The following activities are offered FREE. Please review the information below to see if one of our classes is right for you or call our office at (650) 723-4268 if you have additional questions.
To see our monthly activities in calendar format, please click on January or February.
Chair Massage
Tuesdays, 10:00am - 1:00pm, in the Oncology Day Care Center
Wednesdays, 10:00am - 1:00pm, in the BMT Day Hospital
Massage therapy can help to relieve stress, reduce pain, and reduce anxiety. Free fifteen-minute chair massage is offered to patients, their family, and support while waiting for medical treatment.
Managing and Understanding Your Chemotherapy Experience
Margaret Hawn, RN, BSN
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Jan. 5, 19; Feb 2, 16; March 1, 15; April 5, 19
This class helps patients understand the potential side effects of the drugs they are receiving and learn management techniques that will ensure an effective and manageable chemotherapy experience. The 1-1/2 hour class is tailored to meet the needs of adults undergoing chemotherapy. Classes are open to newly-diagnosed and recurrent patients, caregivers, and family. For questions, please call (650) 723-4268.
Chemotherapy Video
Are you unable to attend the scheduled workshop? Videotapes of this valuable class are available for checkout from the SCSCP at the Center for Integrative Medicine and also for viewing in the Oncology Day Care Center, Infusion Clinic, and The Health Library. For questions, please call (650) 723-4268.
Educational Lectures
Please call (650) 723-4268.
Join the SCSCP and The Stanford Health Library for evening lectures on various cancer related topics. All areas of the cancer experience are addressed, from how to manage side effects to dealing with personal relationships.
Energy Healing
Ellen DiNucci, MA
January 13, February 10, March 9, April 13, 2004
This monthly gathering will guide participants in learning and practicing introductory basics on grounding and running, directing, and clearing energy for the self and others. Energetic healing practices have been used for thousands of years. Western scientists are now taking these disciplines seriously enough to critically study them at prestigious universities.
To utilize healing energy, the practitioner acts as a conduit of energy directing it to others, or back to the healer. Energy can be directed in several different ways, including by hand placement directly on the body, on areas surrounding the body, or at a distance from the body.
Energetic healing methods may be beneficial for pain, mood, stress, and wounds Clients have used energetic healing for sports injuries, chronic physical discomforts, emotional release, stress reduction, personal growth, and recovery.
Cancer Fatigue Awareness Days
Coming in April 2004, NEW STANFORD CANCER CENTER
Is cancer or cancer treatment making you tired? If you're being treated for cancer, you may be experiencing cancer treatment-related fatigue. Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness that can keep you from doing the things you normally do or want to do. Fatigue is the most common side effect of cancer treatment. Cancer fatigue can leave you feeling weary or exhausted, even when you get enough sleep. There are things you can do that may help you feel better.
Join us for information on Fatigue Management techniques. FREE 15-minute chair massage, food, drink, and much more! Let's take "u" out of Fatigue.
Fatigue Management
Pat Kramer RN, MSN, AOCN
August 13, 10 am - 1 pm; August 27, 1 pm - 4 pm
September 17, 10 am - 12 pm; October 22, 10 am - 1 pm
Ambulatory Treatment Unit (ATU), Stanford Hospital
This program provides the opportunity for patients to meet with an oncology nurse
- while undergoing treatment - to discuss ways to cope with fatigue. Explore
strategies for diminishing fatigue through maximizing nutrition, balancing activity
and rest, promoting quality sleep, conserving energy, minimizing stress, and
starting an exercise program. Please call (650) 723-4268.
Feldenkrais Method®
Paulette Dolin
Wednesdays, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
We are excited to introduce our newest class at the Cancer Supportive Care Program. The Feldenkrais Method® is a revolutionary approach to understanding human functioning. It utilizes movement and attention as the vehicles for enhancing a person’s natural abilities to learn, to change and to continue to grow throughout life.
Paulette will be teaching Awareness Through Movement® (ATM) classes, which are verbally-directed movement sequences, teaching students to:
- Attend to their whole selves
- Eliminate unnecessary energy expenditure
- Mobilize their intentions into actions learn
- Learn through structured movement explorations that involve
thinking, sensing, moving and imagining.
Awareness Through Movement® lessons increase flexibility and range of motion through gentle, safe movements and improve coordination, balance and strength by developing new patterns of movement that gives awareness to the whole body. Paulette’s students have reported that ATM has helped reduce symptoms such as numbness, nausea, fatigue, lymphedema, and neuropathy.
