What do you get when you combine…

…collage and poetry? Our new Spring Art Exhibit!

From now through June 24th you are invited to view a spectacular art exhibit on display at Cancer Lifeline’s Dorothy O’Brien Center.  As you enter the center’s lobby, you are immediately surrounded by an astonishingly vibrant and moving exhibit of visual and written art. Members of the Northwest Collage Society were invited to adopt poetry written by participants of Cancer Lifeline’s writers group (Writing For the Moment) and interpret those poems visually. The call and response of poetry and collage speaks volumes of loss, pain, the comfort and love of friends and loved ones, and ultimately the resilience of the human spirit in the face of life threatening challenge.

A tour of this exhibit is a perfect way to celebrate Cancer Lifeline’s 40^th Anniversary.  Since we first inaugurated site-based programs at the Dorothy O’Brien Center, Creative Expression has been a mainstay of the free classes offered. Some are drawn to writing, some to collage, or painting, some to nature crafts. All are offered by trained facilitators to add coping tools the tool box to help people navigate the seas of cancer.

“I first came to Cancer Lifeline when a relative was living with ovarian cancer. The writing class promised a safe and supportive venue where I could express my fears and concerns without burdening other family members,” a writing group participant said.  “It made me better able to support my family and friends with cancer in their healing process.”

The Dorothy O’Brien Center is located in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood, at 6522 Fremont Avenue North. The center is open 9 to 5 Monday through Fridays, and Saturdays by appointment. Please call 206-297-2100 for more information on this exhibit.

Springtime Savory Soup

Inspired by springtime in Seattle, here is a marvelous quick and savory soup for the intermittent sunshine! 

Thai Chicken Soup

Makes 4 servings

4 cloves garlic
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 medium carrot, peeled and sliced
1 (6-ounce) boneless chicken breast, thinly sliced
1 (15-ounce) can chicken broth
1 (15-ounce) can coconut milk
4 baby bok choy heads, sliced
Fresh cilantro for garnish
1 teaspoon crushed red chilies

1. Rub the garlic and ginger through a very fine grater or put them in the blender with a couple of tablespoons of water and purée until smooth. Put the vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat and sauté the ginger and garlic for one minute or until the aroma fills the air.

2. Add the onion, pepper and carrot and sauté one minute longer. Add the chicken and cook 5 minutes, turning the chicken pieces three or four times as they begin to brown.

3. Pour in chicken broth and coconut milk and bring the soup to a boil. Add the baby bok choy and cook 2 minutes. Transfer soup to serving bowls and top with cilantro leaves and crushed red chilies. 

Featured in the Cancer Lifeline Cookbook. 

Understanding My New Role as a Caregiver

November 21, 2005 is a day I will never forget. Not only was my wife Heather diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma, but it was also the day I became her caregiver through her journey to beat cancer. Our daughter Lily had been born less than four months before Heather’s diagnosis, and our once bright and exciting future now looked bleak and uncertain.

As we sat in the doctor’s office that day and our treatment options were laid out for us, I looked over at my wife to see her decision, and I realized that she was too shocked and terrified to go forward.

I was terrified by everything in those days. I thought my wife was going to die, that her treatment would eat up all of our money and that I would end up a widower with a baby daughter to care for. I ended up crying my eyes out on the kitchen floor more than once.  I had bad days, this was inevitable, but I always made sure to hide these moments of weakness from Heather.  She needed me to be strong for her, and that’s exactly what I was going to be.

It is difficult to be a caregiver to someone with a serious disease. Your life gets eaten up with stress and uncertainty, and it may be toughest thing you ever go through. You can’t quit, and you can’t walk away. You have to allow yourself to have bad days, but always hold on to hope, and never give in to fear and despair.

It took years before we were able to return to a normal routine. Heather underwent an invasive procedure called an extrapleural pneumonectomy, along with chemotherapy and radiation.  Despite the overwhelming odds against her, she came out on top, and seven years after her diagnosis, she is cancer free.

This cancer ordeal has taught me a lot. One of the most important things that it has taught me is that there is a place for my type of stubbornness in the world. I realized that after things had calmed down somewhat, I had what it took to go back to school. My experience as a caregiver gave me the stress and time management skills that I needed to succeed at school.  More importantly, it gave me the courage to pursue this dream of mine.

When Lily was two, I went back to school full time. After a lot of hard work, I graduated with honors and was selected to speak at my graduation ceremony.  Just a few years before, sitting in a doctor’s office and being told that my wife might die from cancer, I never would have imagined I would come so far. I told my fellow graduates that by holding on to hope and believing in ourselves, we can accomplish incredible things in the face of enormous odds.  Heather and Lily were in the audience, cheering me on, and that was the greatest reward of all. Facing cancer will likely be the most difficult challenge you’ll ever face, but it might teach you a few things along the way.  Never give up hope, and never stop fighting for the ones you love.

