Tag Archives: Cancer Care Quad Cities

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.

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.

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.

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!

The New Year is here…

The New Year is here and many of the patients and staff at Iowa Cancer Specialists are setting resolutions — get to the gym more, lose weight, be healthy, save money — but one of the more overlooked ones may be keeping mental health in check.

Around one in three cancer patients has anxiety or another mental health challenge that they will face over their battle with cancer and as the new year is upon us, make a different type of resolution to keep yourself mentally healthy.

Read on to find out some steps you can take to be proactive in your journey.

Reach out

The first step is always the hardest, letting someone know you are dealing with symptoms of anxiety including uncontrollable worry, restlessness, irritability or others, reach out to your doctor at Iowa Cancer Specialists.

There is nothing to be ashamed about in admitting you have been facing troubles and the doctors at Iowa Cancer are prepared and ready to help you in any way possible.

Having trouble reaching out? The government provides resources for those struggling to reach out.

Mindfulness

The idea of meditation in your head may include sitting around cross-legged and slowly humming, but the effects of simple meditation on the mind can be profound.

Simple meditation can be as easy as downloading a smartphone app and following instructions. Popular apps for meditation include Headspace for iOS and Android.

Don’t want to go the app route? That is okay, a referral to an area therapist can help guide you in the process to becoming more mindful. If you fear not being able to pay for a therapist no worries, many work on income based sliding scale payment.

Find a support network

A cancer diagnosis can feel very isolating, leaving you in a place where it feels as if nobody knows what you are going through. One way to ease that isolation is reaching out to others battling cancer and survivors.

In the Quad-Cities multiple support groups exist including Gilda’s Club, who provides multiple types of support groups and other support to those with cancer. Other opportunities can be found at this list of local support groups through the Quad-City Times.

New year, new resolutions

Don’t be afraid to be ambitious in your New Year’s resolutions, turning over a new leaf can be a powerful way to take agency back during your cancer diagnosis. If making any health decisions make sure to run them by your doctor before setting off the conquer the world.

Make sure to let us know what YOUR resolutions are in the comments below.

Four cancer breakthroughs to keep an eye on

Researchers and doctors have made some incredible breakthroughs in 2015, as the year wraps up it is important to look at which of those could be making an impact.

Here are the top recent cancer breakthroughs to keep an eye on.

1. The odd breakthrough.

(Courtesy of Univeristy of Iowa/Wassermann Lab)

The first breakthrough is an odd one, and while they won’t be replacing the staff at Iowa Cancer Specialists, pigeons are being used to diagnose cancer.

The pigeons are being trained at the University of Iowa and have participated in a number of recent studies. By now they know that if they’re right, they’ll get their food.

So how do they do it?

The same way a radiologist or pathologist would, by reading a mammogram or biopsy slide.

While the researchers aren’t saying that pigeons will be replacing your doctor anytime soon, further studies into the pigeons hope to look into how doctors perceive images compared to the birds.

2. New gene map

Imagine flipping a switch 18,000 times just to figure out what that switch does, that’s what researchers at the University of Toronto did and their data published in Cell showed more than 1,500 essential genes for cell survival.

While scientists finished the human genome in 2003, studies like this help bring the function of those genes to light.

According to a release from the University of Toronto, the study could lead to a powerful breakthrough in strategies for the treatment of cancer.

“The (research) group has developed a powerful CRISPR library that could be used by investigators around the world to identify new treatment strategies for the treatment of cancer,” Aaron Schimmer, a professor in the department of medical biophysics and a medical oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, said.

3. Looking to nature

Some British researchers may have been barking up the wrong tree on this one, but pulled through to create a drug crafted from the Eastern Cape South African Bushwillow tree.

The reason this breakthrough is exciting is the drug works by destroying the blood supply for cancerous cells and animal studies have shown anywhere from 85-95 percent cure rates when combined with radiation.

While it may be a bit on the horizon, researchers working with the drug hope it can be to market in fewer than five years.

4. Pinpointing early treatments through gene testing

Certain types of breast cancer caught early may have their best course found out through the examination of 21-genes.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights the five year success of the study showing that with the gene assay performed, those who fell within a certain score saw a 93.8 percent survival rate.

What’s UV light and why does everyone hate it?

Ultraviolet (UV) light is the type of light beyond the end of the visible light spectrum. The wavelengths of ultraviolet light are too short to be seen by the human eye—and also short enough to be damaging to our bodies in high amounts.

UV rays come from the sun. While only 10 percent of sunlight is UV radiation, those rays are the strongest type to reach the surface of the earth. Ultraviolet light gets its name from where it lands on the visible color spectrum—or rather where it exceeds that spectrum. Basically, the colors we see are determined by the wavelength of light. Long wavelengths are closer to “infrared” and short wavelengths are closer to “ultraviolet,” and the human eye generally sees everything in between as color!

When the wavelength of light goes outside this spectrum one way or the other, we can no longer see it with our eyes—but it’s still there. In the case of UV light, those short wavelengths are like stealth ninjas. They move quickly and invisibly, with high energy, which prompts our bodies to create vitamin D and hormones that regulate our sleep-wake cycles.

However, when all that sneaky energy reaches your skin cells, it’s absorbed by the pigment in our skin called melanin. If you’re exposed to too much UV light, your melanin becomes overwhelmed, and that energy starts disrupting your cells’ DNA.

That damage may take the form of a sunburn, wrinkles or spots—or it may result in skin cancer, cataracts or other dangerous diseases. So while sunshine can be healthy in strict moderation, we always recommend catching some shade to avoid serious health issues like melanoma. If you’re unsure how to protect yourself from UV damage, check out our guide to preventing diseases from the sun!

Are you older than 50 or black or genetically predisposed? All three? Get screened.

Colorectal cancer: we won’t say it’s a pretty subject, but it is pretty important. Unfortunately, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, affecting mostly people 50 years or older. More fortunately, colorectal cancer can be prevented with screenings. Precancerous growths called polyps can be identified during a screening process and removed before becoming cancerous. If cancer is found, the earlier the better when it comes to treatment outcomes.

Major risk factors include age, race and a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, which means most people diagnosed with colon cancer are 50 or older, are African-American or have inherited genetic predispositions (which can be determined by genetic testing). Though there are some factors in your control, these unpreventable characteristics can increase your risk of colorectal cancer.

Moral of the story? If you are 50 or older, black or have a family history of colorectal cancer, get screened! We promise—it’s more comfortable than running the risk of colorectal cancer.

Risk factors include:

– Age (The great majority of people diagnosed with colon cancer are older than 50)
– Race (African-Americans have a greater risk of colon cancer than do people of other races)
– A personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps
– Chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon
– Inherited syndromes and genetics
– Low-fiber, high-fat diet
– A sedentary lifestyle
– Diabetes
– Obesity
– Smoking
– Alcohol use
– Radiation therapy for cancer

Learn about your genetic risk from Myriad’s online resources, and take their quiz to see if you’re a candidate for a hereditary cancer screening to help determine your genetic risk. Regardless of risk factors, stay one step ahead with a colon cancer screening from a gastroenterologist. Of course, we wish you an uneventful screening, but if your results come back with bad news, you can always call us at (563) 421-1960.