The Impact of Hope Cancer Resources

When you work for a non-profit organization, it kind of goes without saying that the passion for the stated mission helps drives your daily to-do list. It also helps keep you going on days that would, at times, make you question your sanity. But aside from that passion, it's the day-to-day impacts we see our work having in our community that really keep us focused. We have a budget and expenditures just like any for-profit entity, and we do report to a board of directors, and sharing numbers like the ones listed here truly humble and energize us on the toughest days.

Between September 1, 2009 and February 28, 2010

682

Newly diagnosed patients were seen by one of our social workers at Highlands Oncology Group

208 

New patient applications for financial assistance were processed.

$11,180

Average per month provided for Emergency Assistance (mortgage, rent, and/or car payments and utilities).

$2,752

Average per month provided as financial assistance for prescriptions related to a patient's cancer diagnosis.

$7,140

Average value per month of prescription assistance provided to patients through a Prescription Assistance Program (PAP).

60,994

Miles traveled to provide access to treatment for patients who do not have transportation or 

are unable to drive.

32 

Patients per month (on average) provided transportation for treatments.

270 

Cancer screenings and diagnostic tests provided through the Save-A-Life Program.

998

Cases abstracted through the Cancer Registry.

And then we receive notes like this in the mail...

"I would like to thank each and every person that is responsible for the scheduling and payment of my visit to the Community Clinic and NW Breast Center. If not for your financial assistance, I more than likely would not have been able to receive the treatment I needed. Your help is so very much appreciated."

Thank you for YOUR support of our mission - we can't do it without you.

What are you doing May 1st? 

Now that you've read our post about March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, you've probably gotten your free screening kit and taken care of the immediate need of being aware of your own risk and current situation... but we know you've been thinking "Gee, I wish I could do something that will help others with their battles..." Fortunately, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

The 6th annual Heather Ridley-Fleeman Battle for Hope is set for May 1st this year, and we are going to have a great turnout of runners and walkers all raising awareness of colon cancer in our community and supporting the screening, assistance and education programs available free-of-charge through Hope Cancer Resources. There will be 10k & 5k races, a 5k walk, a 1-mile family fun walk, and kids' races. Something for everyone!

You can find more information about the event on the race website - including the story of Heather Ridley-Fleeman, the young woman for whom the race is named. She died at age 28 after several years of colon issues, doctor visits, and finally a diagnosis of Stage IV colon cancer. She wasn't in the highest risk group for the disease since she was in her 20's, which led to her diagnosis being delayed. We don't want anyone else to suffer what Heather suffered, but that's going to mean getting the word out about early detection and frequent screenings. Don't wait until you're 50! Don't wait until you are experiencing symptoms of the disease! Early detection can happen before you have any symptoms, and it can save your life.

You can register for the race online on the event website. If you can't join us, but would still like to support our efforts, feel free to make an online donation. You can even start your own fundraising page! Every dime raised will stay in Northwest Arkansas and be used to help your friends, neighbors and possibly your loved ones. If you have any questions about the event, please contact us at 479-361-5847. 

See you there!!

Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery

It's easy to forget that when an adult has a serious illness it affects everyone in their household, not just the grown-ups. Sometimes we don't know how much to tell our children about our diagnosis. Some people feel that children don't "need" to know things that might be scary or uncertain. We don't want to frighten them, but we also don't want to lie if the prognosis isn't good. But it doesn't take long for a child to figure out something is wrong when mom or dad is spending a lot of time in bed and suffering the effects of chemotherapy and/or radiation.

At Hope Cancer Resources we have materials that can help parents talk to their children about their cancer. They present potential questions and provide words that can be used to let them know what to expect through treatment and recovery. The bottom line is that it's okay for a child to be fearful, and to ask questions. And, if parents aren't sure how to answer those questions, we have social workers on staff who can help facilitate those conversations. There is strength in knowledge, and believe it or not - children can be a parent's greatest source of encouragement and hope. Let them be a part of the process.

In addition to one-on-one help and printed materials we have available, we also sponsor a support group that meets for six weeks at a time called CLIMB. It meets whenever there is enough interest, usually a couple of times a year. At the sessions, children meet as a group with a social worker. They are allowed to speak freely about their fears and ask as many questions as they like - or just sit quietly and listen if that's their preference. At the same time, parents are in a separate room learning how to help their children deal with the new priorities that may be taking over the family schedule. It's a time for all parties involved to become empowered and learn some techniques for stress management.