**This post is from guest blogger Cameron Von St. James. If you need guidance on how to be a caregiver, call our 24-hour lifeline for more information. 1-800-255-5505

Bird Art: Check out our Walls @ Cancer Lifeline

The Dorothy O’Brien Center is a special place in the Greenlake Neighborhood in Seattle. What make the center truly memorable are the people, classes and art.

This month, our walls have been taken over by the beautiful bird photography of artists Tom Talbott and Jan Viney.

Talbott spent the past year photographing birds in the Pacific Northwest.  Though his travels took him from Northern California to the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, many of the stars of this show are right from our own neighborhood. Tom has an eye for finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, and his show “Wings in My World: A year’s retrospective” is no exception.

Viney focuses on nature, the awe and wonder of it all and humanity experiencing life.

The February Art Open House will be at Cancer Lifeline on Friday, February 8th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. The will run through March 25^th.

 A percentage of the profits from sales at this show will go to Cancer Lifeline.

You can see more of Tom and Jan’s work at:

http://portfolio.tomtalbottjr.com

 http://www.janvineyphotography.com/

Healing with Words

A cancer diagnosis is devastating, stopping us in our tracks and often flooding our senses with a mind numbing array of emotions. Journal writing is one very effective and easy tool for your toolbox of coping skill, helping you to sort through and make sense of the cancer journey.

In fact, studies have found that cancer patients who express their emotions in writing experience physical and psychological benefits, in some cases lessening some symptoms. Writing can do many things, from clarifying goals, to giving one a different perspective on their experience, to helping  get to know oneself better and understand what gives  life meaning to life. It’s also a safe way of expressing difficult feelings, like anger, hurt and fear.

Cancer Lifeline is proud to offer a new series of workshops. “Writing Through Cancer,” facilitated by Jed Myers, MD, uses writing as a means for navigating this uncharted and stressful world of life-threatening illness. Dr. Myers, a therapist and poet, will guide and support participants as they explore and give voice to their experience. All writing styles are welcomed and there will be no expectation to share ones work.

Like all of Cancer Lifeline’s programs, it is offered at no cost to participants. What have you got to lose? Grab a pen and find a notebook or journal and come and explore this new world of writing with fellow and sister travelers.

Session 1 runs from January 25 through February 15^th, 1-3pm. Session 2 from Friday March 8^th through March 29^th. This class is offered at Cancer Lifeline’s Dorothy O’Brien Center 6522 Fremont Ave. North, in the Greenlake neighborhood.

Program Highlights for the New Year!

A New Year and new resolutions!  At each of our sites you will find a variety of exercise, nutrition and stress management classes with wonderful, warm and exceptionally skilled facilitators. And speaking of wonderful, warm & exceptionally skilled facilitators, don’t forget to care for your emotional needs by checking out one of our cancer support groups.

First up, Cancer Lifeline would like to extend a huge welcome to the Young Survival Coalition who will begin having their monthly breast cancer support group meetings at our Dorothy O’Brien Center starting in January!

Also in January, Cancer Lifeline will be offering our first nutrition class in collaboration with our friends at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

In 2013, we are proud to be continuing our long-term partnerships with UW Medicine at Northwest Hospital & Medical Center and Valley Medical Center as well as with Evergreen Health. Exciting things are happening at each of these sites, but the new Cancer Center at Evergreen Health is a significant change for program participants!  With new space dedicated to Cancer Lifeline programming, Evergreen has made it easier for you to access the programs that help you through your cancer journey.

Cancer Lifeline is also proud to continue to work with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Puget Sound affiliate to administer their Patient Assistance Fund, which provides financial assistance to low-income breast cancer patients who are within 3 months of treatment.

On behalf of all the staff at Cancer Lifeline and community partners-we look forward to providing professionally led, high-quality support services in 2013.

Keepsake Exhibit this Friday!

This Friday is the opening reception for “Keepsake: A Collaborative, Multi-Media Art Installation” exhibit by Christy Fisher. This multi-media art project explores the theme of a keepsake: “a valuable token given or received in honor or remembrance of a person or important event.”

During the workshop participants collected keepsakes and kept them in boxes. From expression through movement and nature, participants were able to come together and share meaningful experiences about the effects of cancer on their lives.

There are two components of this exhibit, the video which was produced by Christy Fisher, and created in collaboration with musician and composer Amy Denio, filmmaker Ryan K. Adams and artist Kristin Tollefson. There will also be artful keepsake boxes displayed in the hallway of the Dorothy O’Brien Center.

