Cheers Spring 2013

s r e e h C

CEL EBRATI N G Y OUR HE A LTH

Spring 2013 | Vol. 3, No. 1

YOUR

time is

NOW

tips to make your joint replacement surgery more successful.

See Page 4 Gaylene Laughlin celebrates life after finishing treatment for breast cancer at the Dorcy Cancer Center.

See Page 6

Removing tumors without surgery.

New women’s health center at St. Mary-Corwin.

Robotic surgery helps heal fibroids.

Health classes and support groups.

See Page 3

See Page 4

See Page 5

See back cover

Photo by STEVE BIGLEY

3

Learn how women throughout Southern Colorado are finding fast treatments for their health problems.

T O Y O U R H E A LT h

Welcome to this edition of

CY heers Leader in technology.

Legacy of great care.

ou’ll probably notice the new look of our quarterly health publication. We hope you like it. Our goal is to provide you with information that will help you and your family live better and healthier lives.

Caring for this community is a long legacy at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center. For more than 130 years, St. Mary-Corwin has been a proud leader in Pueblo’s health care community. As the first hospital in Pueblo, St. Mary-Corwin combined Dr. Richard Corwin’s innovative leadership in patient care with the compassionate care of the Sisters of Charity.

In 1954, we were the first in Pueblo to provide radiation therapy to treat cancer patients. The Dorcy Cancer Center continues to be the only radiation oncology program between Colorado Springs and Santa Fe, N.M. And the center just introduced the Varian TrueBeam™ linear accelerator with Novalis® Radiosurgery for rapid treatment in critical areas of the body with finite precision. You can read more about that on the next page.

We have much to be proud of with the great work being done at St. Mary-Corwin. We are grateful to Centura Health and Catholic Health Initiatives for the more than $4 million they have invested in our hospital to ensure that state-of-the-art care is available to those who live in our community.

In this and future issues of Cheers, we will continue to tell you about new health care services available at our hospital.

St. Mary-Corwin in the Community

Driving F rce

Local Relay for Life provides lifesaving services to cancer patients

F

or seven weeks last fall, Patricia New faced a daunting journey. The 68-yearold Poncha Springs resident was diagnosed with cancer in her salivary gland and her carotid artery. To treat it, she needed seven weeks of radiation treatment. But the same week she found out about her cancer, the transmission on her car went out. Without any way to get to her treatments, she took a shuttle two hours to Pueblo seven Mondays in a row and returned each Friday.

The trip took her through a long canyon along the Arkansas River. “The winding road didn’t bother me; I’m used to it,” New says. “It gave me a chance to look at the scenery, which is something you can’t do while driving.”

But once she checked into her hotel in Pueblo, she faced another problem. How would she get back and forth to the hospital each day?

The answer came in the form of Road to Recovery, a program staffed by volunteers who donate their time and their own vehicles to provide local transportation to cancer patients.

Nearly a dozen volunteers drove New from her hotel to the Dorcy Cancer Center and back again over the seven weeks. “It was a big relief,” she says. “I don’t St. Mary-Corwin know how I would have gotten to treatment without them.”

Relay for Life Road to Recovery is just one of the programs funded by the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, an event supported by St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center. Ronda Gasperetti, director of medical records at St. Mary-Corwin, leads this year’s team. “I lost both of my grandmothers to cancer, so I’m very passionate about this cause.”

This year’s Relay will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 7.

Teams will walk the track at Pueblo Community College all night long, with the event ending at 7 a.m. the next morning.

There are plenty of activities to help keep team members awake, Gasperetti says. “They have games, karaoke, line dancing, pie eating contests, and last year they even had a scavenger hunt,” she says.

To learn more, join a team, or sponsor a walker, go to relayforlife.org.

Cheers to your health,

Rob Ryder President & CEO

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Cheers | St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

1008 Minnequa Avenue Pueblo, CO 81004 719-557-4000

teams will be walking and running all summer long to benefit community organizations.

See the full list on Page 7.

