Thrive: Survivorship Digital Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 2

Freelance

MaineHealth Cancer Care in South Portland

Welcome to spring! As we start to feel the change of season, we hope you enjoy the new format of our latest edition of our quarterly Survivorship digital magazine, Thrive. If you haven’t already, we hope you’ll click here to sign-up for future editions. This edition has a special focus on cancer screening in firefighters and brain tumor awareness. If you have any questions on our content, or ideas for articles in upcoming editions, please contact Amy Litterini at amy.litterini@mainehealth.org.

Amy Litterini, PT, DPT

Laurie Hyndman

Patricia Hager, MFA

Program Managerof Survivorship, MaineHealth Cancer Care Network

Breast CancerSurvivor, Co-chair of the Patient and FamilyAdvisory Council

Writer and Editor,patientof

If you’re interested in being featured for a Survivor to Survivor story, please contact Amy Litterini at amy.litterini@mainehealth.org

Survivors Giving Back

By Amy Litterini

In August of 2014, social worker Melissa Gerrish started her dream job as a clinician working with preschool children with special needs. But, in January of 2015 at age 42, she had a routine screening mammogram which revealed a mass in her left breast. She was recommended immediately for a biopsy, which was done on a Monday. She was then diagnosed with breast cancer on a Thursday. She actually had multiple lesions close to her ribcage, and her pathology showed invasive ductal carcinoma which was triple positive (estrogen receptor positive, progesterone receptor positive, and HER2 positive). Her tumor was at an aggressive stage, IIIB. Following two weeks of multiple doctor's appointments and consultations, she began neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemotherapy to try to shrink the tumors. Looking back on her diagnosis, she recalls that in 2008 she had a breast reduction for what at the time were double D breasts. When she was diagnosed with cancer, her providers told her that had she not had that breast reduction when she did, it would have been very unlikely that they would have been able to find this breast cancer diagnosis in 2015.

Melissa at work at Southern Maine Health Care

She had a venous access device (port) put in her chest for her chemotherapy infusions on February 12th, and by February 20th, she started chemotherapy. Her breast navigator at the time was Helene Langley, who was with her every step of the way. Melissa’s goal was to continue to work.

Melissa's neoadjuvant chemotherapy included six rounds of TCHP: Docetaxol (Taxotere) + Carboplatin (Paraplatin) + Trastuzumab (Herceptin) + Pertuzumab (Perjeta). Since this regimen is so hard on the bone marrow, she also got injections to keep her white blood cell count up Following her neoadjuvant chemotherapy, she underwent bilateral mastectomies and a lymph node dissection (0/4 nodes showed any cancer cells). She was not a candidate for breast reconstruction due to a past medical history of neurofibromatosis (a genetic disorder that can cause issues with skin, nerve and muscle tissue).

Post-surgery, she also had 36 radiation therapy treatments to her chest wall and axilla (underarm), even though her lymph nodes were clear. She then received Herceptin infusions for another year. She had some bothersome “dog ears” (an outward puckering of skin on the outside aspect of a mastectomy scar) surgically removed, and her port removed in the spring of 2016. At that time, a lump in her axilla was also found and needed to be removed. It was ultimately found to be benign. Also in 2016, she developed upper extremity lymphedema (swelling in the arm). She saw an occupational therapist certified in lymphedema treatment to treat her lymphedema, and a physical therapist to treat cording (a rope-like tightness) and decreased range of motion in her shoulder, both at Southern Maine Health Care.

Unfortunately, due to her aggressive treatments, Melissa was unable to work as she had originally intended. Her employer at the time (a non-profit) only had short term disability (which provides 66% of a person’s wages). She had been in contact with them the entire time, but 26 weeks (to the day) coinciding with her short-term disability ending, is when she was notified her position was no longer available. After her second chemotherapy infusion on March 12th, her doctors told her to stop working the 2-3 hours a day she was. Two days later, she was notified that insurance would be canceled effective the end of the next pay cycle. While only making 66% of her income, she could not afford COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act; a federal mandate that gives the right to remain enrolled in a group health insurance plan).

Her health insurance had ended the day she went out on short term disability. She had to rely on support systems including My Breast Cancer Support, Jennie, and the Dempsey Center. She ultimately sought out the Maine CDC Breast and Cervical Health Program for help, and received insurance coverage through Maine Care.

When Melissa found out her position was no longer available, she then needed to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). She ultimately got SSDI coverage to help with her living expenses. Though all these

Continued from previous challenges, she also had to battle debilitating cancer treatment-related fatigue that she would rate the severity at a 10 out of 10.

