At the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, they created cards for newly diagnosed cancer patients and their caregivers, as well as, patient tips post treatment. The cards included mindfulness ideas. DonnaBellas Angels allowed the cancer center to use the art on their cards.
Here is the text for "From Us to You" card for patients:
Fellow cancer survivors offering tips of support to help you
deal with the fears, con
fusion and anxiety you may be experiencing.
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| "From us to you" tip card for new cancer patients |
1. Develop a daily
ritual of those things that give you comfort; comforting music, special
people and meditation.
2. Gather a support
team to assist with appointments, transportation, meals. Choose someone to communicate updates to
family and friends.
3. Speak with a
person who has had a similar diagnosis as you and has completed
treatment. Contact organizations such as
Cancer Hope Network and the American Cancer Society.
4. Use your iPod
to record, access, or play guided imagery, music, or messages from family and
friends.
5. Enroll in classes
such as Successful Surgery or Guided Imagery for Radiation and Chemotherapy.
Live your life to the fullest and do what you want now and
are able to do and keep your “to do’s” realistic. Don’t stop and just smell the flowers ~ stop
and smell the rain, the morning dew, the evening fireflies. Trust in God and enjoy life.
Here is the text for "10 Tips for Caregivers" card:
If you are caring for a loved one
1 Caregiving is a job and respite is your earned right. Take time for yourself and don’t feel guilty about it. Reward yourself with respite breaks often.
……………………………….
2 Watch out for signs of depression, and don’t delay in getting professional help when you need it.
……………………………….
3 When people offer to help, accept the offer and suggest specific things that they can do.
……………………………….
4 Educate yourself about your loved one’s condition and be a partner in healthcare decisions. Attend medical appointments and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
……………………………….
5 There’s a difference between caring and doing. Be open to technologies and ideas that promote your loved one’s independence.
……………………………….
6 Trust your instincts. Most of the time they’ll lead you in the right direction.
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7 Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing, and pulling. Be good to your back.
……………………………….
8 Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to dream new dreams.
……………………………….
9 Seek support from other caregivers. There is great strength in knowing you are not alone.
……………………………….
10 Stand up for your rights as a caregiver and a citizen.
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
-Leo Buscaglia
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| Packages given to new patients with either a scarf, key chain, or bookmark. The items were made by previous patients. The package includes a "From Us to you!" card with cancer management tips. |
Read more about DonnaBellas Angels art donation to the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center online at: http://donnabellasangels.org/events/donations/carol_g_simon/index.html
The importance of mindfulness and stress management was studied by U.C., San Diego researchers. They created experiments to determine if mindfulness helped U.S. Marines better deal with the stresses of combat. Below are excerpts from their research about it:
“Mindfulness training won’t make combat easier,” said Martin Paulus, MD, professor of psychiatry and senior author. “But we think it can help Marines recover from stress and return to baseline functioning more quickly.”
Scientists describe mindfulness as a mental state characterized by “full attention to the present moment without elaboration, judgment or emotional reactivity.” Mindfulness training, traditionally practiced through sitting meditation, attempts to cultivate this mental state by quieting the mind of extraneous thoughts.
“That we can re-regulate the activity in these areas with so little training is this study’s most significant finding,” Paulus said. “Mindfulness helps the body optimize its response to stress by helping the body interpret stressful events as bodily sensations. The brain adds less emotional affect to experiences and this helps with stress recovery.”
Read more about the UCSD research with Marines on mindfulness online at:
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/war_and_peace_of_mind
Read UCSD Moores Cancer Center 25 Tips for Patients:
http://cancer.ucsd.edu/coping/resources-education/Pages/patient-tips.aspx
Thank you for viewing DonnaBellas Angels art! Donations are always welcome and appreciated.
