Meredith Wampler-Kuhn has worked with cancer paients for more than 17 years and has been interested in starting a rehabilitation program focused specifically on helping them for the past five.

Her vision is now a reality at the St. Charles Cancer Center in Bend where two rooms have been dedicated to providing physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to patients in the same location as their cancer treatments.

“About 10 years ago I did some clinical research on balance impairments in patients with breast cancer,” said Wampler-Kuhn, a physical therapist who has worked for St. Charles for the past two years. “I can’t believe I’m finally getting a chance to implement all of these ideas.”

Because so many advances have been made in treating cancer, Wampler-Kuhn said she sees a greater need for rehabilitation services focused on the unique needs of cancer survivors.

“Treatment has advanced so much, people are surviving cancer,” she said. “They are wanting to get back to living their lives. That’s where we come into play – getting people back to doing what they love.”

Chemotherapy can cause neuropathy that affects balance and can lead to falls. Surgery to remove lymph nodes can cause swelling in the arms or legs known as lymphedema. And radiation for cancers in the head and neck can often result in swallowing difficulties.

All of these issues and more can be treated with rehabilitation services. Other common problems associated with cancer or cancer treatments include fatigue, weakness, pain, restricted joint mobility from surgery or radiation, vision changes and what’s known as “chemo brain,” or problems with thinking and memory. These problems can lead to limitations in day-to-day mobility and function at home or work, which can be frustrating for patients.

“We know that many of our patients with cancer experience symptoms related to their cancer or to our cancer treatments,” said Dr. Linyee Chang, medical director of St. Charles Cancer Center.

“These symptoms can be quite disabling. By identifying and treating these symptoms earlier, we can improve their quality of life.”

By housing rehabilitation services in the cancer center, Chang said, it will be easier to incorporate them into patients’ treatment schedules. WamplerKuhn said she believes that because the therapists will become part of the cancer team, patients who may benefit from the services will receive earlier intervention resulting in better outcomes.

“Not 100 percent of people will need rehab,” she said. “We’ll identify high-risk folks and watch them closely throughout their treatments. We are also happy to see anyone who has self-identified a problem that may be helped by rehabilitation services. They will just need to ask their physician to make a referral to rehabilitation services.”

Being located onsite at the cancer center will make it possible for rehab appointments to be tagged onto other cancer treatment services so that patients only need to make one trip to the hospital for their care.

“We are all people who have a passion for oncology rehab,” Wampler-Kuhn said. “We want to help patients get back to doing what they love to do.”

To learn more, visit our Oncology Rehab page. To make an appointment with a prescription from your doctor, call 541-706-5800 and ask for the oncology rehab scheduler.

The most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma can be prevented by staying covered. That means applying sunscreen generously and often, wearing protective clothing and avoiding excess sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Protection from the sun is especially important for babies and children, who are much more sensitive to the sun than adults. In fact, about 80 percent of a person's lifetime sun exposure happens before age 18. "We always counsel people to cover up to protect themselves from sun damage, but when you get to the pool, especially for kids, sunscreen is often the last thing on the mind," said Lizzi Katz, cancer education coordinator for St. Charles Health System.

To help protect the public from skin damage, St. Charles Cancer Center has installed sunscreen dispensers at Juniper Swim and Fitness Center, near the outdoor pool; Redmond Parks and Recreation's Cascade Swim Center and at Crook County Parks and Recreation's Prineville swimming pool.

The dispensers — which feature a high quality, water-resistant broad spectrum sunscreen offering UVA and UVB protection — are available for use by both swimmers and staff.

According to the Oregon Division of Public Health, the state's melanoma death rate was the eighth highest in the country during the years 2000 to 2006. In that same time period, the rate of new melanoma diagnoses in Oregon was the fourth highest in the United States, or 36 percent higher than the national average. Deschutes and Crook counties had the second and fourth highest rates in the state.

"With skin cancer rates on the rise, especially in the high desert, we need to change our mindset about protecting our skin," Katz said. "By making sunscreen available for a vulnerable population — kids and adults who are out to enjoy the summer weather — we can offer convenient, no-cost protection to our community."

St. Charles Cancer Center grand opening Aug. 14

BEND, Oregon — Patients, family members, friends, donors, caregivers, physicians and all those interested in attending are invited to the grand opening celebration for the new St. Charles Cancer Center. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 14 with a short program, ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the facility and refreshments in the healing garden.

“We started this journey many years ago to build a comprehensive cancer center where all services are available in one location,” said Dr. Linyee Chang, medical director of the St. Charles Cancer Center. “It is time to celebrate the incredible amount of time, effort and resources that have gone into making this healing facility a reality.”

The $13 million cancer center was designed and developed with input from caregivers and patients. Floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall of the medical oncology room will give chemotherapy and other infusion patients a healing, peaceful view during their treatment. Exam rooms have separate entrances for patients and staff, so that patients have a direct route with little congestion in the hallways. Work areas for physicians, nurses and other patient care support staff are located in an open, central area where the entire team can communicate easily and better coordinate care.

The new Les Schwab Medical Oncology Wing opened to patients July 1, while the John D. Picchetti Radiation Oncology Wing renovation will be complete this month.

Thanks to community donations, St. Charles Foundation has raised 97 percent of its $5.7 million capital campaign toward the project.

“This event is one way we hope to show our gratitude to the Central Oregon community for coming together and supporting cancer services in our region,” said Lisa Dobey, executive director of St. Charles Foundation. “Please join us as we celebrate the care and service this new center will provide our community for decades to come.”

About St. Charles Health System

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras and Redmond, and leases and operates Pioneer Memorial Hospital. It also owns family care clinics in Bend, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 3,400 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.

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