Once she was done with her Herceptin infusions, she started Tamoxifen for a year for endocrine therapy (to block the effect of estrogen on any cancer cells). She suffered from joint pain and swelling on the medication, so she was switched to Letrozole. She took Letrozole until she had a sudden and spontaneous uterine hemorrhage when out of town for a wedding. Two weeks later, she had a total abdominal hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries) at age 45. A poorly timed severe migraine landed her in the emergency room three days later where they thought she might have a brain tumor. Thankfully, all testing was negative. She has also had to have multiple follow-ups for what are suspected to potentially be lung metastases; but so far, they have proven to be stable.

In 2019, she was working again as a clinician in a mental health crisis center. Then in 2021, she ultimately switched to become an Inpatient Medical Unit social worker for Southern Maine Healthcare.

Melissa now volunteers for an oncology breast cancer peer support group as the facilitator, a group that she once was a participant in. She is not in a leadership role for the group, but is rather the facilitator of the conversations. Throughout COVID, there were no groups in person, so the program switched to Zoom. When it resumed again in person, Melissa offered to be the facilitator at the Weber building. She's very transparent about her role, and does not wear a clinical hat. She's not there to be a therapist; she's there to be a peer. But, she has the perfect mindset and personal lens for the group. She has also facilitated an expressive arts class for survivors making string art, which was featured in an earlier edition of Thrive.

Melissa has enjoyed participating in the Betty J Borry Breast Cancer Retreats in New Hampshire over the years, and now she has been asked to be a peer facilitator at the spring retreats.

Melissa and her roommate Missy have two cats they absolutely adore: Blaze, a year and a half old boy, and a girl, Greycee Lou, who is a year old. The roommates also have a red eared slider named Collins. Melissa enjoys traveling with her best friends Missy and Jess, a wide variety of arts and crafts, and 80’s TV shows.

Her advice to other cancer survivors is to: “be willing to not only ask for, but then also accept help from others. It means as much to them as it does to you to allow them to help you. So don't hesitate to ask and accept- give yourself that kindness.”

Ask for, and accept help

~ Melissa Gerrish

Above: Melissa (right), with friends Missy (left), and Jess (center), vacationing in St. Maarten.

Blaze

Greycee Lou

This Donation is intheBag

Seventy beautiful, handmade bags were donated by Pauline Fraser (front, center) and Paulette Picard (right). Dr. Paige Teller (left) and medical assistant Alicia Rogers (back) accepted the donation on behalf of the Outpatient Care Center in Scarborough.

Prevention, monitoring and routine testing for new cancers, cancer recurrence, and/or late effects of cancer treatment is a critical component of survivorship

This quarter, we feature brain cancer awareness, and a special focus on cancer screening for firefighters.

Cancer Screenings for Firefighters

By Amy Litterini

Firefighters are at increased risk of certain types of cancer due to occupational exposure to smoke, chemicals, and exhaust fumes. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support, awareness, and educational resources.

The mission of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network is to assist firefighters and EMS providers and their immediate families diagnosed with cancer by providing badge to badge support, training, and guidance. The vision of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network is to be the global leader in firefighter cancer support, awareness and education. Maine-based support is also available. See next pages for specific screening recommendations by diagnosis.

Maine’s own Russell Osgood, Ogunquit Fire Chief, is the Vice President of Education, Research and Outreach for the national Firefighter Cancer Support Network. Click here for more information from Russell about cancer screening for fire fighters. We’re thankful for his service, and the dedicated service of all the firefighters and first responders in Maine.

OgunquitFireChief RussellOsgood

June is Cancer Survivors Month

In recognition of Cancer Survivors Month, we wanted to share some of the good work of collaborating with our survivor community by the Rehabilitation & Survivorship Task Force of the Maine Impact Cancer Network, a component of the Maine Cancer Foundation. This work group focuses on the health and well-being of Mainers affected by cancer, including those currently undergoing treatment, and those who are post-treatment. The task force is composed of members from many walks of life, including those with lived cancer experience, multidisciplinary professionals working within cancer treatment and research, and representatives from cancer support centers throughout the State of Maine.

The Task Force's most recent project was a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs). The intention is to engage all cancer survivors in seeking solutions and resources for their health and wellness. To accomplish this, the group interviewed five cancer survivors and created a PSA with their stories to raise awareness. The PSAs aired thousands of times across Maine television and radio stations.

