Support Groups and Events CALENDAR Great

A publication of the Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center
Brain and Spine Tumor Program
Support Groups and Events
Froedtert & The Medical College of
Wisconsin offer support groups and sponsor
events of interest to brain tumor patients and
their families.
Brain Tumor Support Group
The Brain Tumor Support Group is for
patients and family members who are
looking for information and encouragement.
Meetings are designed for open discussion of
concerns related to brain tumors, with many
sessions featuring speakers who focus on a
variety of topics specific to this disease.
Cancer Caregivers Support Group
This support group is for friends, family
members or others caring for people with
cancer. It promotes open communication of
feelings, as well as providing relaxation and
stress relief. Various topics of interest to the
caregiver will also be presented. (This group
is made possible by donations to the
Froedtert Hospital Foundation.)
Young Adult Oncology Group
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin offers the
Young Adult Oncology Group for cancer
survivors (on and off treatment) ages 18 to
39. This group provides survivorship
support, education and offers social activities.
The
Brain Stem
September 2013
IN THIS ISSUE
Strength to Fight .................... 2
Wear a Hat Day ....................... 2
Patient Art Gallery .................. 3
Bottles of Hope ...................... 3
Support Groups and Events .... 4
Calendar ................................. 4
CALENDAR
Brain Tumor Support Group
Cancer Caregivers Support Group
Third Tuesday of each month
6:15–8 p.m.
Open discussion: 6:15–7 p.m.
Featured speaker: 7–8 p.m.
Clinical Cancer Center
Conference Room L, First Floor
Fourth Tuesday of each month
5:30–7:00 p.m.
Clinical Cancer Center
Conference Room J, Lobby Level
Sept. 17, 2013
What’s New in Neuro-Oncology?
Wade Mueller, MD, Medical College of
Wisconsin Neurosurgeon
Oct. 15, 2013
Open Forum: Question and
Answer Session
Jennifer Connelly, MD, Medical College
of Wisconsin Neuro-oncologist
Joseph Bovi, MD, Medical College of
Wisconsin Radiation Oncologist
THE BRAIN STEM VIA E-MAIL
If you prefer to receive this newsletter
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You can also view or print The Brain Stem any
time by visiting froedtert.com/brainspine.
Nov. 19, 2013
Supplements and Cancer Nutrition
Kara Sonntag, RD, Food and
Nutritional Services
Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 26,
No meeting in Dec.
Various speakers are offered.
Young Adult Oncology Group
Meets monthly; dates and times vary
Sponsored by Children’s Hospital of
Wisconsin, The Medical College of
Wisconsin and the Froedtert & The Medical
College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center
More information: Kristin Bingen,
414-955-4148 or [email protected].
For more information about our support
groups, please visit froedtert.com or call
414-805-3666 or 800-272-3666.
(unless otherwise noted).
Dec. 17, 2013
Open discussion
4 FROEDTERT & THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN CLINICAL CANCER CENTER, BRAIN AND SPINE TUMOR PROGRAM
FROEDTERT & THE
MEDICAL COLLEGE
OF WISCONSIN
Clinical Cancer Center
9200 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53226
866-680-0505
froedtert.com/cancer
Editor: Tracy Erlitz, BSN, RN
414-805-6001
This newsletter is made possible by
generous donations to the Froedtert
Hospital Foundation’s Brain Tumor
Fund.
Great Fun and Camaraderie
at Strain for the Brain 2013!
Great success at a new location – Miller Park!
W
ith beautiful weather and a great turnout,
the 6th Annual Strain for the Brain 5K
Run/Walk was another amazing success.
Nearly 1,000 people attended, and we raised almost
$90,000 to help fund desperately needed brain tumor
research. The net proceeds after event costs such as
location rental will largely go to Froedtert Hospital
Foundation’s Brain Tumor Fund.
The Foundation’s executive director, Nora Sale,
attended to lend her enthusiasm to this ever-growing
event. Celebrity sponsor/participant and Olympian
Bonnie Blair, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians
Jennifer Connelly, MD, (neuro-oncologist), Joseph Bovi,
MD, (radiation oncologist), and Bernie Brewer
participated this year at Miller Park, our new location.
Scott Dolphin from FM106 WMIL was our fantastic
continued, page 2
Great Fun and Comraderie at Strain for the Brain 2013! (continued)
DJ again this year. He gives so much to the event
each year.
Many walked or ran to honor the fight of recently
diagnosed brain tumor patients or wore placards, photos,
or t-shirts to remember loved ones who lost their battles
with brain tumors. Others honored longer term survivors
who provide inspiration and the knowledge that survival is
possible for some.
