Community invited to Cook Cancer Wellness Program open house

October 14, 2009 
 
As survival rates for cancer patients continue to climb research findings have identified a growing number of cancer survivors are in need of additional services that will help them tackle treatment related side effects and adjust to a new personal health that is forever altered by a diagnosis of cancer.

In response to these needs, St. Luke’s Hospital launched the Cook Cancer Wellness Program in August. It provides multiple services and addresses quality of life issues in an individualized way for each patient. Located at 810 First Ave. NE, the program is based on three key elements: exercise, nutrition and psychosocial support. An October 22 open house and ribbon cutting is planned to showcase the program to the community.

The Cook Cancer Wellness Program is named after Jane Borg Cook, who died of breast cancer last year. Her family donated $75,000 to St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation to create the program at St. Luke’s. The Cook family will attend the ribbon cutting and receive a commemorative plaque.

“St. Luke’s Cook Cancer Wellness Program is designed to not only provide a safe, non-threatening environment for cancer patients and survivors to exercise in, but will provide them the education and direction for exercise at home with mutually established goals,” said Kimberly Ivester, RN, MSN, St. Luke’s Cancer Care Director. “The program also allows them to come back as often as they would like to check on their goals and identify new goals as they are ready and as their treatment evolves.”

Use of the St. Luke’s Cook Cancer Wellness Program is free to patients and doesn’t end when the patient stops treatment. It’s intended to be available to individuals for as long as they need it – even if that means years after their last treatment.

What:
Cook Cancer Wellness Program open house & ribbon cutting

When:
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Ribbon cutting at 4 p.m., open house from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Where:
810 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids

Who:
Free and open to the community