For more information about the Feldenkrais Method®, check out: http://www.feldenkrais.com.
Group Guided Imagery
Tina Jollyschmidt, RN, Maggie Clark, RN & Holly Saracco, RN
Mondays, 11:00am - 12:00pm
New Location: Stanford Hospital Chapel
Imagery is a process facilitated by relaxation that uses your own mental images to explore your inner world. This program explores the effect of imagery on anxiety. You will be offered group guided imagery and/or private integrative imagery sessions. You may attend one or more sessions in any combination of group or private. Imagery is available to BMT patients, Hematology patients, Oncology patients, and Caregivers. For questions and for private-session appointments, please call (650) 723-4268.
Group Support
Pat Fobair, LCSW, MPH
Mondays, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Many patients ask, what happens in your support groups? Here is an overview of what you might expect: During group-member introductions, each of us describes the illness and circumstances that have brought us to seek a group. We use the rest of the group time to discuss the issues and feelings that cancer brings to us. Our style of group is called, "Supportive-Expressive group therapy."
Supportive-Expressive groups provide a place where members share stories and feelings since the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Patients frequently want to talk about their concerns regarding medical decision making and the troubling feelings of anxiety, grief, and anger. Some group members find their feelings of confusion or numbness get better after one or more sessions. Many of those participating in the group find it easier to carry out constructive planning, and to anticipate and prepare for important events. Many report feeling more comfortable with themselves and more relaxed with their family. We hope you will join us.
Healing Imagery
Jeanne Fournier, Medical Hypnotherapist
Fridays, 11:00am - 12:30pm New Time!
August 8 & 22; September 5 & 19; October 3 & 17;
November 7 & 21; December 5 & 19
Healing Imagery is imagery specifically focused on health, healing and a sense of well-being. It is a useful adjunct to conventional medical practices in the treatment of all forms of cancer, as well as other medical conditions. Healing imagery can enhance the effectiveness of medical treatments, minimize side effects of treatments and improve quality of life. Thoughts and emotions can influence physical health. Healing imagery uses intentional mental imagery to activate the body’s own natural resources for health, healing and balance.
The Healing Imagery Groups offered every other Friday morning at Stanford’s Center for Integrative Medicine begin with the brief introduction of each participant, followed by a period of progressive
relaxation. This process of deep relaxation takes you into a peaceful state during which you are guided to create images and/or feelings of health, healing, balance and well-being. The imagery differs each week and may focus on physical, mntal, or emotional aspects of the healing process. When the imagery is completed, a brief period follows where participants may share their experience. This is one of the most popular parts of the sessions. Hearing how the same
imagery is experienced differently by each participant seems to enrich the experience for all.
The Healing Imagery Groups with Jeanne Fournier are appropriate for anyone dealing with cancer no matter where they are in their healing process. Some participants are newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, and others are cancer survivors who attend as part of their ongoing wellness program. Support persons and care givers are also welcomed and can certainly benefit from the relaxation and healing imagery. Specific imagery to support surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatments are available as private sessions with audiotape included.
Medical Qigong - Arnold Tayam, DMQ
Thursdays, 1:15pm - 2:15pm, Avalon Yoga,
370 California Avenue, Palo Alto
This ancient Chinese modality incorporates special methods of breathing, posture, and creative visualization to circulate, cleanse, collect, balance, and strengthen the body's energetic system. This class can help alleviate the daily stresses of dealing with cancer.
Newsletter by SCSCP - Published bi-monthly.
What's new at SCSCP, Frequently Asked Questions, Tips from The Health Library, New opportunities in the Community, Upcoming Lectures, and much more are featured in our newsletter. For your free subscription, please provide your name and address to Holly Gautier: (650) 723-4268 or hgautier@stanfordmed.org. (This mailing list is used only for SCSCP items and is never disclosed for any other purpose.)
Nutrition Consultations
Are you getting enough nutrients? Is your diet balanced? How can you keep from losing weight while you go through chemotherapy? These and other questions can be addressed in private consultation. For an appointment, please call (650) 723-4268.
Nutrition Lectures: Minimizing Symptoms - A Nutritional Guide For Cancer Patients Come learn how to minimize symptoms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy from a nutritional perspective - a "must" for patients and family starting or undergoing chemo or radiation therapy. Our registered dietitian will discuss general dietary tips and ways to decrease fatigue, nausea, diarrhea and other symptoms.
