Check out this behind the scenes interview of an important team member of Iowa Cancer Specialists!
Before Marie Tschopp was a transcriptionist for Iowa Cancer Specialists she was a stay at home mom searching for something to express her creativity while earning some money as well.
That led her to joining a storytelling guild and doing presentations for churches, schools and other organizations. Tschopp said her most popular program over the years has been her recreation of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House on the Prairie books.
Now she’s taken her research into the family further by releasing her book on Mary Ingalls, her sister.
“I saw there wasn’t a book on Mary and her time at the blind school,” Tschopp said. “I asked if they would allow me to write one and opened up their archives and was able to put together a book on Mary Ingalls at the blind school.”
The book is available through Amazon and features information on her life at the Iowa College for the Blind and photos that haven’t yet been published.
To put the book together she spent quite a bit of time digging through archives.
“I did a lot of research, I visited Iowa State Historical Society and the Herbert Hoover museum. They have the Wilder papers so I went there and did a lot of research,” Tschopp said.
Tschopp said writing the book and presenting as Laura Ingalls allows her to express her creativity and have some fun while doing it.
She’s a member of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association as well and has devoted hours and hours to researching the family for her presentations and book.
Marie has a website at http://www.marietschopp.com.
How did some nurses get to be where they are today?
Ever wonder how the Iowa Cancer Specialists nurses got to be where they are today? We sat down with three of our nurses and asked them why they wanted to be a nurse.
We spoke with Molly Rima, Amber Claussen and our nurse practitioner Katie Browne about what made them want to become nurses.
Molly Rima
Why did you want to become a nurse?
When I was a little girl my grandmother, she took care of me, I didn’t go to preschool or anything and went to her house before Kindergarten.
She was a nurse and was in pediatrics and cardiology and she taught me all the bones in the body before I went to school so that is where it all started and I never wavered. I always wanted to be a nurse since I was four or five years old.
So what was it about your grandmother that made you want to be a nurse?
Everyone always talked about how good she was at her job and how compassionate she was about it and how much she loved her patients. I kind of see that in myself with her, I feel like I’m a very compassionate person and care about people a lot and I think that is a trait you really have to have as a nurse.
Where there any differences in your expectations when you became a nurse?
When you get into nursing school you kind of doubt yourself and wonder if you’re cut out for this. I was signed up to go to the University of Iowa and found out they didn’t do their internships until a year into their program. I was kind of a homebody and I looked into Scott (Community College) and they offered clinicals within the first eight weeks. At that point I was thinking ‘I think I want to be a nurse but I’ve never been in that setting before’ so for me there was no better way than being hands on to know if I really want this.
My first rotation was in a nursing home and I wasn’t sure if I wanted it but as I continued on I realized it was a good fit.
What do you know now that you would tell yourself then?
It’s a learning process, every day you’re learning something new, so if you’re not open to that you’re not in the right profession. I’ve been in this job for 13 years and I learn something new every single day I’m here — drugs are changing, treatment is changing, diseases are becoming more chronic versus acute and people are living longer. You have to know a lot and if you’re not willing to do that it is not the profession for you.
Amber Claussen
Why did you become a nurse?
I wanted to become a nurse since I was in 2nd grade.
What happened in 2nd grade?
I had an aunt that was a nurse and she kind of inspired me to be a nurse.
What was it about her that you looked up to?
All my aunts and uncles are close to us so I saw just saw what she was doing and liked it.
Why have you continued to want to be a nurse?
Because I love taking care of my patients. It gives you a sense of well being, they make you feel good for things you do for them and you try and help them. Especially with our cancer patients you try and help them try and have the best experience in a bad situation.
What would Amber now tell Amber in 2nd grade that wanted to become a nurse?
Good job, you picked the right thing. I wouldn’t change being a nurse ever, especially an oncology nurse. It makes me teary-eyed thinking about it.
Katie Browne
Why did you want to become a nurse?
I actually wanted to be an OB nurse, I had my son early in life. I had a seizure and I was in ICU for like a week and I almost died. The nurses were so nice to me and I didn’t want to be a nurse before that.
When I heard people say they wanted to be a nurse I would think ‘why would you ever want to do that?’ Because I thought all they did was hand doctors scissors. All through high school that was my impression and thought it was the stupidest thing.
