Herbs are very easy to grow either in your garden or can be grown in pots. Herbs are very healthy for us since they flavor foods so we use less salt and fat. Herbs are also high in antioxidants and phytochemicals which are great cancer fighters.

<< BASIL is a annual herb that can help relieve gas and smooth upset stomach. Basil goes well with tomatoes. Add at the end of cooking to preserve flavor. Used best fresh or frozen.

DILL >> has been used to soothe the digestive tract and treat heartburn. The word dill comes from the word dilla , meaning to lull or soothe. Dill is rich in chlorophyll which can be useful in treating bad breath. Dill is used best fresh but also freezes well.

<<MINT is the used to soothe your stomach, counteract nausea, promotes digestion and may help ease hiccups. Mint goes great in tea or water. Mint can be used fresh, dried or freezes well.

OREGANO >> can help sooth coughs and may help reduce body odor. It is also a digestive aid. Oregano goes great with Italian foods. Used at the beginning of cooking to help develop the flavor. Can be used fresh, dried or freezes well.

<< PARSLEY may help prevent kidney stones and bladder infections since it’s considered to be a diuretic herb. It can also help relieve bloating during menstruation. There is a reason why restaurants put it on your dinner plate, it’s a great breath freshener. Parlsey should be used at the end of cooking to retain flavor. Should be used fresh or freezes well.

ROSEMARY >> has 19 chemicals with antibacterial action that may help fight infections. Rosemary is great with potatoes. Rosemary should be used at the beginning of cooking to help develop flavor. Can be used fresh or dried.

<< THYME can increase blood flow to the skin which may help with healing. The thymes scent is also a mood lifter. Thyme can be used with chicken dishes. Should be used at the beginning of cooking to help develop flavor. Can be used fresh or dried.

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 outing will feature a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start and a four person scramble. The cost is $100 per person, and includes 18 holes with a cart. Sponsorships are available.

This event is held every year by the friends and family of Carrie Mach, who died in 2000 at the age of 17 after a long battle with cancer.

Despite her own debilitating illness, Carrie lived a life of love, compassion, and courage. She often volunteered for children’s causes and other cancer-related efforts. She worked diligently to provide hope and comfort to those who needed it most. Her friends and family continue her work by raising money to help those touched by cancer in the Siouxland area.

Funds raised by the Carrie Mach Annual Golf Outing go towards helping cancer patients at Mercy Medical Center, Hospice of Siouxland, and the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.

To register, call Rick Mach at (712) 224-5010.

With the SBRT capabilities, the low dosage of radiation given off during a CT scan is similar to the dose received during a mammogram.

Karen, the Cancer Center’s Executive Director, is shown here signing up for the Cancer Prevention Study-3 – YOU can too! It’s today, Wed., April 24th at Mercy’s Leiter Room until 2 p.m., tomorrow, Apr. 25, 9-1 p.m. at Long Lines and 3 – 7 p.m. at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center; Friday, Apr. 26, 10-2 pm at Long Lines and Sat., Apr. 27 9 – 1 pm at the Cancer Center. Call 1-888-604-5888 for more information. Just do it!!

Cancer prevention: It’s a topic that never ceases, especially in light of the constant headlines we read every day.

Increased sun exposure can lead to skin cancer.

Drinking too much alcohol increases colon cancer.

And the list goes on and on.

Now the American Cancer Society’s Epidemiology Research Program is beginning a lengthy study, Cancer Prevention Study – 3 (CPS-3), aimed at helping define what health and lifestyle choices may trigger certain cancers.

The June E. Nylen Cancer Center is an official enrollment site, and the initiative is a joint venture with Mercy and UnityPoint Health, formerly St. Luke’s. A series of enrollment meetings are set for April 23-27 in Sioux City.

“People ask ‘what can I do to help?’, ‘How can I make a difference?’ ” said Karen Van De Steeg, Cancer Center Executive Director. “You can participate in this study, which is going to help figure out some of the genetic causes and the lifestyle factors that cause cancer.”

The American Cancer Society wants to recruit 300,000 adults across the country and Puerto Rico for the study. To date, more than 106,000 people have signed up to participate nationwide, the organization said.

Once enrolled, participants will fill out surveys every other year for at least 20 years. Researchers will look at the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer.

“We are looking for the opportunity to change the face of cancer — that way we don’t have to tell our children to be afraid of cancer,” said Leisha Hill, CPS-3 chairwoman for the American Cancer Society. “The c-word is scary to everyone.”

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible to enroll in CPS-3, men and women should:

• Be between 30 and 65 years old

• Have no personal history of cancer (this does not include basal or squamous cell skin cancer)

• Be willing to make a long-term commitment to the study, which involves completing periodic follow-up questionnaires.

How do I enroll?

To enroll in the study, visit cps3siouxland.org or call 888-604-5888.

In light of Clinical Trials Awareness Month, which is April, we offer this informational directory on understanding them.

What are clinical trials?

The purpose of a clinical trial is to look for new and better ways to prevent, detect, diagnose or treat a disease. Many trials look at the effect and safety of a treatment. Some look at the link between risk factors and disease. Other trials may look at tissues or blood to learn about a disease, or use surveys to learn how a disease affects daily living. Lastly, there are trials that look for ways to improve the comfort and quality of life of people with a disease.

