UpNorth HealthWatch July 2006 by Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal

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Hamstring strains threaten recreational walkers, pro athletes and anyone in between whose activities require either repeated extension and contraction of the muscle (walking, jogging) or explosive bursts (basketball, tennis, soccer, etc.). Muscle strains are more likely in parts of the body where one muscle group is considerably stronger than its opposing number — in this case, the powerful quad vs. the relatively meager hamstrings. The lesser muscles tire more quickly than the stronger ones and fail to respond to the demands of activity, causing the strain. This is precisely why we always lecture you on strengthening and stretching the muscles in the back of the body, and why I should really start attending those lectures. Orthopedists classify hamstring injuries as Grade 1 (mild, some pain, maybe a limp), Grade 2 (noticeable pain, pronounced limp) or Grade 3 (severe, often leaves victim unable to stand or walk, with heavy bruising on back of thigh). Most Grade 1 strains will heal with seven to 10 days of rest, coupled with gradually progressive strengthening exercises (needed to condition the new muscle fibers that the body lays down to repair the injury).

“When you bend your leg, the hamstrings contract and the quadriceps relaxes; the opposite happens when you extend. Or, in my case, the hamstring goes “boing!” and the quad wonders why its partner just bailed out.” Grade 2 strains — what I have — require two to four weeks of similar treatment, often including physical therapy. Grade 3 tears can require surgery — for example, if the hammy

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literally ripped in two — and can take up to four months to fully heal. My hamstring (or my rectus femorus, as I like to call it) tore near the place where the muscle morphs into tendon, close to the sitting bone. Because tendons get so little blood flow compared with muscles, my injury might take longer to heal than a similar strain in the middle of the hamstring. But I’m on the mend — physical therapy, including heat, electric stimulation, stretching, strengthening and ice — and have already sworn to return to regular yoga practice, which I’d dropped in recent years, as soon as I’m able. That will strengthen and elongate the fibers of my hamstring (along with connective tissues and other muscles). For fans of more traditional regimens, two good exercises that benefit both quads and hamstrings, ensuring they stay in approximate balance: the lunge (with dumbbells or without; make sure your knee does not pass beyond your toes!); and the step-up (onto a low bench or step). Standing farther away from the step shifts focus more to the hamstring. Some people tell me injuries like this are a sign I need to slow down. To them, I’d like to quote my leg: No way, Jack.

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Table of Contents

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6 12 14 18 21

COVER STORY: Enlarged prostate surgery gets easier

CHEMO ROOM: Nurses cope with facing cancer daily

STRETCH: Keeping busy bodies healthy

Q & A: Embarrassing questions answered

MUSCLE MATTERS: Hamstring health

From the editor We’ve all been there. Nearly naked, feeling a bit uncomfortable while sitting on a paper-covered platform in an unconventionally chilly exam room. Goosebumps cover most of your body, yet your palms seem moist and clammy. There’s nothing to be nervous about, yet your heart won’t stop racing. Hopefully the doctor won’t notice when he or she puts the stethoscope on your chest. If only you could get the back of that gown tied everything would be better. Visits to the doctor aren’t exactly the most calming experience, especially when you have an embarrassing question to ask. It’s time to spill the beans about that unforeseen rash, the nagging itching or the patch of hair that has suddenly appeared. Chances are, the doctor’s seen or heard it before. In this issue of HealthWatch I put my pride aside and asked those burning questions that are most likely on the minds of many patients. Also in this issue, find out how stretching can keep your busy body healthy and read about how nurses who face a deadly disease each day cope with ailing patients. As always, your story ideas are appreciated. If you have an idea you’d like to see covered in an upcoming issue of HealthWatch or a question you’re too embarrassed to ask your doctor, email me at heidi.lake@brainerddispatch.com. Heidi Lake, Editor

On the cover Who we are Publisher — Terry McCollough Advertising — Tim Bogenschutz Editor — Heidi Lake

Story/John Briley Special to The Washington Post

Hamstrings are a group of muscles running down the back of the thigh.

