Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center
hosts donor appreciation event

A host of donors, doctors and dignitaries converged on the Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center on Wednesday night to celebrate the installation of a new piece of vital diagnostic equipment and the latest figures from a successful cancer center fund-raising campaign.

The piece of equipment is the Philips Brilliance CT Big Bore scanner, which is the talk of the diagnostic equipment industry. The new machinery, which is installed and operational, can handle today's sophisticated treatment plans and is able to handle large patients up to 650 pounds.

"The scanner is just a fabulous piece of equipment," said Tina Dickerson, director of the Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center. "It allows us to make treatment scanning faster for patients. And it continues our goal of providing the best cancer care we can for our community."

Cece Clitheroe, director of the Tuality Healthcare Foundation, was also pleased to announce some eye-popping figures regarding donor contributions.

The Tuality Healthcare Foundation Cancer Campaign collected a grand total of $2,364,149.35 to be used to fight cancer in western Washington County. The single largest donor to the campaign was a dedicated bunch of volunteers. The Tuality Healthcare Auxiliary, which runs the Tuality Community Hospital gift shop and plays host to many other fund-raising events, contributed $450,000 to the cancer center campaign.

"I would like to thank each and every donor who made that astounding figure possible," said Clitheroe. "It just goes to show you that people in our community really do care about supporting quality healthcare. And I would like to send a special thank you to the many Tuality volunteers. They are a great group of people."

[October 28, 2011]

Radiation Therapy Study Looks
at Mind-Body Healing Potential

To help manage the often exhausting and painful side effects of radiation therapy, many cancer patients turn to relaxation, meditation and image visualization techniques.

Past studies have demonstrated the benefits of these methods for improving patients’ emotional and spiritual well-being, and their overall comfort.

A new pilot study underway through August at the Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center is taking the research a step further, looking at the potential biochemical benefits of relaxation and visualization therapy (RVT) for nine women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Results of this pilot effort may help to secure additional funding from the National Integrated Health Associates to expand the study to 125 breast-cancer patients at multiple centers.

During the course of radiation treatment, patients typically experience side effects like fatigue, skin inflammation and pain. The study is looking at how RVT may affect the body’s immune system, which is critical to the healing and recovery process.

Over a 12-week period, study data and information is collected using regular blood tests, and from patient questionnaires and journals.  Taking into account each participant’s personality traits and coping skills, researchers also hope to better understand how RVT might benefit quality-of-life factors like anxiety, stress, and depression.

As a control measure, the women are separated into three groups receiving either RVT, education on breast cancer topics, or no additional treatment beyond radiation therapy. All participants are offered RVT and other educational information once they have completed the study.

The project is a joint effort of the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) in Portland, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and the Tuality/OSHU Cancer Center.  It is approved by the Tuality Inter-professional and Medical Executive committees, and an OHSU Institutional Review Board for protecting the welfare of participating patients.

For more information, please contact Erin Connelly, research coordinator, NCNM Helfgott Research Institute, at 503-552-1744.

[May 27, 2010]

Gardener’s Gifts Boost Spirits
for Cancer Center Patients

Beth MacDonell credits the kindness and encouragement of others for helping her get through grueling cancer radiation therapy in 2008. Now, she’s using her “green thumb” talents to provide some kindness to others going through the same challenge.

Each week, Beth donates lavender bouquets and other fresh cut flowers, plus windowsill-sized tomato, basil and parsley plants to patients undergoing radiation therapy at the Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center in Hillsboro.

A self-proclaimed “gardening nerd,” Beth is a 25-year veteran of the horticulture business who tends about 7,000 square feet of flowers and vegetables at her Gaston home. She currently sells her harvest each Saturday at the Hillsboro Farmers’ Market. Her booth is named for her pet miniature donkey: “Willie’s Corner, A Little Farm.”

Beth was inspired to donate after visiting the Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center some months after her own treatment there. “I saw the patients’ faces and asked myself, ‘what can I do to help?’”

She empathized with gardeners in particular, remembering how she stared out her window in sad frustration, too exhausted from the cancer treatment to even pull a single weed. Beth hopes the small plants will provide a little taste of the garden, “and the flowers are just something nice to see after going through a radiation session.”

“This is a very touching and welcome gesture on Beth’s part,” said Tina Dickerson, director, Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center. “She has a real talent and passion for gardening, and her gifts of flowers and plants offer such a nice break in the routine for our patients. We are so grateful for her generosity.”