Please navigate here to view stories from Joan, Sue Anne, Stephanie, Kyle and Kandyce. The Breast Care Center’s very own clinical manager Kyle Bryan, MSN, RN (at right), shared his story as a breast cancer survivor.

The Rehabilitation and Survivorship Task Force is very grateful for everyone’s time and thoughtful sharing of their inspirational survivorship stories!

Assessment and treatment of long term or late effects of cancer treatment

This quarter, we feature brain tumor awareness, lymphedema garment coverage, and available research protocols.

The National Brain Tumor Society offers several patient and caregiver resources. Click HERE to access all the options listed below. Click HERE for additional information on metastatic brain tumors.

Types of Clinical Trials at MaineHealth Cancer Care Network

By Pat Hager, MFA, with Cyndi Marcotte, RN, Research Navigator

The last issue of Thrive (Winter 2024) included an article that provided an overview of clinical trials available at the Maine Health Cancer Care Network (MHCCN). As the article pointed out it is not necessary to travel out of state to participate in a clinical trial and benefit from cutting edge cancer research. Significant cancer research is being conducted here in Maine.

There are currently more than 50 clinical trials open for cancer patients at MHCCN. These trials are available for cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, other solid organ cancers, and hematologic or blood cancers.

There are several types of trials including treatment trials, quality of life trials, prevention trials, screening trials, and biobanking studies.

Treatment trials test new treatments or new ways of using existing treatments. Treatment trials may look at medications, vaccines, approaches to surgery or radiation therapy, or a combination of treatments.

Quality of life trials look at ways to improve the quality of life of cancer patients especially those who have side effects from cancer and its treatment. These trials find new ways to help people cope with pain, nutritional issues, infection, nausea/vomiting, depression, and other cancer-related health issues. Those involved in most prevention trials do not have cancer nor are they at high risk for developing cancer. These trials look at cancer risk and ways to reduce risk. Screening trials look at new ways to find cancers earlier and more easily. Early detection saves lives.

Biobanking is a term that refers to the collection of human biological samples such as blood, urine, saliva, spinal fluid and tissue for research purposes in order to further the understanding of health and disease.

You can ask your doctor and your care team if joining a clinical trial is right for you. Each trial has specific guidelines that have been put in place for your safety. Clinical trials follow all the ethical and legal requirements that apply to all medical practice. Participation is always voluntary, and you have the right to leave the trial at any time.

Part three of this series will describe the experience of participating in a clinical trial.

Do you experience physical or emotional pain related to your cancer or cancer treatment?

 Pain* is one of the most common symptoms in cancer patients and one of the symptoms least likely to be adequately treated.

*Pain: An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that may include either physical pain and/or non-painful discomfort such as aching, throbbing, numbness, tingling, burning, etc

 The IMPACTS StudyInternet- delivered Management of Pain Among Cancer Treatment Survivors, is designed to help you manage your pain so you can enjoy your quality of life.

 Cancer patients 18 or older who experience pain from cancer or cancer treatment are invited to discuss possible participation in the IMPACTS study.

 Compensation for your time will be provided. In-person and remote visits are available!

Use the QR Code below to get to a short survey that will show if this study might be a good fit for you. Based on your responses, you may be eligible to take part in the IMPACTS Study. Note: only patients seen at Sanford or South Portland Mainehealth Cancer Care Centers are eligible to participate.

Scan QR code with your phone’s camera to access a short survey.

For more information on this study, please email: Shelby Monahan: shelby.monahan@mainehealth.org

Care Coordination and planning includes communication and partnerships between the survivor and providers for ongoing survivorship care

This quarter, we feature national cancer research outcomes, bladder cancer support, and to strategies to help those working during treatments

From the American Association for Cancer Research CANCER PROGRESS REPORT: A SNAPSHOT OF A YEAR

Cancer and Careers’ Balancing Work & Cancer Webinar Series offers sessions related to the challenges of balancing work and cancer. All webinars are free to attend. The 2024 line-up includes topics critical to patients, survivors, and their care teams. Whether you’re looking for guidance on job search, help with setting boundaries or developing your communication skills, next year’s program has you covered on those and more. We hope you will join us for one, or all, of the topics!

