Minimally invasive bariatric surgery produces steady and lasting

GoodHealth
BLOUNT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
FALL 2016
❂
LIVE HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER
PHOTOGRAPHER DON DUDENBOSTEL
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Minimally invasive bariatric surgery produces steady and lasting weight loss.
State-of-the-art prostate cancer screenings and treatments save lives.
Meet Dr. Ryan Skinner, dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon.
You’re not alone. Learn about our cancer programs and support groups.
www.blountmemorial.org
BLOUNT MEMORIAL GOOD HEALTH ❂ FALL 2016
GOOD HEALTH FOCUS: Cosmetic Treatments and Procedures
Are you considering cosmetic surgery
or a non-surgical anti-aging treatment?
By the time most people hit their 40th birthday, some visible signs of aging are reflected in the
mirror. Years of sun damage and stress, lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, and
the after-effects of giving birth and breastfeeding all take a toll on the body. While aging is a fact
of life, looking much older than you feel can have a negative impact on your self-esteem, body
image and ability to get a job (particularly after age 50).
Since July’s opening of Blount Memorial’s new Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery
at Springbrook (page 6), we’ve been fielding more questions from patients about cosmetic,
or aesthetic, procedures. We’ve addressed the three most commonly asked questions below
with answers from Blount Memorial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Matthew Becker.
Dr. Matthew Becker
Plastic and
reconstructive surgeon
Medical School:
University of Texas Southwestern
Medical School, Dallas
Board Certifications:
American Board of Surgery
American Board of Plastic Surgery
The Center for Dermatology
and Plastic Surgery at Springbrook
220 Associates Blvd., Alcoa, TN 37701
865-238-6400
For more information, call The Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery at Springbrook
at 865-238-6400.
Q: Does health insurance cover the cost of
cosmetic procedures?
A: Insurance companies do not cover any
cosmetic procedure. However, some procedures that people commonly think of as
"cosmetic," such as removing extra skin from
the upper eyelid or removing excess skin from
the abdomen may be covered on a case-bycase basis. Each insurance company has
its own criteria for coverage, and our staff is
available to assist with questions our patients
may have about their specific plans.
Q: The salon where I get my hair done
recently became a “medical spa” offering
anti-aging treatments such as Botox® and
dermal fillers. Does the word “medical” mean
that physicians administer the treatments?
A: Not necessarily. In Tennessee, a medical
spa is defined as “any entity, however named
or organized, which offers or performs
cosmetic medical services.” In general,
an affiliation with a physician is all that is
required to open a medical spa and train
technicians (such as aestheticians or cosmetologists) to administer treatments. The term
“medical spa” typically describes a day spa
offering non-surgical cosmetic treatments
(such as lip augmentation, laser hair removal,
CoolSculpting and Botox®) as well as
traditional hair, nail, facial, makeup and
massage services.
ON THE COVER:
This issue features photographer
and prostate cancer patient
Don Dudenbostel.
To ensure all cosmetic, or aesthetic, dermatology services are performed in a safe and
sterile environment, the American Society for
Dermatologic Surgery advises consumers to
choose locations staffed by board-certified
physicians including dermatologists and/or
plastic surgeons. Due to their relevant training, physicians from these specialties are
experts in aesthetic procedures. In our clinic,
2
specifically, there is not a one-size-fits-all
approach to facial rejuvenation. Dr. Becker
uses his experience and expertise to create
an individualized plan to address the needs
of each patient, which ensures the bestpossible results.
As with any medical treatment, always
do your research and ask questions before
having any cosmetic procedure. Know the
potential benefits and risks of any treatment.
Find out if a board-certified physician will be
performing your procedure, or will be supervising another trained and experienced health
care provider, such as a physician’s assistant
or registered nurse. Ask what happens in
case of a medical emergency or if another
unforeseen health issue arises during or
after your treatment.
Q: I’ve never understood why anyone would
have surgery for cosmetic, not medical,
reasons. Now that my breasts look deflated—
a result of breastfeeding my three kids over
the past five years—I’m wondering if I might
be a candidate for some sort of breast enhancement procedure. Does Blount Memorial
offer anything for mothers to help restore
breast shape and a positive body self-image?
A: Yes. Dr. Becker is a specialist in aesthetic
and reconstructive breast procedures. In
particular, he has extensive experience in
helping moms who are dealing with postpartum deflation, a common problem among
women who have had children.
