Cook Cancer Wellness Program

Caregivers and family members are encouraged to attend classes!

Click here to view the April 2013 Wellness Calendar

We understand each person’s cancer journey is unique, with their own combination of cancer type, cancer treatment, medical history and challenges. Our vast array of support services addresses the specific needs of each cancer patient by assessing your own journey, and providing a customized wellness plan to help you lead a healthy life.

The Cook Cancer Wellness Program has three components – exercise, nutrition and quality of life support. While not every component may be relevant to your situation, we work to put together the perfect plan for your needs.

The Cook Cancer Program is made up of a team of healthcare professionals:

  • Cancer Care Coordinator – a registered nurse that works with patients and their families to understand their diagnosis and works side by side to help them through treatment and recovery.
  • Cancer Risk Counselor – is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner with additional training in genetics and cancer risk counseling. She provides cancer risk assessment, genetic counseling and testing, referrals and follow-up care for at-risk individuals.
  • Certified Oncology Social Worker – is available to provide support for you and your family. This includes coping with a cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship; caregiver stress; helping children/teens better understand cancer; community resources and financial issues.
  • Cancer Wellness Dietitian – can help guide patients in their search for valuable information about poor appetite, ideal weight, supplements or other nutrition concerns.
    March is National Nutrition & National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Choosing a low-fat diet that is more plant-based has been proven to help reduce risk certain kinds of cancer. Click here for some diet tips for better health.
  • Cancer Exercise Specialist – identifies exercise goals based on the patient’s unique needs and limitations.
  • Medical Psychologist
  • Licensed Mental Health Therapist and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist
  • Spiritual Support

Music Therapy
Listening to music or participating in sessions with trained music therapists can ease a cancer patients’ anxiety. Music may also have positive effects on their mood, pain and quality of life, according to Joke Bradt of the department of creative arts therapies at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Bradt and colleagues examined evidence from 1,891 cancer patients who took part in 13 trials that used music therapists and 17 trials that used pre-recorded music. Compared to standard treatments, music was associated with a considerable reduction in anxiety, along with benefits in mood, pain, heart and respiratory rates and blood pressure.

Group Exercise Classes = support groups that move!

Pilates with cardio
Pilates is a safe, sensible, mind-body exercise that is appropriate for individuals of all ages and conditions, including cancer survivors. Pilates dramatically transforms the way your body looks, feels and performs. It teaches body awareness, good posture and easy, graceful movement. Pilates improves flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can even alleviate back pain. The instructor will also implement cardio components. Open to caregivers and family members.
This class is offered on Monday & Wednesday from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Zumba
When participants see a Zumba class in action, they can’t wait to give it a try. Classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats. Before participants know it, they’re getting fit and their energy levels are soaring. There’s no other fitness class like a Zumba Fitness-Party. It’s easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating, often building a deep-rooted community among returning students. Open to caregivers and family members.
This class is offered on Tuesday from 4:30 – 5:15 p.m.

Anusara Yoga
Yoga is a great form of exercise for cancer survivors. Taught by an experienced yoga instructor, individuals of all abilities can experience easy, supported stretches for the body and soothing stillness for the mind along with learning breathing techniques and guided imagery for deep relaxation. Open to caregivers and family members.
This class is offered on Tuesday from noon – 1 p.m.

Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a martial art that blends ancient Chinese exercises for physical, mental and spiritual development with fighting techniques. Consequently, Tai Chi and related traditional Chinese therapeutic exercises have been used by people wishing to improve their health, those seeking spiritual perfection and others wishing to enhance their fighting skills. This class will focus on Tai Chi for improved health.
This class is offered on Monday from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Support Services

Social Services
An oncology certified social worker, with extensive experience working with cancer patients and their families, is available to provide support for you and your family. This includes coping with a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment and survivorship; caregiver stress; helping children/teens better understand cancer; community resources and financial issues.

Family & Individual Support
A diagnosis of cancer brings on many different challenges not only for the cancer survivor but their families and caregivers. These challenges can have a significant effect on the quality of life of everyone touched by a diagnosis. Whether it is depression, anxiety, stress or financial concerns, our psychologists are trained to assist cancer survivors, their families and caregivers how to accept and work through these challenges. Asking for help is OK.

Spiritual Support
Spiritual Care is an integral part of the Cancer Wellness Team. We understand people face many concerns when challenged by health issues. Research has shown religion and spirituality are positively associated with better physical and mental health outcomes, such as lower levels of depression, anxiety and pain.

Body Image and Sexuality
Sexuality encompasses feelings about one’s body, the need for touch, interest in sexual activity, communication of one’s sexual needs to a partner and the ability to engage in satisfying sexual activities. We all have a lifelong need for emotional connections to others and are sexual beings independent of our age, sexual orien-tation, health status or current relationship status. Whether newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment or trying to get on with the rest of your life, your feelings about sex and intimacy may have changed. A certified sex therapist is available to help with these issues in a confidential, non-threatening environment.

Sex Intimacy Cancer, A Resource Group for Women
Several types of cancer and cancer therapies can cause sexual dysfunction in women. The impact of sexual dysfunction may be both physical and psychological, and can interfere with the return to a normal life post treatment.
Sex Intimacy Cancer, A Resource Group for Women, was founded to offer resources for women struggling with various forms of sexual dysfunction from cancer or cancer treatment. Members will give and receive emotional and practical support, as well as exchange helpful product information.
Meetings are the first Tuesday of every month from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Please call 319/558-4846 to register.

Art Therapy
Art therapy is used to help people manage physical and emotional problems by using creative activities to express emotions. It provides a way for people to come to terms with emotional conflicts, increase self-awareness, and express unspoken and often unconscious concerns about their illness and their lives. “Expressive arts therapy” or creative arts therapy’’ may also include the use of dance and movement, drama, poetry, and photo therapy, as well as more traditional art methods.

Massage Therapy
Massage is more than just relaxation and stress relief; it can actually improve your health.

Reiki
Reiki is a technique for reducing stress and promoting  healing. The practitioner’s hands lightly touch or are placed near various areas of the patient’s body, including the head, shoulders, stomach, legs and feet. Patients that use Reiki indicate it reduces stress, decreases the need for pain medication, improves sleep and appetite, and accelerates the healing process. Also reported benefits include reducing the unwanted side effects of radiation and drugs, including chemotherapy.

Mind-Body Skills Group
This group offers a powerful way to help individuals deal with life changes, chronic stress and illness in a supportive group setting. You will learn research based techniques such as meditation, guided imagery, biofeedback, breath work, journal writing, drawing and other approaches that help individuals cope with stress.

Cancer Transitions™
A free 2½- hour, six-week workshop developed by LIVESTRONG® to help cancer survivors make the transition from active treatment to life after cancer treatment. The workshop provides education, physical exercise and emotional support in addressing psychosocial, quality of life, nutrition, medical management issues. A follow-up session is held a month after the workshop.

Get Started Today!
Whether you have a physical, emotional, or spiritual need, we are here to help! Most services are provided at no charge. For more information and to talk directly to a cancer care coordinator, call 319/558-4876 or e-mail us us today.