First Impressions: Resumes and LinkedIn

Wednesday, April 3rd, 1 PM ET/10 AM PT

Networking: Unlock New Opportunities

Wednesday, May 1st, 1 PM ET/10 AM PT

Balancing Work & Nutrition

Wednesday, June 5th, 6 PM ET/3 PM PT

Balancing Work & Cancer

Wednesday, July 10th, 1 PM ET/10 AM PT

Communicating Effectively: Part 1

Wednesday, August 7th, 6 PM ET/3 PM PT

Communicating Effectively: Part 2

Wednesday, September 11th, 6 PM ET/3 PM PT

Setting Boundaries

Wednesday, October 9th, 6 PM ET/3 PM PT

Balancing Work & Caregiving

Wednesday, November 6th, 6 PM ET/3 PM PT

Self-Care: Practical Approaches at Work and Beyond

Wednesday, December 4th, 1 PM ET/10 AM PT

Bladder Cancer Support Group

3rd Tuesday every other month

5:30 - 6:30 pm

100 Campus Drive

Scarborough,ME

Conference Rooms

1&2 behind the cafe

Email: nnengland@bcan.org

Please join us for our Bladder Cancer support group. If you are a patient, survivor, caregiver, family member… all are welcome!

September 17th, 2024

November 19th, 2024

January 21st, 2025

March 18th, 2025

May 20th, 2025

July 15th, 2025

September15th, 2025

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86063821211?

pwd=MDVuTThkNStsUVpHTU9PK0JCWXVpdz09

Meeting ID: 860 6382 1211

Passcode: 028474

Health promotion includes strategies such as healthy eating, physical activity, and stress management in cancer survivorship

This quarter, we feature mindfulness meditation, nutrition information and available programming, and various cancer support offerings including tobacco cessation, yoga and art.

Mindfulness Matters….

ByAmyPearl,MAinHealthandWellnessCoaching,BSN,RN,CWHC,LifestyleandWellness Coordinator,FalmouthIntegrativeMedicine

As a society, we live in a fast-paced world and often move throughout our day on autopilot. Have you ever stopped and thought, ‘did I turn off the stove?’ Or… ‘where do I need to be next?’ These continuous thoughts can cause us to be distracted and exhausted; more importantly, they contribute to poorer health outcomes.

One important aspect of Lifestyle Medicine focuses on helping individuals identify their stressors and current state of health. Lifestyle Medicine teaches individuals to use strategies such as mindfulness meditation to cultivate awareness, and calm the nervous system. Mindfulness is the first step in creating change in our lives. We must ask ourselves, “What are my lifestyle habits, and how are they related to my current health?”

Many people ask, what is the difference between mindfulness and meditation, and how will they support my health? Mindfulness is a state of awareness and living in the moment without judgment. Meditation is the practice that leads to greater awareness of your current state. Meditation trains your mind to use your senses to focus on a specific object, mantra, or breath; it leads to greater awareness. Combining the two is mindfulness meditation.

“Research shows that mindfulness alters attention systems, increases resilience, improves self-esteem, and increases well-being and can be used to treat a variety of disorders. It can also lead to lasting reductions in both physical and psychological symptoms related to inflammation, pain, anxiety, depression, and addiction.”1

Studies show mindfulness meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the component of the nervous system that keeps the basic functions of your body working properly. This creates a calming response in the “rest and digest” aspect of the nervous system. Think of mindfulness meditation as an exercise for your brain. Just as you would take a daily walk to improve your heart health, you want to commit to a daily mindfulness meditation practice to strengthen your awareness of your current state and habits. By integrating these few minutes into your daily routine, you can be on your way to a calmer and healthier you.

One simple practice is the use of Box Breathing. See the next page for step-by-step instructions. Research suggests within six to eight weeks of starting your breathing practices, you may begin to have greater health outcomes.

Reference:

1. Shurney D. Employing Mindfulness in Lifestyle Medicine. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2019 Aug 8;13(6):561-564. doi: 10.1177/1559827619867625. PMID: 31662722; PMCID: PMC6796219.

Mindfulness Meditation: Box Breathing

In the morning, before your feet hit the ground running, pause and sit on the edge of the bed.

1. Set aside two to five minutes to focus on your breath. If thoughts enter your mind, bring your awareness back to your breath.

2. Notice if you are clenching your jaw or holding onto stress in your shoulders or other areas.

3. Breathe into these areas, and when you exhale, release any tension. Start to settle into the moment.

4. Now, envision a square box. As you inhale, count to four as you trace one side of the box (1); then start to trace the second edge of the box while holding your breath for a count of four (2); bring your attention to the third side of the box and exhale for a count of four (3). End by tracing the last side of the box while holding for a count of four (4).

