The evening’s celebration is “Tales for the Cause” featuring children’s books by Silhacek. The evening and her books reflect her love of animals and will include a signature drink named “PAWS-tini”, a silent auction and a circle of love wreath to place pictures of loved ones who have lost their lives to cancer.

“We are so fortunate to have the June E. Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City and I wanted to give back to help local cancer patients,” said Silhacek. “I have been blessed in so many ways and I want to pass those blessings onto others.”

Eldon’s began their Guest Bartender Night as a way to give back to the community and encourage people to support a local non-profit. They have given back thousands of dollars to local charities.

“The Cancer Center appreciates the opportunity to partner with Eldon’s and we appreciate the support from our community,” said Pat Hubbard, director of fund development.

One hundred percent of the proceeds stay in Sioux City to benefit local cancer patients. Proceeds from this event will be directed to various areas at the cancer center such as helping cancer patients with financial assistance, transportation, utilities, housing, food, clothing, and other times.

For more information please contact Pat Hubbard, director of fund development, 712.252.9352 or hubbardp@jencc.com. Or visit www.nylencancercenter.com or find us on face book.

QUICK LINKS: Register online by clicking here. || Find Complete race details here.

Every year hundreds of people flock to Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve to honor those who are who have battled or are still battling breast cancer. Proceeds from the event provide equipment upgrades and services for patients at the June E.Nylen Cancer Center.

Online registration for the 16th annual June E. Nylen Cancer Center Race for Hope, set for Sept. 15, 2012, is now open.

Early registration entry fees of $22 apply until Aug. 28 when fees will change to $35 per person. Entry fee includes a green long-sleeve cotton shirt.

Participants can opt for a dri-fit, performance material shirt for an extra $10. Kids are $10 each and they will receive a short-sleeved cotton shirt.

More details will follow regarding the race. Please subscribe to our website to receive periodic updates. And follows us on Facebook to receive up-to-date information!

See photos from the 2011 race

2. What are the three mainforms of skin cancer?
Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma

3. What are the Early warning signs (ABCD’S)?
• A – Assymmetry (common moles are round and symmetrical)
• B – Border (skin cancers may have uneven borders)
• C – Color (watch for varied shades of brown, tan or black and also red, white and blue)
• D – Diameter (if a spot is larger than a pencil eraser (6mm or 1/4” diameter) it could be trouble

4. What do skin cancers look like?
Skin cancer takes many forms. Anything that changes, grows or fits any of the ABCD’s should be taken seriously. Anything suspicious should be examined by a doctor.

5. How can I tell if skin cancer is developing?
There can be many signs including: a change in a mole, a sore that does not heal, a skin growth that increases in size and a spot that continues to itch, hurt, scab.

6. How do I perform a total body skin examination?
Check your body throroughly at least every three months. Look for any changes. See a doctor right away if you notice anything suspicious!

7. Who is most at risk?
People who always burn, never tan, and are fair with red or blonde hair, green or blue eyes and freckles have a greater chance fo developing skin cancer.

8. Do sunscreens prevent skin cancer?
Studies have shown that sunscreen use can prevent skin cancer.

9. How should I use sunscreen?
Apply in advance. Apply enough. Reapply frequently. Use broad-spectrum products with a high SPF. Don’t rely on sunscreen alone!

10. What does SPF mean?
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measures the length of time a product protects against skin reddening from UVB, compared to how long the skin takes to redden without protection.

11. Can children get skin cancer?
Skin cancer is uncommon in children. However, damage that later results in skin cancer is accumulated in childhood.

12. Are sunscreens suitable for infants and children?
Sunscreens may be used on babies starting at six months of age. But applying a sunscreen should not be an excuse for keeping a child out in the sun too long.

13. At what time of day is the sun most dangerous?
The sun is most dangerous between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

14. Does clothing provide good sun protection?
Dressing for sun protection is still one of the best ways to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Look for a tight weave, loose fit, and darker colors for more protection.

15. Why are sunglasses important?
UV absorption by the eye and surrounding tissues is an important factor in causing both benign and malignant growths on the eyelid skin and on the surface of the eye.

16. Does skin cancer run in families?
Heredity plays a major role in melanoma risk. About one of every ten patients diagnosed has a family member with a history of the disease.

17. Are tanning parlors safer than the sun?
Exposure to the radiation of a tanning booth may be more risky than exposure to the sun.