The instant I leapt to catch a high-flying Frisbee, I felt a rip high inside the back of my leg, like a bungee cord fraying but not quite snapping. Before I hit the ground I knew I’d shredded a hamstring. I could still put weight on the wounded leg so — idiotically, I know — I tried to keep playing. My leg responded with an unequivocal, “No way, Jack!” The hamstrings are a group of muscles running down the back of the thigh, between the “sitting bones” (ischial tuberosity to you) and the back of the knee. They work in concert with the quadriceps: When you bend your leg, the hamstrings contract and the quadriceps relaxes; the opposite happens when you extend. Or, in my case, the hamstring goes “boing!” and the quad wonders why its partner just bailed out.

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E-mail your comments to HealthWatch is a quarterly publi- heidi.lake@brainerddispatch.com cation of the Brainerd Dispatch. or write to: Heidi Lake Read HealthWatch online at Brainerd Dispatch www.upnorthhealthwatch.com. Box 974 Brainerd, MN 56401

A serving of slivered hamstring

Cover photo/Steve Kohls A GreenLight laser snaked behind Dr. David Paul during surgery at Riverwood HealthCare Center in Aitkin to vaporize an enlarged prostate.

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cause this. The condition is called telogen effluvium, which is benign. All the dead hairs, as we lose thousands per day, come into the same phase and it all falls out. It will not create any bald patches but it will cause some thinner hair.

Just for her

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Q: Why do I have sudden hair growth on my face? A: For women, it can be related to menopausal issues. In that case, it is never going to be coarse hair and you will never likely grow a beard. There are a lot of subtle and non-threatening illnesses that can promote hair growth. Q: Is it unhealthy to have sex during my period? A: No. The likelihood of getting pregnant during that time is very unlikely, so it only creates somewhat of a laundry problem. Q: Why is one of my breasts larger than the other? A: This happens as we perceive that our bodies are symmetric but generally speaking they are not exact mirror images. Legs and arms are not the same either. Q: What are some signs of ovulation? A: Very thin cervical mucus is a sign of ovulation. During the time of ovulation a woman’s cervical mucus is much thinner, thus allowing sperm to swim more easily. This is the most reliable sign, but mild pelvic pain on one side or the other around midcycle can lead to ovulation. There are also a number of subtle signs that can occur. Just for him Q: What causes erectile dysfunction? At what point should I seek medical help? A: There are a number of risk factors that can lead to earlier problems with erectile dysfunction, such as diabetes or blood vessel disease. Drug use, both elicit and prescribed medications, can lead to erectile dysfunction, but probably the biggest factor is smoking. You should seek medical consultation when you’re not happy with your erections. Most men can tolerate medications like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis without side effects or only minimal side effects. Q: How do I know if I have prostate cancer? A: Generally speaking, one in five men will have prostate cancer at some point in their life. A family history of a first degree relative, whether it be dad, brother or son, increases the risk to about one in three. Generally prostate cancer is an asymptomatic disease so screening is proving to be effective in helping men live longer and healthier lives. Q: Why did my breasts hurt when I was an adolescent? A: During the time of adolescence, boys oftentimes will get breast tenderness and a breast lump. This is generally benign tissue called gynecomastia. HEIDI LAKE can be reached at 855-5879 or heidi.lake@brainerddispatch.com.

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The good news is that a gluten-free diet usually halts symptoms and allows the intestines to heal. Painstaking care has to be taken at all times, though, to avoid any amount of wheat, rye, barley, and usually oats. It’s a challenge to eat a gluten-free diet, no doubt about it. But it’s not impossible, Being diagnosed with a condition that many people have never heard of can result in feelings of isolation and desperation. There are support groups throughout the country that can provide valuable information, contacts, and support.

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The Brainerd Area Celiac Group will resume meeting after our “summer break” in September. The next meeting will be held September 14th at 6:30 p.m. at St. Pauls Episcopal Church located at 408 N 7th Street in Brainerd. (across from Gregory Park) For those diagnosed during the summer months, or for help with questions; we are happy to take phone calls. Please contact one of the following group members for more Info.

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Laser makes treating enlarged prostate easier

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Story/Renee Richardson Photos/Steve Kohls

Dr. David Paul prepared to begin the laser procedure, which lasted about an hour. The instrument he is holding is inserted into the urethra. The laser works on a moderately sized prostate by vaporizing the tissue blocking the urine passage. The tissue is vaporized into water and a fine carbon powder.