5. Repeat this breathing pattern for three to four cycles. Remember to listen to your body; stop if you feel dizzy or lightheaded.

A visual on the technique can be found HERE.

Session Dates

Apr 4

Lifestyle Medicine 2024 Nutrition Classes

FREE! Classes meet the 1st Thursday of the month from 3 to 4 pm

How to Build a Balanced Plate-Harvard Plate Reading Nutrition Labels-Example and Quality and Quantity- Size plate, serving vs portion

May 2 Mindfulness Eating and Strategies- Learn to identify where your hunger is by using the hunger scale, learn tools to help support you in using mindfulness before, during, and after eating, and learn to identify hunger vs. appetite

June 6

How to Create a Healthy Breakfast- Learn how to balance a breakfast with complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats; Quality and quantity; On-the-go breakfast vs time to cook

July 4 No Class

Aug 1

Sept 5

Oct 3

Nov 7

How to Create a Healthy Lunch- Learn how to create a balanced breakfast, quality and quantity lunch prep for the week, fiber

How to Create a Healthy Dinner- Learn how to create a balanced dinner using the Harvard plate, dinner prep for the week, quality and quantity , fiber

How to Create Healthy Snacks- Snacking portions and recommendations, how to read a nutrition label, creating snacks for on-the-go with quality and quantity, fiber

How to Create a Healthy Dessert- Take care of your “Sweet Tooth” with recipes that are low in sugar and high in fiber, learning how to replace fats and sugars in baking, fiber

Dec No Class

IN PERSON

Registration VIRTUAL Registration

Eating Well when Swallowing is Difficult

By Judy Donnelly, RDN, LD| Nutrition Program Manager, Dempsey Center

Swallowing difficulties, also known as dysphagia, can arise throughout one’s lifespan due to a variety of reasons. In the cancer population, swallowing challenges are commonly associated with cancer of the mouth and throat and various treatment modalities for cancer of the mouth, throat and the thyroid can result in temporary or long -term challenges with nutrition due to difficulties with swallowing. Depending on an individual’s dentition (teeth), difficulty chewing can add to the challenges of maintaining good nutrition. Under these circumstances, a soft and/or smooth diet may be the best approach to eating. If you’re experiencing issues with swallowing or chewing, please talk to your oncology providers about what treatment options might be best for you. Clinical dietitians and speech-language pathologists can be invaluable resources to support cancer survivors.

The good news is that the soft and smooth diet can adequately meet your nutrition needs and be more interesting than you might think! A balanced diet can still be achieved by selecting foods with a soft texture or cooking foods to a soft texture. If one requires a smooth diet, they do not need to limit themselves to canned nutrition supplements throughout the day. While these products are readily available and make nutrition easier, they are also expensive, might not be pleasing to every palate, and may not offer enough variety to the diet. The addition of a blender or food processor to your kitchen toolbox will open up a wide variety of options for nourishment.

On April 16, the nutritionist at Dempsey Center will be teaming up with Loryssa Howard, a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in swallowing disorders, to offer the program, Understanding Dysphagia. We’ll review the role of the Speech- Language Pathologist in addressing this problem and talk about food, ingredients, and recipes to help people with swallowing difficulties meet their nutrition needs. The program is open to the public and you can register by visiting the Public Programming page at DempseyCenter.org (dempseycenter.org/scheduled-programming/public/ ). Get a jumpstart by trying our Pumpkin Smoothie recipe (see next page). It can be enjoyed cold or warmed on the stovetop or in the microwave for a silky, warm nutritious delight!

SMOOTHIE

PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS

1 cup milk (any type)

1 banana

½ cup pumpkin puree (canned) 2 tsp molasses

1 tsp maple syrup handful of ice cubes cinnamon, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1.Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

2.Enjoy!

TIPS +NOTES:

·If using a milk alternative (i.e., almond milk, oat milk, etc.) add a protein source such as nut butter, Greek yogurt, tofu, or protein powder to help increase the protein content.

·Smoothies can be served cold or warm. If serving warm leave out the ice and microwave for about 20-30 seconds to desired temperature.

·If you have leftover pumpkin you can freeze it in ice cube trays for future use.

Courtesy of The High Protein Cookbook for Muscle Health

During Cancer Treatment from researchers at the University of Alberta. Access HERE.

