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Online Resources
Picture Your Life After Cancer
This is a New York Times interactive feature in which cancer survivors upload a picture and short blurb about themselves.
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The Connecticut Challenge
The Connecticut Challenge website features a blog, survivorship news, and listing of survivorship-related events around Connecticut.
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Patient Resource
Constipation: A common side effect of opioid use. 
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Childhood Cancer Survivors: Healthy Living
From the American Institute for Cancer Research newsletter, Science Now.
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Online Guide to Breakthrough Cancer Pain
American Pain Foundation
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Webinar
When Cancer Pain Breaks Through!  American Pain Foundation
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Breast Cancer Survival Center Newsletter
The Breast Cancer Survival Center in Fairfield publishes a quarterly newsletter, archived on their web site.
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A Guide to Safe Use of Pain Medicine
The Food and Drug Administration has published A Guide to Safe Use of Pain Medicine for consumers.
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Continuing Education


Yale/YNHH

Schwartz Rounds
Schwartz Rounds is being reorganized and will resume in August in a new location: Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven.
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Updates and Innovations in Esophageal Cancer
May 27
(Norwalk), 6:00pm.

June 17 (Mystic), 6:00 - 8:45pm. 
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September 25 - Save the Date
9th Annual Oncology Nursing Symposium.
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven. 



Connecticut

May 20 & 21, 7:30am - 4:30pm. Oncology Review Course 
Hospital of St. Raphael (CNE).  Registration deadline May 14.  Call 203-789-3391.



Elsewhere
June 16 & 17
The Art and Science of Palliative Nursing
Northeastern University, Boston, MA.
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June 22 - 26
Principles & Practice of Pain Medicine 
Harvard Medical School. Cambridge, MA.
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July 12 - 16

Spirituality & Health Care Summer Institute
George Washington University, Washington, DC.
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November 5 - 6
Quality of Life for the Children
4th Annual Pediatric Palliative Care Conference.  Washington, DC.
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Online
May 12, 1:30pm
Pediatric Palliative Care:  Challenges & Opportunities
(audio-conference)
Center to Advance Palliative Care.
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E-Learning from Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
Newest course: Dying and Death in the Worlds of Children. (CNE).  Discount for HPNA members.
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May  2010          Volume 4 � No 4
Exercise Across the Treatment Continuum:  A Local YMCA Does Its Part
The Valley-Shore YMCA in Westbrook has initiated a 12-week, individualized exercise program designed specifically for cancer survivors.  A collaborative project with Middlesex Hospital, the program is putting into action research findings that exercise improves quality-of-life at any stage of cancer.  The program is offered twice a week for 90-minute sessions and consists of group discussion, various exercise modalities, and relaxation instruction.  The certified fitness coaches offer individual instruction and help participants define goals, evaluate progress, and modify the program structure as needed.

The goal of the program is to empower adult cancer patients and survivors to improve functional capacity and quality of life through an organized program of fitness.  By design, this will give participants the foundation needed to become independent and confident in the practice of physical fitness and healthy lifestyle.

There is no cost to the participants.  In addition, they receive a free full facility membership to the Valley-Shore YMCA for the duration of the program.  The first session enrolled 8 cancer survivors ranging in age from 30 to 75, in different stages of treatment and at vastly different fitness levels.  A few of the participants have spoken about their experiences:

Dawn (four and a half years since surgery) said that this program has been the stepping-stone she needed to start.  She feels that the support of the instructors and the group as well as the small size of the class has given her the encouragement to do things "I would have never even wanted to do."

Mary (still in treatment) commented that programs she has been involved in are not holistic, but treat only the disease and without addressing the physical strength needed to deal with the disease.  She said, "This program creates other possibilities so that I don't have to decline.  I am feeling stronger, muscles getting more toned, and I am not so anxious about losing the ability to do things that I love to do."

Joan (two time breast cancer survivor) said that she was very apprehensive about any real sustained physical activity and the thought of using machines terrified her.  "Now I believe they are a wonderful challenge that I thoroughly enjoy."  She said the class has changed her attitude and that she could not have done it without the guidance of the instructors and the individual attention given to her.