PhotoS: SHOES ©istockphoto.com/chictype; Steering Wheel ©istockphoto.com/kenneth-cheung

CHEERS

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center brings specialized care in the complex areas of cancer care, robotic surgery, joint replacement surgery, sports medicine, pediatrics, women’s services, cardiology, and more. We are part of Centura Health, the state’s largest health care network. The purpose of this publication is to support our mission to improve the health of the residents in our community. No information in this publication is meant as a recommendation or as a substitution for your physician’s advice. If you would like to comment on this magazine, please email cheers@centura.org.

Cheers is produced by Clementine Words LLC of Denver, Colo. Executive editor is Rochelle Kelly Wristen.

NEW

TECHNOLOGY

Pinpoint

precision

Radiation beams treat complex brain and spine tumors

P

Fast Treatment

In addition to the accuracy of the treatment, radiosurgery offers a huge advantage to patients by eliminating long courses of traditional radiation. While traditional radiation therapy could take five to nine weeks, radiosurgery can be delivered in one short session or in a series of daily treatments, usually completed in a week or two. This means fewer trips to the doctor and less disruption of patients’ lives. Other benefits include little to no recovery time, no scarring, and minimal risk of infection.

Radiosurgery aims high-powered X-ray beams at tumors in hard-to-reach areas such as the brain and spine. The Novalis Radiosurgery technology allows doctors to deliver treatment specifically to the affected area regardless of the shape, size, or type of tumor. Unlike traditional surgery and radiation therapy, radiosurgery is so precise that it does minimal damage to surrounding arteries, nerves, and other tissues,

FAST FACTS Novalis Radiosurgery targets highintensity radiation directly at tumors, protecting surrounding healthy tissue, vessels, and organs. It is used as an alternative to traditional surgery for:  Cancer in hard-to-reach areas, such as the brain, spine, lung, liver, or prostate  Inoperable tumors in the brain, spinal cord, chest, or abdomen  Patients who have health conditions that make surgery risky, such as heart or kidney disease New radiosurgery technology at the Dorcy Cancer Center allows “surgery-free” treatment of tumors in hard-to-reach areas, says Geoffrey Johnson, MD, radiation oncologist.

The development of radiosurgery has improved the treatment of patients with tumors tremendously.

Photo by STEVE BIGLEY

hysicians at the Dorcy Cancer Center are using new advanced radiosurgery technology to precisely target tumors or lesions for radiation treatment without harming healthy tissue. This new technology also adapts to a patient’s breathing and minute body movements so that the radiation is precisely targeted, ensuring safe and fast treatment.

The Dorcy Cancer Center at St. MaryCorwin Medical Center, which serves patients throughout the region, uses the Varian TrueBeam™ linear accelerator with Novalis® Radiosurgery technology to treat both cancerous tumors and other lesions that are not cancerous but may still be dangerous.

“The development of radiosurgery has improved the treatment of patients with tumors tremendously,” says Geoffrey Johnson, MD, a radiation oncologist at the Dorcy Cancer Center.

“Depending on the size and location of a tumor, radiotherapy may be the only way to treat it.

The Novalis Radiosurgery technology allows the physician to define extremely tight margins, resulting in the best outcomes for the patient.”

even when tumors are irregularly shaped.

Depending on the tumor, radiosurgery can replace surgery, or it may be used after surgery.

Doctors have used radiosurgery, also called stereotactic irradiation, to treat brain tumors for about 20 years, but the technology previously used circular beams of radiation, which could not conform to the exact shape of a tumor and thus could damage healthy surrounding tissues.

Novalis Radiosurgery is more comfortable than earlier forms of radiosurgery because it uses a frameless custom-fit mask, rather than an invasive head ring. This new linear beam also allows treatment of lesions throughout the body.

Benefits:  Performed in 20-minute outpatient sessions  Virtually painless, eliminating pain, stress, and recovery time of traditional surgery requiring large incisions  More targeted, with the ability to “fit” irregularly shaped tumors while avoiding healthy tissue  Faster, with treatments completed in one session or several short sessions over one to two weeks, compared to five to nine weeks with traditional radiation therapy

stmarycorwin.org | Cheers

3

Wom E N ’ S

H E A LT H

Freedom to Choose “I’ll

never forget the moment they said it was cancer.”

