Somewhere to Turn

Somewhere to Turn The Little Company of Mary Breast Center offers an invaluable resource for cancer patients and survivors. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman’s life is about one in eight. In its projections for 2007, the ACS estimates that more than 175,000 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed, along with more than 60,000 cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) — the earliest form of breast cancer, which is non-invasive. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, except for non-melanoma skin cancers. Sobering statistics to be sure, but for women diagnosed with breast cancer at Little Company of Mary Hospitals in Torrance and San Pedro, the Little Company of Mary Breast Center is a trusted resource for guidance and answers to the tough questions that inevitably arise in the wake of such a life-changing event. Opened in April 2000, the Breast Center provides assistance with navigating an often complex medical system and gives patients one less thing to worry about after a breast cancer diagnosis. A grant through the Revlon Walk for Women allowed Little Company of Mary to hire a nurse practitioner — an advanced practice nurse who follows the patient from initial diagnosis through treatment, recovery and into survivorship.
Kathy Calderon, NP, MFT, (front, left) with members of the breast cancer support group.
“From the moment a woman is called back for additional imaging, she has someone to talk to, a person she can count on,” Kathy Calderon, NP, MFT, director of Cancer Services said. “As soon as the radiologist receives the results of a positive breast biopsy (meaning breast cancer), we begin the process of informing the patient and carrying her through the journey of diagnosis, treatment and recovery. We spend as much time as needed to educate our patients, set up any additional testing, offer support and provide community resources.” Along with the nurse practitioner, there is a complement of other services available through the Breast Center to address a woman’s needs during this difficult time, including a place to try on and borrow wigs, hats, scarves and bras, as well as mastectomy prostheses. In addition, the weekly breast cancer support group, Embrace, offers a safe haven for Little Company of Mary patients. Recent lecture topics have included “Complementary Medicine and Healing,” “Humor Therapy,” “Nutrition” “Lymphedema Management and Recognition” and “Dealing with Side Effects of Treatment.” Little Company of Mary Chaplain Darrah Glynn, MDiv, also leads the Embrace group in a monthly “Guided Imagery and Spiritual Healing” session. “Most of the women find the support group meetings very helpful,” Calderon said. “It gives them the opportunity to discuss their breast cancer openly with others who have had or are having similar experiences. These women share fears, triumphs and personal issues in a supportive atmosphere full of caring and laughter — and sometimes tears.” There is some fun involved, too. For instance, last October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women from the Embrace support group got together to celebrate life at a local spa. They enjoyed spa treatments, good food and lots of love and laughter. All this was made possible by the generous support of the LCM Community Health Foundation. “It is heartwarming to see these women enjoying the simple pleasures in life at a time when life, for them, is anything but simple,” Calderon said. “It is wonderful to be a part of something so positive.”
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