M A R C H 2 0 1 5 A N E W S L E T T E R F O R

PAT I E N T S , FA M I L I E S , S TA F F

A N D C O M M U N I T Y M E M B E R S

IN THIS ISSUE

A New Reason to Quit Smoking: Know the Effects of Smoking on Cancer Treatment

Coping with Cancer in the Kitchen: The Nourish Program at Wellspring

Library Corner: March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month

Patient & Family Education NewsP R I N C E S S M A R G A R E T C A N C E R C E N T R E

A new reason to quit smoking: Know the effects of smoking on cancer treatment By Aman Sium, Patient Education Specialist, Patient and Survivorship Education Program

Do you or your loved ones want to quit smoking, but don’t know how to start?

Are you or your loved ones worried that smoking will affect your cancer treatment?

On January 27th, Dr. Amit Rotem from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) answered these and other questions about the effects of smoking on cancer treatment. Dr. Rotem is an Addiction Psychiatrist. He supports people getting treatment for cancer to quit or reduce their smoking.

Know the effects of smoking on cancer treatment For many years, cancer research has linked smoking to causing cancer. Recent research shows that smoking also reduces the effects of cancer treatments:

• Smoking during radiation treatment can reduce its benefits. This can cause your tumours (cancer) to grow.

• Smoking before and after cancer surgery can cause problems with your wound, and delay healing.

• Smoking during cancer treatment can make your cancer spread more and spread faster around your body.

Studies show that people who quit and people who reduce their smoking do better in cancer treatment and live longer. As Dr. Rotem put it, “the earlier you quit, the more years of life you gain.”

Get support to quit or reduce your smoking Quitting smoking is a challenge for your mind, body, and spirit. In trying to quit, the people who use the support around them often see more success. If you want support to quit or reduce smoking, you can get help from these programs:

• The Smoking Cessation Program at UHN Outpatient Pharmacies offers free, one-to-one advice from a pharmacist. To join the program, call 416-946-6593 or visit the Princess Margaret Outpatient Pharmacy, located on the main floor.

• The Princess Margaret Patient & Family Library offers free resources on cancer treatment and supports to quit smoking. Visit the library on the main floor of the Princess Margaret.

Read more

• CAMH’s Nicotine Dependence Clinic offers free, weekly counseling and treatment to anyone who wants to quit or reduce their smoking. Call 416-535-8501 and press 2 for details.

• The Canadian Cancer Society’s Smokers’ Helpline lets you to talk to a trained healthcare worker over the phone. Call 1-877-513-5333 or visit www.smokershelpline.ca for details about free, local support.

Thank you to Dr. Amit Rotem for the informative talk.

Thank you to Starbucks for providing coffee and tea.

Coping with Cancer in the Kitchen: The Nourish Program at WellspringA message from Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation

In celebration of Nutrition Month, the Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation wants you to know about the Nourish program, available free of charge for anyone living with cancer and their caregivers.

The Wellspring Nourish program has two parts:

1. The Nourish Education Sessions teach current knowledge and best practices about cancer and nutrition. All information provided in the educational sessions is evidence-based, researched and reviewed by experts knowledgeable about cancer. These sessions are delivered by highly qualified Registered Dietitians.

2. The Nourish Cooking Series brings the learning to life with cooking demonstrations and food sampling in the kitchen. Attendees participate in cooking demonstrations, sample the recipes, and have an opportunity to try out the knowledge taught in the Nourish Education Sessions. These sessions are delivered by Culinary Chefs, Nutritionists, or Registered Dietitians with a flare for cooking healthy meals and sharing their culinary skills.

Hosted in state-of-the-art teaching kitchens, people living with cancer and those who care for them are welcome to learn from, and enjoy, Wellspring’s Nourish program. Participants will walk away from the Wellspring Nourish program with knowledge and understanding of nutrition basics that will help improve their overall health and well-being at all steps of the cancer journey. They will learn how proper nutrition can reduce side-effects, help manage

weight, and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence while developing the fundamental building blocks of a healthier dietary lifestyle.

Examples of Nourish sessions include:• Eating Well During Treatment

• Healthy Eating After Treatment

• Breast Cancer and Healthy Eating

• Nutrition and the Caregiver

• Colorectal Cancer: Managing Nutrition During Treatment

• Colorectal Cancer: Healthy Eating After Treatment

• Healthy Eating the Vegetarian Way

• Beans, Peas, Lentils and Grains

• Super Healthy Foods

• Herbs and Spices

• Nutrition Myths and Controversies

About Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation:Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation

provides programs and services that meet the emotional, social, practical and health restoring needs of people living with cancer, as well as for those who care for them, at no charge and without referral. Becoming a Wellspring member is easy! Simply drop into one of our four GTA centres, and meet with a Peer Support Volunteer who will help you get started. For more information please visit www.wellspring.ca or call 416-961-1928.