Nutrition Visits in Radiation Oncology
Nutrition tips on symptom management, weight gain/loss, diet, foods, and recipes are available to patients before and after treatments.
Nutrition Visits in the Infusion Clinic
Nutrition tips on chemotherapy side effect management. Available to patients before, during, and after treatments.
Perspectives on Cancer Series: New Treatments, Best Treatments
Stanford Cancer Center, 2nd Floor Conference Room
875 Blake Wilbur Drive
Stanford, CA
Thursday, April 8, 7-9:00 PM
Feeling and Healing: Effects of Stress and Support on Cancer Patients
Speaker: David Spiegel, M.D.
This talk will review recent research on means of handling the inevitable stress of cancer that is most effective. This includes learning to express rather than suppress the emotions that accompany the illness, finding good social support, improve communications with loved ones and doctors, and facing ones fears directly. Evidence that the body's stress response hormone system can influence the course of the disease will be presented.
Thursday, April 15, 7-9:00 PM
New Tests, New Treatments, Better Outcomes for Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Speaker: George Fisher, M.D.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the U.S. Advances in imaging, genetics, molecular diagnostics, surgical techniques and chemotherapy are now making significant gains in our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat this serious disease. Dr. Fisher will highlight some of these recent successes and share with you a vision of future care based on current research.
Thursday, April 22, 7-9:00 PM
Breast Cancer Caer at Stanford: A Special Place at a Difficult Time
Speaker: Robert Carlson, M.D.
This talk will focus on the unique aspects of how Stanford doctors and staff treat breast cancer, how research findings at Stanford impact the care of breast cancer patients, and what a patient can expect while going through treatment at the Stanford Cancer Center.
Thursday, April 29, 7-9:00 PM
Using the Immune System to Treat Cancer
Speaker: Ron Levy, M.D.
Immunotherapy is the newest modality of treatment for cancer, and researchers have great expectations for it becoming one of the most effective treatments. This talk will focus on how doctors at Stanford are using immune therapy in the treatment of cancer.
Restorative Yoga
Jane Verdurmen Peart
Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:15pm - 2:30pm,
Avalon, 370 California Ave., Palo Alto
Restorative Yoga consists of a series of restful postures designed to cleanse, nourish, and renew the body, mind, and spirit. Supportive props, soothing music, and inspiring readings help to rest and restore the participant. No prior yoga experience is needed. Please bring a bottle of water. For questions, please call Holly at (650) 723-4268.
Support Group for Husbands of Women with Cancer
David Mineau, PhD, MFT
2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
2040 Noel Drive, #204, Menlo Park
There is a parallel journey the spouse or partner of a patient makes during the treatment for cancer. Men are especially challendged as they try to support their wife or significant other through the days, months and years of ups and downs. Feelings are sometimes difficult to experience and articulate, especially feelings of helplessness, inadequacy, fear and loss of control. Other experiences arise with an unfamiliar intensity such as tenderness, appreciation and a determination to beat this thing at all costs. Sometimes it is the inability to feel that is puzzling and somewhat frightening. Often, only other men who have shared the experience can understand all a husband or partner is going through.
In order to support men to fully understand and support their wives and partners through this difficult journey, the Cancer Supportive Care Program and the Alan and Nancy Baer Foundation are offering a twice monthly Husbands and Partners Support Group. The facilitator will be David Meneau, PhD, MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist). Dr. Mineau has been in private practice in Menlo Park for 18 years and since 1975 has led support groups for cancer patients and their families in a variety of settings. He currently is instructor of Marriage and Family Counseling at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto and teaches
Couples Communication courses at Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City.
The group is drop-in. Men are encouraged to attend and return as often as the
group is of benefit. There is no charge. Please contact Holly Gautier, RN
(650-723-4268) for questions and information.
Write for Life - Sheppard B. Kominars, PhD
New Session Coming Soon!
"Write for Life!" is a program designed to harness the strength and courage to put into words what it means to live through each day to help heal both those who are recovering from cancer and their loved ones. The class leader is an author and a counselor who has given workshops both in the US and abroad on issues of recovery and creativity. Having himself recently completed chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Dr. Kominars is also an advocate for early detection.
There are three sessions: "Getting Started," "Staying Started" and "New Directions." Everyone is welcome to enter the group at any time and stay for as long as they choose. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from both oneself and others. For details please call (650) 723-4268.
To see our monthly activities in calendar format, please click on January or February.
Please call our office at (650) 723-4268 if you have additional questions.