You could say Sara Veerhusen started going to the Helen G. Nassif Community Cancer Center before it existed.
“After I was diagnosed with cancer in 2002, I took advantage of UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s exercise services for cancer patients,” Sara recalls. “I continued to use those services when the program moved to the Community Cancer Center in the PCI Medical Pavilion.” She’s also taken advantage of the Community Cancer Center’s holistic services such as massage therapy.
So, when Sara’s husband Dan was diagnosed with cancer in 2017, he knew right where to go for support on his cancer journey. “For years, Sara had told me how great they were,” shares Dan. “But I didn’t fully appreciate the level of support you get until I went there myself.”
Both Sara and Dan have worked with Matt Schmitz, CSCS, CES, AFT, wellness program manager at the Community Cancer Center. Matt’s expertise helping cancer patients enabled him to create customized exercise plans to meet Sara and Dan’s individual needs.
Dan says, “Matt has been a huge resource. It blows me away that I can walk in there, tell him it hurts when I move a certain way, and he knows just what to do. Because he’s seen these things before, he has a tremendous advantage.”
Like Sara, Dan also enjoys massage therapy with Laura McKenzie, LMT. And while massage therapy is offered at a nominal cost, most services at the Community Cancer Center are free for cancer patients, survivors and their family, regardless of when or where they receive their cancer treatment.
“They don’t care where you had your treatment,” Sara explains. “They care about you and your overall wellbeing. Adds Dan, “The Community Cancer Center is one of those resources people might not know about. But when you need it, it’s great that it’s here.”
Most communities aren’t fortunate enough to have a resource like Nassif Community Cancer Center. Your gift helps cancer patients and their loved ones receive the support and services they need, close to home. For more information, call (319) 369-7716.
