Vim & Vigor - Spring 2018 - Community Healthcare - 5

The Cancer Resource Centre is a
support program of the Community
Cancer Research Foundation and is
open to everyone who needs help in
coping with a cancer diagnosis. The
therapeutic environment of the center
promotes healing of the body, mind and
spirit with complementary therapies,
education and support services.
The center is just one of the
resources offered by the hospitals
of Community Healthcare System.
Supported by their team of specialized,
experienced medical professionals, the
hospitals continue to work together
to advance their knowledge of cancer
and its treatment. Cancer programs
at Community Hospital in Munster,
St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago
and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart
are uniquely designed around the needs
of patients and their families.
"We have been advancing cancer care
in many ways in our healthcare community, including bringing the latest
in technology, new surgical techniques
and research to our area," says M. Nabil
Shabeeb, MD, founding board member
and chairman of the Cancer Resource
Centre Advisory Board.
"By bringing the Cancer Resource
Centre to our area in 2003, we have
been able to treat patients holistically
by combining medical and nonmedical
therapies including classes like yoga,
qi gong, tai chi, etc.," he says. "We are
the only center in Northwest Indiana

Mia Pavkovich, far
right, practices tai chi
at the Cancer Resource
Centre in Munster with
instructor Mike Nanay.

to offer these services to better serve
our patients. We have seen a dramatic
difference in how patients like Mia and
their family members are able to deal
with their cancer diagnosis on a daily
basis when they take advantage of these
type of therapies."
Research shows that maintaining a
healthy weight, eating right and exercising regularly helps to not only prevent
many forms of cancer, but may have
a positive effect on survivorship after
treatment is complete.
"These same benefits of exercise and
maintaining an ideal body weight have
recently been shown to have a positive effect on survival," says Mary C.
Shields, Community Cancer Research
Foundation administrator. "In fact, the

WEBSITE

Complementary Medicine
The Cancer Resource Centre, located at 926 Ridge Road in Munster,
complements the advanced cancer treatment options available through
the three hospitals of Community Healthcare System. The center is open
to everyone who needs help in coping with a cancer diagnosis. For more
information, visit myccrf.com/about-us/cancer-resource-centre or
call 219-836-3349.

foundation is currently participating in
a research study (AO11401) for women
newly diagnosed with breast cancer
that will evaluate the effect of weight
reduction on overall survival. This is
one more way the medical professionals
of Community Healthcare System work
together to deliver the most advanced,
well-rounded personalized care to
each patient."
Besides exercise and wellness classes,
the center also provides a free lending
library and sponsors a number of support groups led by professional counselors. Patients with cancer and their loved
ones will find a tranquil retreat to help
them manage their stress and regain
control of their health, all under one
convenient roof.
"One of the most powerful things
that I have learned through my position as director of the Cancer Resource
Centre is that everyone has a coping
mechanism within them," says Anthony
Andello, director. "When we provide the
right support, resources and guidance,
those strengths will start to surface
when they are needed most," he says.
"Go to the Cancer Resource Centre,"
advises Pavkovich. "Talk to patients and
survivors and know you are not alone
fighting the battle. They are the ones
who hold me up; they feed my soul." ■
S PRIN G 2 01 8

http://www.myccrf.com/about-us/cancer-resource-centre

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2018 - Community Healthcare