Milk production causes a woman’s breasts
to increase in size. When she stops breastfeeding, the breasts dramatically decrease
in size resulting in sagging and deflation.
A breast lift can address the sagging and
shaped implants can replace lost volume.
Shaped implants, something Dr. Becker
specializes in and travels the country teaching
other surgeons how to use, have many different profiles and dimensions. For example,
an implant that is a little taller than it is wide
provides more fullness up top. With breast
implants and all aesthetic breast procedures,
Becker works with each patient to achieve
the appropriate size and look for her frame.
For a free consultation with Becker, call
The Center for Dermatology and Plastic
Surgery at Springbrook at 865-238-6400.
14.2
million
minimally-invasive
cosmetic procedures were
performed in the United
States in 2015.
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons
BLOUNT MEMORIAL GOOD HEALTH ❂ FALL 2016
Reach your weight loss goals
with bariatric surgery.
Minimally invasive approaches reduce your stomach’s
capacity, helping you feel full faster and stay full longer.
If you’ve tried and failed multiple times to lose a significant amount of weight,
bariatric surgery at Blount Memorial could be the tool you need to dramatically improve your health and quality of life. Blount Memorial board-certified
bariatric surgeon Dr. James Ray is an expert in Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric
Banding, or Lap-Band®, and sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric sleeve.
Among the region’s leading Lap-Band® specialists, Dr. Ray has performed
approximately 1,000 of the procedures during the past 12 years. In addition, he has
published his results in peer-review journals and has presented at international
conferences. His 2010 Lap-Band® guide has been used in training nationwide.
Below, he explains how Lap-Band® and gastric sleeve work, and the potential
benefits of each procedure.
☎
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
To schedule an initial
consultation with Dr. Ray
or to get more information
about surgical weight loss at
Blount Memorial, call East
Tennessee Medical Group
at 865-984-3864.
LAP-BAND®
HOW IT WORKS: During this procedure, the surgeon makes a few very
small incisions in the patient’s abdomen.
A viewing tube with a small camera
(laparoscope) is inserted to give the
surgeon precise, high-definition views
inside the body. Guided by the camera
images, the surgeon uses long, thin instruments to place a small, bracelet-like
band around the upper part of the stomach to separate it from the lower part.
This creates a small pouch with a narrow opening that goes into the larger,
lower part of the stomach.
GASTRIC SLEEVE
HOW IT WORKS: The surgeon removes approximately 75 to 80 percent
of the stomach, including the portion
producing the hormone ghrelin, commonly called the “hunger hormone.”
This results in the stomach taking on
the shape of a banana or “sleeve,”
which holds much less food. Although
originally intended as the first step in a
two-stage procedure for super-obese
or high-risk patients, the gastric sleeve
now is commonly and successfully
used for weight loss in people with a
Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS:
• No cutting or stapling of the
stomach
• Natural anatomy is left intact
• Adjustable
• Reversible
• Low risk of regaining weight
(if the patient follows the required
diet and exercise guidelines)
• Low surgical risk
POTENTIAL BENEFITS:
• No implantable device requiring
adjustment
• Simple alternative to gastric bypass
• Typically, faster weight loss than
with Lap-Band®
• Lose up to 75 percent of excess
weight
• Improve or cure obesity-related
health problems, such as diabetes
LAP-BAND® AND GASTRIC SLEEVE: WHO’S ELIGIBLE?
Lap-Band® and gastric sleeve generally are appropriate for people ages 18 and
older whose serious weight loss attempts in the past have had only short-term
success. To be medically qualified for any bariatric procedure, patients need to
have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 40, or a BMI of at least 35 plus one or
more obesity-related medical conditions (such as adult-onset diabetes, gastric reflux, infertility, joint pain caused by arthritis and sleep apnea). In addition, patients
cannot be suffering from any other disease that may have caused the excess
weight. Before being approved for surgery, all patients must demonstrate that they
are prepared to make major changes in their eating habits and lifestyle. ◆
DR. JAMES RAY
Bariatric and general surgeon
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BLOUNT MEMORIAL GOOD HEALTH ❂ FALL 2016
B LOUN T MEMOR IA L CA N CER CEN T ER
D
Focusing on
Early Detection
Finding prostate cancer early increases
treatment options and survival rates.
on Dudenbostel is most comfortable behind the camera, not in front of it. For nearly
50 of his 67 years, the Loudon County resident has been a professional photographer.
