Albemarle Corporate Vice President of Global Sales/Supply Chain and Cancer Services Board Member Tony Parnell, Cancer Services Executive Director Mimi Riche, Executive Director of the Albemarle Foundation Sandra Holub and Cancer Services Marketing and Development Director John Boudreaux.

Over the past four years, Cancer Services’ Annual Giving has grown in size and, considering current economic realities, it’s also grown in importance. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of this community, and donors make the biggest impact through our Annual Giving Program. Cancer Services is excited to announce the new Mission Partner Annual Giving Level. Mission Partners are members of the medical and corporate community who support our mission through significant financial contribution, board leadership and in-kind assistance. We’re excited and pleased to announce our first two Mission Partners: The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins and Albemarle Corporation.

Linda Lee, Administrator at Our Lady of the Lake – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center recognizes the importance of this partnership to the medical community, “Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge provides vital services for cancer patients and their families locally. These services are essential to ensuring that those fighting this disease have access to the resources they need. Day after day, Cancer Services is making a real and meaningful difference to countless individuals in our community.” Sandra Holub, Executive Director of the Albemarle Foundation, agrees, “Albemarle is proud to lead the way and be a Corporate Mission Partner. Everyone is impacted by cancer in some way. We are so grateful to have an organization like Cancer Services that makes the word ‘cancer’ a bit less scary.”

Mission Partners ensure that relevant and meaningful services are available to all cancer patients and their families regardless of where they seek medical treatment.