SWAN FOR LIFE CANCER FOUNDATION

The Swan for Life Cancer Foundation was established by Farid Fata, M.D., F.A.C.P. to go beyond the clinical needs of cancer patients. The Foundation provides support strategies and innovative resources for cancer patients, survivors, family and friends in the community. The Foundation's programs strive to help people develop and implement a plan to navigate their journey with cancer that is dignified and hopeful. Please visit us at www.swanforlife.org for more information on our programs and wellness services described below or contact our office at 248.620.9600.

NUTRITION

Nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment. Eating the right kinds of foods during and after treatment can help you feel better and stay stronger. Michigan Hematology Oncology is committed to providing patients with the educational resources to learn more about the importance of good nutrition during and after cancer treatment.

Good nutrition is especially important if you have cancer because both the illness and its treatment can affect your appetite. Cancer and cancer treatments can also affect your body's ability to tolerate certain foods and use nutrients. In fact, 40% to 80 % of cancer patients experience some degree of malnutrition. When you do not consume enough calories to meet your body's needs, your body begins utilizing protein stored in your muscles, and weight loss can occur. Malnutrition contributes to a reduction in your quality of life, a poorer performance status, and may adversely affect your response to treatment.

In general, we recommend our patients eat a diet high in both calories and protein. In addition, drinking enough fluids, and eating a well-balanced diet which includes selections from the five major food groups will help you maintain and/or regain the nutritional status that is so crucial to your success. Many resources are available to help you achieve this goal. We will offer specific information based on your needs including recipe books, consultations with dietitians, and personal consultations during your office visits

MASSAGE THERAPY

Massage therapy has been proven to provide not only physical but also psychological relief for cancer survivors for a variety of ailments including pain, tension, anxiety, and nausea. As part of our wellness program, Michigan Hematology Oncology offers massage therapy provided by a nationally certified massage therapist who has been extensively and specifically trained in the massage of oncology patients. In conjunction with your MHO physician our therapist will design a program that is individualized to your diagnosis and your specific needs.

SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE CANCER PATIENT

Our oncology social worker at Swan for Life Cancer Foundation is available to assist patients and families with the challenges they face when diagnosed with cancer. Whether the concern is related to coping, family or financial issues, the oncology social worker can help provide guidance and support. This service is available to oncology patients, their families and loved ones, with the goal of optimizing quality of life for those affected by cancer. Who may benefit from an appointment?

• Newly diagnosed cancer patients or those that have a recurrence of cancer
• Those requiring assistance with adjusting to their illness
• Those having difficulty with treatment decisions or communication
• Those experiencing anxiety and need an opportunity to communicate their feelings
• Those needing assistance with caregiver issues
• Those requiring financial, insurance or community resources

Our oncology social worker also facilitates Support Groups that can be attended by oncology patients, their families and loved ones.

Support Groups are located at:
Great Lakes Cancer Institute Conference Room, 5680 Bow Pointe Drive, Clarkston, MI 48346

• Breast Cancer Support Group (2nd Thursday of the month, 2:00 p.m.)
• Blood Cancer Support Group (3rd Thursday of the month, 2:00 p.m.)
• General Cancer Support Group (4th Thursday of the month, 2:00 p.m.)

MENTAL HEALTH - PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER

Cancer diagnosis and treatment can be exhausting physically, mentally and emotionally - not only for the patient, but for the family / caregiver(s) as well. For those in need of extra support, we work closely with a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, who will provide counseling and prescribe medication as needed to assist the healing process of both body and mind.

Together, we assist patients and their significant others cope with the changes in their lives, their relationships, and their expectations of themselves and others. We reinforce healthy lifestyle changes to assist in the healing process and help patients maintain and regain their inner strength.

ACUPUNCTURE

In the United States, acupuncture is used to treat a variety of symptoms and conditions associated with cancer and the side effects of cancer treatments. A number of cancer centers in the U.S., including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston are integrating acupuncture into cancer care. Michigan Hematology Oncology is offering this treatment option to cancer patients at both the Rochester and Clarkston locations.

Acupuncture treatment, a two-thousand-year-old component of traditional Chinese medicine, involves stimulating one or more predetermined points on the body, called acupoints, with needles for therapeutic effect. Heat, pressure, or electricity may be added to intensify the effect of the acupuncture needles. According to traditional Chinese medicine beliefs, energy flows throughout the body along channels, or "meridians." Specific acupoints are stimulated to increase energy flow along various channels throughout the body to a particular tissue, organ, or organ system.

Treatment is usually customized to treat each patient's particular symptoms. A typical acupuncture session, which takes about 30 minutes, involves the insertion of ten to 20 very thin, stainless steel needles. Most patients receiving acupuncture experience no pain from the insertion of the needles, and there is minimal risk of injury from acupuncture treatments, with reports of less than one adverse event in more than 10,000 treatments.

YOGA

How can Yoga Help People with Cancer?

Cancer is a broad complex of illnesses in which a weakened immune system cannot cope with the proliferation of damaged cells. Of course, yoga is not a "cure" for cancer, but it can help to strengthen the immune system and encourage inner healing forces. It works in various ways:

Relaxation - Calms the nervous system and alleviates the stress and anxiety which lower immune functioning and hinder healing.

Breathing Exercise - Improves respiration, releases tension and restores balance and calm.

Meditation - Develops the detachment and clarity that enables one to acknowledge and accept the realities of the situation and to cope with fears.

Physical Postures - Clears toxins, increases energy levels and enhances the functioning of internal organs and systems.

The simplest of yoga breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques can also help one to deal with the overwhelming emotions that come with the diagnosis of a life-changing illness. They can be of help in managing the stress, anxiety and pain of cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.