Wilson HA, Armet AM, and Prado CM. 2022. The High Protein Cookbook for Muscle During Cancer Treatment

http://openeducationalberta.ca/ proteincookbookforcancer

From Our Network Partners

• Franklin Memorial Hospital, Farmington

• LincolnHealth-Miles, Damariscotta

• MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta

• Maine Medical Center, Portland

• Memorial Hospital, North Conway, NH

• Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick

• Pen Bay Medical Center, Rockport

• Southern Maine Health Care, Biddeford

• St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Lewiston

• Waldo County General Hospital, Belfast

• Western Maine Health, Norway

What’s New at MaineHealth Cancer Care South Portland

Welcome toDr.Egan

MaineHealth Cancer Care is pleased to welcome hematologist Dr. Pamela Egan to their South Portland office. Dr. Egan comes to us from the Brown Medicine Lifespan Cancer Institute at Rhode Island Hospital where she was an attending physician since 2018. She received her medical degree from SUNY Upstate School of Medicine in Syracuse, NY, in 2012, and her residency in General Internal Medicine through Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital from 2012-2015. Dr. Egan completed her (NIH) Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Hematology at Rhode Island Hospital from 2015-2016, and her Hematology Fellowship through Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital from 20162018.

Dr. Egan has a particular interest in care for individuals with acute leukemia. Her provider profile can be viewed HERE.

Welcome toLaura Apgar

The MaineHealth Center for Cancer Care in South Portland is pleased to welcome Laura Apgar, AGACNP, to their practice. Laura received her nursing degree from Saint Anslem College in Manchester, NH, in 2015, and her Master of Science and Nursing degree from Husson University in Bangor, ME, in 2023. She comes to us with experience in inpatient pediatric nursing, inpatient oncology nursing, outpatient oncology nursing., and intensive care. She is board certified as an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, as well as a registered nurse and an oncology certified nurse.

Laura’s professional memberships include the Southern Maine Oncology Nursing Society, and her academic experience includes being a clinical instructor for the University of New England. Her provider profile can be viewed HERE.

Dr.Pamela Egan

Laura Apgar,AGACNP

What’s New at Maine Medical Center

Sugarloaf Charity Summit Raises a Mountain of Money

By Cynthia Magnuson

The Sugarloaf Charity Summit is a fundraiser that benefits MaineHealth’s own Martha B. Webber Breast Cancer Center in Farmington, as well as the Maine Cancer Foundation and the Dempsey Center. This year's event (24th for the Summit and 4th for the Charity Challenge) took place on Saturday, January 17 in Carrabassett Valley. Paige Teller, MD, Oncology Medical Director, Breast Care Clinic, organized the team, MHCCN: Hitting Slopes, Raising Hopes, again this year. The team raised over $8,500!

Welcome to Katelyn DeRaps, MS, RD, LD

By Cynthia Magnuson

Q: You recently joined MMC as Program Manager for Outpatient Care in Scarborough. What does your role here at MH entail?

A: I will be helping to plan and oversee the development, implementation, operation and daily management of the thoracic and breast oncology programs at Scarborough. Additionally, I will be planning and overseeing processes that ensure program goals are measured, analyzed, evaluated, reported and met. The position supports operational aspects such as the development of program materials and tools. The role is also accountable for implementing program work plan(s) and assuring the completion of day to-day activities.

Q. What is your top work priority this month or over the short term?

A: Getting to know my team and figuring out how to provide them with what they need in order to provide the best care possible for our patients.

Q: How do you prefer to start your day?

A: Taking my dog, Mozzarella, outside for a walk, followed by a large cup of coffee.

Q: What do you do for fun and/or relaxation in your spare time?

A: I enjoy spending time with my dog, fiancé, family and friends. I enjoy hiking, cooking and exploring new restaurants.

Q: What is your favorite food or favorite type of food?

A: Pizza and tacos!

KatelynandMozzarella

Above, Left: Celebrating after hitting the slopes, L to R: Lauren Couture, Patrick Dempsey of the Dempsey Center, Sarah Carter, Dr. Teller and Evie Taylor Above, right: MHCCN team members pictured L to R: Ty Sevigny, Lauren Couture, Kendra Emery DO, Paige Teller MD, Kate Zimmerman DO, Evie Taylor, Kiley Willet and Doug Willett

What’s New at Southern Maine Health Care

Cancer Survivor Leads Holistic Health Care

at MaineGeneral’s Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care

Patients at MaineGeneral’s Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care (HACCC) have a dedicated person to support their needs beyond medical treatment. Holistic Health Care Coordinator Heather Moore relishes the role she plays in providing key information and services to patients, as she knows firsthand the difference such assistance can make.

