By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune Managing Editor
St. Elizabeth Healthcare and the American Cancer Society have joined forces on a program to help patients face some of the challenges associated with battling the devastating illness.
The Cancer Resource Center provides information, support and essentials items, such as wigs, to cancer patients receiving treatment at the facility.
Guy Karrick, public relations manager for St. Elizabeth Healthcare, said the hospital provides the space and the American Cancer Society supplies the resources.
“The Cancer Resource Center is a vital link in the entire cancer experience, not only for those diagnosed, but also for their families and caregivers,” Karrick said.
The center, which opened in 2012, is located adjacent to the lobby of the St. Elizabeth Cancer Care Center in Edgewood.
Rhonda Chisenhall, a senior market manager of community engagement for the American Cancer Society, said volunteers are critical to the success of the center.
“If no one is here cancer patients can come in and look through the materials themselves,” Chisenhall said. “When there is a volunteer here they will talk about the programs that the American Cancer Society offer but also programs that other non-profits in the area have that can help them as well.”
Linda Day worked in the medical staff office at St. Elizabeth for 25 years.
When she retired two years ago, she was looking for activities to occupy the free time she now had and a friend suggested she join the American Cancer Society board, so she did.
“One of my committees is patient initiative and I started volunteering here to see what the patients’ needs are,” Day said.
To become a volunteer, or for more information about the Cancer Resource Center, contact the Northern Kentucky office of the American Cancer Society at 859-647-2200.
“I wanted to see, not so much the treatment, but the process and how I might be able to help patients in any way I could.”
Day started volunteering for four hours one day a week about a year ago and discovered that time is probably one of the most valuable resources the center provides.
“It amazed me how many people just want to talk,” Day said. “They come in and go through the information that we have and then they just want to tell their story and they want someone to listen.”
Of course the center also provides brochures and computer access that allows patients to learn about their type of cancer and the treatment options.
It also supplies patients with scarves, shawls made by volunteers and a large selection of wigs, all at no cost.
“The wigs are probably the biggest things we do for a lot of the patients,” Chisenhall said. “(Losing their hair) is probably one of the most difficult things for many of the female patients to deal with.
Francie Hambrick of Crescent Springs agrees.
She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in May of 2014. Soon after she started receiving treatment her hair began falling out, which was devastating to her.
“First of all having cancer is bad enough, but for a lady, having no hair is probably the worst part,” Hambrick said. “It’s hard to find wigs and it’s expensive if you have to buy them. I’ve gotten a couple of wigs from them and I really appreciate it.”
Hambrick, 71, has utilized the other resources at the Cancer Resource Center and said she appreciates the efforts to make things a little easier at a very difficult time.
“Oh my gosh, they are wonderful here and I would recommend it to anybody,” Hambrick said. “They know your name every time you come in and they are like real friends.”
It’s the wig, however, that Hambrick said helped restore her dignity.
Cathy Reising, manager of the cancer registry at St. Elizabeth, estimated that about 200 women have gotten wigs since the service started being offered through the Cancer Resource Center in August.
“They were originally given out in the Buttermilk Pike office of the American Cancer Society and when they closed the office, they were going to send them to Cincinnati,” Reising said.
“I suggested they bring them here and it has worked out better than we thought because they are right here where the patients are.”
There is also a program called “Look Good-Feel Better,” which is a cosmetic appointment with a professional that shows the patients how to put on makeup and makes recommendations. The program includes a cosmetic kit with about $200 worth of products, which are also free.
Chisenhall said there are volunteers at the Cancer Resource Center every day, but there are not enough people to staff it full time.
“We have about 10 volunteers and we really need about 20,” Chisenhall said. “Many of the volunteers are cancer survivors, so they can really understand what the people are going through. Of course, almost everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, so anyone can provide support for the patients.”
Day has lost two sisters to cancer and since she has started volunteering has encountered friends and coworkers who are also battling some form of the disease.
“That’s probably the most difficult thing, seeing someone come through the door that you have known for years and you had no idea they were going through this,” Day said. “On the other hand, you feel really good when you leave at the end day. You feel like you are here for them, even if you don’t do anything for them but give them a cup of coffee or get them a wheelchair.”