Come join us for the grand opening of “Keepsake” this Friday, December 7, from 6:30-8pm at the Dorothy O’Brien Center, 6522 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

This project is supported by 4Culture and the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Yum Yum Yum! Healthy Recipe for Thanksgiving

For our Healthier Thanksgiving Class that took place @ PCC on November 9, there were some amazing and fun recipes to spice up the normal holiday fare.

Check out this neat recipe that puts a spin on a traditional cranberry sauce:

Raw Cranberry Orange Relish

This tart sweet relish can be made as smooth or chunky as you desire. Traditional cranberry sauce is loaded with bleached white sugar which is also genetically modified. You can make this to eat right away or up to 2 days in advance.

2 organic oranges, washed and dried, peeled after zeting

Zest from one orange or both for extra orange flavor

12 ounces cranberries

¼ cup natural sweetener (like coconut palm sugar, natural sugar cane, honey or maple sugar)

Optional: 1 tablespoon orange liquor

In a food processor, pulse the cranberries and oranges until chunky. Add in reminaing ingredients and blend until you reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Not everyone is great at expressing their feelings and emotions out right, sometimes it takes a different approach. We see images every day and don’t engage or become aware of the emotions that these images invoke. Come learn how pictures and even simple phrases can help you express what’s really happening inside and how these things can help open up your communication. All materials provided. At the Special Women Breast Cancer Networking Group, open to those affected by breast cancer.

TOMORROW: Thursday, Nov 15 from  7-8pm

 

Valley Medical Center, Medical Arts Center

Breast Center Conference Room 

REGISTER HERE or just drop by!

Healthy Skincare Tips and Tricks: During and After Treatment

Info provided from Cancer Lifeline Class on October 29, 2012

 We often think about what we eat or what we put IN our body, but how often do we consider what we put ON our body? Your skin is the biggest organ you have, and your body absorbs everything.

How many synthetic/chemical ingredients are you using EVERYDAY? Take into consideration the following products:

Shampoo/Conditioner
Hair Styling Products
Makeup
Deodorant
Soap/Cleansers
Lotion/Sunscreen
Detergent
Toothpaste/Oral Care

Many of these products contain multiple synthetic ingredients, many of which are known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).

• Using products that have little to no synthetics will:
• Allow your body to detox in its natural manner
• Allow your skin to breathe
• Reduce the amount of toxic buildup stored into your body
• Reduce the risk of side-effects
• Increase your body’s efficiency=more energy!
• Allow the body to focus on healing vs. detoxing
• Create better long-term health

Here are a few local resources that have products with little to no synthetic/chemical ingredients:

Dandelion: www.dandelionbotanical.com
The Herbalist: www.theherbalist.com
Whole Foods Market: www.wholefoodsmarket.com
PCC: www.pccnaturalmarkets.com
Pharmaca: www.pharmaca.com

Makeup and Skin Care
Lavera: www.lavera.com
Acure: www.acureorganics.com
Twig cosmetics: www.twigcosmetics.com
Gabriel cosmetics: www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com
Bella Fiore Organic skin care: www.bellafioreskincare.com

For more information on this class, please call 206-297-2100.

Cooling Inflammation with Diet: Recipe and Other Foods

Amy Karnosh, Cancer Lifeline Facilitator, hosted “Decreasing Inflammation With Food” on October 18, a nutrition class at the Dorothy O’Brien Center. Here is a special recipe and description of other anti-inflammatory foods from yesterday’s class:

Delicious Recipe: Market Spice Sweet Potato Bake

These sweet potatoes are a delicious hot side dish or savory addition to a green salad cold. Perfect fall recipe!

4 cups diced sweet potato                                               2 tablespoons fresh ginger

1 organic bell pepper, diced                                           2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup fresh green beans, sliced                                      1 teaspoon curry powder

¼ cup golden raisins                                                        Optional: sliced almond or pecans

1 tablespoon hot sesame oil

1 cup vegetable broth

Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly spray a baking dish with oil. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Cover lightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Serve warm or chilled over green salad.

There is a delicate balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory messengers in the body. The inflammatory markers let our immune systems know where the site of damage is so they can go in the right spot for healing.

To Lower Inflammatory Markers, eat these foods—

1. Turmeric: A spice often used in Indian cuisine, a potent
2.  Pistachios: These green nuts are high in B vitamins, try to choose unsalted and raw
3. Celery: Luteolin is the nutrient shown to be good a taming inflammation in the brain
4. Ginger: Great for nausea, also helpful in lowering colon flare-ups
5. Kale: high in antioxidants
6. Shiitake Mushrooms: Has fibers known to reduce cholesterol
7. Lentils: At least 4 servings of legumes per week reduces inflammation markers

Building Community After a Cancer Diagnosis

Having a place to belong is important, for everyone. We need to be a part of something and share our lives, thoughts, hopes and concerns with others.