18. What are “UVB” and “UVA”?
UVA – Long wave solar rays of 320 – 400 nanometers; UVB – Short-wave solar rays of 290 – 320 nanometers (see Sun & Skin News Vol. 15 No. 1).

19. Will sun exposure also make me look older than I really am?
Yes. Sun effects can be seen by comparing the skin on the face and backs of the hands with the skin on a part of the body that is seldom exposed, such as under the arms.

20. How is skin cancer diagnosed?
Every diagnosis begins with a thorough examination of the skin growth or lesion under a bright light. A biopsy may be taken. This is the most accurate diagnostic test.

21. Can skin cancer be cured?
Almost all skin cancer that is diagnosed early and treated promptly and appropriately can be cured.

22. How is skin cancer treated?
Skin Cancer may be removed by one of several methods including excisional surgery, curettage- electrodesiccation, cryosurgery, radiation therapy, topical chemotherapy, or by Mohs micrographic surgery.

23. Can skin cancer recur?
Yes, so regular follow-up and self-examination is extremely important!

By Cindy Gates

We all know by now that we need to eat at least 5 fruits and vegetables every day (9-10 is even better). But how can you eat healthy and stay within your budget?

Buy in season: Although most fruits and veggies are available year-round, some are less expensive when they are in season, and they taste better, too. Also keep in mind that all forms of fruits and vegetables are nutritious, so canned and frozen forms are good, too. It’s more cost effective to buy a large bag of frozen berries and use as you want vs buying fresh berries and having some of them mold and go to waste.

Buy more: when there are specials, buy extra. You can also freeze the extra or make smoothies or toss them in soups.

Replace half the meat with beans or veggies in a recipe. This will reduce fat, increase fiber and save you money.

Grow your own fruits and vegetables. Many are easy to grow even in pots if you don’t have the space.

Visit your local farmers market or join a CSA (community supported agriculture). Store your fruits and veggies in the proper way so they don’t go to waste. Visit www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org to see how to store them. The Sioux City Farmer’s Market is now open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the parking lot of Tyson Events Center.

Cut your fruits and veggies at home. Pre-cut produce can cost much more than whole fruits and veggies. Shop store brands which can be a great budget choice for many forms of fruits and veggies.

A Healthy You is a regular column about nutrition, healthy living and cancer care. It is written by Cindy Gates, RD and LD and the Cancer Center’s Oncology dietitian, herbalist and Certified Wellness Coach.

“May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and we want to help educate people that prevention is the key to reducing the risk of developing skin cancer, so we are offering the first fifty customers a free bottle of sun screen, and donating the day’s spray tanning sales to June E. Nylen Center to support their skin cancer prevention efforts,” said Robin Wolff, manager of Kensington Sunless Tanning. “A sunless tan is a safe alternative to UV Tanning.”

The number of skin cancers is on the rise especially among young people due to the repeated exposure to ultraviolet rays during childhood.

“An estimated 90 percent of all skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun or ultraviolet (UV) lights such as tanning booths,” says Tracy Feathers, June E. Nylen Cancer Center Director of Marketing and Education. “Whether a tan is achieved in a tanning booth or by a pool, the UV dose adds to the total lifetime accumulation of UV and to the risk of skin cancer.”

From 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., the June E. Nylen Cancer Center will also provide free skin health assessments. People are invited to look into the Derma Scan Machine, which uses a black light to analyze skin damage and visually see how the sun has affected their skin.

Information on skin cancer and samples of sunscreen will be provided along with door prizes and giveaways. All of the money raised from the day’s spray tans will support skin cancer prevention.

“There are a few simple ways to protect yourself from sun damage: limit direct sun exposure from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., wear sunglasses, a hat or cap, use sunscreen and check your skin regularly for any changes,” says Feathers.

For more information, call Tracy Feathers at 712.252.9426 or www.KensingtonSunlessTanning.com.

Every year the June E. Nylen Cancer Center provides free screening mammograms for women in Siouxland, and we have two sponsors to thank for this crucial service.
First, a little about the program, titled Fight Like a Girl, or Serving Our Sisters. It provides screening mammograms for women age 35 – 49 that need financial assistance to cover the cost.
The sponsors who make this program a reality are the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Siouxland affiliate, and the Mark and Mary Ellen Nylen Foundation. Both of these important organizations have helped guarantee that women in need receive the screenings they need to stay healthy.
To apply to the program, simply complete an application. Applications are available at the Cancer Center or any primary care doctors’ office, as well as a downloadable link below.
If financial assistance guidelines are met, a mammogram is scheduled with one of our participating mammographers.
For more information on the SOS: Serving Our Sisters program, call Tracy Feathers at 712-252-9338 or email us here.

DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION

Click here to download a SOS Application

Click here to download an SOS Application in Spanish

By Cindy Gates

New guidelines issued by the American Cancer Society urge doctors to talk to their cancer patients about eating right, exercising and slimming down if they are too heavy.

The American Cancer Society has long encouraged healthy eating and exercise as a way to prevent some cancers, and now they are spreading the word to cancer survivors as well.

Over the past five years, there has been more than 100 studies involving cancer survivors, many of them showing that exercise and/or healthy diet is associated with lower cancer recurrence rates and longer survival.

The main points of the guidelines include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight. This includes avoiding weight gain during treatment and losing weight if you are overweight. A healthy weight is important for fighting recurrence of cancer, as well as beneficial for fighting other health problems.
• Exercise regularly – up to 150 minutes per week. This has many healthy benefits, including improved physical function, helping mood and mental clarity, and may even help patients to complete chemotherapy by fighting fatigue and making them feel better.
• Various studies have shown that diet and food choices may impact cancer progression and recurrence among cancer survivors. The guidelines suggest eating a healthy diet that’s high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry and fish and avoiding a diet containing refined food products, red and processed meats, high fat dairy products and fried foods.

These recommendations are not only good for cancer survivors, they are good guidelines for everyone. Broccoli anyone?

To schedule an appointment with the dietitian to discuss healthy eating and exercise guidelines, call Cindy Gates at 712-252-9425 or email at gatesc[at]jencc.com.

A Healthy You is a regular column about nutrition, healthy living and cancer care. It is written by Cindy Gates, RD and LD and the Cancer Center’s Oncology dietitian, herbalist and Certified Wellness Coach.

The grants will help fund three ongoing programs offered at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center: Serving Our Sisters (SOS) which provides screening mammograms for under-served-uninsured women and men; Patient Navigator/Social Worker who assists breast cancer patients and their families in navigating the challenges that surround cancer treatment; and the Patient Assistance Fund which provides financial support for breast cancer patients to receive help with daily living expenses such as rent/mortgage payments, utilities bills, travel expenses and home-care services.

“We are grateful for the ongoing support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Siouxland Affiliate for supporting our patients,” says Tracy Feathers, director of marketing at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. “As a result of our collaborative education and prevention efforts, thousands of women have been screened for breast cancer and hundreds of patients have benefited from the Patient Navigation and Patient Assistant Programs.”

The June E. Nylen Cancer Center provides radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and state-of-the-art technology, access to clinical trials, on-site laboratory and radiology services, along with spiritual, nutritional and emotional care provided by a team of health care experts.

For more information please visit www.nylencancercenter.com or call 712.252.0088.

Yes, avocados are high in fat, but it’s the healthy monounsaturated fat. In comparison with other fruits, avocados contain more protein, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, B Vitamins, vitamin E, and vitamin K. They contain more potassium than bananas.

When choosing avocados, select ones that are soft to the touch but not mushy. Hass avocados will turn black when they are ripe. Other varieties require a soft squeeze to determine their ripeness. Ripe avocados should be kept in refrigerator.

If you buy an unripe avocado, you can place it in a paper bag until it ripens or store it at room temperature for a few days. After cutting an avocado, if you do not use it all immediately, add some lemon or lime juice to prevent it from browning.

Avocados can be used as a substitute for butter or mayonnaise. Try avocados instead of mayonnaise in an egg salad sandwich. When making guacamole, use more tomatoes and onions to increase your veggie intake and use as a dip for vegetables instead of chips.

Decadent Chocolate Fix
6 dates
½ avocado
4 tbsp high quality cocoa
1-2 tsp water (optional-if mixture is not blending well)
Place all ingredients in food processor and puree until smooth.
Recipe courtesy of Dr. Oz
A Healthy You is a regular column about nutrition, healthy living and cancer care. It is written by Cindy Gates, RD and LD and the Cancer Center’s Oncology dietitian, herbalist and Certified Wellness Coach.