Embrace, MeritCare's Cancer Survivorship Program
Cancer survivors face many long-lasting emotional, physical and financial effects. embrace, MeritCare's Cancer Survivorship Program, helps address these concerns. Learn more when you tune in to Health Talk on KVLY-TV 11 Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 6:30 p.m. Our guest is
Dr. Shelby Terstriep, MeritCare oncologist and medical director of embrace. All proceeds from this year's
Festival of Wreaths event will go to support embrace.
Jill Henning is just one example of a cancer survivor that has found comfort in embrace. Jill, a nine-year survivor of stage 2B Hodgkins Lymphoma, was diagnosed her freshman year of college. Her cancer was only even discovered because, at a doctor visit for laryngitis, she mentioned that she had noticed a lump on her neck. A biopsy was done that day, and her life was never the same again.
Today, Jill is a successful business woman, and she has a passion for embrace, MeritCare's Cancer Survivorship Program. She says, "I would have given anything to have a program like this when I was going through my treatment. I did go to one cancer support group meeting when I was in treatment, but I looked so drastically different from anyone else there. I walked away feeling disheartened more than fulfilled."
For Jill, being part of a community of people who understand the long-term side effects and the on-going fears that never leave a cancer patient is a tremendous benefit. She notes, "You live a different lifestyle. One thing I think about a lot is what is the likelihood that I will pass this along to my children? That's where embrace has such a huge impact to create some normalcy for people who are living a life that is anything but normal. It gives us that bond with others."
Jill has become an active member of embrace. Her agency sponsored the Pink the Rink event at the Urban Plains Center, and she donated $100 to embrace for every goal scored. She pauses and says, "It's important for people to identify something that is bigger than themselves and find creative ways to deal with it. It's interesting when life throws you curve balls, but it's what makes us who we are."
Tune in to Health Talk!
Make plans now to watch Health Talk Tues, Nov. 10, on KVLY-TV 11 at 6:30 p.m. The show is hosted by KVLY anchor Robin Huebner; our guest is Dr. Shelby Terstriep, MeritCare oncologist and embrace medical director. Viewers can either e-mail questions by noon on the day of the show to
healthtalk@meritcare.com, or by calling (701) 237-5214 / (800) 450-5844 during the show.
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Posted Date: November 2009