Concerned about excessive menstrual blood loss?

If heavy bleeding is getting in the way of your life, and medicine doesn’t help, you may be a good candidate for endometrial ablation. 
 
Endometrial ablation is a treatment for women who experience excessive blood loss during menstruation. The procedure surgically ablates the lining of the uterus to reduce, or curb altogether, a woman’s menstrual flow.  

What is considered heavy bleeding?

  • Soaking a pad or tampon every two hours
  • Bleeding that lasts longer than eight days
  • Anemia from excessive blood loss

Endometrial ablation is not surgery and does not require an incision or general anesthesia. Instead, your doctor inserts a narrow tool through your vagina to reach your uterus. The method for ablating the uterine lining can vary, from extreme cold to high-energy radio frequencies. 

Recovering from an ablation

It shouldn’t take long to heal from an ablation. In fact, most women are back to their normal routine within a week. Following the procedure, you might experience menstrual-like cramps or bleeding for a few days, and watery or bloody discharge for up to three weeks. 

It’s important to note that endometrial ablation isn't a sterilization procedure, so you should continue to use contraception. Pregnancy might still be possible, but it will likely be hazardous and end in miscarriage. Talk to your health care provider at the St. Charles Center for Women’s Health if you have questions about birth control options.

What is a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman’s uterus. There are a number of medical reasons that your healthcare provider might recommend a hysterectomy, including uterine fibroids, uterine prolapse, and cancer, to name a few. 

Depending on the reason for the hysterectomy, the procedure may entail removing all or only part of the uterus. 

There are also different approaches to hysterectomy, which impacts healing time and the kind of scar, if any, that remains following the operation. 

What are my hysterectomy options?

In an abdominal hysterectomy, your surgeon will make an incision across your belly and remove the uterus through it. Following this surgery, your recovery time in the hospital is typically two to three days. 

In a minimally-invasive hysterectomy, the surgery can be performed through the vagina, or through a small cut in the abdomen. In general, this type of procedure allows for faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and less pain and scarring than an abdominal hysterectomy.

Not every woman is a good candidate for a minimally invasive procedure -- scar tissue, obesity, uterus size and health status -- can be mitigating factors.

Get more answers

If you need a hysterectomy, your care team at the St. Charles Center for Women’s Health will answer your questions and guide you step-by-step through the process. 

Breast screenings

Mammograms and breast ultrasounds are important screenings for early detection of breast cancer, as well as other breast conditions. 

How are they different? 

A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. Based on your age, or you if have certain risk factors, your women’s health care provider will likely recommend an annual mammogram.

A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of your breast tissue. If abnormalities are detected during your mammogram, a breast ultrasound is often the next step that allows your doctor and radiologist to evaluate a concerning area in more detail. 

When should I begin mammogram screening?

Recommendations for what age women should begin mammogram screening vary between 40 and 50 years old depending on a variety of risk factors. The providers at the St. Charles Center for Women’s Health will discuss with you the benefits, risks and limitations of mammograms and together we’ll decide what’s best for your health. Balancing the benefits of screening with the limitations and risks is a key part of deciding when to begin mammograms and how often to repeat them.

Donation opportunities

Our patient support services depend on generous donations from our community through St. Charles Foundation. Your donations stay in Central and Eastern Oregon to support those who face cancer.

Donations may be made online, by mail or phone.
Cancer Services, St. Charles Foundation
2500 NE Neff Rd, Bend, OR 97701
541-706-6996

ONLINE: stcharlesfoundation.org/donate choose “Cancer Services” in the pull-down menu

For more information, call St. Charles Foundation at 541-706-6996 or visit www.stcharlesfoundation.org

If you are interested in making donations of food to help our program, some suggested items are listed below. Needs may vary during different times of the year. Please call to coordinate a donation – 541-706-7743.

Infusion room snacks

  • Bottled juices
  • Lunch-size snack packs – chips, crackers, etc.
  • String cheese
  • Nuts in individual packages

Harvest of HOPE

  • All natural peanut butter
  • Oatmeal
  • 100% fruit and vegetable juices
  • Albacore tuna packed in water
  • Canned beans (black or kidney) natural
  • Dice tomatoes (no added salt)

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, commonly called 'chemo,' is one of the key weapons in our arsenal for the treatment of many cancers.

