by Heather Dommer, ARNP
Welcome to survivorship month 2022. Let me begin by recognizing all the millions of cancer survivors in the world and especially all the wonderful cancer survivors I have been blessed to work with in this community. This month is about celebration. It is a time where everyone can get together to promote awareness, raise knowledge, and recognize cancer survivors. It is a time where we show the world that a life after cancer is possible and can be very prosperous.
One way to celebrate is by thinking about all the positive things that have come from your cancer journeys. If you are a cancer survivor, I challenge you to make a list of these positive things and share the list with those who have loved you on that journey. You can take this one step farther and write a note of gratitude to some who particularly helped you in that journey. If you are the loved one of a cancer survivor, I challenge you to celebrate your loved one by writing them a note of gratitude telling them how much they mean to you and how they have touched your life.
I have been blessed to work in the survivorship clinic here at the Nassif Community Cancer Center for the past 3 ½ years. As I mentioned last year during survivorship month, cancer is something very dear to me because my mother lost her battle to uterine sarcoma in 2016. Every day I come to the cancer center in pursuit of helping others in their cancer journey and beyond.
If you have been to the survivorship clinic you know that I focus a lot on education and promoting wellness. While all adults should have a healthy diet, exercise regularly, not smoke, drink alcohol only in moderation, have the normal cancer screenings, and complete immunizations to help keep them healthy these things are further stressed for our cancer survivors. My goal is not only to help prevent recurrence of cancer, but also to learn more about each person and help them live the quality life that they want to live. I feel it is very important to listen to each person and be able to tailor a plan that is individualized or specialized to them. While, I do have a system in place to help remind me of what I want to cover during the visit, no two visits ever look or sound the same.
Please know how much I care for every cancer survivor that I have worked with and will work with in the future. Our survivorship clinic is open to anyone with a cancer diagnosis previous or present. If you or someone else you know needs cancer survivorship care, please let us know and we would be happy to schedule you an appointment at (319) 558-4876.