Want cooking & nutrition tips from the comfort of your own home?Find healthy recipes and cooking & nutrition tips from a registered dieititan and wellness chef online!

• Visit ELLICSRkitchen.ca for a wide selection of healthy recipes, with new recipes being added every month!

• Visit www.youtube.com/user/ELLICSRkitchen for informative videos on cooking techniques and nutrition tips.

• Or check out www.pinterest.com/ellicsrkitchen to browse our collection of recipes, and healthy eating and cooking tips. Follow us to get the latest pins as they're posted.

Library Corner: March is National Colon Cancer Awareness MonthBy Michelle Snow, Librarian, Patient & Survivorship Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

This March learn about colon cancer by visiting the Princess Margaret Patient & Family Library on the main floor atrium. Get information on prevention, the signs of colon cancer, detection, diagnosis, and treatment options. Below is a short list of some of the resources available in the library.

Pick up a free copy of these brochures at the Patient & Family Library:• Colorectal Cancer, Canadian Cancer Society

• Reduce Your Risk for Colorectal Cancer, Canadian Cancer Society

• Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide

• What to do when Receiving Radiation Therapy to the Pelvis (Rectal or Anal Cancer), Princess Margaret

• Colorectal Cancer Comprehensive Assessment and Rapid Evaluation Pathway (CRC CARE Path), University Health Network

• Coping with Gastrointestinal Cancer, University Health Network

Find more colon cancer and colon cancer screening information online:• Canadian Cancer Society: www.cancer.ca

• Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada: www.colorectal-cancer.ca

• Cancer Care Ontario: www.cancercare.on.ca, search colon cancer screening

• National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov

• Ostomy Toronto: www.ostomytoronto.ca

Books available on loan from the Patient & Family Library:

Johns Hopkins Patients’ Guide to Colon and Rectal Cancer. Nita Ahuja & Brenda Nettles.

Positive Options for Colorectal Cancer. Carol Ann Larson.

I’d Like to Buy a Bowel Please! Ostomy A to Z. Brenda Elsagher

How to Become a Library Member:The first time you borrow resources, you will need to fill out a registration form and show valid identification with your name and address, such as a Driver’s License or UHN Hospital Card. Once you register with us, you may borrow resources for 3 weeks from any of the UHN Patient & Family Libraries.

Visit the library: Hours: Monday to Thursday,

8:30 am to 4:30 pm Fridays 8:30 – 4:00

Location: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, main floor, atrium

Phone: 416 946-4591 x 5383

E-mail: patienteducation@uhn.ca

The information contained in this newsletter is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only. © University Health Network - Princess Margaret Hospital - Patient and Family Library - 2015

Patient & Survivorship Education Editor: Alaina Cyr, Patient Education Coordinator | Editorial Board: Nazek Abdelmutti, Daniela Fierini, Robin Forbes, Myann Marks, Lauren ShorserGraphic Artist: Kristin Foster | Please forward comments, questions or submissions to Alaina.Cyr@uhn.ca

The Patient Education and Survivorship Programs are supported by the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

“When you’ve had cancer, every day is a gift.”

“ Thanks to the groundbreaking research, the care of Dr. Messner and the compassion of the whole team at The Princess Margaret, I’m here today.”

See Chris Taylor’s story at www.thepmcf.ca

A gift left in your Will can save lives. If cancer is your cause, support one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world. To learn more about planning your gift, call 416-946-2295 or email legacy@thepmcf.ca

“When you’ve had cancer, every day is a gift.”

“ Thanks to the groundbreaking research, the care of Dr. Messner and the compassion of the whole team at The Princess Margaret, I’m here today.”

See Chris Taylor’s story at www.thepmcf.ca

A gift left in your Will can save lives. If cancer is your cause, support one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world. To learn more about planning your gift, call 416-946-2295 or email legacy@thepmcf.ca

“When you’ve had cancer, every day is a gift.”

“ Thanks to the groundbreaking research, the care of Dr. Messner and the compassion of the whole team at The Princess Margaret, I’m here today.”

See Chris Taylor’s story at www.thepmcf.ca

A gift left in your Will can save lives. If cancer is your cause, support one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world. To learn more about planning your gift, call 416-946-2295 or email legacy@thepmcf.ca

“When you’ve had cancer, every day is a gift.”

“ Thanks to the groundbreaking research, the care of Dr. Messner and the compassion of the whole team at The Princess Margaret, I’m here today.”

See Chris Taylor’s story at www.thepmcf.ca

A gift left in your Will can save lives. If cancer is your cause, support one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world. To learn more about planning your gift, call 416-946-2295 or email legacy@thepmcf.ca

–Chris Taylor

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