Chemotherapy treatment involves many variables and is personalized for each of our patients. Your medical oncologist at the St. Charles Cancer Center will work closely with you to determine the best course for your specific cancer.

Drugs may be administered as an injection, through an IV, or orally in the form of a pill, capsule or liquid. How often and how long you receive treatment is based on the type of cancer, the goals of treatment and how your body reacts to the chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may also be combined with other forms of treatment, such as surgery or radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy targets fast-growing cancer cells, but it can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly such as the cells inside your mouth, intestine or hair. The damage to healthy cells can cause side effects, but these side effects generally improve over time and go away after the chemotherapy is complete. The St. Charles Cancer Center staff is there every step of your journey to ensure side effects are minimized and managed.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is a treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells, slow the spread of cancer cells or help reduce symptoms from cancer, such as pain. Radiation therapy may be combined with other forms of treatment, such as surgery or chemotherapy. Your oncologist at St. Charles Cancer Center will work closely with you to determine the best treatment for your specific cancer.

Approximately 60% of people with cancer undergo radiation therapy. Treatment is painless. Patients are not radioactive following treatments and can resume normal activities.

Radiation therapy can be administered in two forms:

  1. External beam radiation therapy aims radiation at your cancer from outside the body through a machine called a linear accelerator. The machine, which may be noisy, rotates around you, sending radiation to a localized part of your body from many directions. For example, if you have lung cancer, you will get radiation to your chest only and not the rest of your body. External beam is typically delivered five days a week, Monday through Friday, for a period of days or weeks.
  2. Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) places a source of radiation inside your body. The goal of brachytherapy is to target the radiation dose to the cancerous area, limiting the radiation dose to healthy tissue and organs. Typically, five short treatments are delivered over a two-week period.

Our board-certified radiation oncologists provide the following comprehensive services:

  • 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy
  • IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy)
  • IGRT (Image Guided Radiation Therapy)
  • SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy)/ SABR (Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy)
  • SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery)
  • Electronic brachytherapy

Surgery

Surgery is used to diagnose, treat or even, in some cases, help prevent cancer. Approximately 60% of cancer patients will undergo surgery, either by itself or in combination with other therapies.

At St. Charles, we partner with our region’s highly trained surgeons to provide comprehensive, technologically-advanced surgical options to treat cancers of the breast, lung, prostate, colon, rectum, head and neck, brain, thyroid, bladder, uterus, skin and bladder. Our surgical partners specialize in the latest minimally invasive and robotic techniques.

At St. Charles Cancer Center, our team believes in providing support services alongside the medical treatment our cancer patients receive. As soon as you are diagnosed, you are a survivor and your friends and family are co-survivors. 

Our programs are available free of charge to anyone facing cancer regardless of where they are treated. 

Cancer survivors treated at the St. Charles Cancer Center may also take advantage of integrative care options such as acupuncture, massage and Reiki, as well as one-on-one nutritional support.

For more information, please call our survivorship coordinator at 541-706-2969.

Nutrition 101 teaches participants how to choose foods that optimize health, healing and address changes to appetite, weight and fatigue both during and after treatment. It also includes cooking classes and weight management.

Restorative Yoga, Qigong and Meditation for survivors improves physical, mental and spiritual vitality through gentle stretching, focused movement, breathing and visualization.

Community Education focuses on areas of cancer, cancer prevention, nutrition and general wellness.

Physical Education is a gentle introduction to fitness that supports movement such as walking, hiking and light resistance training. Program encourages fitness, friendship and camaraderie for survivors and caregivers.

Equine therapy is designed to help survivors and caregivers identify, face and work through life issues while working alongside horses and through therapeutic riding.

Support groups are small groups facilitated by social workers that meet once or twice a month. Adult survivors, family members, caregivers and friends are welcome.

Cancer and the Arts uses art, writing and music to support healing, reduce anxiety and stress and increase overall well-being.

Talk to a survivor/caregiver and get one-on-one peer support for newly diagnosed cancer survivors and caregivers. Program provides emotional and informational support and is coordinated through Cancer Hope Network.

Library Resource Center provides information and educational resources on a variety of cancer-related topics: treatment, nutrition, relaxation, guided imagery, children’s resources and more. Library is located in the lobby of the Cancer Center.

Harvest of Hope is a program that helps patients going through treatment and their families with nutritious meals. Program provides canned and fresh groceries along with easy-to-follow recipes that are healthy, quick and easy.

