Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center

KADLEC REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER ANNOUNCES ACCREDITATION FROM THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION PROGRAM FOR RECTAL CANCER

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which makes it a fitting time for us to announce that Kadlec Regional Medical Center has earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons.

To achieve voluntary NAPRC accreditation, a rectal center must demonstrate compliance with the NAPRC standards addressing program management, clinical services, and quality improvement for patients. Centers are required to establish a multidisciplinary rectal cancer team that includes clinical representatives from surgery, pathology, radiology, radiation oncology, and medical oncology.

Additionally, the program met standards addressing the clinical services that the rectal cancer program provides, including Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA testing), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Computerized Tomography (CT) imaging for cancer staging which allow patients to start treatment within a defined timeframe. Rectal cancer programs accredited by the NAPRC undergo a site visit every three years and are also accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.

Accreditation by the NAPRC is granted only to those programs that are committed to providing the best possible care to patients with rectal cancer. The NAPRC provides the structure and resources for developing and operating a high-quality rectal center and accredited programs follow a model for organizing and managing a rectal center to ensure multidisciplinary, integrated, comprehensive rectal cancer services.

Kadlec is one of 33 accredited programs across the United States and is the only accredited program in the state of Washington.

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Below is a list of our events for Breast Cancer Awareness! In 2020, Breast Cancer was the #1 new cancer case for women, at a rate greater than nearly the next four cancers combined. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Don’t forget, while it is rare, men can get breast cancer as well. Be healthy. Get screened. Early detection saves lives.

The Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center is excited to announce that on Friday, June 25th from 3 to 4PM, in honor of National Cancer Survivor Month, we will be hosting a virtual cancer survivorship session with Robb D. Dye, a licensed clinical social worker at the Portneuf Cancer Center in Pocatello, Idaho.

Many cancer survivors across the world have a fear that their cancer will return. The fear of recurrence is normal and something that can be managed with the help of a professional.

During the session, participants will meet three cancer survivors with unique experiences and observe Mr. Dye as he uses psychotherapeutic counseling to address concerns from the survivors. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions with Mr. Dye following the presentation.

Registration is required. The event is free to anyone in our community and registrants will receive a link to join the event virtually via email. If you have any questions, please call (509) 737-3483. To register, please visit https://tinyurl.com/survivorsevent.

 When: Friday, June 25^th from 3 to 4PM

Where: Comfort of your own home over Zoom

Cost: Free for anyone in our community

Register: Visit https://tinyurl.com/survivorsevent

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation is proud to announce that we will be hosting a ceremonial groundbreaking for our Cancer Crushing Community Garden on Thursday, April 15th at 10am. The ceremony will take place at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center campus located at 7350 W. Deschutes Avenue in Kennewick in the Wellness Center parking lot at the back of the building.

Attendees will be asked to wear masks and social distance. There will be brief announcements, photos, and a garden rendering. Official construction of the garden will begin the week of April 19th and continue into early May.

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to kengamboa@tccancer.org or call (509) 737-3440.

Studies by the American Community Garden Association and MD Anderson Cancer Center show that community gardens bring tremendous value and immense aid to cancer patients. Food produced by the Cancer Crushing Community Garden will be utilized in our Cancer Crushing Cuisine cooking classes, as well as given to our cancer patients as part of our DINE IN patient meals program.

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center is a world-class organization caring for patients with cancer throughout the Tri-Cities and nearby region. To learn more about the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, please visit www.tccancer.org.

Dr. Lindsey Josephson, Naturopathic Physician with the Tri-Cities Cancer Center

Talking about the health of our digestive system might not be as sexy as its next-door neighbor the urogenital system, but our digestion actually plays a big role in our overall health. It is where nutrients are taken into our bodies, a major player in elimination of waste, and plays host to an entire ecosystem of friendly bacteria, yeast and archaea collectively referred to as the microbiome. When this ecosystem is disrupted or the diversity is reduced you not only end up with tummy trouble, but you are also at increased risk for many diseases like cancer, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also very hard to be in a good mood when your intestinal pets are unhappy because if you don’t treat them well, they can strike back with their own little chemical warfare causing gas, bloating, sluggishness, achiness and mood alterations to name just a few. Fortunately, taking care of this ecosystem is entirely within your capabilities and here are a few tools you can use.

Diet

1. Fiber – This often taken for granted nutrient is the number one key to gut health. Fiber is not digested by you, but it is digested by your microbiome. And those friendly bacteria in turn give you some really awesome products to you when you feed them. Things like short chain fatty acids that nourish your intestinal lining, vitamins and special signals shared with your immune cells that help them learn to tell the difference between friend and foe. They also help you digest and assimilate the nutrients from your food. Just try getting all the anti-oxidants out of your celery without these buggers, you just can’t do it. 25g is generally recommended, but that is really a minimum. It should come from a variety of sources. Why? Because studies show that diversity in friendly bacteria is key to a healthy microbial ecosystem. All of those different bugs like different types of food are important, so make sure you are getting fiber from whole grains, legumes, fruits, veggies and mushrooms on a regular basis.
2. Antioxidants – As with fiber, more variety is better. There are thousands of different antioxidants available in plants that have different activities protecting your cells from harmful byproducts of your own metabolism. The best way to make sure you get all the benefit that nature has to offer is to make sure you have a variety of colors. I recommend shooting for a full rainbow every week, but even within each color family more variety=better.
   1. Black/blue
   2. Red/purple
   3. Yellow/orange
   4. Green
   5. White/Tan
3. Friendly probiotic foods like yogurt. The mechanism by which these help your microbiome isn’t really known. They contain many of the same species that are present in your gut, but studies have shown that they don’t actually colonize. Studies have also definitely shown that they are beneficial to gut health and in some unknown way help you to grow a healthy microbiome.

