Conference explores therapies
by Cindy AbolePublic Relations
Herbal medicine, acupuncture, and relaxation techniques, once relegated to the shadows of mainstream medicine, will see the light of day at the Third Annual Women and Cancer Conference to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., March 18, at the Snee Farm Country Club.
For many years, these alternatives have been quietly helping cancer patients manage their disease apart from medical regimens based on empirical studies. But a measure of success and a growing number of patients seeking their benefits have encouraged health care providers to consider them as complementary therapies in the battle against cancer.
The conference is a joint effort of MUSC and the Lowcountry Area Health Education Center (AHEC) along with Charleston area hospitals and other sponsors.
“Our focus is to provide a program on complementary therapy that has been needed for some time,” said Debbie Jernigan, R.N., clinical nursing specialist at Roper Cancer Center and chairperson for the Women and Cancer Planning Committee.
The conference goal is to help educate participants and their families about cancer and the benefits of complementary therapies. According to Jernigan, about 40 to 60 percent of cancer patients already use forms of complementary therapy.
“Cancer has such a negative view with people,” said Diane Kennedy, associate director of the Lowcountry AHEC. “We want to change that to something positive where individuals are in control of their own health and quality of life.”
“Many cancer patients feel out-of-control when it comes to decision-making about their health,” said Jernigan, referring to patient’s schedules being set by physicians and clinical staffs setting everything from appointments and blood counts to chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
The conference will teach individuals how they can gain back and exhibit more control in their health and throughout their lives. Eight half-hour presentations will also explore the importance of stress management and relaxation response, demonstrations for healthy cooking and a new fitness program blending martial arts and Eastern meditative practices including aikido, tae kwan do, tai chi chaun and yoga.
Other event sponsors include CareAlliance Health Services (Roper Cancer Center), Trident Health System, After Care Essentials, and Ortho Biotech.
With the advent of technology and the popularity of computers, more patients are seeking more medical information from the Internet. What Jernigan and other health care professionals worry about is the accuracy of information obtained from the Internet and medical websites. Is it reliable?
“For a lot of these people, it’s their last grasp at hope,” cautioned Jernigan. “We just hope it isn’t false.”
At the same time, the conference will help educate medical professionals and other members of a patient’s health care team including nurses and physicians. Reports show that cancer patients are more open to sharing information with their nurse than their physician.
“It ends up that the nurse plays a key role in guiding and allowing patients to explore without losing their way,” Jernigan said.
The cost to attend the conference is $10 for individuals and $25 for health care professionals which includes continuing education credit. Lunch is also included in the cost of the program. The Snee Farm Country Club is located just eight miles from the Cooper River Bridge off Hwy. 17N in Mount Pleasant.
Interested individuals should register by Wednesday, March 15. For more
information, contact Jan Rogers at 1-888-LOW-AHEC (569-2432) or (803) 943-5052.
Humorist, motivational speaker to address cancer survivors
The trouble with America today is that people spend too much of their time whining griping and complaining.
And
Greg
Blake has just the right medicine for this malady. Laughter,
he says, is the best medicine and he wants to hear more chortling, snickering
and giggling.
A motivational speaker who focuses on laughter, Blake wants to bring more humor seasoned with a positive touch of inspiration to the lives of many people, including cancer survivors.
“There’s a lot of people hurting out there,” Blake said. “People have so much going on in their lives.”
Blake will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Third Annual Women and Cancer Conference: Complement Yourself! program on March 18.
“All of us are terminal,” he said, whose own life has been touched by cancer. In 1998, his parents were diagnosed with two separate cancers: his father with prostate and his mother with breast cancer. His mother-in-law, Jerry Whitlatch, is a breast cancer survivor for more than 30 years.
A giant of a man, Blake can be intimidating in his 6-foot, 7-inch frame. But his easy presence and casual smile can put anyone at ease despite his resemblance to President Bill Clinton. He has conducted motivational retreats, seminars and delivered inspiring pep talks as a leadership development specialist to a few dozen Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations around the country. He is C.E.O. (Chief Encouragement Officer) of Pep YOUniversity!, the business he runs out of Greenville.
Blake helps people focus on identifying life’s priorities and the importance of building and maintaining relationships.
During one segment of Blake’s presentation, he asks members of his audience to write down their name. He then asks participants to write down the year of their birth and a dash.
“You’ve just written down half of your own obituary,” he said. “Beyond the dash is all up to you. It represents your life.”
He encourages cancer survivors especially to keep a journal. Create and maintain quality time for themselves, share their pain with others and the importance of prayer and meditation.
“Cancer survivors are people who can really make a positive difference in the lives of others,” Blake said. “There are so many things in our lives that dwell on the negative. It’s so important that people begin to gradually look beyond ourselves. When you do that, your attitude turns healthy and positive.”