Assistance Programs provide help with gas cards, groceries, utilities, lodging and transportation for cancer survivors during active treatment.

Cancer Connection provides education, connection and support to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. We bring leading experts, advocates and the community together to provide information on a wide range of topics. Cancer Connection classes are hosted at St. Charles Bend and take place every other month on the second Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the St. Charles Conference Center. Admission is free, but RSVP is required.

The hardest step to take is the first one. You took the first step by courageously facing cancer and completing active treatment. Now it's time to continue the ascent.

The word Ascent means a climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill; to rise, climb, launch, takeoff. “Ascent Wellness and Prevention” can take you to new heights by restoring health, hope and quality of life.

Our vision is to influence healthier lifestyles through evidence-based programs that prevent cancer, enhance quality of life and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in cancer survivors.

Our mission is to empower cancer survivors and their caregivers by restoring health, hope and quality of life through physical activity, nutrition, social support and integrative therapies.

Ascent is a twelve-month transitional program that is broken up into small, manageable steps. It is available to all cancer survivors, once active treatment is complete and up to three months post-treatment. It focuses on fitness, nutrition, education, stress reduction and lifestyle change. The program includes three phases along with quarterly mini health retreats. Each phase will be a catalyst for the next in helping you transition from survivor to "thriver" and becoming the primary care manager for your health and lifestyle change.

Ascent is being offered to you as part of your on-going care plan to provide all of the tools, knowledge and support needed to make healthy lifelong changes in an effort to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. It is being funded by generous donors, individuals and other community partners.

A small group of dedicated Cancer Center staff will continue to provide education, guidance and support in order for you to reach new heights in your journey through cancer "thrivership." It might be scary, it might be hard. You are not alone, we are with you each step of the way.

It is your time to rise up, to take off and reach new heights. Ascent Wellness and Prevention is exactly what you need to start.

For more information, call 541-706-2969.

Enjoy the outdoors

Central Oregon has some of the highest rates of skin cancer in the country, thanks to our abundant sunshine and high altitude. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself:

  • Wear sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher. “Broad-spectrum” provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Reapply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
  • Keep covered. Wear protective clothing, such as a longsleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, when possible. It is best if the clothing has a rating of UPF 50 to ensure appropriate sun protection.
  • Avoid being outdoors during the brightest parts of the day (usually 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) as much as you can. If you are outside and your shadow appears shorter than you are, seek shade when possible.
  • Use extra caution near water, snow and sand because they reflect and intensify the damaging rays for the sun, which can increase your chances of sunburn.

Avoid tanning beds

Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look tan, consider using a self-tanning product or spray, but continue to use sunscreen with it.

Avoid sunburn

Sure it hurts, but what’s so bad about a sunburn?

Sunburn means your skin has been damaged. Ultraviolet light enters the skin to damage your cell’s DNA (your body’s instruction manual). Repeated exposure to ultraviolet light can cause a lot of problems:

  • wrinkles
  • brown spots
  • eye problems
  • moles
  • saggy skin
  • skin cancer

In the United States, more than 3.5 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually and one person dies from melanoma every hour. Examine your skin monthly and report any changes to a dermatologist as soon as possible.

Then if it is skin cancer, you will have the best chance of it being diagnosed in its earliest, most treatable stage.

The A-B-C-D-E of skin cancer

A sunburn can increase the number of moles on your body. While moles are common, they can become cancerous.

Keep an eye on your moles with the “ABCDE” rule and talk with a health care provider if you notice anything abnormal.

 Asymmetry - one half is unlike the other half.
  
 Border - An irregular, scalloped or poorly defined border.
  
 Color - Is varied from one area to another, has shades of tan, brown or black, or is sometimes white, red or blue.
  
 Diameter - Melanomas are usually greater than 6mm (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.
  
 Evolving - A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color.

Sun awareness for kids

  • Minimize summer sun exposure between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and UV protective clothing. Even while swimming, wear a UV swim shirt
  • Apply sunscreen that provides UVB and UVA protection with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30
  • Apply sunscreen 30 minutes BEFORE sun exposure and reapply after swimming or excessive sweating
  • Seek shade
  • No tan is a good tan
  • Avoid tanning beds

Below are some facts about skin cancer and children’s risk factors:

  • Approximately 40 to 60 percent of sun exposure occurs before age 20
  • Sunburns can happen within 15 minutes of being in the sun, but redness and discomfort may be noticed for a few hours later
  • Melanoma accounts for approximately 7 percent of all cancers diagnosed in 15 to 19 year olds

Sunscreen with the term “baby” means it contains only these active ingredients:

  • Titanium dioxide
  • Zinc oxide

These ingredients are less likely to irritate a baby’s sensitive skin.

