Encompassing Cancer

In this episode, Lauren is joined by two patient navigators, Andrea Suzuki and Chloe Lunn-Fisher from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), to discuss the important role patient navigators play in helping people overcome barriers to cancer care and treatment. A few of these barriers include transportation, lodging, navigating health insurance, medical copays, workplace issues, and more. They also share some tips for how to be an even better self-advocate – a theme we've touched on in many previous episodes!

Additional Resources:

• SCCA, Patient and Caregiver Services & Support
• Patient Navigators
• Cancer and Careers
• Cancer Lifeline
• CancerCare.org
• American Society of Clinical Oncology, Questions to Ask Your Health Care Team

In our first July episode, Lauren talks about the importance of cancer screening and where we're currently at with screening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. She breaks down the screening recommendations for five different types of cancer: breast, lung, colorectal, cervical, and skin cancer. As part of our Community Education program, we will be implementing a cancer screening campaign in the next few months, with the goal of getting as many people as possible connected to resources within their community.

Additional Resources:

• Cancer Screening Overview
• Screening Recommendations from U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
• Breast and cervical cancer screening program locator
• American Lung Association's lung cancer screening resources
• Colorectal cancer resources
• Free skin cancer screenings and other resources

Our Cancer Unwrapped teen essay writing contest culminated in May, with another successful year! In this episode, learn more about the contest and listen in as Lauren chats with one of the winners–Emme–about her writing process, going through the grief process, and what it felt like to find out she was a winner! Emme also reads her essay aloud for listeners to hear.

Additional Resources:

• Cancer Unwrapped winning essays

In recognition of National Cancer Survivors Day on June 5, Lauren chatted with two cancer survivors, Ellen Weidner and Glenn Rockowitz, about their experiences with cancer. National Cancer Survivors Day is a day for celebrating LIFE and providing hope and inspiration to those who are going through a cancer experience. We talk about the power of support groups, the importance of finding a community you feel supported in, advice they would give to those who are newly diagnosed, and the importance of advocating for yourself.

Additional Resources:

• Cancer Pathways' Support Groups
• Tips for self-advocacy
• Information about National Cancer Survivors Day
• Impact of your Attitudes and Feelings on Cancer

In this episode, Lauren chats with two co-workers, Michelle Massey and Morgan Weidner, about the magic of Camp Sparkle, which is our summer day-camp for kids who have been impacted by cancer. We talk about the fun, therapeutic activities campers get to participate in, what it's like to be a counselor and junior counselor, and what makes Camp Sparkle so different from other camps. We're then joined by Rindi Snyder and her 6-year old daughter, Jaina, to hear about her experience at Camp Sparkle. Jaina is sure to bring a smile to your face!

Additional Resources:

• Register and learn more about Camp Sparkle here.
• Camp Sparkle 2022 dates and locations*:
  • Seattle (Magnuson Park): June 27-July 1
  • Online (Zoom): July 18-22
  • Bellevue (Newcastle Beach Park): July 25-29
  • Everett (Legion Hall): August 1-5
  • Tacoma (STAR Center): August 8-12

*All in-person camps will be held from 9:30am-4pm and online camp will be from 10am-1pm PST.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Melanoma Awareness Month. In this episode, we provide a high-level overview of the different types of skin cancer, how to check your skin for cancer (ABCDE tool), tips and recommendations for protecting your skin from UV rays, and additional community resources. Please share this episode with friends and family to help ensure your loved one's are protecting the skin they're in!

Additional Resources:

• Skin Cancer Foundation
• Melanoma Research Foundation
• American Cancer Society
• Cancer Pathways' Cancer Happens program

On this month's episode, we got to chat with Reed Dunn (@pestoandpotatoes), who is a Seattle-based home chef, developing most of his recipes from locally grown and sourced foods. We talked about how to navigate the farmers market, what pantry (and freezer!) staples to always keep on hand, how to keep herbs staying fresh, and must-have kitchen essentials. At the end of the episode, I cover five common treatment-related nutrition side effects and provide some suggested foods to help combat these effects (Disclaimer: these tips do not constitute medical advice and we always advise you to speak with your provider or dietitian if you're having any concerns).

You can find Reed's recipes over at pestoandpotatoes.com and subscribe to our newsletter to get Reed's featured seasonal recipe each quarter!

Additional Resources:

• Patient Resource: Nutrition During Cancer Treatment
• Fred Hutch's Cook for Your Life
• Seattle Farmers Markets
• Register today for Camp Sparkle – we are offering in-person and/or online camp!

On episode #2 (and our first guest episode!), we had the privilege of talking to Caroline Wright, who is a Seattle-based author, chef, food stylist, and terminal brain cancer survivor. We talk about when she first received her diagnosis, the importance of listening to and trusting what your body is telling you, communicating with young children through a cancer diagnosis, how best to support a loved one going through cancer, and how she found strength, healing, and community through creativity and developing legacy materials! Before chatting with Caroline, we provide a few monthly Cancer Pathways program updates.

You can learn more about Caroline Wright and purchase her cookbooks over on her website at carolinewrightfood.com.

Cancer Pathways Updates:

• Camp Sparkle registration is open! Register for in-person and/or online camp.
• Register here for Georgia's HPV Awareness Day (3/24/22). Continuing education credits available for physicians, nurses, and dental providers.

Don't forget to follow us on social media:

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In the very first episode of the EnCOMPASSing Cancer podcast, you'll hear about each of our signature programs here at Cancer Pathways. Listen in to learn a bit about our history, why we changed our name from Gilda's Club Seattle, and the impact our programs have had over the years.

To stay up-to-date on all of our program happenings, please visit our website and follow us on social media:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Youtube