Community Benefits
Making a Difference: Real-Life Stories
- Unexpected Results: Free Screening Helps One North Iowan
- Finding Relief: Palliative Medicine Provides Light, Hope and Human Kindness
- Mercy Women's Services: Reaching Out to Those in Need
Unexpected Results: Free Screening Helps One North Iowan
Over the years, Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa has been designating one week of the year to distribute free colorectal cancer-screening kits as a way to encourage health screenings and increase awareness of the importance of early detection in the diagnosis of cancer. Eighty-two year old Donna McDonough knows the value of a health screening first hand.
"As a Mercy Ambassador I was helping to distribute the free colorectal screening kits two years ago," she said. "I felt if I was handing the kits out and encouraging people to take the time to be screened that I should do the same."
She took a kit home, followed the instructions and mailed her samples into Mercy Cancer Center Laboratory. A few days later McDonough received the lab results, which indicated she should contact her physician for further testing.
"I never expected to get that news when I took the screening," she said.
McDonough immediately contacted her family doctor, James Coddington, M.D., of Mercy Family Clinic - Forest Park, who referred her to J.D. Thoreson, M.D., Internist with Mason City Clinic who performed a colonoscopy. He removed one polyp but otherwise the colonoscopy results came out fine, McDonough said. Now, she encourages friends and family of all ages to take advantage of health screenings.
In May 2006, 387 colorectal cancer-screening kits were distributed with a 60 percent return rate. From these kits, six were identified to need further medical follow-up while in May 2007, 467 kits were distributed with a return rate of 50%. Seven kits had positive results, which needed follow-up with a physician.
In 2007, more than 1,890 men and women in Iowa are expected to be diagnosed with colon cancer, and 660 are expected to die from the disease. The number of colon cancer deaths could be cut in half if Americans followed the recommendations for early detection. Colorectal cancer affects both men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, and is most often found in people aged 50 years or older. For men, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after prostate and lung cancers. For women, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after breast and lung cancers.
Finding Relief: Palliative Medicine Provides Light, Hope and Human Kindness
Jody Thada, of Garner, is no stranger to pain. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 10 months ago and having many complications since, she has had to deal with pain daily.
But there is hope. Jody is one of the many patients who have accessed the Palliative Medicine program at Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa, which was established in 2006.
"To come here has helped a lot. They tell me that I don't have to be in pain and help me look for the positive side of things," she said.
Even her husband, Glen, has seen results. "I highly recommend this program," he commented. "Feeling better is not an overnight thing, but I have been impressed with how Palliative Medicine has impacted Jody."
David Wensel, D.O, and Anne Zook, R.N., B.S.N., M.A., Palliative Medicine Coordinator, lead the palliative medicine efforts at Mercy - North Iowa and have served nearly 60 outpatients and 200 inpatients since the inception of the program. They work with a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, spiritual care providers, and dietitians to relieve suffering and enhance the quality of life for patients and their families with significant illness.
"I sincerely believe that palliative medicine continues our Mission with the same compassion of the Sisters of Mercy who created this medical community so many years ago," Dr. Wensel said.
Suffering comes in many forms. Along with the physical pain an illness can cause, there are those who struggle with ongoing spiritual, emotional, and relational suffering, compounded by serious illness. Mercy's Palliative Medicine Team takes time to consult with patients and their loved ones and set goals for the entire family. With the help of the care team, palliative medicine helps patients and families with symptom management, emotional and spiritual consultation, and decision-making.
"All of us on the team care for these individuals with a particular phrase in mind, 'Here at whatever hour you come, we will provide light, hope, and human kindness,'" Zook said. "Whether we are facilitating communication among health care providers or family members, or helping to explain treatment options for a patient, support and hope are really at the heart of what we do."
Mercy Women's Services: Reaching Out to Those in Need
Michele is a breast cancer survivor. She came to Mercy Women's Services at age 50. As a cook in a nursing home that couldn't supply health benefits, Michele, like many women in rural Iowa, put family financial needs ahead of her personal health care needs. So, when Michele found a lump in her breast, she didn't get it checked.
Michele's mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was treated at Mercy and was the one who encouraged Michele to contact Mercy Women's Services for financial assistance to get screened for breast cancer. Michele followed through with enrollment in the Iowa Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (IBCCEDP), sure that the lump would turn out to be nothing. Due to the presence of a lump, she was scheduled quickly for a clinical breast exam and mammogram in Britt, close to her Kanawha home. Michele could not believe what happened next as she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Many thoughts of concern went through her mind. "How will I pay? What will happen to me? How will I tell my son that his mother has breast cancer?" She was referred to a surgeon associated with Mercy Center for Breast Health for consultation regarding her options. She was told that she would need a mastectomy because she was at stage two of the disease and that it could have been detected earlier if she had gone in for breast cancer screening.
Michele was going to lose her breast, but fortunately not her life. Her treatment plan was established, including her surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Michele was offered the opportunity, and elected the option, to participate in a clinical trial for chemotherapy. She also received case management services through Mercy Center for Breast Health at no cost to her and was able to connect with the on-site American Cancer Society Navigator to assist with any additional needs she had associated with her treatment and survivorship. Her treatment plan required many more than 30 trips to Mason City, but she was able to utilize Mercy Cancer Center's free courtesy transportation for treatment. For her convenience, her preoperative testing was scheduled on the same day to minimize the amount of trips she would need to make. And since she had been enrolled in the IBCCEDP, she was eligible for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act of 2000, which made Medicaid funding available to her during her treatment.
"Everyone explained the procedures and processes clearly and in a way I could understand," Michele said. "I was receiving a lot of information very quickly and found it difficult to remember everything." In addition to the medical support system developing, Michele relied heavily on the great support she received from her husband, son and mother during this fast-paced, technical, and emotional phase of her life. Her employer also was very supportive, giving her the time off she needed to recover and maintain her job for her return.
Her surgery was successful. "I woke up without my breast, but so happy to be alive." Michele thought. Then there was chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and follow-up visits. Michele is now comforted by the fact that she is only returning every six months for check-up visits.
"Everyone at the Cancer Center was great. They really cared about me as a person. I'm relieved to be done with treatment and feel better about my health every time I don't need to come back for a period of time," she said. "This entire experience has changed me a lot. Before surgery, I was self conscious about my appearance and now I'm just happy to be here and can joke about my body because I'm healthy and I know what is really important."
When asked what advice she could offer other women, Michele offered this, "Don't put it off like I did. Get your breast health screening and care. You need to find breast cancer early. If you can't afford it, find a program that can help you. Mercy was there for me."
The breast and cervical health program at Mercy Women's Services educates North Iowa-area women and refers them to low-cost or free mammograms, clinical breast exams, pelvic exams, and Pap tests in their own communities. The vital program also creates access to care with the provider of their choice in their own rural community. This increases access in many aspects including financial limitations, transportation and scheduling barriers, and issues with provider trust and cultural diversity.
The program collaborates with a variety of community businesses and organizations to reach women of need most effectively and serves a multi-county area in rural Iowa. Since 1996, Mercy Women's Services has reached approximately 122,000 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast and cervical cancer and has referred almost 11,000 women for mammograms, clinical breast exams and Pap tests. In addition, these women receive follow-up care, diagnostic testing and treatment if needed.
For more information about breast and cervical cancer screening, programs or enrollment services available through Mercy Women's Services, please contact 641.422.6015 or toll free at 800.433.3883, extension 6015.
