The patients are the priority

By William Kenny
Northeast Times Staff Writer
http://www.northeasttimes.com
9/30/04

Physicians routinely have to make decisions on which life and death hang in the balance.

But even they concede that other powers come into play when a patient’s survival is at stake. Call it fortitude, call it will or call it stubbornness, but a healthy mental outlook on the part of the patient can go a long way toward fostering physical health.

Even in a case of a deadly disease like cancer.

That’s why the folks in the Cancer Center at Frankford Hospital’s Torresdale Campus have placed such a high priority on patient support services ranging from educational programs to support groups to recreational activities. That’s also why the hospital is asking for the community’s support in a series of fund-raising initiatives, to help its patients get the support they need.

On Sept. 17, for instance, the hospital hosted its semiannual craft sale in the desanctified church on the Torresdale campus, which used to serve as a summer estate for the family of St. Katharine Drexel.

Earlier in the year, the hospital held its annual golf outing at the Torresdale-Frankford County Club, raising about a quarter-million dollars for the cancer center, which will help with physical improvements to that section of the hospital.

And on Oct. 29, local residents are invited to attend the hospital’s Longaberger Bingo Night at Our Lady of Calvary Church.

"It all goes back to the patients in one way or another," Heidi Volpe, the new administrative director of the cancer center, said of the various fund-raising activities.

"Patients really have needs, and our priority is to help patients on every level."

One of those levels, obviously, is the medical. The Frankford-Torresdale cancer center sees about 1,200 new patients each year with cases representing all levels of severity.

For some, the treatment is limited to medical oncology, which includes chemotherapy, in which intravenous medicines are used to tackle the disease. Other patients require radiation oncology, in which high-intensity X-rays are used to kill off the cancerous cells. Unfortunately, many good cells are lost, too.

In many other cases, surgery is required to physically remove bad tissue, often in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiation.

Whatever the treatment of choice, however, the side effects can seem as overwhelming as the disease itself. But Dr. Jennifer Chalfin Simmons, director of the breast health program at Frankford-Torresdale and its dedicated breast surgeon, has seen firsthand how non-medical activities can improve a patient’s physical outlook.

"Breast cancer is a comprehensive problem that affects more than a person’s breast," said Simmons as she browsed the potpourri of handmade trinkets on display at the recent craft sale.

"Your whole being is affected. Faith in healing is a very important entity. (Doctors) don’t pretend for a moment that we’re the only element in healing."

Another key component is educating patients about their condition and helping them understand what’s going on with their bodies. The resource room in the hospital’s cancer center has many printed materials, as well as computers with Internet access so patients can learn about their conditions as they receive treatment for it.

"At that time of your life, you’re feeling very scared and a lack of control," Simmons said. "The scariest part for a cancer patient is that lack of control. The people (in the cancer center) do a lot to take that away."

It’s not just breast cancer. According to Dr. Scot Fisher, director of radiation oncology and co-director of the hospital’s cancer program, many of Frankford-Torresdale’s cancer patients arrive with the lung, prostate and colorectal forms of the disease.

"Those four (including breast cancer) represent about half of the cancer cases in all of the United States," Fisher said.

To meet patient’s emotional needs, the hospital coordinates regular support groups for patients and survivors, as well as an annual Breast Cancer Survivors’ Luncheon (planned for Oct. 22 this year) and a carnival on National Cancer Survivors Day each June.

"To cover the expenses of things like that, we have to raise money in some way," said Volpe, the director.

In the past, grants from pharmaceutical companies covered many of those activities, but economic conditions have caused that source of funding to dwindle.

Interestingly, Volpe and the cancer center administrative staff managed to convince some former cancer patients to join the dozens of vendors at the most recent craft show fund-raiser.

So, survivors like Linda Hirst of Parkwood Manor were able to profit personally and support others who were facing circumstances similar to theirs — all in one shot.

For Hirst, who described herself as a "craft person" before being diagnosed with throat cancer in February 2003, it also paid great emotional dividends.

"The (American) Cancer Society calls it ‘re-entry’ after you’ve been sick," said Hirst, who sold homemade pumpkin bread.

"I was anxious about coming out here. … (But) I like to keep a positive mind and do things that get you back into your life."

That day, she was glad she did.

"I’ve been smiling here all day," Hirst said. "And I haven’t smiled in a long time."

For more information about the Frankford Hospital cancer center, call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.

Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com