BEAUMONT SEEKS FEMALE CANCER SURVIVORS FOR WELLNESS PROGRAM

Required Information Session June 21

Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak is seeking women cancer survivors to participate in an eight-week summer wellness program called “Silver Linings [1].”

The “Silver Linings” program is free to participants, regardless of where they received treatment for cancer. All interested participants must attend an evening information/registration session on June 21 at the Beaumont Cancer Institute [2] in Royal Oak. Participants must be 18 years or older and have completed their cancer treatments. The program meets for eight consecutive weeks beginning Tuesday, July 12 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

“Silver Linings” is designed for women who have survived any type of cancer and includes meditation, yoga, breast awareness/self-exam, mindful listening and expressive writing. The program aims to help cancer survivors explore and heal the physical, emotional and spiritual effects of the disease.

Explains Ruth Lerman, M.D. [3], “Our research has shown that participants experience improved quality of life, decreased symptoms of stress and decreased psychological symptoms. It may even improve the thinking and memory problems known as chemo brain.”

The research team from Oakland University [4] and Beaumont Hospitals completed a randomized, controlled study of “Silver Linings” in September 2010. The work was well received when Dr. Lerman presented the results at the 12th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons in April. She has also been requested to submit the study for publication in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

Women interested in participating in the program should contact Pam Jablonski at 248-551-4645. More information on the “Silver Linings” program can be found at http://cancer.beaumonthospitals.com/silverlinings [1].

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