But (the nurses there) really helped me a lot because I couldn’t take care of my baby so I felt horrible but the nurses there were really comforting. So I went to school and wanted to be an OB nurse with the goal of being a midwife and I started nursing school. I started as a nursing assistant and they said you can work on cardiology or oncology. At that point I really didn’t even know but oncology sounded more interesting than cardiology and then I started on the oncology unit when I was 19 and I just stayed in oncology ever since.
You can really make a big impact in people’s lives so that is what I like. I wouldn’t change anything (about becoming a nurse practitioner.)
So it was that experience in the hospital and seeing the nurses?
Yes, they were comforting me. I felt like a failure because I couldn’t take care of my baby and they were just letting me know it was okay. They just gave me hope that I would be able to and they just made me feel better about the whole thing. My family was very supportive too but having them there to let me know things were going to be okay and that I didn’t do anything wrong. It was pretty profound.
So it changed you?
Yes, it definitely did.
Anything else?
That’s really what did it, I still love pregnant people and stuff like that too but I never wanted to leave oncology either. You develop deep connections with people and they teach you a lot. You just build really close relationships and it changes your whole perspective on how you view your own life and what is important.
Cancer News Roundup
Welcome to the June cancer news roundup, we’ve got everything from new studies to profiles of some pretty awesome people. So grab your readers if you need ‘em and let’s get going.
A special visit
Luke Eck, a two-year-old with clear cell sarcoma of the kidney, has been undergoing chemotherapy for awhile now and during treatment one of his favorite pastimes is watching the firetrucks pass by.
So some of the staff at the office noticed his obsession with the trucks and reached out to the local fire department. From there they were able to surprise him and let him see a fire truck up close and personal.
Fighting until the end
An Iowa teen’s story is picking up national attention after she fought and completed her goal of graduating high school after her diagnosis. Allison Cress graduated from Dubuque Hempstead High School on June 3 and passed away on June 5.
According to her obituary, “Allison brought a smile to your face and always kept a positive attitude during her fight with cancer. She was able to have a “Make A Wish” trip to Paris and London.”
Pup with a list
A cancer diagnosis can cause some to take a hard look at their life and break out a bucket list, and while this guy wasn’t the one writing the list he was the one taking part in some pretty cool stuff.
This golden pooch named Mr. Molson has been checking things off including being a police officer for a day and even getting married.
Have you or a family member with a cancer diagnosis done anything bucket list worthy recently? Let us know in the comments.
Three-time survivor
While at a camp for children with cancer and their siblings Joey Renick met someone who eventually would become his wife. This story from People magazine highlights the story of Joey and Caylee and how after three battles with cancer they finally tied the knot.
“I knew he was the one, because being in the hospital with him for so long and seeing him sick, I thought to myself, ‘If I can do this for him and we’re only dating, I can do this forever,’ ” says Caylee. “He inspires me so much, despite everything he’s been through he looks at the bright side of life and his will to live and survive and do more with his life is so strong.”
Check out the full story to see the inspirational couple.
Summer is here!
Now with the heat index climbing about 100 degrees and the sun shining brightly we’ll leave you with some tips from the American Cancer Society on skin cancer prevention and early detection.
Some simple tips from the ACS include using the phrase “slip slop slap and wrap” meaning four quick things.
- Slip on a shirt.
- Slop on sunscreen.
- Slap on a hat.
- Wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and skin around them.
Running for a cause
The charity 5k has exploded in the last decade with races popping up all over to support a designated charity. Cancer organizations have seen a big boost from those, and according to Running in the USA there are almost 500 5k races in the state of Iowa each year!
Are you a runner or a walker? Either one it doesn’t really matter as the goal is to get people signed up and moving towards the finish line.
There’s a few cancer related charities that have races coming up in the next few months and if you want to be a runner now is the perfect time to start training as the weather heats up.
Here are a few (and sorry if we missed your race) races that will be happening this summer in the Quad Cities area:
Relay for Life – Iowa Cancer Specialists happily sponsors the Quad Cities Relay for Life that is just two weeks away! The event from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. will feature cancer survivors and community members raising money. While not a 5k, this event goes towards raising money for the American Cancer Society.
Carol M. Guthrie Memorial 5K Run/Walk – The Carol M. Gurthrie Memorial 5k will be taking place in Anawan, Illinois this year and will proceeds will benefit the Samuels family. The Samuels have a 6-year-old daughter with Leukemia and the money will go towards helping that family.
