Alene is an oncology nurse in Fort Collins. She develops community-based integrative programs for cancer survivors in their recovery from cancer treatment and educates the public about cancer to foster healthy and realistic discussions about a topic people tend to fear and avoid.
Going beyond the survivorship care plan model in conventional medicine, she emphasizes the importance of meeting the everyday needs of cancer survivors during or after treatment, to improve function and quality of life, which are not accomplished well in a clinical setting. Movement and physical activity are the foundation of her programs, but healing and enjoyment of life are the focus.
Alene’s programs emphasize bringing community practitioners and cancer survivors together. There is a need for both patients and their healthcare providers to know what resources are available in the community for both movement and healing. Oncologists might not be aware of the services and resources available and, for numerous reasons, they might not refer patients to these services.
The FIERCE: Functional & Fit, Independent, Energized, Restored, Confident, and Empowered® program offers a chance for participants to explore modalities in healing and movement through demonstrations and participation in a wide range of offerings including Yoga, T’ai Chi, Reiki, Reflexology, Acupuncture, Massage, Pilates, QiGong, Boxing, Nutrition, Psychotherapy, Communication Skills, Powerwalking, Occupational Therapy, Rossiter, Feldenkrais, Biofeedback, and Pelvic Floor Strengthening, among other modalities.
In a safe, supportive, and comfortable environment with other cancer survivors, FIERCE participants can learn about the modalities, experience them, ask questions of the providers, and find what they enjoy, outside of a clinical setting without the reminders of the treatment experience.
Cancer Harbors®is a six-month program to help the recovering cancer patient after treatment. It covers a range of topics relevant to treatment recovery (physical activity and nutrition; fatigue, cognitive functioning and occupational concerns; social and personal relationships; creating restorative environments in one’s work, home, and leisure settings; emotional support and mental health; communication, self-care and self-advocacy skills; and goal setting, re-prioritizing, and moving forward). Within each topic, the skills are highly individualized and the participant can choose what to focus on based on their own interests and needs. Requiring a minimum of time, it fits into the cancer survivor’s life without requiring extra appointments, significant effort, or substantial cost. Cancer Harbors is offered in individual and group formats.
A third program under development is Alene’s Cancer Literacy project. The public avoids discussion of cancer to its own detriment. Cancer affects 38% of the population at some point in our lives, and nearly everyone secondarily as a caregiver, family member, coworker, or friend. Learning basic facts about cancer, reducing the spread of misinformation, and being able to have conversations about cancer without fear can help reduce the trauma around a cancer diagnosis for everyone involved. Being prepared with a small amount of knowledge and simple preparation in advance of a cancer or other serious illness diagnosis can make the experience less stressful and overwhelming for the patient and caregiver.
Alene has written a book, Navigating the C: A Nurse Charts the Course for Cancer Survivorship Care, available on Amazon. It is for lay audiences as well as healthcare professionals. It examines all the stakeholders in healthcare from patients, caregivers, and providers, to executives, policymakers, and legislators, and discusses ways each of these groups can improve the experience of cancer survivors. The book contains an extensive appendix with samples from her programs, a cancer literacy discussion, and a section for athletes and physically active people with cancer.
ACCEPTS VIRTUAL CLIENTS
[email protected] for the video-conferencing program, group programs, and all other inquiries
cancerharbors.com
Book: https://a.co/ciTYFWi
[email protected]
Colorado RN license RN178650
Fort Collins, Colorado
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