What are the different types of clinical trials?

Treatment trials test new ways to treat cancer. That may include testing:
• A new drug
• A new type of surgery or radiation
• A new combination of treatments
• New methods such as gene therapy
• Supplements
• Complementary and Alternative Methods, or CAM

Sometimes extra tissue samples are also taken for additional laboratory studies. An example would be a study that compares a new drug against standard drugs. It looks to see if the new drug treats a type of cancer better and with fewer side effects.

Prevention trials test new methods, such as medicines, vitamins or minerals that may lower the risk of a type of cancer. These trials:

• Look for the best way to prevent cancer in people who have never had cancer
• Look for ways to prevent cancer from coming back
• Test ways to prevent a new type of cancer in people who have already had cancer

An example might be a study that uses a drug to see if it prevents a certain cancer.

Screening trials test the best way to find cancer in its early stages. An example might include a study that includes one MRI scan of the whole body to find cancers in children instead of doing several CT scans or x-rays.

Epidemiologic or observational trials look at the link between risk factors and cancer. Others look at the effect of cancer treatments.
Example: A study looks at the effects of medicines on decision-making in patients with cancer.

Quality-of-life trials look at ways to improve comfort and quality of life for patients. One example is a study that compares the quality of life of patients who had a bone marrow transplant with healthy people of the same age, sex and schooling.

Pros and Cons

What are the pros and cons of participating in a clinical trial?
Pros
• You may get promising new treatment methods that you can’t get outside of a clinical trial
• New methods may have fewer side effects than usual methods
• You are helping others with the same disease, both now and in the future
• You play an active role in your own health care
Cons
• New drugs or methods are not always be better than the standard treatment
• New methods may have side effects or risks that doctors do not expect or that are worse than those from the standard treatment
• If you are in a randomized trial you will not be able to choose whether you get the study treatment or standard treatment
• Your health insurance may not cover all costs
• You may need to make more visits to the hospital or clinic
• No one can promise that a new study treatment may work

You may drop out of a clinical trial at any time, for any reason.

Questions you should ask your doctor:

• What is the reason for doing this trial?
• Is this trial going to help me?
• What medical tests and/or treatment will be done during the trial and for how long?
• What are the pros and cons of this trial?
• What are the possible side effects?
• What other treatments are available if this doesn’t work?
• Have there been other trials using this treatment?
• Will my insurance cover the trial costs?
• Will I need to make extra trips or visits?
• Will I be paid for mileage/hotel costs?
• Can the trial be done in my local community?
• Can I quit before the end of the trial?
• What costs will be covered by the trial?
• Will I know what treatment I will be receiving?

Myths and facts about clinical trials:

True or false? Your doctor knows best; he or she can tell you whether or not you should consent to participate in a clinical trial.
False. Your doctor is likely to be a valuable source of advice and information, but only you can decide whether to participate in a clinical trial. No one—not even medical experts—can predict whether a treatment, screening, prevention, or supportive care method under evaluation in a trial will prove successful. The informed consent process is designed to help you weigh all of the information and make the right choice for you or your child.

True or false? You must be near a big hospital to participate in a clinical trial.
False.Many cancer clinical trials take place at local hospitals. Some also take place at local cancer clinics and doctor’s offices.

True or false? There are real benefits to participating in clinical trials.
True. By participating in a clinical trial, patients have access to the latest drugs or procedures and are among the first to receive potentially effective new therapies. Studies have shown that trial participants have outcomes that are as good as, if not better than, those who do not participate, even if they get the standard of care and not the treatment that is being tested.

True or false?  Cancer clinical trial patients are often given sugar pills.
False.Patients who join clinical trials are given the best treatment available or the chance to receive a new treatment being considered. Sugar pills (also called placebos) are rarely used in cancer clinical trials and are never used in place of treatment.

True or false? The informed-consent document outlines all of the possible known risks and side effects of a trial.
True. By law, each informed consent document must contain information on all the known risks associated with a trial.

True or false?  Clinical trial patients are treated like ‘guinea pigs.’ False. Ninety-seven percent of Harris survey participants who took part in clinical trials said that they were treated with respect and received excellent or good quality care. Patients in cancer clinical trials have outcomes as good as, if not better than, those who do not participate.

True or false?  Health insurance will not cover the costs of a clinical trial.
False. Many insurers cover the costs of treatment that they cover if you were not in a clinical trial. Other costs may not be covered. Check with your study coordinator to see if you are covered.

True or false? You can drop out of a clinical trial any time you wish.
True.You may withdraw from a clinical trial at any time.

True or false? Medicare covers the patient care costs of clinical trials.
True.Medicare has been covering these costs since June 2000.

True or false? A patient can become the subject of a clinical trial without knowing it.
False.All patients in a clinical trial are volunteers and must sign an informed consent. Even after signing a consent form, patients are free to withdraw from the study at any time they choose.

True or false? Researchers and doctors may not tell the risks associated with a clinical trial.
False.Before patients can participate in a clinical trial they must read and sign the informed consent document. This document contains a list of potential risks of each trial.