Perhaps just as difficult as hearing that dreaded diagnosis, Gaylene Laughlin of Pueblo had to choose the treatment path that was right for her — a mastectomy (surgery to remove the breast) or a lumpectomy (surgery to remove the cancerous tumor) followed by radiation.

If one promised a better cure rate, then that might make the decision a simpler one. But both are equally effective.

Understanding the Choices

“There are not very many situations in which a mastectomy is absolutely required. The data concerning the efficacy regarding lumpectomy and radiation is not new data,” says Stephen Girard, MD, a general surgeon specializing in breast cancer at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center. “It’s been well-established for decades.”

Indeed, a 20-year follow-up of the NSABP B-06 trial has shown that survival rates are equal whether a woman chooses to remove just the cancerous portion of her breast or her entire breast.

The caveat, he adds, is that the surgeon must be able to remove all of the cancerous tissue with clean “margins” around the tumor. A margin is the line that separates cancerous from noncancerous tissue. A clean margin means that no cancerous tissue has been left behind.

“What I’ll tell women is that the obvious advantage of a lumpectomy is cosmetic,” Girard says. “It’s not a better operation. It’s an equivalent treatment. The downside is they have to go through a radiation course, which is a temporary inconvenience.”

The standard radiation course is six weeks long. If a woman lives far away from the hospital, multiple trips back for treatment can be difficult. Radiation also has some rare side effects, such as pigmentation of the skin or even burns.

“Most people do pretty well with (radiation),” he adds.

On the other hand, women choosing a mastectomy must consider reconstruction surgery. This surgery is more extensive and requires multiple sessions as the chest muscle is stretched to make room for the prosthesis. Some women may consider a double mastectomy if they are worried about cancer occurring in the remaining breast or if they are concerned about symmetry.

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Cheers | St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

Photo by STEVE BIGLEY

Women fighting breast cancer are encouraged to choose the path that is right for them

Lower your risk of recurrence

Gaylene Laughlin, with daughter Kaity and son Kyle, chose to have a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy when she learned the outcomes were equally successful.

Nothing can offer a 100 percent guarantee that breast cancer won’t recur. But there are a few things you can do to lower your odds: 1. Maintain a healthy weight.

2. Exercise regularly.

3. Eat a diet rich in vegetables and fruit and low in sugar.

4. Limit alcohol intake.

Some women, however, choose a mastectomy believing that it will reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. But, as Girard notes, a mastectomy doesn’t eliminate all risk of recurrence.

“People tend to overestimate their risk of subsequent cancers,” he says. “But it really comes down to what each woman prefers to do.”

The risk of local recurrence within five years of treatment is about the same in women whose cancer hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes, regardless of which surgery they select.

About six months after lumpectomy/radiation treatment, a new baseline mammogram is conducted, notes Mark Moore, DO, a radiologist at St. Mary-Corwin. A breast ultrasound or MRI may be needed over time if the mammogram raises concerns. If a woman has a bilateral mastectomy (both breasts removed), routine mammograms are typically not done because 98 percent of the breast tissue is removed.

Making the Decision

“There’s an element of unpredictability related to any particular recommendation in any woman,” Moore says.

“Each woman is best treated as an individual, and it’s an individual choice.”

Laughlin considered the information she received from Girard, her lifestyle, and her age — she’s just 42.

She opted for a lumpectomy with radiation. Unlike most women, Laughlin also had to go through four rounds of chemotherapy between the surgery and radiation.

After completing her final treatment in March, she was eager to have more energy for her three kids (ages 10 to 18) and to feel “normal” again. With the benefit of hindsight, she remains confident she made the right treatment decision for her.

“Some moments, you wonder (if you made the right choice),” she says. “But now that I’m at the end of it, I really am satisfied with my decision.”

 To learn more about the Breast Center of Excellence at St. Mary-Corwin, visit us online at stmarycorwin.org/ breast-center-of-excellence. 

A Woman’s P

New women’s health cen summer at St. Mary-Corw It started as a $1.6 million capital campaign for the Breast Center of Excellence at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center. But thanks to innovative thinking and proactive leadership, it has become more than that. The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Women’s Health Center will open this summer.