His award-winning work appears in galleries, museums, national magazines and other
publications, including Good Health.
Dudenbostel’s experience photographing cancer survivors and other patients treated at Blount
Memorial helped him face his own cancer diagnosis with confidence, he says.
“Because I had been working with a number of Blount Memorial cancer patients, I didn’t panic,”
recalls Dudenbostel, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2015. “The day I found
out I had to have the biopsy, in fact, I was photographing a prostate cancer survivor. My experience [both as a photographer and as a patient] with Blount Memorial gave me complete confidence in a cure. I didn’t doubt for one second that they would knock it [the cancer] out.”
Since Dudenbostel’s cancer was caught early and confined to the prostate gland, he was given
a choice of treatments: watch and wait, surgery, external beam radiation, low-dose radioactive
seed implantation (brachytherapy) or Proton treatments. After extensive research, including talking to prostate cancer survivors, he chose seed implantation at Blount Memorial.
Blount Memorial board-certified radiation oncologist
Dr. Daniel Green introduced prostate seed therapy (see right)
to Blount County in 2013. Green’s expertise was a factor in
Dudenbostel’s decision to choose Blount Memorial and
“I came to the conclusion
brachytherapy for his treatment.
that seed implants were
“I came to the conclusion that seed implants were right
right for my lifestyle. I didn’t
for my lifestyle,” explains Dudenbostel. “I didn’t want to have
want to have to go to the
to go to the hospital every day for 30 or 40 treatments, and I
hospital every day for 30
didn’t want surgery. When I researched Dr. Green and found
or 40 treatments, and I
he had performed more than 2,000 seed implants, I knew that
didn’t want surgery. When
this was the guy I wanted to do my procedure. He’s done so
I researched Dr. Green and
many, I believe he could do them blindfolded.”
found he had performed
On Nov. 3, 2015, Dudenbostel had 120 seeds implanted in
his prostate. The outpatient procedure only took about 90
more than 2,000 seed
minutes, and was his only treatment for the cancer. Except
implants, I knew that this
for
some initial swelling, fatigue and urinary inflammation,
was the guy I wanted
Dudenbostel
reports that the side effects were minimal.
to do my procedure.
Three months after the procedure, Dudenbostel had his
first follow-up PSA (prostate specific antigen) test. Before the seeds were implanted, his PSA level
was 7. (According to the American Cancer Society, men with a PSA level between 4 and 10 have
about a one in four chance of having prostate cancer.) This time, his PSA was only .28.
“The PSA level just fell off the side of the mountain following the treatment,” Dudenbostel says.
“By using seeds, I was able to get about 60 percent more radiation delivered directly to the site
without any damage to surrounding tissue.”
Now that he is a cancer survivor, Dudenbostel willingly shares his experience in hopes of
helping other men realize the importance of regular prostate screenings. Since Dudenbostel faithfully gets a physical each year, his primary care doctor, East Tennessee Medical Group internal
medicine physician Dr. Richard Gaddis, was able to monitor changes in the prostate over time.
Dudenbostel points to this ongoing prostate health care as the reason why his cancer was
4
DON DUDENBOSTEL
detected in an early, highly treatable stage.
“Over a period of about four or five years, Dr. Gaddis watched my PSA start to climb very
slowly,” adds Dudenbostel. “When it got above 4, he put me on antibiotics suspecting infection.
The levels would drop and then rise again. When the PSA got up to 7, that started to be a warning sign…a serious one.”
He continues, “Prostate cancer is a big deal. It is one of the biggest killers of men. Allowed
to get out of control, it will kill you. Early detection and regular examinations are key.” ◆
BLOUNT MEMORIAL GOOD HEALTH ❂ FALL 2016
Learn more about prostate seed
implantation therapy at Blount Memorial.
WHO’S ELIGIBLE? Candidates
include men diagnosed with
early-stage prostate cancer.
BENEFITS: Precise targeting of
the tumor, sparing of surrounding healthy tissue and fewer
visits and side effects than
standard therapies
HOW IT WORKS: Typically,
prostate seed implantation is
a one-time, five-step process
(described below). Treatment
is customized, however, to
fit each patient’s specific
situation.
Radioactive seeds are inserted through needles into the
prostate gland. The number of seeds implanted depends
on the size of the prostate.
