if “different chemathercipies.”

t

OT

an
“df wppetite that plagues others,

Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology sponsor March 1 seminar.

CANCER PATIENT: 5 intimidated by doc-
tors often find it difficult to-ask questions
about their disease’s prognosis and treat-
ment, says the president of the B.C.
Oncology Nurses Group.

By Kate Zimmerman
News reporter

“ First of all, people can often be quite emo-
tional about their cancer,” said Heather
Mielcarski,

Then, she said, they may be afraid of the
answers to questions like “Will 1 beat this dis-
ease?"

“They don't want (0 waste the doctor's time,”
said Mona. Rechner, Clinicar nurse specialist at
Lions Gate Hospital.

Doctors are obviously busy, said Rechner.
and patients therefore tend to ask for the bare
minimum of information.

“They don't want them to think theyre ask-
ing a stupid question.”

‘That's why there’s @ need for seminars fike
the 30 sessions being sponsored across Canada
this year by the Canadian Association of Nurses
in Oncdlogy (CANO)...

‘Feeling Your Best During Cancer Treatment,
tle first information program of its kind, will be
presented Tuesday, March |, at the Sherbrooke
Stree: Gymnasium in New Westminster. .

‘The one-hour seminar will be led by a local
“CANO nurse, with the participation af an oncol-
_ ogist, a sociat worker and a cancer survivor.

“Admission to the seminar is free, but cancer

patients, their friends and families should call to

» pre-register (after 5 p.m.: 520-4595),

“FEAR OF the. unknown i is the
_most common emotion experi-
enced: by cancer patients who
are. about’ to undergo
chemotherapy...’

By Kate Zimmerman.
News Reporter

“0d heard the horror. stories,"
“said Christina Watt, onc member of
‘the: Coping With Cancer Support
Group which meets weekly at the
Lions, Gaie Hospital. “You ‘have to
have a group like this to discuss

© chemotherapy.”

Cancer patients who ) are under-
going “chemo,” patients who have
finished their treatments, and
spouses. gather Wednesdays from
AQto tha m. 10 take -part in free

ucation sessions and general dis-

nesions led by oncology clinical
ourse Moni Rechner and social
worker Heather Boal. .

“Everyone reacts differently 10
suid
Barbara’ Paradice, whose husband,
Allen, isa’ cancer patient at'the hos-
pit. ate

George & Sharpe. for instance, had
wction.at all, Though cancer
: fas supped his energy, and curbed
his anticipation of.neals prepared

by) his ‘wife, Bunnys who accompa:

nied him to the group, he‘dida’t.
experience the severe mused or foss |
chat.
4 But discussing their treatments
nd reactions is therapeutic as well.
“There wasn’ ta group function:
ing: ‘when: [iad my chemotherapy,”
said Pat: Mislap. “LT wasi'Creally all
‘that well: ‘prepared, other than the
fact that Twi As aE nurse long time

sion, Oc “exiomtit they simply

Last: Wednesday. the subject
was humor and the group enjoyed a
videotape of Miilon Berle,

“To get.agood belly laugh is
very, very helpful,’
“If you can take your mind off
yourself, it helps.”

The seminar’s purpose. said Mielearski,.is
lo provide public education to patients and their
families and friends about cancer, its treatment
and side-effects:and how to communicate about
those things.”

The program will particularly address ways ti to

break down barriers to communication about the
disease.

‘For example, Miclearski suggested that
patients who are worried about bothering a doc-
tor with their questions could schedule an extra-
long appointment so there would be time avail-
able to talk about their concems.

They could also go through their queries with.

a nurse before the doctor's appointment to high-
light the most important questions.

When it comes to prognosis, she added, it’s
important to realize that “often there are no
answers to those questions.”

Another issue cancer patients must face is
whether to tell colleagues about their illness.

Miclearski said it sometimes heljs,

weather,

On the other hand, she pointed eut. work cun
be the one place where a cancer patient can
escupe constant awareness of the disease and the
solicitous behavior of family and friends.

Sometimes they just want to be treated the
same as everyone else, she said,

There are also practical considerations of
which patients and their families and friends
need to be aware. Chemotherapy. for example,
takes a major toll on the body.

“A lot of information related to side-effects is
available and provided with great gusto by the
health profession.” said Mielcarski. :

think they have

“You actually

in coming,”
said) Madiek.

because :
_co-workers will then be able to understand why
their acquaintance seems weary or. under-the- :

Bunny Sharpe agreed. “I don't
any idea how you
feel, you or your spouse,

want their sup-
port, but sometimes it’s a little slow
aid Madiuk

George Sharpe said

for people to understand how the
disease and itg treatment alfe:

But patients don‘t always pass the infarma-

_ tion along to their near and dear, who might be

able to help them deal with or prevent vomiting,
mouth sores ind fatigue...