The comprehensive women’s health center, which is dedicated to providing leading-edge, compassionate care for women in a nurturing environment, will double the size of the space currently devoted to women’s services.

The Breast Center of Excellence, which received accreditation from National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) last year, will be located within the center.

Cindy Cox, with husband David, was ready to hit the road shortly after a robotic hysterectomy at St. Mary-Corwin.

Fibroid Free Robotic surgery helps women get back on their feet faster after fibroid removal

W

Place

nter opens this win Additional services will include: ✓ OB/GYN screenings and diagnostics ✓ Urology clinics ✓ Cardiovascular screenings ✓ Bone density screenings ✓ Dermatology ✓ Vein clinic ✓ Nutrition consultations ✓ Meditation room ✓ Survivorship programs ✓ Resource library ✓ Meeting space for classes, workshops, and healing arts programs

If you’d like to support this program, please consider making a donation online at stmarycorwin.org/foundation.

Photo: WOMEN ©istockphoto.com/ranplett

Treating Fibroids

After experiencing pain and heaviness in her pelvis, Cox, who lives in Pueblo, went to see her doctor. She was diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia, a thickening of the endometrial lining. During surgery, surgeon Steve Wassinger, MD, also discovered she had fibroids, which are noncancerous growths on the uterus.

Fibroids, Wassinger says, are very common.

“Fibroids are present in about 50 percent of women at some point in their lives,” he says. “They don’t always cause pain. But they can get to about the size of a tennis ball and can cause excessive bleeding and pain.”

When they get so large that they’re obstructing the bladder or causing abdominal pain or bowel problems, treatment is necessary, he adds.

Hormones are often effective at getting rid of the problem. Another treatment, called uterine artery embolization, kills the fibroids by cutting off the blood supply, but this technique can take months to work fully.

Surgery can remove the fibroids, though there is a risk of recurrence. For women who don’t want to have children, a hysterectomy is often a good choice because it is a permanent solution for fibroids.

Faster Recovery

Photo by STEVE BIGLEY

hen Cindy Cox had surgery to remove her uterus and one of her ovaries in February, she expected the worst.

“I had heard old stories about hysterectomies,” says Cox, 52.

But thanks to surgeons using the da Vinci® robotic surgical system at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center, she didn’t have the weeks of downtime and pain she expected.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of fibroids or other problems, call your doctor.

“Women often wait until it’s a really big problem,” Wassinger says. “With the new technologies that are available, they don’t need to be afraid. Most of the women who ultimately go into the operation say things like, ‘I wish I hadn’t waited so long.’”

After surgery, Cox could feel the difference, and was looking forward to spending time with her three granddaughters and exercising and traveling again.

And those stories she’d heard about hysterectomies? Hers was nothing like what she’d heard.

“Actually,” she says, “this has been quite nice.”

“In the past, surgeons had to make a 10- to 12-inch incision in the abdomen,” Wassinger says. “But with the advent of (robotic-assisted surgery), we’re able to turn this large incision in the abdomen into three to four incisions that are each 1  To learn more to 2 centimeters.”

In addition to the smaller scars, there are great benefits for women like Cox. about robotic surgery at First, Wassinger says, there’s much less pain after surgery.

St. Mary-Corwin, visit us “A large incision makes movement — even coughing — difficult. Getting in and online at stmarycorwin.org/ out of bed is difficult,” he says. “With the (robotic-assisted surgery), we’re able to keep the incisions small, so the pain is much less.” robotic.  Plus, he adds, patients go home the same day as their surgery or the next day. There’s less blood loss during surgery. And women are St. Mary-Corwin’s robotic often back to work (without strenuous activity) within seven to 10 surgery program is days. supported by Centura Four common “I think the rapidity with which they return to their normal Centers for Clinical lives is pretty remarkable,” Wassinger says. “(The robotic symptoms of Innovation, extending surgery) takes three to four weeks off their recovery times.” advanced health fibroids Robotic surgery is also used for surgeries to repair pelvic technologies across prolapse. But the robot, Wassinger notes, is just a tool.

