S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

I s s u e 9

A N E W S L E T T E R F O R

PAT I E N T S , FA M I L I E S , S TA F F

A N D C O M M U N I T Y M E M B E R S

IN THIS ISSUE

One Hill at a Time

Look Good Feel Better Program & Wig Salon Patient Services

Library Corner: Resources for Thyroid, Prostate, Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Months

Patient & Family Education NewsP R I N C E S S M A R G A R E T C A N C E R C E N T R E

One Hill at a TimeBy Bob Hunt, Spiritual Care Professional, Princess Margaret Cancer CentreOriginally published on the ellicsrblog.theprincessmargaret.ca.

In March I had an opportunity to visit the

monument for Terry Fox in Thunder Bay,

Ontario. I walked up the hill and through

the snow to see an incredible journey

captured in a brass statue.

As I stood at the base of the monument,

I thought about Terry and his

accomplishments. I reflected on the man and on the movie that bears his

name. One scene from the movie has always resonated with me. It's a simple

conversation with a police officer who is accompanying Terry on his journey.

The officer comments on what a long distance Terry has left to run. Terry's

brother takes the officer aside and explains that a big part of Terry's ability to run

day after day is that he doesn't focus on the far off finish line. Instead, he focuses

on the goal of the day. He takes one day at a time, sometimes even just one hill at

a time.

There is wisdom in this approach. The difficult part of any big goal isn't the start

when you have lots of enthusiasm, nor as we are heading down the home stretch

and can see the finish line. It's the in-between stage, the middle part, that seems

to go on and on and on. Maintaining our enthusiasm and energy to finish is

where the challenge lies.

Focusing all our attention on some very distant goal can leave us feeling

overwhelmed or bored. It's the monotony of the middle that milks our motivation.

We can learn from Terry’s approach. Having short goals transported Terry through

the long stretches of distance and time.

The Look Good Feel Better Program offers a free 2-hour cosmetics workshop for women with any type of cancer receiving any type of treatment. The workshop is taught by volunteers with a background in the cosmetics industry to help make sure participants get the most out of the workshop. During the workshop, volunteers take the women through the signature steps of the program, listed above.

Women choose which products they want to use, although they are encouraged to try most of the cosmetics so they are comfortable using the cosmetics at home.

Although the workshop is based on cosmetics, it is about more than just make-up. Participants are always seated facing each other so they can talk, share stories and connect. Many women make friends during the workshop, and participants have said that the program is fun and helps them feel less isolated.

As Deborah finished speaking, Linda finished working on the volunteer. Her skin tone was more even, the eyebrows that Linda had drawn on gave her face more character, and her wig looked beautiful and natural.

Princess Margaret Wig Salon & Accessories BoutiqueZain spoke about how the wig salon helps people with cancer feel better about themselves by making fashionable, high-quality products available at reasonable prices.

On Tuesday July 22, 2014, the Patient Education program at Princess Margaret hosted a lunch and learn on programs and services available to help women deal with appearance changes during cancer treatment. Deborah Hannah, Director, and Linda Cottell, Regional Manager Ontario, joined us from the Look Good Feel Better Program. Zain Haji, Coordinator, and Paulene Harvey, Volunteer, joined us from the Princess Margaret Wig Salon & Accessories Boutique.

Look Good Feel BetterAs Deborah began speaking, Linda gave a live demonstration of the signature steps of the Look Good Feel Better program by applying the steps on a volunteer.

  •  Skin care  •  Sun protection  •  Face make-up  •  Eyes and eyebrows  •  Lips  •  Hand and nail care (including feet)  •  Wigs and head coverings

Deborah began by talking about how common cancer is. About 40% of women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Today, about half a million women in Canada are living with cancer. Of these women, 82% have changes in their physical appearance. The physical side effects of cancer can affect the self-image of people with cancer and impact how they are treated by other people.

Look Good Feel Better Program & Wig Salon Patient Services By Lauren Shorser, Web Writer, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Continues on back

The next time you’re facing a long journey or a big goal, ask yourself: What would a series of manageable short goals look like for you? Then do what Fox did so well: Terry on.

Bob is a spiritual care professional from The Princess Margaret Spiritual Care department. Spiritual care professionals help you express your feelings and concerns in a way that honours your values and beliefs. They support all types of spiritual expression: religious practice, personal relationships, artistic creation, a connection to nature and more.