At some point almost all men who reach middle age and beyond will have an enlarged prostate. Not everyone will need treatment, but for those who do a relatively new laser procedure is shortening recovery time. It won’t be a panacea for all men with enlarged noncancerous prostates. Whether the laser will be effective all depends on how large the prostate is — not too small or too big. An enlarged prostate typically begins about age 40, but it may take 20 years before there are symptoms. Dr. David Paul of Lakes Area Urology in Brainerd said the average age for intervention ranges between 62 and 65. “All men to some degree get an enlargement of the prostate,” Paul said. “Eighty percent of men by the age of 80 have an enlarged prostate.” Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include frequent urination (particularly at night), a sudden need to urinate, pain or burning, a feeling the bladder never totally empties, leaks or a weak urine stream. The GreenLight laser system, which provides one treatment option, compared the enlarged prostate and its effect on the urinary system to a clamp on a garden hose. In the early stages of an enlarged prostate, medications may be used to treat symptoms. The prostate gland, which provides fluid in semen, is the size of a walnut. Fibrous tissue with an enlarged prostate is microscopically similar to the fibroid tumors found in a woman’s uterus. About a dozen years ago, John Magnan, now 65 and living in Baxter, started taking medications to relieve symptoms from his enlarged prostate. As time progressed, the medications were less effective. Six days after undergoing the GreenLight laser procedure at Riverwood HealthCare Center in Aitkin, Magnan was amazed at how good he felt. “There was absolutely no pain at all,” Magnan said. “It was a good choice as far as I’m concerned. To me that’s a pretty good procedure.” Magnan said there was a big change in his quality of life and he’d recommend the treatment. The two topics that men are most concerned about when choosing treatments for an enlarged prostate are incontinence and sexual performance, Paul said. But a prostate does not have to enlarge to the size of a softball to be a problem. A small enlargement in the right location can create great difficulty in urination. While a percentage of men do suffer from prostate cancer, an enlarged prostate may develop without cancer implications. Doctors start looking routinely for prostate cancer at age 50, depending on family history. In terms of an

Q: I sweat excessively even when I’m not hot and my deodorant doesn’t seem to help. What can I do? A: Assuming nothing is wrong, there are some products out there you can get via prescription. One of the brands is Drysol. It can help with excessive sweating in the armpit areas. There are also some surgeries that can help and there are some medications you can get from your health care provider. Q: How do I get rid of persistent bad breath? A: This is generally a dietary issue or an oral hygiene issue. Simply eating more fruits and vegetables, brushing your teeth and using some mouthwashes are effective for this. Q: What can I do to stop adult acne? A: It is no different than treating acne as a child. Practice good health habits such as eating fruits and vegetables, regular exercise and rest. Not all acne that we see as an adult is actually acne. There is a condition closely related called rosacea that we find in the skin leaving extractions. Q: What could cause bleeding from the rectum? A: Rectal bleeding is abnormal. Most cases are benign in nature, but if you have a family history of colon cancer, colitis or you are over the age of 50 potentially life-threatening prob-

lems can cause this, such as colon cancer. Q: I’ve occasionally seen blood in my urine. Should I be concerned? A: Blood in the urine is abnormal and it does require evaluation. It may be something as simple as a bladder infection, prostate issues or kidney stones, yet it could be something life-threatening such as cancer of the urinary tract. Q: I think I’m going bald. What can I do to stop it? A: As far as a treatment for baldness there are some topical medications you can get over the counter. The main component is minoxidil, which is very effective. You will not grow any more hair, but it will keep the hair you have on your head. As soon as you stop taking it though, the hair will start to fall out. There are also some pills you can get via prescription that can help. As far as stopping baldness, those are the only things you can do. Hair transplants can help enhance the hair and replace it, but you will never have normal hair again. Generally, this is a hereditary condition. A lot of people, particularly women, have trouble with hair falling out after times of stress, whether that be surgery or major life changes such as having a baby. Some hormonal changes, such as menopause, can

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Embarrassing questions answered

Doctor’s advice: “Just blurt it out.”

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Story/Heidi Lake

Do you have a question you’re too embarrassed to ask your doctor? Let me do it! Email your question to heidi.lake@brainerddispatch.com.