Nausea, fore
patients to reluse, delay, skip or alter their.cancer
therapy. But it can be counteracted somewhat by |

avoiding the smell of hot foods and cating cold

or room-temperature meals. '
Diets sometimes need to be - made more bland.

: A patient's sudden revulsion for meat can, be

reated by getting protein from other sources.

And, Miclcarzki said, “There are a lot of anti-
nausea medications that work quite well now.”

Chemotherapy can also cause’ mouth sores,
which requite:a patient to avaid spicy feads and
alcohol-based mouth-washes and keep the mouth
as clean'as possible,”

Mielcarski said patients — ‘and their. families
-— should-remember. that on days when they
have chemotherapy. they may feel tired and sick

and-shouldn’t schedule much activity. A bal-~

anced dict can also enhance energy levels.

Hair loss is inevitable with certain drugs, but
less predictable with others aid.

Acknowledging the possibility is an impor-
lant step, becausé a patient who wants to mask
hair toss might want 10 go to a wig or toupee
shop to match natural hair before it falls-out.

More than one in three Canadians develops a
form of cancer in his or her lifetime.

An estimated 116.200 new cases of cancer
occurred in Canada in 1993.

Considering these ‘statistics. it’s surprising
that the seminar ts expected to attract a miaxi-
mum of 200 people.

“All around, it’s pretty valuable information.”
said Rechner.

NEWS photo Mike Waketleld

GEORGE AND Bunny Sharpe attend the weekly meetings of the Coping With Cancer Support
Group at Lions Gate Hospital. George and fellow cancer patients discuss their treatments.

nursing staff will offen give you
more of their Gime.” he said,

For instance, he explained. “My
doctor said to tike certain vitamins
but he didn't really know about the
types of vitamins.”

(The Cancer Support Group
brought ina autritionist who was
able to answer questions,

Accumuhiting such information

difficutt

at the

example. causes up to 50% of

ago.

SMBrian Madiuk has attended the
‘Support group every week for two
years, Sometimes there's a particu-
Jar topic on the agenda —~ nutrition
or-pain management, for example,
Other times, group members bring
a. concern’ io the table for discus-

“CALL US:

983-2208

On a grander scale, Miskap said,

“This is an opportunity to discuss

(cancer) with people who under-
stand.”

No mitier how well intentioned
a patient's laved anes may be, said
Madiuk, “There are. barriers in a
family. They don’t understand.”

bady. Aa electrician, he is, sult
quite c

drain him for hours,
stamina.” he explained.

* Said Madiuk, “i find that the
doctors are sortof cold whereas the

atpable of erecting and climb. ;
ing a dadder and changing a few
light bulbs, but the exertion will’
“There is no”

and cheering each other an is

important for peaple coping wilh
cancer. For further information on
the Coping With Cancer. Support
Group. call Heather Boal at 984-
3709 or Mona Rechner at 984-
S831.

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
Do you have pr: ais e for, or problems with, the recent federal budget?

‘rejects.
evasion
appeal |

“THE B.C. Court of.
Appeal dismissed a court
action Feb, 23 concern-
ing a°268-count convic-
tion’ -against. ‘West
Vancouver resident and
former lawyer, Gordon-
‘A. Hazlewood, . and. his”
two companies.

a

Hazlewood: was : found’
guilty on May. 6, 1992; of.
charges relating to income
tax evasion and. claiming»
fraudulent tax losses in rela.
tion to $21 million sold in a
bogus joint-venture scheme. ;

Hazlewood. was sen;
tenced to four-years in jail
after a B.C. Supreme Court -
trial. .
The charges were laid fol-
lowing a five-year investiga-
tion.

Hazlewood’s companies,
itowtizer Enterprises. Lid.
and Howitzer Enterprises
(1982) Lid., were fined a
total of $1.4 million as a
result of the conviction.

Hazlewood and his com-
panies were also ordered to |
* pay: the victims $1.1: million *
‘in n compensation, ’ 5

. The victims: included. for-
“mer. Canucks players Kevin ;

. McCarthy and Patrik Sund-":
strom, who testified at the -
‘trial. Other victims inctiided ©
150 former’ clients such as ;
NHL stars ‘Thomas. Gradin,
Gary Lupal, Gerry Minor, :
Lars Lindgren and Ron :
Delorme. :

All were duped into atax-

loss scheme cons

deals executed in the 1980s.
Hazlewood
clients with a promise the ;

isting of ~
” “four for one” joint venture

attracted the ”:

e

investments. would © be eC
returned four-fold throtigh, *

tax losses and refunds. a

But... the monies *
Hazlewood claimed would :
be used to develop real State»
and. resource indusfries- went’
into | his .own | North:
“Vancouver financing busi-
ness. : soa

: Index.
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