To speak with Bob or another spiritual care professional, drop by the Walk-In Spiritual Care Clinic at the Spiritual Care office (main floor, room M 518, across the hall from the blood lab). The clinic runs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:30 – 10:50 am. You can also ask a staff member or hospital volunteer to contact a spiritual care professional for you.

Resources for loan about Prostate Cancer100 questions and answers about prostate cancerPamela Ellsworth

Dr. Patrick Walsh's guide to surviving prostate cancer. 3rd ed.Patrick Walsh

The Canadian guide to prostate cancer. 2nd ed.Leah Jamnicky

Prostate cancer and the man you love: Supporting and caring for your partner. 2nd ed.Anne Katz

UHN brochures – ask library staff for a free copy

•  Prostate Cancer Information and Support Resources

•   What to Expect While Receiving Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

•  Radical Prostatectomy 

Resources for loan about Thyroid CancerThyroid Cancer: A guide for patientsDouglas Van Nostrand, (ed.)

The Low Iodine Diet Cookbook: Easy and delicious recipes and tips for thyroid cancer patientsNorene Gilletz

UHN brochures – ask library staff for a free copy

•  What to Expect While Receiving Radiation Therapy for Thyroid Cancer

•  In-Patient Radioactive Iodine (131I) Treatment

Library CornerResources for Thyroid, Prostate, Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness MonthsListed below are some of the many resources available from the Patient & Family Library, located on the main floor atrium at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

How to Become a Library MemberThe first time you borrow a resource, you will fill out a registration form and show valid identification with your name and address, such as a Driver’s License or UHN Hospital Card, to the librarian or library volunteer. Once registered, you may borrow library resources for 3 weeks from any of the UHN Patient & Family Libraries.

Visit the Princess Margaret Patient & Family Library:

Hours: Monday to Thursday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Fridays 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Location: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Main floor, atrium

Phone: 416 946 4501 x 5383

E-mail: patienteducationpmh@uhn.ca

By Michelle Snow, Librarian, Patient and Survivorship Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Resources for loan about Leukemia and Lymphoma

Johns Hopkins Medicine Patients' Guide to LeukemiaCandis Morrison

What's Up with Richard?: Medikidz explain leukemia (youth resource)Blair Chilman

100 Questions & Answers About Leukemia. 3rd ed.Edward Ball and Alex Kagan

100 Questions & Answers About Lymphoma. 2nd ed. Peter Holman

UHN brochures – ask library staff for a free copy

•  What to do When Receiving Radiation Therapy to the Chest Area for Lymphoma

•  Understanding Your Blood Tests – For patients receiving treatment for blood cancer in the hospital

•  Patient Resource Guide – For patients with leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and their families

The information contained in this newsletter is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only. © University Health Network - Princess Margaret Hospital - Patient and Family Library - 2014

Patient & Survivorship Education Editor: Alaina Cyr, Patient Education Coordinator | Editorial Board: Nazek Abdelmutti, Daniela Fierini, Robin Forbes, Myann Marks, Lauren ShorserGraphic Artist: Kristin Foster | Please forward comments, questions or submissions to Alaina.Cyr@uhn.ca

The Patient Education and Survivorship Programs are supported by the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

During a patients’ first visit, they can explore the wig salon, see the products that are available, and book an appointment for a wig fitting. Zain explained that patients do not have a wig fitting on their first visit to the wig salon because people usually feel anxious and upset on their first visit, and that is not the best frame of mind for buying a wig. The wigs are available in all colours all the time, and knowing this helps patients feel calmer.

When Zain finished speaking, Paulene gave a scarf-tying demonstration. Paulene teaches the Head Wrap Workshop at the Princess Margaret two times a month. She and the volunteers showed two styles that looked fantastic and were greeted enthusiastically by the audience.

There are a number of resources available to women at the Princess Margaret, free of charge: The Look Good Feel Better Program workshops run in locations in the community and at The Princess Margaret. For dates of upcoming sessions at The Princess Margaret, pick up a copy of the Patient Education Calendar of Events or call 416-946-2075. Visit lgfb.ca to find a workshop in the community.

The Princess Margaret Wig Salon & Accessories Boutique is located on the 3rd floor of The Princess Margaret. Call 416-946-6596 for more information.

The Head Wrap Workshop happens from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. Call 416-946-6596 for more information.