After practicing family medicine at Lakewood Health System for the last 18 years, Dr. David Freeman has seen and heard a lot. In many cases he can tell when a patient has a burning question but is too embarrassed to ask. His hand will be on the doorknob. He’ll be about to leave the exam room when the topics of sex, cancer or menstruation will come up. Freeman’s advice to the jittery patient afraid to ask their doctor personal, sometimes embarrassing questions? “Just blurt it out. Nothing leaves the room anyway,” he said. “I’ve kind of heard it all and seen a lot of things.” The following is just a sampling of questions answered by Freeman that may be on the minds of patients who didn’t have the guts to speak up before their doctor left the exam room.

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Dr. David Paul (left) worked with a surgical technician for a laser procedure to relieve symptoms associated with a patient’s enlarged prostate. The GreenLight laser system is one treatment option for enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate’s effect on the urinary system has been compared to putting a clamp on a garden hose.

enlarged prostate, family history does not appear to relate. “It’s an aging process,” Paul said, noting people age differently from each other. There are five standard procedures for a non-cancerous obstructive prostate that include medications or office procedures and hospital treatments. Paul said the gold standard has been a surgical operation to cut out the offending tissue. Laser technology has been used for more than 15 years. The GreenLight laser procedure Paul uses at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby and Riverwood HealthCare

Center in Aitkin is literally green. A darkened hospital room recently at Riverwood HealthCare Center took on a futuristic look as the vibrant green light arched in a tube behind Paul. At the hospital, the laser works on a moderately sized prostate by vaporizing the tissue blocking the urine passage. The tissue is vaporized into water and a fine carbon powder. “There is essentially no bleeding,” Paul said of the laser procedure. “That’s the case postop too.” The patient typically goes home the same

day but has an overnight catheter (a thin, flexible tube inserted through the penis to drain urine from the bladder). An overnight stay in the hospital is infrequent, Paul said. Healing actually takes six weeks, but the patient can be active much sooner. The lack of bleeding makes the laser procedure particularly useful for patients on blood thinners. In terms of side effects, Paul said any procedure involves risk of retrograde ejaculations with a climax where the ejaculate takes a reverse path and empties into the individual’s bladder instead of leaving the body through the penis. Retrograde ejaculation also can

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“All men to some degree get an enlargement of the prostate. Eighty percent of men by the age of 80 have an enlarged prostate.” —Dr. David Paul, Lakes Area Urology

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occur in less invasive procedures. With the surgical procedure to cut out tissue, retrograde ejaculation happens 75 percent of the time, Paul said. In a laser procedure, he said the chance for retrograde ejaculation drops to 50 percent. Side effects for the surgical cutting procedure comes in the potential need for a blood transfusion and intermittent blood clots. Because the patient does not have bleeding in the laser option, the blood pressure remains stable and there is less cardiac stress, Paul said. “They are a wonderful option in the right situation,” Paul said. “Not everyone is a candidate. It’s been a valuable tool in the right setting.” Cancer has to be ruled out to qualify. With 25 years experience in transurethral procedures, Paul first used the GreenLight laser nine months ago. Now he’s performed about 20 laser procedures between the Crosby and Aitkin hospitals. The procedure typically takes an hour using a general or spinal anesthetic. Chances of incontinence are uncommon. The laser treatment should last indefinitely, Paul said. RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.

Household chores

• Vacuuming and sweeping: Keep your head up, elbow by your side and waltz with the vacuum or broom. Place a hand on one knee that will result in building a triangle while supporting your back. Plugging the cord into the outlet should also be done with a squat and straight back. • Laundry: Use a golfer’s lift with the support of the machine from one arm to obtain items from the top-loading washer. When loading or unloading use a half knee position. • Loading the dishwasher: Don’t bend over to put the dishes in the dishwasher. Use the countertop near the dishwasher as a place to position the dishes. • Lifting a child: Squat down, keep your back straight and protect your spine. To gain more control over your lower back, tighten your stomach. • Getting into a car: Climb into a car without adding back strain by sitting down in the car while facing out the door and then slowly rotate your whole body into the car. • Making the bed: Don’t stand on one side of the bed and reach, which results in a rounded back. Put a knee on the bed to keep a neutral spine.