1. Heavy bleeding Colorado.

“One of the misconceptions is that the surgeon isn’t doing 2. Long menstrual periods the surgery,” he says. “The surgeon is still in control. We have 3. Frequent urination advanced optics — 3-D vision — which we don’t usually have.

4. Pelvic pain That gives us a better feel for what’s going on and where our instruments are going.” stmarycorwin.org | Cheers

5

your

health

Joint Connection I

f you have diabetes and you’re overweight, you likely know that the extra weight is putting strain on your joints. But do Is your you know that other complications of diabetes, including nerve damage and narrowing of your arteries, also lead to joint diabetes problems? Patients with diabetes also are more likely to have impacting osteoarthritis, the major cause of joint deterioration. your joints?

With the growing epidemic of diabetes, more and more people are requiring joint replacement surgery. Indeed, more than 1 million knee and hip joints will be replaced this year in the United States.

Diabetes and obesity not only make you more likely to need joint replacement.

These health conditions also make it more likely that you will experience complications after surgery.

The good news is that you can nearly eliminate those increased risks by managing your diabetes with diet and exercise prior to surgery, says Matthew Simonich, MD, orthopedic surgeon and medical director at the St. Mary-Corwin Joint Replacement Center.

“Obese patients face more than double the rates of complications than those of normal body weight,” Simonich says. “Patients can increase their recovery success by managing their weight and their glucose levels. I work closely with my patients, counseling them on the additional risks they face if they don’t manage their symptoms prior to surgery.”

Take steps to a better surgery If you’re facing joint replacement surgery, you can improve your recovery with these actions:

1

Attend a presurgery joint replacement educational class. This class helps you prepare for surgery as well as set expectations for recovery following surgery.

Being prepared will reduce stress and allow the patient to focus on the recovery plan.

2

If you are diabetic, get your glucose levels under control. You decrease your risk of compliations, such as infection, and increase your chances of a fast recovery by managing your blood sugar levels and getting rid of excess weight BEFORE surgery.

3

Start your rehabilitation in the hospital. Your doctor and physical therapy team will have you up and out of bed quickly after surgery, maybe even the same day. It’s imperative that you follow the plan and get that new joint moving.

Patients with uncontrolled diabetes face a higher risk of these complications:

 Blood clots

 Heart attacks

 Pneumonia

 Urinary tract infections

 Slower recoveries

 Wound infections

 Postsurgery bleeding  Poor circulation

Photo: MAN ©istockphoto.com/AnnBaldwin

Are you killing your knees?

6

People often mistakenly believe that exercise will cause knee arthritis. But in a study published in 2005, researchers found no link between exercise and arthritis of the knee. In fact, active people had the same risk of arthritis as people who did not exercise. And while obesity is a risk factor for arthritis, overweight people who exercise did just as well in the study as those who were slim and exercised. So no more excuses — get off the couch and take a walk around the block. Your joints will thank you for it.

 JOIN US for a FREE seminar on joint replacement on Monday, July 8, from 5-7 p.m. in the Dorcy Cancer Center. Call 719-557-5622 to let us know you’re coming. You can also visit us online at stmarycorwin.org/jointreplacementcenter. 

Cheers | St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

Wo R K I N G T O G E T H E R

A Living

Expanding

women’s health care in our community

Photo: WOMEN ©istockphoto.com/digitalskillet

T

he St. Mary-Corwin Health Foundation is in the midst of an exciting $1.6 million capital campaign to build the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Women’s Health Center. The center will be home to our Breast Center of Excellence, a library, a meditation room, a community education room, and an array of health services devoted to women.

On Jan. 4, Most Reverend Fernando Isern, Bishop of Pueblo, officiated the celebration of the groundbreaking and blessing of the new St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Women’s Health Center, named in honor of the first American-born saint and the United States’ first religious community, Sisters of Charity. Eight Sisters of Charity founded Pueblo’s original St. Mary’s Hospital in 1882.

The naming of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Women’s Health Center is a profound way to honor the legacy of these pioneering women. So far, more than $1.2 million has been raised through community donations. Please join us in writing this first page of our new covenant of health care for our community.

