September 2007 Call of the Amazons Humboldt Community Breast Health Project Volume 8, Issue 3 Happy Anniversary Let’s Get Personal by Jenifer Pace by Julie Ohnemus, MD “The willingness to consider possibility requires a would like to thank those who contributed to our last tolerance of uncertainty.” newsletter. The family members shared intimate feelings that — Rachel Naomi Remen Iwere so very real and told of the cancer experience from such different perspectives. A diagnosis of cancer has a ripple effect on hen I was asked to write an article about the birth of all those touched by it — near and far — and tells of our personal HCBHP in honor of its 10-year anniversary, I began and community connections. Ultimately, these connections offer Wto revisit what it was like to be part of something that did healing. In celebrating the Project’s 10-year anniversary, we commit not yet exist. I thought about those moments of to continuing to weave the social fabric that allows us to fight, live germination when there were inklings of a desire, a need, with, and heal from the cancer experience we share. an image, when there was a sense of possibility. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ “In times of great struggle, when there is nothing else to In this issue of the newsletter, I want to highlight rely on and nowhere else to go, maybe it is the return to another personal aspect of cancer, the evolution of targeted the moment that is the act of faith. From that point, diagnostic tools and individualized cancer therapies. This openness to possibility can arise, willingness to see what up-and-coming technology is helping to personalize the will happen, patience, endeavor, strength, and courage. care patients receive and may ultimately lead to the Moment by moment, we can find our way through.” prevention of cancer. Some of these tools are available now (Sharon Salzberg) for mainstream usage and others are on the way. In 1996, when Julie Ohnemus, MD, was diagnosed with First, there are two free online, evidence-based programs breast cancer, a friend and I accompanied her to Stanford to help you and/or your medical provider personalize your for surgery with Dr. Ellen Mahoney. It was then and there care. The first program is Cancer Profiler, an interactive that Julie was introduced to the Community Breast Health tool designed for patients or health care professionals Project in Palo Alto. Entering that office, being met by (www.cancerprofiler.nexcura.com). It is useful for patients other women with breast cancer who were so eager and with any of a number of cancers, including breast, uterine, able to provide the information and support she had been continued on page 3 seeking, was a profound experience. It presented the model that Julie ultimately vowed to create in Humboldt County. Prior to that experience, there were other meetings with other professionals and non-professionals whose intention it was to provide information or support, but sorely missed Fall Recital the mark. These very Circle of Caring different experiences A musical celebration were grist-for-the-mill that clarified the need, Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. created the desire, and Fulkerson Recital Hall, HSU Inside began to form the image We invite the community to join us in celebrating the From the Director............... 2 of a healing center here. The personal experience 10-year anniversary of the Humboldt Community Breast An Open Circle ................... 4 Health Project. Come for a magical evening of music Volunteer Voices ................ 6 provided the seed for “the Project.” Out of the followed by a gourmet reception. This year’s talented Maria A. Carrillo................. 7 artists are (in scheduled order of appearance): Virginia Amazon Writers ................. 9 darkness, came the light of connection and Ryder, The Babes, Brad Curtis, and Dr. Luther Cobb. Contributors .................... 12 possibility. Tickets are $20 each, general admission. To purchase Calendar .......................... 16 tickets or for more information, call (707) 825-8345. continued on page 3 From the Director by Dawn Elsbree This newsletter is dedicated to Maria Carrillo. Maria was embraced, and sometimes stay and a founding mother of the Humboldt Community Breast sometimes move on. Each person Health Project and the creator, designer and long-time editor of brings a blessing and enriches the our newsletter. heart and soul of the Project. We embrace the challenge to keep the he dichotomy of life and death is heavy in our hearts circle alive, vibrant and open while at the Project this month. Maria Carrillo, our facing the difficulties of coping with beloved first staff member, has passed away. Her spirit in the realities of cancer. T Maria Carrillo fighting her cancer inspires all we do as we provide Last week one of the warmliners support for the women of our community. We both described the experience of greeting