Rose Bankers, occupational therapist and a certified hand therapist at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, demonstrated a stretch an employee can do while waiting at the copy machine at work.

Source: St. Joseph’s Medical Center

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What is a prostate? • A walnut-sized gland in men, which is found at the bladder’s base and surrounds the urethra — the tube running through the prostate that carries urine.

• If a man lives long enough, the chances are high that he will have an enlarged prostate at some point. Dr. David Paul of Lakes Area Urology in Brainerd is performing GreenLight laser surgeries for enlarged prostates at Riverwood HealthCare Center in Aitkin and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby.

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• The prostate produces a fluid that is part of semen. • Prostate problems occur in older men as the gland enlarges and obstructs the urine tube.

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Bankers said, “(Moving around) will improve circulation, help with muscle cramps and help the body work more effectively. Posture is really important. “You have to set your expectations low and build from there. You need to be realistic for the busy bodies ... This is truly a life change.” Bukowski said taking a few 10minute walks does make a difference in a person’s health. So if someone has a 20-minute break he suggests a quick walk or other exercises, such as climbing stairs or walking in place. Bukowski said even if a person can get away from their desk to get a drink of water from time to time it will help lessen their chances of aches and pains. “People get in trouble when they do the same thing all the time,” said Bukowski. JENNIFER STOCKINGER can be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.

Quick stretches that can be done while at work

• Carpal tunnel stretch: Place palms and fingers of both hands together in front of your upper chest. Keep hands tight together, lower them down until you feel a stretch on the palm side of both wrists/forearms. • Neck stretch: Reach up and behind your head as if to pat yourself on the back. Turn and tilt your head slightly away from the side of the arm you have up. Gently nod your head down and tilt your head farther away from the side of the “up arm” until you feel a stretch on the back and side of your neck on the “up arm” side. • Squat and reach: With feet about hip width apart, squat down a comfortable distance. Push up from this position rising up on your toes and reaching for the ceiling. • Shoulder stretch: Place one arm across your upper chest and hold it there for five seconds with your other arm. • Blade pinch: With your hands up and elbows down, move your arms back and squeeze shoulders toward the center of your back. • Shoulder rolls: Roll your shoulders back and down.

• Chin tuck: Tuck in your chin toward your neck and hold while lifting your chest and shoulders back and down. • Neck side bend: Bend your neck to one side. • Back extension: While standing, place hands on your lower back, slowly look up while lifting your chest up and bending backward. • Side bend: Hold your hands above your head and then lean to one side of your body as far as you can go and hold. • Wrist back and forth: Hold hands out in front of you and press hands down with your wrist and then lift up. • Hand open and close: Hands out in front of you and open and then close your hands five times slowly. • Gentle thumb stretch: Hold thumb up and grasp with the other hand while slowly pulling it back with a comfortable stretch. • Calf stretch: With toes pointed forward, keep back knee straight while bending front knee. • Hamstring stretch: On heel of front leg, arch your back and slowly bend at the hip keeping your back arched, bending only at the hip. Source: St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.

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Relax your body, free your mind... Imagine being so relaxed that you’ll feel like you’re ﬂoating on air. Imagine stretching out in blissful comfort and daydreaming about happy moments with the people you love. The Patented Stressless® Plus™ allows you to have optimum comfort in any position

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The headrest in the sleep position. The head support automatically returns when the chair is raised all the way up.

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Leather and wood options to suit every taste Choose from a spectacular array of four distunctive leather types, more than 50 leathers colors and six wood ﬁnishes. Stressless®: ultimate recliner in chairs, sofas, and loveseats. Ekornes®: elegant styles in stationary upholstery

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Flexible solutions to ﬁt your space! No matter how large or small your space, Stressless® Family Media by Ekornes allows you to mix and match the pieces that suit your needs. Our extensive range of models in matching designs give you many options than any other furniture collection. You can furnish a whole room with stationary-back chairs and sofas, you can choose only adjustable-back furniture, or you can combine both. You probably don’t realize it, but your body moves as often as 300 times while you watch a movie on a regular-sized TV. Switch to a widescreen TV with surround sound, and you’ll ﬁnd you’re much more caught up in the action. Everything you see and hear is much more immediate, whether it’s a kiss or an explosion. So your body reacts even more often – one more reason to enjoy the ultimate comfort of Stressless®.