For more information about the campaign and the center, please contact me at 719-5575298 or jaynemazur@centura.org.

Jayne Mazur President St. Mary-Corwin Health Foundation

St. Mary-Corwin in the Community St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center teams will be supporting many community organizations this spring. To learn more about St. Mary-Corwin’s community programs, go to stmarycorwin.org and click on “news and community.”

At 88, many people are content to put their feet up, but not Sister Emily Phelan.

Several mornings a week, this spry sister can be found at the information desk at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center, giving directions, answering questions, and lending a reassuring smile to anxious patients and families.

“People volunteer for all kinds of reasons; it gives them purpose,” says Sister Phelan. “I like people, and I enjoy being a volunteer.”

Sister Phelan first joined St. Mary-Corwin as an employee in 1982. For 12 years, she was the manager of the pastoral care department, where she worked closely with the hospital staff to help them understand the role of spiritual care in the healing process. As the staff started experiencing the benefits to their patients, they became supporters.

“Seeing is believing,” Sister Phelan says.

When Sister Phelan came to St. Mary-Corwin, 20 sisters worked throughout the small hospital. Today, she is the last Sister of Charity walking the halls, but the sister’s mission continues, she says.

“This is a good hospital, and the volunteers here make a difference.”

March of Dimes Walk for Babies Sat, Apr 27

Cultural Alliance Cinco de Mayo Sat, May 4

Pueblo StepUp Wine & Small Plates Fri, May 3

Colorado Coaches for Charity Fri, May 10

Walk MS Pueblo Sat, May 11 YWCA Tribute to Women Featuring Joan Rivers Tue, May 14

Photo by STEVE BIGLEY

LEGACY

Sister Phelan estimates she has knitted hundreds of lap robes for patients at the Dorcy Cancer Center over the past 16 years.

A life of service  Joined St. MaryCorwin in 1982  Served as manager of pastoral care for 12 years  Volunteered for last 16 years

CSU-Pueblo President’s Gala Fri, May 17

join me The volunteers at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center support patients, families, and the hospital staff in many different ways, from delivering flowers to clowning around in the clown therapy program or cheering up patients through the pet therapy program. If you are interested in volunteering, please call J.D. Carter, volunteer manager, at 719-557-4241 or go online to stmarycorwin.org/ volunteer to learn more.

Orchard of Hope Walk Sat, Jun 8

Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Gala Fri, Jun 7

stmarycorwin.org | Cheers

7

S p ring H ealth C alendar SPRING CLASSES AND EVENTS St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center offers a variety of classes and events each quarter. Most classes are held at the Dorcy Cancer Center. For a complete list, including dates, times, and locations, go to stmarycorwin.org/ classes-screenings-and-events.

Birth and Family Classes Childbirth classes for expecting moms, dads, and siblings.

Call 719-557-HELP for a class schedule and registration.

‘Bundle’ of Joy Discounted class bundle consisting of a childbirth class (series or one day), Baby Care class, and Breast-feeding class.

Cost: $45.00 (regularly $60.00) Four-Day Childbirth Series A comprehensive course covering labor, labor coping techniques, the role of the labor coach, and use of pain medication during labor.

Cost: $40.00 One-Day Childbirth Class The same topics covered in the childbirth series condensed into one day.

Perfect for working women and for women with previous labor experience.

Cost: $40.00 Baby Care Newborn care education, including bathing, diapering, holding the baby, recognizing signs of illness, and identifying safety concerns.

Cost: $10.00

Breast-feeding For the breast-feeding woman and her partner. Topics include the advantages of breast-feeding, preparation for breast-feeding, techniques, breast care, pumping, storage, and the role of the support person.

Cost: $10.00 Infant CPR Be prepared in case of an emergency. A certified CPR instructor will demonstrate infant CPR techniques and discuss safety issues.

Cost: $10.00 Big Brother/Sister Class Designed for children 3 to 8 years of age who are expecting a new brother or sister to adjust to the role of “sibling.”

