Wellness Wednesday with Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation

When it comes to grief, there isn’t one path to follow. Grief evolves. It ebbs and flows and can hit us when we least expect it. And while the thought of outrunning grief may sound good, learning how to navigate the feelings associated with grief will better serve us in the long run.   

Join Rolfe and Cancer Wellness Center in this candid discussion of an all-too-often taboo subject, where we shared:   

- Ways grief may appear in our lives (and how it differs in each of us)   

- Stages of Grief: diagnosis, treatment, end of life, loss   

- Practical approaches to managing grief   

- How you can carry on when grief remains with you

About the speakers:

Mary F. Mulcahy, MD is a practicing medical oncologist with more than ten years experience in caring for patients and families with terminal illness. She is a sought-after speaker providing education to medical providers, advocacy groups, and patients. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hematology-Oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of California San Diego, completed her residency at Boston University and her fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She has expertise in the treatment of pancreatic biliary, esophageal, and liver cancers. She is experienced in liver-directed therapy for primary and metastatic liver tumors.

Celeste Gallati is a member of the Life Matters Media Board of Directors. Celeste has two decades of experience in the financial services industry serving in various human resources and project management roles. She holds an MBA and a Master of Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has completed the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations Certificate Program at Northwestern School of Professional Studies. In addition, she is a Respecting Choices certified advance care planning facilitator. After being widowed at 35 and serving as a caregiver for her mother who had dementia, Gallati understands the importance of having end-of-life discussions with loved ones and is passionate about helping others have these vital conversations.    

Priscilla Andrews, MA, LCPC, Clinical Manager joined Cancer Wellness Center’s clinical staff in 2007. She holds an MA in Community Counseling from Loyola University Chicago and has completed post-graduate training in polyvagal theory and emotionally-focused therapy.  In addition to working with people through the Counseling Program, she also facilitates the monthly Multiple Myeloma Networking Group. Her areas of interest include survivorship issues, building motivation for behavior changes, recovery from trauma, and couples work.

To access the slides for this episode, watch full episodes and learn more about Rolfe Foundation and Wellness Wednesday click here: https://rolfefoundation.org/get-involved/events-programs/wellness-wednesday-3/

Everywhere we turn, we are bombarded by messages to uncover our family’s history or genetic code. Finding out your lineage and potential hereditary conditions seems as easy as typing a few strokes on a keypad. And while it may be fun to discover that your great-grandmother was a trailblazer, not all information is as it appears. It’s important to understand what the at-home genetics tests are really telling you, and more importantly, what are they missing?

Find the full video episode and all other Wellness Wednesday episodes on our YouTube playlist HERE.

Find more information and resources for pancreatic cancer patients at rolfefoundation.org

Find more information and resources from Dena Goldberg at denadna.com

With the expansion of legalized marijuana across the country, it’s more important than ever to be educated on the facts, benefits and usage. Whether you’re going through cancer treatment or suffering from chronic pain, anxiety or sleep issues, there are options for relief.

Find the full video episode and all other Wellness Wednesday episodes on our YouTube playlist HERE.

When it comes to navigating cancer, no two journeys are the same. That said, what many patients, warriors, and caretakers have in common is feeling overwhelmed.    

Lisa Trogdon, our May Wellness Wednesday speaker, understands this mental fatigue. As a heart attack and stroke survivor, Lisa has a unique perspective on health and wellness. In this free, short session, you will learn:

• Practical ways you can build resilience when it matters most 

• Strategies to work through the everyday emotional overwhelm 

• How to identify and understand Survivor’s Guilt, and what to do about it 

• Why it’s important to take care of yourself physically and psychologically   

For the full video episode and all other episodes visit the Wellness Wednesday YouTube playlist HERE.

For more mental health resources visit: https://www.groundedwellnessllc.com/  

For more pancreatic cancer resources visit: https://rolfefoundation.org/

Pancreatic cancer patients and their families are often bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information. This overload makes it hard to know what to believe, or where to turn. 