True or false? Many cancer patients are not aware of clinical trials when they decide on a treatment plan.
True.A National Study by the Lung Cancer Alliance showed that 80% of study participants were not aware of available and appropriate clinical trials at the time they were exploring treatment options.

True or false? Cancer clinical trials are for people who have no other options.
False.Trials are often another option that offers a treatment plan that may better address the patient’s needs and continue their quality of life.

Resources

A Guide to Participating in Clinical Trials: Iowa Cancer Resources

About Clinical Trials

Cancer Clinical Trials in Iowa

National Cancer Institute: Clinical Trials

American Cancer Society: What You Need to Know About Clinical Trials

U.S. National Institutes of Health

CenterWatch: Blood Disorders and Cancer Clinical Trials

CenterWatch: Solid Tumor Clinical Trials

Follow the proper advice for preparing and eating foods to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

by Cindy Gates

It’s getting time for graduation parties and picnics. America’s food supply is among the world’s safest. Like most people, you probably know the three basic food safety rules for serving, handling, and storage: keep food clean, keep hot foods hot and keep cold foods cold.

But when times get hectic, do you always follow these rules? Because of the health risk imposed, follow the proper advice for preparing and eating foods to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Foodborne illness is also an economic burden – linked to medical expenses, lost productivity, and even death. The USDA estimates that $6.9 billion annually are associated with the five bacterial pathogens (salmonella, listeria, campylobacter, and 2 kinds of E.Coli).

Do you have an upset stomach, diarrhea or fever? You could have a foodborne illness that was caused by eating contaminated foods. Symptoms are often mistaken for other health problems and everyone reacts to foodborne bacteria differently.

Life begins at 40! Between 40 and 140 degrees F. This is where a single bacterium can multiply to become trillions in just 24 hours. Under the right conditions, bacteria double in number every 20 minutes or so. You can’t taste or smell most bacteria. Yet, they live everywhere from foods, your pets, surfaces, on your skin and under your fingernails.

To survive and multiply, bacteria need time and the right conditions: food, moisture, and warm temperatures. The ideal temperature for bacterial growth is between 40 and 140 degrees F. Above 160 degrees, heat destroys bacteria and below 140 degrees, refrigerating slows their growth. So if you have leftover sandwiches from the graduation party that have been sitting out for more than 2 hours, follow this common sense advice: when in doubt, throw it out.

Have you ever wondered?

•  if you need to worry about mayonnaise in picnic foods. Mayonnaise is a highly perishable spread, so it must be chilled. Mayonnaise is made with pasteurized ingredients and contains salt, which can help slow bacterial growth. But most of the time, it’s not the mayo that poses the risk, but the chicken, tuna or eggs that causes the illness.

• if fish you catch are safe to eat? About 20 percent of fish eaten in the United States are caught for personal use. They are OK to eat if cooked and stored properly. However some waters are contaminated so also check with the local authorities for current safety status.

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.

Dr. Kamalesh Bala

One of the Cancer Center’s newest doctors, Dr. Kamalesh Bala, will be giving an informational program entitled “Update on Cancer Care” at an event with the same name on Tuesday, April 30.

The event, which is being held as part of National Cancer Control Month, will be held at the Floyd Valley Hospital Conference Center in LeMars, and is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Bala, a medical oncologist, will discuss updates to chemotherapy and oncology treatments, then end with a Q&A session.

To pre-register for this event, please call 712-546-3401 or 800-642-6074 Ext. 401.

The June E. Nylen Cancer Center has received two grants from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Siouxland Affiliate in the amount of $36,233 to support breast health education and screening and patient assistant programs.

The grants will help fund two 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; 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.

“Every year, these programs benefit hundreds of women who receive treatment at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center,” said Tracy Feathers, director of marketing at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.

The June E. Nylen Cancer Center provides radiation therapy, chemotherapy, treatment for blood disorders, 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.

And now, thanks to an initiative started in 2012 called the Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment, or IPOST, people can make their wishes known before their health deteriorates.

While many seniors have created an advance directive, this legal document is only a general expression of an individual’s wishes regarding medical treatments. IPOST is an actual medical order for using or forgoing medical treatments.

IPOST is a way of turning the wishes expressed in advance directives into actual orders for patient care.

At its heart, the IPOST is a tool to help ensure that a patient’s end-of-life health care treatment choices are communicated and honored from one healthcare setting to another (hospital, nursing home, home care, hospice, EMTs). The document also aims to recognize religious and moral obligations when making healthcare decisions.

Several healthcare organizations are working together through a group called the Siouxland IPOST Coalition to help educate the medical community and public about IPOST. The Coalition is beginning the education with physicians, physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners.

A pilot program with Siouxland PACE and Sunrise Retirement Community began in January where participants and residents were assisted by facilitators to complete the IPOST form.

After completing an IPOST form, it must be signed by the patient’s physician, PA or RNP to become a legal document. Then, you can rest easy knowing that your wishes have been expressed in a document that all healthcare providers will honor.

So how do you learn more? Find more information at www.idph.state.ia.us/IPOST or www.polst.org.