Following the procedure, X-rays are taken to document
the position of the seeds.
The total time spent at the hospital on procedure day
is generally five to six hours.
About one month after the procedure, a CT (computed
tomography) scan of the prostate gland is taken to verify that
the seed placement was adequate and to calculate the radiation
dosage each area of the gland will receive.
PSA blood tests are administered during follow-up
visits with the urologist and/or radiation oncologist.
The first test generally is conducted three months after the
procedure. Additional testing takes place every three to six
months. Individual patient results vary, however, it may take
12-36 months for PSA levels to drop to their lowest point.
“If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer
and either do not want surgery or aren’t a candidate
for surgery, radioactive seed implantation is an
option to consider. It is a one-time procedure that
is minimally invasive. Essentially, there is no
recovery time.”
—Dr. Daniel Green
Radiation oncologist
Is surgery the best option for you?
Minimally invasive, robotic-assisted prostate surgery speeds recovery.
If prostate cancer hasn’t spread outside the prostate gland,
surgery may be the recommended treatment. According to the
American Cancer Society, the main type of surgery for prostate
cancer is a radical prostatectomy. In this procedure, the surgeon
removes the entire prostate gland plus some of the tissue around
it, including the seminal vesicles.
Traditional prostate surgery requires a large incision and
a hospital stay. For eligible patients, however, Blount Memorial
offers a minimally invasive, outpatient option: robotic-assisted
radical prostatectomy using the hospital’s state-of-the-art da Vinci
Si system. Unlike conventional open surgery or other laparoscopic methods, the robotic-assisted approach uses a
3-D HD vision system and tiny instruments. This advanced technology helps surgeons make extremely
precise excisions and repairs, minimizing the chance of damage to nerves and blood vessels.
DR. RUSTAN VAN WYK
Urologist and urologic surgeon
Blount Memorial’s expert urologists are specially trained in robotic-assisted procedures. To schedule an
appointment with urologist Dr. Rustan Van Wyk or Dr. James Briggs at East Tennessee Medical Group- Surgery
and Urology (located in the Blount Memorial Physician Office Building), call 865-980-5260.
5
BLOUNT MEMORIAL GOOD HEALTH ❂ FALL 2016
Skin cancer
doesn’t discriminate.
No matter your ethnicity or skin tone,
check your skin regularly to look for changes.
When 24-year-old Alia Rodriguez noticed that a mole on her chest was growing larger and
changing in color, she says that the word “cancer” never crossed her mind. “I’m Hispanic
and have darker skin, so I didn’t think I had to worry about skin cancer,” adds Rodriquez.
She’s not alone. According to researchers, there’s a common misconception among all
Americans that people with darker skin are immune from skin cancer. This belief is inadvertently reinforced by many skin cancer public health campaigns,
which focus on and use images of lighter-skinned people. In fact,
Hispanic Americans are more likely than other Americans to be
diagnosed with skin cancer in its later stages, when it's more apt
“Dr. Mokaya was really
to be fatal. From 1992 to 2015, according the data from the Cennice and explained
ters for Disease Control and Prevention, the annual melanoma
that it was good thing
(the deadliest form of skin cancer) incidence rate for Hispanics
I had come in when
increased by more than 20 percent.
I did because skin
Fortunately for Rodriguez, when the mole grew to roughly
cancer can spread.”
the size of a pencil eraser she asked her primary care doctor to
take a look. As a precautionary measure, her physician referred Rodriquez to Blount Memorial
board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kemunto Mokaya. During that initial visit in April 2016, Mokaya
biopsied the mole in a simple, in-office procedure.
The tiny scar from the biopsy already had healed, Rodriguez recalls, by the time Mokaya
called a week later with the results. “When Dr. Mokaya called to tell me that the mole was basal
cell carcinoma, one of the most-common types of skin cancer, I was shocked. Dr. Mokaya was
really nice and explained that it was good thing I had come in when I did because skin cancer
can spread.”
ALIA RODRIGUEZ
Mokaya performed a second, in-office procedure to remove the entire mole. The resulting scar,
while small, serves as a constant reminder about the importance of skin protection and regular skin
checks, Rodriguez explains.
“I do try to be more careful now, and I know I need to see Dr. Mokaya if I notice any changes in a
mole or on my skin. If I don’t notice anything, I’ll go to the dermatologist every six months for a check.