The AAD recommends the following when using sunscreen on babies and toddlers

Children younger than 6 months of age:

  • Protect their skin from the sun by keeping them in the shade and dressing them in long-sleeved shirts, pants, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses while taking care to prevent them from overheating
  • If possible, avoid using sunscreen on these children

Children 6 months of age and older:

  • Use a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which is most appropriate for the sensitive skin of infants and toddlers
  • Even when using sunscreen, keep children in the shade and dress them in clothing that will protect their skin from the sun, i.e., long-sleeved shirts, pants and wide-brimmed hats

While both products provide important protection, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends buying separate sunscreen and insect repellants because:

  • Sunscreen should be applied liberally and often
  • Insect repellant should be applied sparingly and less often than sunscreen

Reducing cancer in our community

By 2025, cancer is projected to be the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Reducing the incidence of cancer in our region is part of the St. Charles Health System vision: Creating America's healthiest community, together.

Two of the Cancer Center’s key strategies toward reducing the impact of cancer in our communities are 1) preventing cancer from developing and 2) diagnosing cancers earlier. We have greatly expanded our prevention and early detection programs.

Prevention

Prevention and early detection:

  • Cancer education - Educational programs on cancer prevention and screening guidelines are available for health fairs, businesses, schools and community groups. Contact the cancer center for information and to schedule a presentation.
  • High Risk Breast Clinic - A collaborative between St. Charles Cancer Center and Central Oregon Radiology to provide women with an increased risk of developing breast cancer with education regarding lifestyle risk reduction strategies, genetic counseling, and more vigilant screening strategies. 
  • Mammothon Program - Provides no cost screening mammograms to uninsured patients. Please call 541-706-6729 for further information.
  • ScreenWise - Breast and Cervical Cancer (BCC) screening services help low-income, uninsured and medically under-served women gain access to lifesaving breast and cervical cancer screening services. Please call 541-706-6729 for further information.
  • Genetic screening
  • Pathfinder 2 Study - The Pathfinder 2 Study looks at how well a new test called Galleri can find cancers early. Galleri is designed to find many types of cancer using a simple blood test. Right now, this test is still being studied and has not been approved or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is still important to follow your health care provider’s recommendations about cancer screening tests, such as colonoscopies or mammograms. En Espanol.
  • Lung Cancer Screening - St. Charles Cancer Center partners with Central Oregon Radiology to provide screening for high risk patients. 
  • Pulmonary Nodule Clinic - St. Charles Cancer Center partners with Central Oregon Radiology to provide personalized follow-up for lung nodules identified on imaging studies.
  • Skin cancer screening - The St. Charles Cancer Center partners with the Deschutes County Health Department and local dermatologists to periodically provide community skin cancer screening. Watch the St. Charles Health System Facebook page for details.
  • HPV - Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that can cause cancer. The HPV vaccine prevents infection from the most harmful kinds of HPV. Download HPV brochure.
  • Colorectal cancer screening - Please contact your provider regarding colorectal cancer screenings.

Support Services

From the moment you receive a cancer diagnosis, you are a survivor. Cancer survivorship - living with and beyond cancer - is a reality for nearly 12 million people in the United States.

We offer programs and support services for survivors and caregivers designed to:

  • Guide you toward healthier living choices
  • Help you manage stress and anxiety
  • Introduce resources to help you manage everyday life
  • Provide information about community resources
  • Give you the confidence to write the next chapter of your life

Many of our programs are supported by generous donations from our community through the St. Charles Foundation.

Download our Resource Guide!

Nurse Navigators

Oncology nurse navigators provide individualized care coordination by guiding a patient diagnosed with cancer through the medical, emotional and educational aspects of cancer treatment. Navigators offer assistance with scheduling appointments, communication with the medical team, connecting with support services and finding available resources. There is no charge for this service, which is designed to assure that quality care is provided to the patient once the initial diagnosis is determined. For more information, call 541-706-6715.