Exercise

Regular physical exercise keeps things moving and improves every measure of health currently know ranging from energy, to mental focus, blood sugar regulation, cholesterol, BMI, and even enjoyment of sex! Promoting normal motility is also the biggest defense you have against overgrowth of opportunistic bugs in your gut. Like a river develops algae blooms when it becomes stagnant, your gut will “bloom” with less than friendly bugs if you sit still too long.

Stress management

The gut communicates with the brain through the Vagus nerve- also known as the 10^th cranial nerve. This nerve sends repair signals to the gut during parasympathetic conditions. The parasympathetic state is the “rest and repair” side of physiology and is opposed to the stress state, so the better you manage stress the better your body will repair, especially your gut.

On Sunday, February 14th, 2021 from 2PM to 4PM, the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation will be hosting a drive up event called “Crush On Cancer”.

Purchase a “Crush On Cancer Package” for pickup on Valentine’s Day at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. Your package includes a 3-course cancer crushing meal from Chef Kyle Thornhill of Tsunami Catering, a wonderful bottle of wine from our Cancer Center Cellar and two Crush On Cancer beanies! One special couple will receive a bottle of Leonetti!

3-Course dinner includes Strawberry Pecan Salad with Ginger Carrot Dressing and your choice for entrée for two: Spicy Kung Pao Chicken with Cashews and Brown Rice or Fresh Cod with Red Coconut Curry, Cauliflower Rice and Grilled Zucchini or Vegan Buddha Bowl with Peanut Sauce and Avocado Dressing. The yummy dessert is Chocolate Pots De Crème with Flaked Sea Salt!

The cost of this event is $100 per couple. To register, please visit the Tri-Cities Cancer Center’s Facebook page or tccancer.org

For more information or to add additional people, please call Lori Lott, Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation Events Coordinator at (509) 737-3373.

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation is proud to announce that they have received the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency for 2021. This is a major accomplishment that recognizes the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation at the highest level of award and demonstrates a commitment to transparency and excellence in philanthropy.

“This achievement is shared as a source of pride between our Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation Board of Directors and our staff who have played a valuable role in achieving this major recognition,” states Elizabeth McLaughlin, Foundation Executive Director.

GuideStar Platinum is a great way for an organization to share their progress and results. By reporting metrics through a GuideStar Nonprofit Profile, organizations can receive a Platinum Seal of Transparency, which is GuideStar’s newest and highest level of recognition. For more information, visit https://www.guidestar.org/.

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center is excited to announce that we will be offering virtual cooking classes again in 2021. Our first offering of the year will be a 4-part meal prep series starting on Wednesday, February 3^rd from 5:30 to 7:00PM on Zoom. Cooking classes will be led by Chef Kyle Thornhill of Tsunami Catering. This cooking class series will be fun, educational, and focused on helping participants prepare nourishing and delicious meals.

Education regarding cancer fighting properties of ingredients will be provided by a Lourdes Health Dietician or the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Lindsey Josephson.

Each class will be held from 5:30 – 7:00PM on Zoom. Each cooking class will be unique, focusing on a different meal. Registration is required. To register or for more information, please call (509) 737-3440 or visit tccancer.org/cuisine

When: Wednesdays – February 3^rd, February 17^th, March 3^rd and March 17^th from 5:30 – 7:00PM

Where: Comfort of your own home

Cost: $200 for 4-part series; $60 for individual session. Cost includes One Bite at a Time Cookbook; Apron, Insulated Freezer Bag and Main Ingredients to prepare meals.

• February 3rd – Roasted Chicken with a Seasonal Couscous
• February 17th – Turkey Patties with a Spinach Orzo with Pine Nuts and Feta
• March 3rd – Lemony Chicken with Capers and Kalamata Olives with Mashed Cinnamon Butternut Squash
• March 17th – Grilled Portabella with Mediterranean Lentil Salad

First-Class Team. World-Class Treatment You Deserve. We are YOUR Tri-Cities Cancer Center. To learn more about the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, please visit tccancer.org

About Chef Kyle Thornhill: A native of Napa Valley, CA, Kyle Thornhill trained under great chefs such as Cindy Paulson (chef and cookbook author) at Mustards Grill, Thomas Keller at the French Laundry, and chef Bob Turley at the popular Yountville Grill. Kyle was named Executive Chef for Platt Productions a role in which expanded to events with Robert Mondavi Winery, Sutter Home. Kyle also co-founded and co-operated a kid’s cooking school in Napa Valley. Most recently Kyle held the position of Executive Chef for Mills College and managed catering as for the Oakland Raiders NFL team.

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation is Unwrapping the Feels and making spirits bright for cancer patients in our community.

Each week from November 30th thru January 1st, cancer patients receiving treatment at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center and Kadlec Clinic Hematology and Oncology will receive a special holiday present to brighten their spirits, as well as a meal for their family each Friday.

Members of our community can be Santa to someone fighting cancer in our region. The Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation has a goal of raising $50,000 to make spirits bright for cancer patients this holiday season.

For more information or to donate, please visit cancercrushingchristmas.com or call us at (509) 737-3413.