Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
NEWS
Permit No. 267 Lincoln, NE
Bryan Cancer Program 1600 S. 48th St. Lincoln, NE 68506-1299
MAY/JUNE 2023
ISSUE 3
Address Service Requested
Lincoln Kidney Cancer Patient Part of National Clinical Trial
Cancer News will keep you up-to-date on comprehensive cancer services available now and in the future. April Sampson Cancer Center will open in less than a year.
Salute Survivors
Home support system, less life interruption are key factors in care
Celebrate Strength • Honor a Life • Provide Hope
National Cancer Survivors Day is June 4 Celebrate the survivors in your life by purchasing a ribbon in their honor for Bryan Medical Center East and West Campus tree displays in Lincoln. Funds support programs through the April Sampson Cancer Center.
Purchase ribbons online at bryanhealth.org/salutesurvivors
LifeSpring Cancer Wellness Program 8-week exercise and wellness program for anyone recently diagnosed with cancer Research shows LifeSpring participants experience significant improvement in their quality of life, especially helping with: • Fatigue • Depression • Sleep • Pain • Strength $100 per 8-week session – includes: • Full LifePointe membership • Exercise sessions twice per week • Optional monthly support group • Optional monthly cooking demo Patients can call 402-481-6300 for more information or to register. Or visit: bryanhealth.org/lifespring
Cancer Support Groups Patients can connect with others, share experiences and meet Bryan cancer care experts. Open to anyone diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones. • General Cancer Support Group 1st Thursday of the month, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Bryan LifePointe Campus, 7501 S. 27th St. • Prostate Cancer Support Group 2nd Thursday of the month, 7-8 p.m., Bryan West Campus, 2300 S. 16th St. • Cancer Cooking Demo 3rd Thursday of the month, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Bryan LifePointe Campus, 7501 S. 27th St. • Thyroid Cancer Support Group 1st Saturday of the month, 10-11:30 a.m., Bryan Medical Plaza East Campus Patients can call 402-481-7900 for more information or visit: bryanhealth.org/cancer-support-groups
Bryan Cancer Program • 402-481-7900 • bryanhealth.org/cancer
In December 2020, Stephanie began to experience persistent pain in the left side of her abdomen. Her primary care physician suggested she may have a urinary tract infection but ordered blood tests to rule out anything else. When test results were outside normal range, additional lab tests and scans revealed abnormalities in her kidney. This led her to Dr. Scott McHam, medical oncologist at Cancer Partners of Nebraska, where she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. After surgery in February 2021, she was feeling better, but by April, she started to experience pain again. Additional tests showed that the cancer had spread to her liver.
National Clinical Trials Available in Lincoln Patients in our region have access to many clinical trials, thanks to Bryan’s partnership with Cancer Partners of Nebraska. They have membership with: • MD Anderson Cancer Center • ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group Patients can access clinical trials today. They will continue to be available at the upcoming April Sampson Cancer Center. For more information about available clinical trials, please visit: cancerpartners.com/care/clinical-trails
Dr. McHam and the research team at Cancer Partners worked to develop a plan for Medical oncologist Dr. Scott McHam and Stephanie. The team met with research nurse Sheila Evans, RN, CCRP, her to go over options to fight with Stephanie Henderson this rare cancer, including a clinical trial at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Fortunately, the Lincoln research team was able to provide the same clinical trial here, so Stephanie could continue to live at home with her support system and receive the same protocol. Stephanie continues to work while receiving care and treatment, plus the trial’s required monthly visits.
“Working with my research nurse, Sheila, through this whole process has been smooth. I can pick up the phone or go in for a visit to discuss my symptoms and have my lab work done. I can’t imagine trying to balance my health while working and traveling for a clinical trial in another state.” Stephanie Henderson
DID YOU KNOW? April Sampson Cancer Center Will be Accredited by: • Commission on Cancer • American College of Radiology (ACR)
Collaboration with Cancer Partners of Nebraska provides: • Clinical trial access through National Cancer Institute (NCI) networks • MD Anderson Cancer Center research affiliation • Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) certification • Radiation Oncology ACR accreditation • Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) pharmacy
Clinical Trial Participant
Bryan Cancer Program • 402-481-7900 • bryanhealth.org/cancer