If I do see anything, I won’t wait.” ◆
Healthy skin begins here.
New Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery at Springbrook opens in Alcoa.
From anti-aging wrinkle reduction to skin
cancer removal, The Center for Dermatology
and Plastic Surgery at Springbrook is equipped
to meet any medical or aesthetic dermatology
need in one convenient location. Blount
Memorial board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Matthew Becker, boardcertified dermatologist Dr. Kemunto Mokaya,
and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon and
board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ryan Skinner
lead the center’s expert skin health team.
Available services include:
acne and acne scarring treatment
Botox® and dermal fillers
customized skin care plans featuring
SkinMedica and Avene
full-body skin screenings
infectious dermatology
Mohs Micrographic surgery to treat skin cancer
pediatric dermatology
removal of benign lesions and moles
skin cancer excisions
treatment of hair, nail and pigment disorders;
precancerous skin conditions; and rashes
and itches
For more information or to make an
appointment, call 865-238-6400.
From left: Dr. Kemunto Mokaya,
Dr. Ryan Skinner and Dr. Matthew Becker
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BLOUNT MEMORIAL GOOD HEALTH ❂ FALL 2016
MEET OUR PHYSICIANS
Dermatologist Dr. Ryan Skinner
Mohs Micrographic surgery is widely accepted as the
most-effective treatment for most types of skin cancer.
Thanks to the recent addition of Dr. Ryan Skinner to the
Blount Memorial Physicians Group, patients now can access
this highly specialized surgery right here, close to home.
Dr. Ryan Skinner is the county’s only fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon and sees patients at
the new Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery at Springbrook in Alcoa. “I’m excited
about the opportunity to bring the Mohs technique to Blount County,” says Skinner, who, in
addition to being an expert surgical dermatologist is an active father of five who enjoys playing and
watching a wide variety of sports including basketball, football, golf, basketball, snow skiing,
volleyball and wakeboarding.
The Mohs technique, developed in the 1930s by general surgeon Dr. Frederic Mohs, involves
surgically removing skin cancer layer by layer and examining the tissue under a microscope until
healthy, cancer-free tissue around the tumor is reached (called clear margins). The approach
requires fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons such as Skinner to be highly skilled in cancer surgery,
pathology and reconstructive surgery.
Since Mohs enables surgeons to precisely identify and remove an entire tumor while leaving the
surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed, the procedure is especially appropriate for skin
cancers that:
Develop on the nose, eyelids, lips, hairline, hands, feet and other areas where preserving
cosmetic appearance and function are important
Have recurred after previous treatment or are likely to recur
Are located in scar tissue
Are large
Have edges that are ill-defined
Grow rapidly
Mohs surgery has the highest success rate (up to 99 percent) of all skin cancer treatments. It’s
most commonly used to remove basal and squamous cell carcinomas, the two most-common
types of skin cancer. While successfully removing the cancer is the top priority, Mohs does offer
the added benefit of smaller scars than traditional excision procedures. In addition, since Mohs
fellowship-trained surgeons are trained in reconstructive procedures, it is possible to reduce
or even eliminate the appearance of any scar using skin flaps, skin grafts, collagen injections
and other techniques. These cosmetic procedures may be performed at the same time as Mohs
surgery or at a later date. Additionally, because plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Matthew
Becker shares an office with Dr. Skinner, the two can collaborate and plan each patient’s reconstruction together as needed, optimizing the patient’s outcome.
DR. RYAN SKINNER
Specialty: Surgical Dermatology
Skinner emphasizes that Mohs surgery is appropriate for all skin cancers, and that he would
prefer to identify cancers early—before the Mohs technique is needed.
“It’s important to check your skin regularly and to schedule an annual visit with a dermatologist,”
Skinner says. “When we can find skin cancers early, then the surgeries don’t have to be that
extensive. If people wait too long, it’s not uncommon to end up losing an ear or a nose when, if
it were taken care of earlier, only a small, minor procedure would have been required.”
He adds, “Skin cancer is nothing to mess around with. Basal cell is the most-common type of
skin cancer, which leads some people to believe it’s no big deal. While basal cell is not going to
kill somebody if they wait to get treatment, the cancer doesn’t stop growing on its own. Also,
there are aggressive kinds of skin cancers, such as melanoma, that are deadly and very dangerous. If you notice something on your skin, get it checked out.” ◆
Medical School: Midwestern University—Arizona College
of Osteopathic Medicine, Glendale
Dermatology Residency: Lewis Gale Hospital Montgomery/
New River Dermatology, Blacksburg, Va.