Jane (cancer survivor for 16 years) said that she was excited because she had not had any previous guidance in fitness.  "Now I feel very enthusiastic and with purpose about all that I have learned.  I am not floundering."

Valley-Shore YMCA is planning a cancer survivor program summer session that will start in June and a third session for the fall.  Participants do not have to be affiliated with Middlesex Hospital. 

For additional information and referrals to the program, contact Stacey McGee at (860) 399-9622.
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In the News

Cancer Survivors Day
The Annual Cancer Survivors Day sponsored by Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven will be held May 26 from 5:00pm - 7:30pm at Yale's West Campus, 141 Frontage Road, Orange, CT.  For reservations to this free event, call 888-700-6543. 
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The Wellness Community
The Wellness Community is a national organization that provides free support services for people affected by cancer.  The Wellness Community-Southern Connecticut has been established as a local independent chapter of the national organization, and is raising funds for a local center that will serve people in Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties.  It has already begun co-sponsoring programs with hospitals and other advocacy organizations.
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23rd Annual National Cancer Survivors Day 2010
The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation has designated June 6 as the 23rd Annual National Cancer Survivors Day 2010.
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Updated Guidelines for Several Malignancies Released
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has released updated guidelines for several malignancies: breast, colon, and esophageal cancers; multiple myeloma, and AML.  There is also a new guideline for mesothelioma.  Free registration is required. 
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Journal Watch

Recent Annals of Internal Medicine articles on childhood/young adult survivors:
Yeh JM, et al.  A Model-Based Estimate of Cumulative Excess Mortality in Survivors of Childhood Cancer.  Ann Intern Med. 2010;152(7): 409-417.
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Henderson TO, et al.  Systematic Review: Surveillance for Breast Cancer in Women Treated With Chest Radiation for Childhood, Adolescent, or Young Adult Cancer.  Ann Intern Med. 2010;152(7):444-455.
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Ganz PA, et al.  Estimating the Human Costs of Cancer Survivorship in Children.  Ann Intern Med.  2010;152(7):465-466.
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Abrahamson K.  Dealing with cancer-related distress.  AJN.  2010;110(4):67-69.
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Amir E, et al.  A phase 2 trial exploring the effects of high-dose (10,000 IU/day) vitamin D(3) in breast cancer patients with bone metastases.  Cancer. 2010;116(2):284-91.
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Beavers J, Lester J.  Survivorship care for adult recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantations.  Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2010;14(2):136-9.
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D'Arcy Y.  Managing chronic pain in acute care:  Getting it right.  Nursing.  2010;40(4):48-51.
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Griffith J, et al.  Providing palliative care in the ambulatory setting.  Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2010;14(2):171-175.
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Guay DRP.  Opioid Analgesics for Persistent Pain in the Older Patient: Part I.  Clinical Geriatrics.  2010;18(3):37-46. (Free full text)
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Guay DRP.  Opioid Analgesics for Persistent Pain in the Older Patient: Part II.  Clinical Geriatrics.  2010;18(4):38-47. (Free full text)
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Haugen DF, et al.  Assessment and classification of cancer breakthrough pain: A systematic literature review.  Pain.  2010; 16 Mar.
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Holmes MD, et al.  Aspirin Intake and Survival After Breast Cancer.  J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(9): 1467-1472.
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Hopwood P, et al.  Comparison of patient-reported breast, arm, and shoulder symptoms and body image after radiotherapy for early breast cancer: 5-year follow-up in the randomised Standardisation of Breast Radiotherapy (START) trials.  Lancet Oncol. 2010 Mar;11(3):231-40.
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Mahler DA, et al.  American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Statement on the Management of Dyspnea in Patients With Advanced Lung or Heart Disease.  Chest.  2010; 137(3):674-691.
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Meneses K, et al.  Development of the Fertility and Cancer Project: an Internet approach to help young cancer survivors.  Oncol Nurs Forum. 2010 Mar;37(2):191-7.
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Michaud LB.  Managing cancer treatment-induced bone loss and osteoporosis in patients with breast or prostate cancer.  Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010;67(7 Suppl 3):S20-30 (CPE)
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