Participants engaging in the Drumming class at Dorothy O’Brien Center

For almost 40 years, Cancer Lifeline has been building a community throughout the area through our free programs and services. Cancer Lifeline is not just a place to turn to for information and assistance, but a place to thrive. When you walk into Cancer Lifeline’s Dorothy O’Brien Center, or a classroom at Evergreen Health, Valley Medical Center or Northwest Hospital, you are greeted with smiles and friendly faces. We are all here to help one another, however we can.

I recently spoke to a woman at one of Cancer Lifeline’s classes who told me how important the sense of community at Cancer Lifeline is to her. She described her first encounter with Cancer Lifeline at Valley Medical Center in Renton where she walked into a classroom not knowing what to expect. Before she came she was feeling alone, scared and very overwhelmed by her cancer diagnosis.

Her positive and welcoming experience from that first time she walked affected her in such a way that she has participated in Cancer Lifeline programs for over four years. Not only has she developed a better understanding of her diagnosis and her health, she has been provided with opportunities to grow, learn and build a community. Join us, make connections, belong!

Laughter REALLY IS the best medicine!

When your grandma told you that “Laughter is the best medicine,” did you believe her? Turns out she was right!

Research has found that laughter relaxes the body, boosts the immune system, and triggers the release of endorphins, the feel-good chemical.

Laughter and Healing and Interplay are two workshops being offered at Cancer Lifeline’s Dorothy O’Brien Center that can give you the opportunity to explore the benefits of laughter and play. Both workshops are open to all.

In Laughter and Healing every exercise can be done standing, sitting or lying down. No sense of humor is needed. If you are a person who tends to be serious and doesn’t laugh easily, no problem– come as you are! Classes are on Fridays, October 5^th and 12^th from 10-11am.

Interplay is all about exploring and having fun with yourself and others. It includes simple, easy movements, the use of story and the voice that all support spontaneity, playful experiences.  The workshop will be held Wednesdays, October 17 through November 14 from 5:30-6:30 pm.

Curious? Come check it out! Register for Laughter and Healing Here or Interplay Here, or just show up!

Listening and our 24-Hour Lifeline: We’re here for you!

When you are really wound up about something and trying to just vent or sort it all out, do you ever get the feeling the person you are talking to has their own agenda for you?  Personally, I think this tops the list of frustrating experiences!  Being a “good listener” is not easy, it takes patience, focus and energy…but when we have someone in our life who is a “good listener,” we have a precious gift.

Being able to listen well is a highly valued skill here at Cancer Lifeline and one we take very seriously.  Our 24-Hour Lifeline is staffed by volunteers and staff members who must successfully complete a 30 hour training that focuses on how to listen effectively!

The poem below, appropriately titled, “Please Listen,” pretty much sums up how it feels to not be listened to…

PLEASE LISTEN

When I ask you to listen to me and you start giving me advice, you have not done what I asked. When I ask you to listen to me and you begin to tell me why I shouldn’t feel that way, you are trampling on my feelings. When I ask you to listen to me and you feel you have to do something to solve my problem, you have failed me, strange as that may seem.Listen! All I ask is that you listen. Don’t talk or do—just hear me. Advice is cheap; 20 cents will get you both Dear Abby and Billy Graham in the same newspaper. And I can do for myself; I am not helpless. Maybe discouraged and faltering, but not helpless. When you do something for me that I can and need to do for myself, you contribute to my fear and inadequacy. But when you accept as a simple fact that I feel what I feel, no matter how irrational, then I can stop trying to convince you and get about this business of understanding what’s behind this irrational feeling. And when that’s clear, the answers are obvious and I don’t need advice. Irrational feelings make sense when we understand what’s behind them. Perhaps that’s why prayer works, sometimes, for some people—because God is mute, and he doesn’t give advice or try to fix things. God just listens and lets you work it out for yourself. So please listen, and just hear me. And if you want to talk, wait a minute for your turn—and I will listen to you.

Friendship and Flowers

I always look forward to Wednesday afternoons when Ikebana Flower Arranging, led by Ikebana Master Nobuko Relnick, is taking place at the Dorothy O’Brien Center. The class is always filled with laughter and friendship as the class members construct lovely flower arrangements inspired by seasonal greens and flowers. Every person has a different way to heal after a cancer diagnosis, and it is inspiring to see these participants create something so beautiful. 

There is still time to register for the class! Flowers always bring joy to lift our spirits! Click here to register.