Mohs Micrographic and Reconstructive Larkin Hospital, Miami, Fla.
Surgery Fellowship:
To schedule an appointment with a Blount
Memorial board-certified dermatologist, call:
7
Dr. Ryan Skinner
Dr. Kemunto Mokaya
865-238-6400
865-238-6400
BLOUNT MEMORIAL GOOD HEALTH ❂ FALL 2016
HEALTH NEWS YOU CAN USE
SCREENINGS
SAVE THESE DATES
Free September
Prostate Cancer
Screenings
Get cancer-related information and
support at these upcoming programs
Breast Cancer Support Group
Mondays, noon - 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21,
Dec. 19
Blount Memorial Cancer Center
second floor, conference room 2
Every Friday and Saturday
in September
Fridays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturdays, 8 a.m. - noon
East Tennessee Medical Group
266 Joule St., Alcoa
Men age 40 and older (and younger men with a family history
of prostate cancer) are encouraged to take advantage of this free
screening opportunity. The PSA (prostate specific antigen) test
takes less than 15 minutes and is a simple blood draw. There’s
no fee and no insurance is billed, however, registration is
required. To register, call 865-984-3864.
Considering bariatric surgery?
Attend one of these free seminar to learn
about surgical weight loss at
Blount Memorial.
Thursdays, 6 p.m.
Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 3, or Dec. 1
East Tennessee Medical Group
266 Joule St., Alcoa
Board room, second floor
Blount Memorial Hospital offers
the expert information, programs
and support people need to safely
and effectively achieve their
weight loss or management goals. Learn more about the
Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality
Improvement Program at a free, no-obligation seminar
presented by Blount Memorial board-certified bariatric
and general surgeon Dr. James Ray.
For more information or to register, call 865-984-3864.
This support group is open
to all breast cancer survivors,
regardless of where they
received treatment. The support group
meets the third Monday of each month.
For more information, call 865-977-5534.
Preserve your memories by scrapbooking
in this monthly art program. This support
group is for cancer patients, survivors and
their families. All supplies are furnished.
Participants should bring the photos they
wish to use. For more information or
to register, call 865-977-5534.
Head and Neck Resource Support Group
Thursdays, 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 1, Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1
Blount Memorial Cancer Center
second floor, conference room 2
Look Good, Feel Better
Mondays, 10 a.m. – noon
Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 5
Blount Memorial Cancer Center
second floor, conference room 2
This support group is dedicated to raising
awareness and meeting the needs of head
and neck cancer patients. Members meet
the first Thursday of each month. Patients
and their families are welcome to attend.
For more information, call 865-977-4729.
This national program is dedicated to
teaching women who are cancer patients the
techniques to help restore their appearance
and self-image. Presenters are Annette
Manley and Joyce DeVooght, licensed
cosmetologists; and Joan Speck, Blount
Memorial Hospital volunteer. Women who
currently are receiving either chemotherapy
or radiation therapy at any hospital are
invited to attend any one session free
of charge. To register, call the Blount
Memorial Cancer Center at 865-977-5534.
Blount County Prostate Cancer
Support Group
Mondays, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21
Blount Memorial Cancer Center
conference room 1 and 2, second floor
This group is open to all prostate cancer
patients, survivors and their spouse/care partner,
regardless of where they received or will receive
treatment. Meetings include an informative
prostate health-related education presentation
on topics including prostate cancer terminology
and staging, treatment options, short- and longterm side effects and rehabilitation.
For more information about the group,
call 865-977-5534, Pat Smith at 937-369-7641
or Gene Thompson at 865-984-4903.
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LifeStories
Mondays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Nov. 14, Dec. 12
Blount Memorial Cancer Center
second floor, conference room 1
Managing Your Cancer
Tuesdays, 1 - 4 p.m.
Sept. 13 and 27, Oct. 11 and 25,
Nov. 8 and 22, Dec. 13 and 27
Blount Memorial Cancer Center
second floor, conference room 2
This informative class is designed to teach
newly diagnosed cancer patients and their
families or caregivers about managing their
cancer with a special focus on chemotherapy administration and its side effects.
For more information or to register,
call 865-273-4004.