In 2007, Beth was diagnosed with adult soft-tissue sarcoma, a cancer that usually attacks connective tissues like muscles and tendons in the arms, legs and trunk. But Beth’s showed up in her neck. “It was a rare cancer in a rare location,” she said, adding that it required expert opinion from many sources. “My biopsy went around the country.”

Its rarity also meant fewer support resources than are available for those with more common cancers. “Feeling alone like that is very scary,” said Beth.

In December, on a day when she should have been celebrating her 50th birthday, Beth underwent surgery to remove the cancerous cells. But the sensitive location made it impossible to remove all of them.

Two months later, she was at the Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center undergoing head and neck radiation, a particularly difficult procedure. But the radiation, which she described as the hardest part of the treatment process, was handled by “the best people possible,” she said of the Cancer Center staff. “I have never seen a facility staffed with such professional and friendly people.”

“I didn’t think I could finish,” Beth said of the difficult, five-days-a-week schedule. But the radiation therapists and other staff members “were so patient, so kind, so encouraging and very personal.”

While she is still dealing with some ongoing health concerns, Beth is thankful to be back into “soil and sales,” and taking more control of her life. “Twelve hours a day goes by fast when you love what you are doing.”

For more information on sarcoma and how newly diagnosed patients may find specialist and support services, go to www.curesarcoma.org, www.nwsarcoma.org or www.liddyshriversarcomainitiative.org. Beth also is available at bethmacd@verizon.net to offer peer support for others diagnosed with this rare cancer.

[July 28, 2009]

Hillsboro Restaurant to Offer
Cancer Center Support on July 1

Enjoy “delicioso” Mexican cuisine while you support cancer care in our community. On Wednesday, July 1, Pepper's Mexican Grill will donate 50 percent of all dine-in and take-out sales to help support the Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center.

Located at 976 SE Baseline St. in Hillsboro, Pepper's offers a full menu of mouth-watering, authentic Mexican food served in a welcoming environment by friendly staff.

Come satisfy your craving for enchiladas, chili rellenos and much more. And be sure to say "muchas gracias" to the staff and management at Pepper's for their generosity!

[June 23, 2009]

Cancer Center Offers a ‘Tip of the Hat’
to Generous Young Hat Maker

It may have been the day before Valentine’s Day, but for nine-year-old Hannah Goings, is was a perfect day to share the love.

Accompanied by her mother and siblings, Hannah was the guest of honor at the Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center. She came to donate 25 colorful hats that she crocheted herself for cancer patients who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy.

“All work stopped when we came in and Hannah was the talk of the town,” said her mother, Rebecca. “Even the patients in the waiting room were smiling and talking amongst themselves about what we were there to do. The entire time, Hannah was beaming, just so darn happy to do something nice for someone else.”

Hannah received “sweet” recognition as she was rewarded with a plate of special heart-shaped cookies. The family got to meet the doctors, nurses and other staff members. “One of them even had a tube of confetti he popped and we all cheered for her,” Rebecca added.

Hannah was inspired to take on the crochet project after reading about kids who found creative ways to give back to their communities.

Helping cancer patients held special meaning—her grandmother is a breast cancer survivor who was treated with chemotherapy when Hannah was just a baby. Photos of grandma happily celebrating Hannah’s first birthday with a bald head left a lasting impact.

Already an avid crochet enthusiast who learned the craft from her mother several years before, Hannah began to search for hat patterns on the Internet. She even used her own allowance and “tooth fairy” dividends to buy the yarn. Her mom helped her to make special cards for the hat recipients that read, “Made especially for you by Hannah, age 9.” The cards also include some of Hannah’s favorite Bible verses.

“This is such a unique act of kindness that is even more remarkable because of her age,” said Jean Moseley, patient advocate, Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center. “It was fun and inspiring to have her and her family come to the center. We want to thank Hannah for sharing her thoughtfulness and creativity.”

[March 4, 2009]

Center Introduces Electronic Medical Records

Keeping with its practice of employing the latest technology, the Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center has now “gone digital” with its medical records.

The center has launched a computer-based, electronic medical record (EMR) system to help reinforce patient safety, increase efficiency, and provide greater convenience for patients and staff.

This state-of-the-art, secure system has replaced many functions that were formerly handled using clipboards, paper forms and file folders. These include collecting and reviewing patient history information, test results, doctors’ notes and instructions, and more.

The networked system also enables physicians and department staff to gain immediate, secure access to patient information, as well as view and analyze digital diagnostic images.

“The system is working very well so far,” said Tina Dickerson, director, Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center. “It is much more efficient. It makes it easier to review charts and images, which means getting important information faster for patients and staff.”

[July 8, 2008]