If you are interested in getting on the list for the next round of sessions for CLIMB, contact one of our social workers at 479-361-5847. In the meantime, we'll be happy to provide those materials mentioned above... feel free to ask.

March - Coming in like a Lion!

March is a big month around here. Not only is it Colorectal Cancer Awareness month (Have you heard? We're giving away free screening kits!!) it is also National Social Work Month. A whole month to appreciate social workers? You think that's over-doing it a little? Trust us - it's not.

There are an amazing array of employment opportunities out there for a shiny new social worker. There are jobs in counseling clinics, others focused on children's issues, some within governmental agencies, and some of them - like ours - require an ability to work with people who are truly desperate for a ray of hope during a journey they cannot begin to see a pathway through.

And they're not slackers either! In the last six months, the social workers at Hope Cancer Resources have:

• Provided distress screenings for 632 new patients. There are 365 days in a whole year... do the math. These folks are BUSY!!
• Helped 84 individuals purchase 417 prescriptions they would not have otherwise been able to afford.
• Provided 222 patients with financial assistance needs such as rents & mortgages, car payments and gas cards totaling over $61,000. That "busy" thing again... 
• Provided one-on-one counseling and support to 15 patients. Not all patients need this, obviously, but when they do, it's a vital component to the overall well-being of the patient and/or their caregiver.

A few comments from patients might help sum up the level of importance our social workers have in the work we do, and why we think they're so awesome...

"We thank you so very much for being there for us when we didn't think we had any hope."

"Your help will not only help me with expenses, but help alleviate some of the stress and tension caused by such worries. Thank goodness for organizations like yours, and caring people like you, literally saving patients from some of the stresses that can hinder recovery. Thank you!"

"My daily radiation in Fayetteville was over on Dec. 31 -- what a Happy New Year for me & my family! Your financial help with gas cards was a real help on keeping our gas expenses down, and truly apreciated."

"Thank you for helping me get my smile back!"
(From a patient we helped with dental problems that her cancer treatments caused)

"We received the generous gas cards today to help us get to Indiana for surgery. We just wanted to thank you for helping to make this difficult journey a little easier to bear."

We are so proud of the work our social workers do for our patients, and so grateful to the community that helps us make their work possible.  

Never forget that cancer affects us all... 

it's not about "them" - it's about "us".

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month!

Colon cancer is probably not the most popular lunchtime topic for you and your co-workers. Nor is it likely that you'll be chatting about fecal blood tests with your neighbor as you trim your lilac bushes. It's an uncomfortable subject due in part to the manner in which it's detected. Subjects involving bodily functions are uncomfortable to discuss with medical professionals - let alone people you see more than once a year while wearing more than a couple of yards of cotton fabric.

Perhaps it's the reluctance we have about discussing it that makes colon cancer the #2 cancer killer in the United States - second only to lung cancer. In fact, there are approximately 150,000 new cases diagnosed every year in this country, with over 50,000 deaths resulting. 


Do we have your attention yet? 

Here are a few more facts we've collected. Feel free to throw them around while chatting with your friends... they may look at you funny, but if it helps even one of them catch colorectal cancer early - it will be worth the risk of being talked about behind your back or uninvited to happy-hour for a couple of weeks, we promise.

• The lifetime risk for an American to get CRC is 1 in 19 for both men and women.
• Annual screening with a proven Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) can lead to the detection and removal of polyps and reduce the risk of getting CRC by 20%.
• Annual screeting by FOBT can help reduce the number of deaths from CRC by 15-33%.
• The five-year survival rate from CRC is about 90% when the disease is detected early, compared to only 11% when it is detected in a later stage.
• Annual screening with a proven FOBT can detect 90% of CRC cases in average risk individuals; i.e., those who are age 50 and older and have no symptoms.  

To highlight the preventable nature of this disease, we are giving away free screening kits at Hope Cancer Resources throughout the month of March. You can come by our office in Springdale, Arkansas, or you can contact Rebekah Billingsley, our Community Cancer Education Coordinator, to request a kit to be mailed to you. Rebekah can also provide more information about screenings we provide through our Community Outreach Programs. 

Additional information about colorectal cancer can be found at one of these websites: 
The Colon Cancer Alliance
American College of Gastroenterology
Johns Hopkins Colon Cancer Information
The Colon Club