Many teams, new and old, participated this year, including
favorites such as Ellies Extumornators and Brian’s
Brainiacs.
Miller Park’s Klement’s Sausage Haus was an amazing
location to base our registration and silent auction and
Patient Art Gallery
raffle. A new T-shirt design was well-received. The 5K
course had a few challenging areas and was more rugged
than the totally flat lakefront location from years past. The
one mile walk option proved to be popular as well. Go to
www.strainforthebrain.org for a list of age group winners
and all times.
Research has led to better treatments in the last decade,
resulting in slow, but steady progress. The hope is to find a
cure for all types of brain tumors, but more effective
treatment with newer forms of radiation and medications/
chemotherapies is a short term goal.
Planning has already begun for next year’s event. We look
forward to seeing everyone there! ■
Strength to Fight
Strength to Fight
Wear a Hat Day for Brain
Cancer Awareness
Fee: $20
Location: Clinical Cancer Center
Regular exercise can help cancer patients improve strength and
endurance, reduce fatigue, improve ability to perform day to day
tasks, enhance mood and reduce pain. Join us for a fitness class
designed to meet the needs of patients during and after cancer
treatment. Special consideration will be taken to customize the
class for all participants and their individual ability levels. Please
call Small Stones Wellness Center at 414-805-0998 to register
for this class. ■
Please stop in and witness the artistic expression of these
extraordinary individuals with the common and lifechanging experience of cancer. These works of art may be
viewed in the Clinical Cancer Center, third floor, just off
the M elevators.
For more information, or if you are interested in
submitting art work for display, please contact Carrie
Danhieux at [email protected].
The Patient Art Gallery is funded through a generous grant from the
Koeppen-Gerlach Foundation and other donors to the Froedtert
Hospital Foundation. ■
Carrie Danhieux, LPC, ATR-BC
Tuesdays and Thursdays
8–8:45 a.m.
Sept. 10 – Oct. 3, 2013
Tuesdays and Thursdays
8–8:45 a.m.
Oct. 15 – Nov. 7, 2013
On April 30, 2013, an opening reception was held in the
Patient Art Gallery. This year’s installation features the art
work of 13 artists, along with a community piece created
collaboratively in the Froedtert & The Medical College of
Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center. Works in the exhibition
illustrate the individual artist’s perspective on cancer.
Bottles of Hope
Presented by Maggie Lausten, Aesthetic
Wellness Coordinator, Small Stones Wellness
Center, Froedtert & The Medical College
of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center
Maggie Lausten,
Aesthetic Wellness
Coordinator
Carrie Danhieux, LPC, ATR-BC
On March 28, 2013, staff at Sikich, LLP
showed their support of brain cancer awareness
in honor of their coworker, Les Tarjan, by
participating in Wear a Hat Day. Mr. Tarjan is
currently battling brain cancer. Mr. Tarjan’s
coworkers got involved by buying wristbands
printed with his initials, which allowed them to
wear hats and jeans in the office. The day was a
success and all of the proceeds were donated for
brain cancer research through Froedtert & The
Medical College of Wisconsin. Wear a Hat Day
started in the United Kingdom and is an annual
event designated for brain cancer research
fundraising. ■
2 FROEDTERT & THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN CLINICAL CANCER CENTER, BRAIN AND SPINE TUMOR PROGRAM
T
he Bottles of Hope project was started in 1999 by
Diane Gregoire, a cancer survivor and polymer
clay artist. Diane found a way to use her talents as
an artist to cheer cancer patients who are going through
treatment by decorating small glass vials with polymer clay.
Artist Sylvia Rothe offers her contribution to a community
weaving project during the Patient Art Gallery opening
reception.
These decorative bottles are given to cancer patients to
spread a little hope and let them know we are thinking of
them. They can be used to hold prayers, love, hope and
good wishes to or from the patient. Some patients keep
them as a memento of their treatment and consider the
bottles a wish of good health.
Kim Utech, a stage 3C breast cancer survivor and patient
of the Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin
Clinical Cancer Center, continued this project when she
created 100 Bottles of Hope.
“I created my first Bottle of Hope with Carrie Danhieux’s
help in Froedtert’s art therapy class,” Kim said. “I thought
it was a wonderful idea and decided to make more with
the hope of spreading well wishes to other cancer patients.
My wish for you is to know you are not alone, and miracles
do happen!”
Bottles of Hope are being distributed to patients throughout
the Clinical Cancer Center. If you are interested in receiving
one or making one of your own, please contact Gail in the
Jeffrey C. Siegel Quality of Life Center at 414-805-0572. ■
3