Flexible Groupings

Personal Space

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For example, you may want to combine a high-back Stressless® sofa featuring individually reclining seats with the lower proﬁle of a stationary Ekornes® sofa.

Stressless® sofas feature individually reclining seats. You choose the position most comfortable for you, regardless of your seat moves in harmony with you. The Glide function allows your own body weight to keep you in perfect balance. The unique Stressless® Plus™ system provides perfect support for your neck and lumbar region, in every position. When you lean back, the neck support rises to keep your eyes focused on the screen. Ekornes® is a pioneer in TV seating. Back when TV was still a novelty, we invented the corner sofa, a way for the whole family to watch TV together. We’ve always believed that watching TV while you experience the soothing comfort of a Stressless® recliner is an optimum use of your time.

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When it comes to chairs, “one size ﬁts all” just doesn’t apply. So most designs are available in two or three different sizes to accommodate different body types. Each size is different enough to offer true personal comfort, yet similar enough to create a coordinated look.

Stressless® is the ONLY recliner ever endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association since its founding in 1930. This seal of approval is based on the fact that Stressless® ensures proper support for the head and lower back in all sitting and reclining positions.

“The important thing to do is to bring their body back to neutral.” Al Bukowski, director of the rehabilitation services at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby, said he sees the same thing with people coming in after they have been in pain for a while. Bukowski said it doesn’t matter if a person is sitting in front of a computer all day or shoveling dirt, both types of work are hard on the body. The physical therapists in Brainerd and Crosby said the main culprit behind pain is a person’s posture or the fact that a person sits in the same position for too long. Erickson said it is important for people to change positions often and to always take their breaks, especially a lunch break. He said this will allow the person to move their body and stretch their muscles. “You should change positions every 30 minutes for at least 30 seconds and try it for 30 days,” said Erickson. “Use dead time, like when you’re waiting for copies at the copy machine you can stretch. “You also have the common exercises like taking the stairs instead of the elevator and parking the farthest away in the parking lot from the building you are going to.”

Al Bukowski, rehabilitation services director at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, demonstrated a carpal tunnel stretch. He said this stretch is effective for those who are on the computer all day.

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Simple stretches can keep busy bodies healthy

The Innovators of Comfort

Story and photos/Jennifer Stockinger

Meticuliously designed and developed to provide your body with the ultimate in comfort and support while sitting upright or reclined. This revolutionary design has made Stressless® the ULTIMATE RECLINER for the past 35 years.

People these days are so busy working and raising a family that they don’t have the time to give their body the full attention it needs. As a result, parts of the body, depending on the job, deteriorate to where a person is in so much pain they need to see a doctor. “We see it all the time,” said Wayne Erickson, a physical therapist at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. “People come in after they have suffered for so long.” Erickson and Rose Bankers, an occupational therapist and a certified hand therapist at St. Joseph’s, said a majority of their clients wait until the pain is so intense, which makes it difficult for the patient to manage the injury. “It’s just like a forest fire,” said Erickson of the pain. “The bigger the forest fire, the harder it is to put out.

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Wayne Erickson, physical therapist at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, adjusted his rear view mirror to the height where he needs to sit straight. He said this makes him constantly adjust his position to make sure he is sitting with good posture. American

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Bohlke, on her third round of chemotherapy since her diagnosis, now has a port embedded in her chest because her veins could no longer take the prodding needles involved with her treatment. The hair from her wig laid gently across her forehead as she sat in the Chemo Room where she had spent what seemed like endless hours receiving life-saving treatment for the past two years. Her spirits were high. After all, she was living. “I feel wonderful, but it’d be nice to have a little hair,” Bohlke said with a smile. “If there was one positive thing (about chemotherapy) it’s that I get a different hairdo every day.” While her journey with breast cancer was never easy — it would go into remission only to come back several times — she never felt alone in her battle with the often deadly disease. Other people also receiving chemotherapy treatments soon became Bohlke’s confidants. “We all have a common bond,” she said. “I sit and visit and get to know people.” Throughout her on-again, off-again twoyear cancer battle, Bohlke developed lasting relationships with the Chemo Room’s nurses. The four nurses who administer chemotherapy and other treatments to patients in the Chemo Room — Marian Foehrenbacher, Renee Pearl, Jessica Nybakken and Patti Erlandson — stare cancer in the face five days a week.

