Saturday, March 22, 2008

Free Family Cancer Retreat offered

A free, three-day Family Cancer Retreat will be offered from April 25 to 27 by Cancer Services of New Mexico at the Lifeway Glorieta Conference Center.

The center is in Glorieta, N.M., 18 miles from Santa Fe.

It will provide adult cancer patients and survivors and their loved ones with tools and information to manage the treatment and recovery process.

More than 250 people from 100 families are expected to participate. The program will combine discussions and lectures by many of the state's leading cancer specialists with fun activities that provide a break from the day-to-day challenges of living with cancer.

Among the educational sessions will be choosing the best treatment or clinical trial; new developments in treatment; coping with treatment-related side effects; accessing cancer-related information on the Internet; talking with kids about cancer; caring for the caregiver; pain management and hospice services; legal and insurance issues; moving from surviving to thriving; meditation and yoga.

Participants will also have the opportunity to spend time with each other in informal sessions. Recreational activities will be provided for children and teens during the educational sessions.

The entire program, including meals, lodging and all educational activities is provided at no cost. It is made possible through support of the State Department of Health, Northern New Mexico Health Grants, United Way of Central New Mexico, Eli Lilly & Co., Genetech, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Oncology, Onyx, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Pharmion, Sanofi-Aventis Oncology, Vista Care and its hospice foundation, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, OrthoBiotech, Advanced Communications and Electronics Inc., Graphic Connection, The Printer's Press, Roche, Sprint, the U.S. Postal Service and Wal-Mart.

Space is limited, so families are asked to apply as early as possible. For information or to request an application packet, call Mike Capeless, 239-4239 or go to www.CancerServicesNM.org.

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