Walk Out Cancer – The 5k and kids fun run will take place in Savanna, Illinois (just a hour drive from the Quad Cities) on September 16. The race costs $20 with funds going towards the American Cancer Society. This one is a bit away so it’ll give you time to get your conditioning up!
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure – This one is just over a month away on June 10th and raises money for the Komen foundation. Their website states they have raised nearly $20,000 towards their $100,000 goal this year. You can participate as an individual or get some people together to raise money!
So now that you’ve registered for a race you need a plan to get yourself in gear and in shape before the race. If you’re an inexperienced runner the Couch to 5k program is an easy way to slip into running a 5k, search the App Store on your phone and there will be plenty of apps to choose from as you start.
If you already consider yourself fit, a fun way to keep that way is the Zombies, Run! App that can be downloaded on either Apple or Android phones. Here is a link to their website where it explains that with 200 missions to choose from you’ll always have something new to work with. The jist of the game is that it will guide you through periods of fast and slow as the storyline changes.
Good luck!
A Very Good Boy
Keeping up on all of the news related to cancer and what’s going on around the nation and world can be tough but don’t worry we’ve got you covered.
Here are all the cancer related dates, news and heartwarming stories we’ve found over the last month.
A VERY GOOD BOY — While dog has long been known as man’s best friend, one surprising way they’re becoming even more valuable to people is their use in cancer detection. This pup will be the 51st dog trained by this company to be a cancer sniffing dog according to KRCR.
How does it work? The article states that the dog will be able to detect certain compounds in things like sweat, spit and urine from patients.
(Photo courtesy KRCR)
SURPRISE OF HER LIFE – According to Houston TV station KHOU Dylan Probe, a fourth grader, had a leg amputated after being diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. She got the surprise of her life when she was gifted an American Girl doll with a matching prosthetic.
SURVIVAL RATES CLIMB — This year’s annual report to the nation had some good news for the future. The report states that,”death rates during the period 2010–2014 decreased for 11 of the 16 most common types of cancer in men and for 13 of the 18 most common types of cancer in women, including lung, colorectal, female breast, and prostate cancers.”
MENTAL HEALTH KEY — A new study found that cancer patients are at a 55 percent higher risk of committing suicide. This article in the Guardian notes that preliminary results show, “We suggest there is a need in cancer patients to be screened and cared not only for anxiety and depression, but also specifically for those people with suicidal thoughts and a lifetime history of suicide attempts, in particular during the period immediately subsequent to the diagnosis of cancer.”
Need help? Tell your doctor or reach out here.
DATES
April is home to a few cancer related dates ranging from cancer prevention to awareness, this list from the American Cancer Society includes:
National Cancer Control Month
National Minority Cancer Awareness Week (April 9 −15)
National Minority Health Month
National Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week (April 12–18)
Coaches vs. Cancer Final Four (April 1-3 Phoenix)
National Volunteer Week (April 23−29)
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
World Health Day (April 7)
What’s going on with Melanoma?
March 1 marks the first day of meteorological winter and that means higher temperatures, more sun around the Quad Cities and marks the start of a busy spring break season.
Those heading to the beach may unknowingly be exposing themselves to preventable melanomas according to a new CDC article.
The article states that the many cases of melanoma could be prevented by reduced exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
According to the American Cancer society melanoma rates have been rising for nearly 30 years and just over 87,000 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2017. The expected rise in cases for now is about 3 percent per year.
The state of the science research looks at one of the recent pushes related to reducing melanoma has been discouraging indoor tanning, some of that push includes legislation from states to ban tanning by minors.
In the Iowa Cancer Specialists area Illinois bans all tanning by minors while Iowa has no aged based restrictions. Iowa is one of just a handful of states with no regulations for minors.
Some of the suggestions from Cancer Journal for Clinicians include some easy changes including easy access to sunscreen, educational campaigns in schools and providing shade at beaches and other sunny locations.
While most of this article talks about some of the downsides currently with Melanoma there is some hope at the end of the tunnel, recent innovations in targeted therapies, immunotherapies and other treatment options have increased survival rates.
Holiday Season Exhaustion
While the Holiday season can be full of fun and happy moments it can also be particularly draining with a cancer diagnosis hanging over everything.