“I help patients connect with services within the cancer center when they are here and also connect them with community services as needed, as well as provide support to survivors,” Heather says.

Common issues Heather helps address include:

• SSDI/SSI assistance

• Providing support group information

• Wig consultations

• Questions about services at the HACCC and in the community

• Connecting with internal and external resources

• Prosthetics and other related equipment

• Food insecurity

• Complex care cases

• Patient classes and activities

Heather’s own journey at MaineGeneral began 18 years ago as a care manager. She worked with a variety of patients and families in the inpatient setting and even helped coordinate transportation of inpatients from Waterville to the Alfond Center for Health when the new hospital opened in 2013.

She found ways outside of work to help meet the needs of area patients, raising money for breast cancer services, research and patients. Heather estimates she brought in more than $30,000 over the years. She was all too familiar with the impact of breast cancer when her sister was diagnosed in 2000.

Cancer became even more personal when Heather was diagnosed in 2021 with a very aggressive form of breast cancer (Triple Positive), which required her to undergo 1-½ years of aggressive treatments of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. An upbeat, positive person, Heather admits there were days that weakened her body and spirit.

“I became very weak between chemotherapy treatments and needed electrolytes, fluids and transfusions,” she says, “and sometimes I felt worn down emotionally.”

Heather Moore

Continued from previous

Heather successfully finished treatments in April 2022. As she thought about her experiences, she found herself compelled to approach HACCC leadership.

“I thought they could use me here,” she says. “I could be useful. After my own cancer experience, with the knowledge I have as a health care worker, and being the caregiver for my sister during her journey, I knew I could help. Improvements could be made.”

Heather approached Oncology Services Administrative Director Deb Bowden, who immediately envisioned Heather’s role aligning services around all the questions and concerns that come with cancer beyond treatments.

“Cancer impacts every part of a patient’s life including the financial, mental and emotional aspects. In addition, it impacts families. Patients may be here for treatment and have questions about how to get a wig or prosthetics. They may not know how to fill out paperwork for assistance programs, or how to access community resources. I can help them in the moment, and that’s a relief to them.”

Heather says her door is always open. She has continued to build relationships with community resources and other MaineGeneral resources, like the Community Health Workers, that provide various wrap-around services and support for patients.

She envisions adding more services, support groups and activities that meet patients where they are, recognizing that every person is different and that patient needs evolve. That is why she’s excited about the expansion of the HACCC, which is on schedule to be completed in late 2025. Heather is planning more services and support for patients.

“I’m listening to their concerns and suggestions, and I’m excited about growing our services. It’s a privilege to be able to help our cancer patients.”

To learn more about holistic services at the HACCC, go to https://www.mainegeneral.org/medicalservices/cancer-care/support-and-education

You also can watch a video story by News Center Maine about the in-person breast cancer support group Heather manages at https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/health/breast-cancer/inperson-breast-cancer-support-group-helps-women-keep-priorities-straight-augusta-maine/97-777c4e9648ba-4ae6-a082-a2ca5253851e.

What’s New at MaineHealth

Welcome to Rae Egbert, PsyD, LADC, New Director of LGBTQ+ Health

Dr. Rae Egbert grew up in the South, where they witnessed firsthand the hardships faced by gender and sexual minorities for being their authentic selves. With a desire to advocate for the traditionally underserved, Rae pursued a degree in Justice Studies from James Madison University. Rae then went on to attend Capital University

Law School, where they received a concentration in Child and Family Law and advocated for the rights of women, children, and refugees who had experienced traumatic life experiences. Rae ultimately pursued their doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University-Post, where they focused their clinical and research related interests on gender and sexual minority communities, psychological trauma, and substance use disorders. While at LIU Post, Rae founded Pride Healing Center, a trauma-focused specialty clinic for the LGBTQ+ community. As director of Pride Healing, Rae created community and research partnerships, developed trainings for clinicians and community members, and provided psychological services for LGBTQ+ individuals, groups, and families. During their time at LIU Post, Rae also received a graduate certificate from George Washington University in LGBT Health Policy and Practice.