Join us, as experienced oncology clinicians, Lori Bumbaco (dietitian) and Gayathri Moorthy (advanced practice nurse), answer your questions about pancreatic cancer with useful and reliable information, including:  

• What's the best way to navigate a diagnosis 

• When it is suggested to ask for a second opinion 

• What foods are recommended, and which ones should be avoided 

• Why it's important to take care of your mental health as well as your physical health  

Presented by: Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian; Gayathri Moorthy, APN, NorthShore University HealthSystem  

For the full video episode and all other episodes visit the Wellness Wednesday YouTube playlist HERE.

For more dietary advice visit the Cancer Wellness Center's website: https://www.cancerwellness.org/ 

For more pancreatic cancer resources visit the Rolfe Foundation's website: https://rolfefoundation.org/ 

Download/view slides here: https://rolfefoundation.sharepoint.co...

Did you know that core strength is critical in every movement you do? In fact, it's important to build enough core strength before building strength anywhere else. Having a strong core makes it easier to do everyday activities, leading to better balance and stability, good posture, and a healthy back.  

Whether you're in treatment, in recovery, or a caregiver, there are many benefits to focusing on core strength. Join us for a conversation with The Core Method's creator, Lily Horowitz who will share a workout routine suitable for all abilities and share helpful tips on:  

• Why building a strong core, especially post-surgery, is so important 

• How taking care of your core leads to better wellness 

• Simple exercises you can incorporate into everyday activities

For the full video episode and all other episodes visit the Wellness Wednesday YouTube playlist HERE.

For more resources visit: rolfefoundation.org

For more practical exercises and virtual classes visit The Core Method: https://coremethodpilates.com/

When it comes to finding education, care, and support, there is great importance for partnerships within the cancer community. Join Stacia Hart, Executive Director of Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, and Nancy Bulzoni, Executive Director of Cancer Wellness Center (CWC), as they discuss:  

• Why collaborations amongst cancer organizations are essential. 

• What services are available through Rolfe and CWC. 

• How to best use these services to your advantage. 

• New initiatives to support the pancreatic cancer community in 2021  

For the full video episode and all other episodes visit the Wellness Wednesday YouTube playlist HERE.

For more resources visit: rolfefoundation.org and https://www.cancerwellness.org/

Featuring Dr. Leslie Mendoza Temple, Medical Director, Integrative Medicine Program, NorthShore University HealthSystem; Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian, Cancer Wellness Center; Barbara Shapiro, CPT, CES, The National Academy of Sports Medicine

For November 2020 Pancreatic Awareness Month, we partnered with Cancer Wellness Center to bring you a special panel of experts for a live presentation and discussion on pain management, nutrition, and exercise. 

Download/view slides here: https://rolfefoundation.sharepoint.co...

For the full video episode and all other episodes visit the Wellness Wednesday YouTube playlist HERE.

For more resources visit: rolfefoundation.org

Did you know that one of the biggest secret weapons in the war on #PancreaticCancer is our genetic code? The recent influx of people getting tested has led to this information becoming an integral part of pancreatic cancer treatment and prevention. It is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach.

Genetic counselor, Dena Goldberg Linder, MS, LCGC, (Dena DNA) will provide you with the knowledge of how you and your relatives can use genetics as a tool in getting ahead of pancreatic and other cancers. With her visual approach to genetic education, she will make it easy to understand:  

-Basic cancer genetics 

-Hereditary pancreatic cancer syndromes 

-Why everyone with pancreatic cancer should be tested 

-Who needs to get testing, and how 

-Personalized treatments and family prevention 

For the full video episode and all previous episodes see our Wellness Wednesday playlist on YouTube HERE.

For more resources visit: rolfefoundation.org  

Download/view worksheet here: https://rolfefoundation.sharepoint.co...

Navigating the cancer experience is challenging enough without a worldwide pandemic. That said, pancreatic cancer patients, the immunocompromised, and their families have already been living with some of the sacrifices that the rest of the world is experiencing now.   Whether you’re currently in treatment, survivorship, or a caregiver for a loved one, Rolfe Board Member and licensed clinical social worker Roz Turner will provide practical tips and coping mechanisms to take advantage of what you can do now for your physical and mental health.  

For the full video episode and all other episodes visit the Wellness Wednesday YouTube playlist HERE.

For more resources visit: rolfefoundation.org