From the constant questions on how you’re doing to everyone giving you tips on how someone they knew survived cancer and what they did it can be a constant barrage of questions and tips that can get really old by the time New Year’s Day comes.
Here are some tips on how you can ring in the new year and decompress.
1. Take a day to yourself
Nothing can break you out of a funk like taking some time to yourself to do whatever you want to do. Whether that means going on a long walk, watching some football or taking a day at the spa is up to you but having some alone time to gather your thoughts and reflect on 2016 can help relax your brain.
2. Make a plan for 2017
Put a pen to paper and sit down and plan out your 2017, where are you now and where do you want to be at the end of the year? Putting an actionable plan down with SMART goals makes you much more likely to finish your resolutions according to research from the University of Scranton.
Those goals don’t have to be huge and the plan doesn’t have to be long, but putting the holiday season behind you and previewing the year can help relax you after a tough holiday season.
3. Tell somebody
It sounds simple, but sometimes telling someone what you’re feeling can be hard as you don’t want to put the pressure or feelings on them as well. Do know though that people around you are looking for a way to help you but may not be able to ask. If you need help with something simply asking can make the difference.
4. Find something new
Getting out of routines and finding a new hobby can help take your mind off the holiday rush. From something as simple as picking up a new genre of books to taking up a sport getting out of your comfort zone can take your mind off the daily grind.
5. Relax
Mindfulness and being aware of what’s bothering you can go a long way to relieving the stress. You can find Guided Apps in the App Store or on Google Play for easy meditation.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is here and along with it comes one of the biggest fundraising blitzes for breast cancer charities.
Designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and signified by a pink ribbon, the month in recent years has become hugely commercialized with everyone from the NFL to food manufacturers taking notice.
This post will go over some of the highest rated cancer charities as well as one local Quad City charity for women both in Iowa and Illinois looking for information on breast cancer resources.
Choosing a charity to donate your money to can be hard, the concern if your money is being spent wisely or given to large administration salaries is a valid one, so what can you do to make sure the charities you donate to are heading in the right direction?
Charity Navigator, a non-profit that looks at the financial reporting of charities and their transparency has rated breast cancer charities in few areas, namely breast cancer research, breast cancer support and breast cancer public awareness. Below is a list of some rated charities from Charity Navigator and a brief description of what they do.
- Living Beyond Breast Cancer (4-star) — a breast cancer education and public awareness charity focused on finding support for a range of people including those recently diagnosed, in treatment, or in survivorship. They received a score of 99.7 from Charity Navigator, the highest awarded and around 84% of their expenses go to services and programs related to breast cancer awareness/education.
- Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (4-star) — a California based research foundation that aims to do research looking at the causes of breast cancer. Their key projects include long-term international studies of populations, advanced imaging and analysis of breast ducts, and providing information on their research via educational materials.
- Susan G. Komen for the Cure (3-star) — One of the most well known breast cancer charities, their aim is to provide funding locally for breast health. The Quad Cities branch of the charity serves both Iowa and Illinois and provides local grants for mammograms and other health services.
Are you running a race for charity or have another charity not listed you donate to? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook what you plan on doing during breast cancer awareness month.
Support for self confidence
Courtesy: St. Baldrick’s Foundation
One dad is taking things to the next level to make his kid feel special.
Josh Marshall’s son Gabriel had to go through a surgical procedure to deal with cancer in his brain. The eight year old was left with a bare head and a huge scar, one that was weighing down on the child.
There is no doubt a huge scar can cause confidence issues for an eight-year-old kid, but his dad took one huge step to help his son regain his self-confidence.
The caption he wrote on the photo entry reads, “Me and my son at this year’s St. Baldrick’s event in Wichita, Kansas. Got my son’s scar tattooed to help his self confidence.”
The way he did it was spend some time under the needle, getting a tattoo of his son’s scar in the same place on his head.
According to a local news station John Marshall told his son that “if people want to stare at you, then they can stare at both of us.”
The tattoo shows some of the lengths parents are willing to go to make their kids feel comfortable.
While Gabriel continues to go through treatment he’ll know his dad will always have his back.
The photo took first place in a recent photo contest from the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
The second and third place photos were just as heartwarming, click the link above to check them out.
Do you know anyone that has gone above and beyond for a family member or friend who had cancer? Let us know their story in the comments below!