a mourn her loss and look to the future for ways to ensure frightened woman who was newly diagnosed. Volunteers that her accomplishments are honored and kept alive at and staff listened to her story and then sprang into action, the Project. In the library we have a rock painted with the researching information and finding books and articles. words: “What would Maria say?” In this way, we keep in At one point the woman looked up and said “I feel like I touch with her calm dignity and careful modeling of have just been surrounded by a circle of caring.” This taking care. illustrates what we try to do. I know if Maria had heard it, In thinking about Maria and the 10-year history of the she would have smiled and been proud. Project, I keep coming back to the theme of circles. Julie Ohnemus, our founder, describes the Project as an open ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ circle. This symbol is completely ingrained in our philosophy. Women and men come to us, receive I met a bald eagle on a walk nearby my house. whatever it is they most need, and stay as long as they It was within 10 feet of me when it spread its wide desire. There is a fluidity about the circle and an acceptance of people’s need to come and go. wings and circled around me before it flew away. Many of our volunteers are people who came to the Its powerful message constantly reminds me that my Project with a need, found it met, and in their gratitude soul and spirit can fly above to see life’s beauty and decided to stay and give to others. As a community that my troubles are in Great Spirit’s hands. resource we truly welcome what each new volunteer and client brings to us. People join the circle, are fully — Maria Carrillo, 2007 Humboldt Community Newsletter Contributors Board of Directors Staff Breast Health Project Newsletter Editing SueAnn Armstrong (Treasurer) Medical Consultant/ Outreach Coordinator Bojan Ingle & Sandra Freeman, CMT Founder Carolyn Ortenburger is a community resource of support and Rebecca Zettler, RN Rose Gale-Zoellick, MSW, MPH Julie Ohnemus, MD education for those facing a breast health concern (Secretary) Volunteer Program Newsletter Design Executive Director Coordinator or a diagnosis of breast or gynecologic cancer. Deanna Herrera-Thomas, EdD Dawn Elsbree Bojan Ingle True North Marketing Marlena Kogel (Co-President) We are a client-centered, grassroots organization Maureen Lawlor Client Services Director Office Manager Contributing Writers Sharon Nelson, RN Barbara Sage with services provided by breast cancer survivors Maria Carrillo Carolyn Lehman, MA (Co-President) and their support persons. We promote healthy Lorraine Dillon Lydia Leonardo Client Services Coordinators Volunteer & Sales for survivorship through education, healing support Dawn Elsbree Ellen Mahoney, MD Bet Pinkerton, RN Survivors Coordinator Devon Heim Sheba Goldstein Julie Ohnemus, MD Rebecca Zettler, RN, MS, FNP and hope, enabling each person to become their Jean Wichelman, RPh own best medical advocate. We support and Missy Gruen challenge our community to address breast health Devon Heim Sharon Nelson, RN concerns responsibly and holistically. As Julie Ohnemus, MD Community Advisory Board survivors we heal through service and by bearing Jenifer Pace Paula Allen Carolyn Jones Marian Reeves, RN, CHPN witness to others. Karin Salzmann Barbara Barratt Sylvia Jutila, RN Cynthia Ross Alison Book Allan Katz Jan Rowen, RN OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Copy Editor Kelley Devlin-Lake, RN, BSN, OCN Mary Langley Mary Scott, RN, PHN Jenifer Pace Richard Dorn Kathleen Manaktala Patty Sennott Evenings by appointment Richard Duning Michele McKeegan Doug Shaw 987 8th Street, Arcata, CA 95521 Linda Erickson Madeline McMurray, PhD Dale Sherman (707) 825-8345 John Fullerton, CPA Nanette Medin, NP Cory Spencer, MD Toll-free: (877) 422-4776 Pat Handshy, NP Lisa Mielke Herrmann Spetzler Fax: (707) 825-8384 Joy Hardin, EdD Sue Mossman Betsy Stapleton, NP www.hcbhp.org E-mail: [email protected] Michael Harmon, MD Ken Nakamura, LCSW Sharon Stussman Diane Holliday John Nelson, MD Nina Surbaugh Nancy Noll Maria Tripp Barbara O’Neal John Van Speybroeck, MD The Humboldt Community Breast Health Project does not advocate or endorse any specific course of treatment, Marianne Pennekamp Catherine Valentine, LMFT whether a medical treatment or an alternative or complementary treatment plan. Articles printed in this newsletter Gena Pennington, MD Laurie Watson Stone are provided to inform. The opinions and views expressed by individual contributors do not necessarily reflect those Jean Perry Mary Beth Wolford of HCBHP. If you do not want to receive future newsletter issues, please call or e-mail [email protected]. 2 | CALL OF THE AMAZONS 10 Years of HCBHP Happy Anniversary...continued from page 1 Let's Get Personal...continued from page 1 In the very beginning, it was all conversation about a ovarian, and cervical cancers.