Dr. Egbert completed their Pre-Doctoral Internship at the Northport VA Medical Center and their PostDoctoral Fellowship at the Behavioral Health College Partnership (BHCP) at Zucker Hillside Hospital, a part of Northwell Health. While at BHCP, Rae worked to develop The SOGIE Wellness Collaborative, an interdisciplinary network of providers with a mission of fostering healing and growth for LGBTQ+ patients through community connectedness. In January 2023, Rae joined Psychology Specialists of Maine. Since that time, they have served as the Coordinator for the Center for LGBTQ+ Community Supports, helping to unite LGBTQ+ Mainers through therapeutic support services. Rae is a member of the American Psychological Association, Division 44, Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity; GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equity; and the World Professional Association of Transgender Health. They are also an active participant in the Maine

Psychological Association where they serve on the Community Engagement and Social Justice Committee. Rae was also recognized by the Maine Psychological Association as the 2023 Psychologist of the Year.

When they aren’t working, Rae enjoys spending time outdoors with their family, usually by the water somewhere!

Supportive Care Resources & Quarterly Calendar

Resources Guide Available

In collaboration with our navigation and social work teams, and our community partners, a resources guide is available. Our goal is to provide helpful local, regional, and national sources of information and support. Click HERE to access the guide.

Calendar of Awareness & Events

April

Testicular Cancer Awareness

Esophageal Cancer Awareness

Head and Neck Cancer Awareness

Relay for Life of Southern Maine …. 5

May

Melanoma Monday…………………..1

Bladder Cancer Awareness

Brain Cancer Awareness

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness

World Ovarian Cancer Day…………….8

June

National Cancer Survivor Month

National Cancer Survivors Day…….2

Pink on the Links

EXPAND SURVIVORSHIP SUPPORT

Survivorship care is the process of anticipating and addressing immediate, long term, and late-stage effects from a cancer diagnosis and treatment over time. Because survivorship can have as many unique challenges as treatment, the MaineHealth Cancer Care Network (MHCCN) must expand our survivorship program. You can give comfort to fellow cancer survivors by donating to a special fund dedicated to survivorship programming.

The MHCCN supports life beyond cancer providing physical, emotional, and practical support for the unique needs of the growing number of survivors.

We hope you will consider joining others by donating to the survivorship fund and help more people live life to the fullest.

www.mmc.org/survivorship-fund

If you’d like to give back in other ways, such as sharing your care story, contact: Cary Gemmer, Cancer Care Philanthropy Liaison by calling (207) 661-7842 or emailing Cary.Germmer@mainehealth.org

Turning The Tide Ovarian Cancer Retreat

The 2024 retreat will take place June 17th – 21st at Camp Medomak Retreat Center in Washington, Maine

Who is the Retreat for?

The retreat is for women living in New England who are currently undergoing or who have completed treatment for ovarian cancer. What are the facilities like?

Medomak Retreat Center in Washington, Maine is tucked within a cool pine forest and sits just above a pristine lake shoreline. Visitors stay in simple, New England style 2-person cabins which include a private bathroom, shower, electricity, comfortable twin beds, a writing desk and outdoor Adirondack chairs to enjoy the warm days. The main building hosts a large dining hall, four smaller breakout rooms, and a covered porch that can accommodate 20+ people. Other meeting places include a newly renovated, open-concept barn and other outdoor spaces. While at Medomak guests can enjoy hiking the on-property trails or exploring the quiet lake by canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. The cooling waters, located a 3-5 minute walk from the cabins, are a joy to swim in, paddle through, or simply observe from the docks with a good book. What do participants do at the retreat?

The retreat combines recreation and relaxation through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, art projects, entertainment, and free time. There are a variety of activities to choose from each day and may include light hiking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boarding, creative projects, yoga, massages, facials, dancing and singing. Participants are encouraged to take part in as many of these as they are up to and everything at the retreat is optional. Participants are free to rest in their rooms or chat with new friends anytime. A licensed social worker is present and available for private and group discussions.

What food is provided?

All meals are included, and participants are encouraged to eat together in a family atmosphere. Additional beverages and snacks are available throughout the day. All the food offered at the retreat is plentiful, nutritious, and diet-responsive to the extent possible, with an emphasis on organic and locally-sourced produce. Please note specific dietary needs on the application form. Medical Needs

Attendees must be able to care for their own medical needs while at the retreat. A nurse is available for minor first aid and supportive consultation if emergency assistance is required. Please return the completed medical information form with your application.

For More Information

Visit their website HERE

Vol. 1, Edition 1 Jan-Mar, 2023

Vol. 1, Edition 2 Apr-June, 2023

Vol.1, Edition 3 July-Sept, 2023

Vol. 1, Edition 4 Oct- Dec, 2023

Vol. 2 Edition 1 Jan- Mar, 2024

We would like to thank our donors and grant funders for their generous support of the MaineHealth Cancer Care Network and the patients and families we serve.