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Chemo crew

Roberta Bohlke (center) has battled breast cancer since 2004. While receiving chemotherapy treatments at Brainerd Medical Center, Bohlke bonded with her Chemo Room nurses, Renee Pearl (left), Patti Erlandson, Marian Foehrenbacher and Jessica Nybakken.

“We talk a lot about life and death here,” Nybakken said. “We’re each other’s support system.” The four nurses seem to have a bond deeper than most co-workers. They’re a family. And every time the doors to the Chemo Room swing open and another new patient takes a seat in one of the recliners, their family gets larger. The nurses get to know their patients on an intimate level. They hold their hand, offer a hug. They talk them through their fears and concerns when all they can see is desperation in the patient’s eyes. It’s the battle of their life, for their life. “We really care about these people,” said Nybakken. “You can’t turn it off like a light switch,” Foehrenbacher added. “Sometimes it takes everything you have not to call (patients) at home at night to see how they’re doing.” It’s that sense of compassion that has a lasting effect in the eyes of the Chemo Room patients. Mary Walls, 68, is battling ovarian cancer. She gets chemotherapy every three weeks for six hours at a time. She plays video pocket poker, knits and watches television to help pass the time during her all-day treatments. She said keeping a good outlook on life is important in her fight against cancer. Walls relies on her children, friends and the Chemo Room nurses she’s come to know

while receiving chemotherapy. “I don’t know what I’d do without them,” she said. “They really boost me up.” The nurses try to keep the atmosphere light-hearted in the Chemo Room, sometimes even having parties to celebrate a patient’s final day of treatment. “Sometimes patients say this is the best time of their week,” Nybakken said. “We like to have fun with our patients,” added Pearl. But cancer isn’t all about fun and games and some days the reality of the disease sets in. “There’s days when it’s real. It feels real,” said Foehrenbacher. “When we lose our friends, that’s what makes our job hard.” So how do these four nurses cope after being surrounded by cancer and the lasting effects it has on people day in and day out? They can’t help but think about what’s most important in their own lives, their husbands and children. “You go home at night and thank God for everything,” said Foehrenbacher. “You don’t take anything for granted.” “When you’re faced with it every day — every person who walks through that door — you see how important life is,” Pearl added. HEIDI LAKE can be reached at 855-5879 or heidi.lake@brainerddispatch.com.

Nurses brighten day of cancer patients

Story/Heidi Lake Photos/Nels Norquist

When Roberta Bohlke was diagnosed with breast cancer March 22, 2004, she was devastated. The first question she asked her doctor was, “Am I going to die?” Little did she know two years later the now 55-year-old Nisswa woman would still be working and spending time with her family and beloved dog all while fighting the disease that once made her question what was most important in life. Bohlke’s trips to Brainerd Medical Center’s oncology department started immediately after her diagnosis. Her chemotherapy treatments were administered intravenously for as long as four hours at a time. “When I first came I was so afraid,” Bohlke

said. “I sat here and tears just streamed down my face.” BMC’s oncology department is home to what many patients call the “Chemo Room.” The large room has 14 recliners lining the walls for patients to relax in while receiving their treatments that can sometimes last all day. There are televisions, a table with a large jigsaw puzzle to help patients pass the time and a wall of windows featuring a landscaped view complete with bird feeders, possibly a way to escape the harsh reality that is a lot of patient’s lives in the Chemo Room. The Chemo Room is a busy place, especially in the mornings when oftentimes an empty chair is hard to come by.

Marian Foehrenbacher spoke with Mary Walls, a 68-year-old Baxter woman battling ovarian cancer. Walls receives chemotherapy every three weeks for six hours at a time.

Nurses in Brainerd Medical Center’s Chemo Room constantly research different chemotherapy treatments in search of medicine with less-intense side effects. “Most often (patients) are afraid of losing their hair and nausea,” said Chemo Room nurse Patti Erlandson. “A lot of drugs don’t cause that.”