Cost: $10.00 Pregnancy and Infant Loss A support group for those who have experienced the tragedy of a miscarriage, stillborn birth, or newborn death.

Cost: FREE | 719-296-6200 The Birth Place Tours Tours of the newly renovated Birth Place are available and encouraged.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5544

PhotoS: BABY ©istockphoto.com/LSOphoto Girl & Baby ©istockphoto.com/ULTRA_GENERIC PAPER CutOUTS ©istockphoto.com/TIMSA Notepad ©istockphoto.com/UltraONEs

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center is part of Centura Health, Colorado’s largest health care network.

Centura Health complies with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in the provision of any care or service on the grounds of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual preference, ancestry, age, familial status, disability or handicap. Copyright © Centura Health, 2013.

SUPPORT GROUPS ABC (After Breast Cancer) Every Thu | 12:15-1:30 p.m.

Support services to assist breast cancer survivors and their families with adjusting to life after cancer.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5510 CanCervive 1st and 3rd Wed of the month 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Education and coping strategies in a caring, supportive, and confidential environment for cancer survivors and their families.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5423 Support Group for Lung Cancer Patients 1st Wed of the month 5:30-6:30 p.m.

This group provides support, information, and tips for living with lung cancer to patients and their families.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5989

Us TOO 2nd Tue of the month 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Support group for prostate cancer patients and survivors to share and learn from each other.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5889 SPOHNC (Support for People of Head and Neck Cancer) 1st Tue of the month | 5-6 p.m.

Head and neck cancer patients present with symptoms unlike any other cancer. Connect and share with others who are facing similar experiences.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5851 AWAKE (Alert, Well And Keeping Energetic) The American Sleep Apnea Association support group meets in the St. Mary-Corwin Sleep Disorders Center. Dates and times vary.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5473

Advanced Breast Cancer Support Group 1st and 3rd Tue of the month 1-2 p.m.

Women with advanced breast cancer will have the opportunity to expand their coping skills, share emotions and experiences, and receive extra support from others on this journey.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-4236 HOPES (Helping Oncology Patients Through Education and Support) Thu, May 16 | 6-8 p.m.

Connect with others and learn how to nurture intimacy, communication, and relationships while living with cancer.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-4548

Health Resources Sleep Clinic at St. Mary-Corwin Mon-Fri | 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

For people who would like to learn about sleep testing, and diagnosing and treating sleep disorders.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5462 Dorcy Cancer Center Healing Arts Classes Designed to heal the mind, body, and spirit. Visit stmarycorwin.org/classesscreenings-and-events for a complete list of classes.

Call to RSVP. Cost: FREE | 719-557-3738

Cardiac Nutrition 3rd Wed of the month 11 a.m.-noon Health Promotions Center Spice up your meals with hearthealthy recipes everyone can enjoy! Led by a dietitian, this class is designed for people with a heart condition and those looking to prevent one.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5371 American Cancer Society Road for Recovery Provides FREE transportation to and from the Dorcy Cancer Center for patient treatments.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5525

Diabetes Health Center Offering individual consultations and diabetes education classes to help patients learn how to manage the disease and prevent complications. A doctor’s order is required for insurance to cover the cost.

Once completed, you’ll be invited to the nationally recognized support group, Diabetes Conversations.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-5955

F E AT U R E D E V E N T S Live Laugh Learn Thu, May 2 | 5-7 p.m.

Featuring Dr. Divakara Kedlaya and Dr. Brandon Green.

This is part of the Women’s Health Series and will discuss the question: What is pain management? RSVP online at stmarycorwin.org/classesscreenings-and-events.

Cost: FREE | 719-557-4639

Joint Replacement Seminar Mon, Jul 8 | 5-7 p.m.

Join Dr. Jennifer Fitzpatrick, orthopedic surgeon, to learn more about knee and hip replacements and whether you are a good candidate.

Cost: FREE 719-557-5622

Walk With a Doc May 18, Jun 2, Jul 20 | 9 a.m.

Walk with physicians from Southern Colorado Family Medicine around Lake Minnequa and explore your health questions in a casual environment while you get some exercise. Meet behind the fire station at the lake.

Cost: FREE