Nutrition

Nutrition is an essential component of comprehensive cancer care, rehabilitation and survivorship. A registered dietitian is available to work with patients and their families, especially patients identified at risk for having nutritional problems or special needs. Nutrition classes are offered monthly for patients during treatment and beyond cancer treatment. For more information, call 541-706-4725.

Social Work

Our social workers assist patients with practical and emotional support to manage the stress of living with cancer. Social workers provide connection to locally funded organizations like Sara's Project, Wendy's Wish and CAN Cancer for assistance with non-medical living expenses, such as transportation, lodging, utility bills or rent payments. Social workers also refer to specialists, including psychiatrists, integrative therapies (like massage, acupuncture and Reiki), counselors, spiritual care, registered dietitians, nurse navigators, insurance specialists, medical financial assistance and survivorship programs. For more information, call 541-706-4864 or 541-706-6363.

Spiritual Care

Spirituality and religion may help patients and families find deeper meaning and experience a sense of personal growth during their cancer journey. A chaplain is available for one-on-one and family discussions to help cope with your cancer journey, respecting the beliefs of all involved. For more information, call 541-706-5800.

Harvest of HOPE

Patients diagnosed with cancer often have more than just the disease to consider.

Harvest of Hope provides nutritious, easy-to-prepare, nonperishable food items, such as canned fruits and veggies, pasta and marinara, beans and bread mixes to patients who qualify. These foods are combined with fresh produce, cheese and eggs to provide enough food to last a family several meals. Meal planning tools and healthy recipes are also included. For more information, call 541-706-4864 or 541-706-6363.

If you can benefit from this program or know a cancer patient who needs support, please call St. Charles Cancer Center Social Work at 541-706-5800.

If you're interested in donating to support our programs, you may contact the St. Charles Foundation at 541-706-6996 or click here to go to their website.

Sign up for MyChart   Learn More About Proxy Access   NEW! Text Messaging

St. Charles MyChart

The St. Charles MyChart patient portal offers you, our Central Oregon patients, personalized and secure online access to portions of your medical records, as well as multiple tools to help you manage your care. MyChart is accessible through a web browser or mobile application.

With MyChart, you can:

  • View test results
    Once available, see results compared to standard ranges and view trends over time.
  • Communicate with your doctor
    Send and receive messages with your care team about non-urgent issues
  • Schedule appointments with Family Care clinics
    Manage upcoming appointments and view details of past visits, including comments and instructions from your doctor
  • Pay bills online
    View billing statements and pay bills and co-pays with a credit card

You can also:

  • Contact customer service
  • Request a referral to a specialist
  • Review details of care advice calls
  • Request a renewal of current medication
  • See details about future appointments, including instructions and driving directions
  • Confirm, cancel and reschedule appointments
  • Search open appointment availability
  • Move appointments to an earlier date if an opening becomes available
  • Complete most of the check-in process from home, like paying co-pays, verifying allergies and medications and completing questionnaires
 

Now Available: Text Messaging

You may soon receive a text message asking you to opt in to specific text messages related to your health care at St. Charles. This could include, but is not limited to, appointment reminders, billing messages, etc.

If you already receive text messages from St. Charles & Care Partners, you will continue to receive messages, but they will now come from 84823.

To opt in to receiving text messages from St. Charles & Care Partners, text START to 84823.

In order to receive text messages, your mobile number must be opted-in and communication preferences must be set for text messaging. Access Communication Preferences via your MyChart account through the account settings and choose which type of notifications to receive and by which method (phone call, text, email, MyChart push notifications).

To opt out of receiving text messages from St. Charles & Care Partners, reply STOP to any of the text messages you receive. If you wish to resubscribe, you can turn text preferences back on in your MyChart account in the Communications Preferences section or contact us at 844-258-4153.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact MyChart support at 844-258-4153.

How to allow a third party app to access your health record

Patients of providers that use Epic software are able to connect third party applications (apps) to retrieve parts of their health record for their own personal use. Examples of data that can be pulled into an app include lab results, allergies, medications and immunization history.

In order to authenticate an app to retrieve your health data, follow the steps outlined on Epic's website (note that images may not reflect St. Charles' exact layout or content for each step in the process). Visit Epic's site with the tutorial.

List of Third Party Apps    Download the St. Charles Guide    Descargar Guía de San Carlos

Need help with MyChart? Contact customer service or call 844-259-4153.

Sign up for MyChart 

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