Survivorship

During the recent pandemic, most Americans have skipped or postponed important medical care. Now that social distancing measures have successfully flattened the curve, it is time to start giving your health the attention that it deserves. We must address non-COVID-19 health problems before we start seeing the negative impact of delayed care on the health of our community. For important screening exams such as mammograms, we know that early detection and treatment saves lives.

Gyms are beginning to open up across Nevada and many people are anxious to get back to their exercise routines. Cancer survivors are included in this group, as they should be, with exercise being a great way to improve your immune system and reduce the risk of cancer reoccurrence. However, even the cleanest gyms are a breeding ground for germs.

University of Nevada's Sanford Center for Aging has just launched their FREE Thriving & Surviving Workshops

It was the worst of circumstances. A not-quite 28-year-old woman - newly relocated, unemployed, and uninsured - feels a small lump on her left breast. 

Profiles of Courage: Debbie Anderson's Breast Cancer Survivor Story

My name is Debbie Anderson, some may know me as an employee of Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, Others recognize me from church, a few may even know me from different events around Elko County, but for the most part this is the first time most people in Nevada will get to know me for I am no one special. I am just an ordinary person who lives an ordinary life.

Nevada Cancer Coalition's most recent survivorship project is a new partnership bringing information and support to the community in the places where they go to find information -- public libraries throughout the state. Nine libraries in Washoe, Elko, Eureka, and Lander counites will feature the educational displays throughout the month of June, along with library resources and books on various cancer topics. 

Ashley L. doesn’t consider herself to be a survivor.

“I just shoved it away and disassociated from the entire experience,” she says of the CIN 3 diagnosis she received while in her fourth year at the University of Nevada, Reno. “I didn’t accept that I had cancer until the last two years, but I choose to honor the experience now.”

As a coalition, we love a good story about collaboration and partnership. When we heard that two of our partners were working together on a unique project, funded by a third partner, we knew we had to share it with you. The three-partner project works to increase follow-up and surveillance care for breast cancer survivors transitioning to a primary care setting.

More than a year ago, NCC brought together partners from across the state to form a task force focusing on survivorship and palliative care. That first meeting was a hit, and partners were thrilled to be working together on a portion of the cancer continuum that's so vital yet we felt was a weak point for our state. Shortly after, NCC staff and our counterpart at the State of Nevada Comprehensive Cancer Control Program attended the National Cancer Survivorship Research Conference in Washington D.C. and learned that Nevada wasn't behind at all.

“It is the best thing you will ever do for yourself. And the trainers—they are amazing. They are just great no matter what type of cancer you have. They’re just great! It’s a huge resource.”

“A lot of it is recuperative care rather than just muscle building.”