The Daily News

Event in Covington to share information

People who have been diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers will find lots of information and support during a National Cancer Survivor's Day program, "Living Through and After a Cancer Diagnosis: A Celebration of Life" at the Covington Holiday Inn Saturday, June 21.

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"This is a celebration of survival," said Cheryl Corizzo, Cancer Program director at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. "A lot of people don't consider themselves survivors. But if you are living a life after diagnosis, you're a survivor. It's both through and beyond."

Cancer survivors are typically very concerned with wellness and with preventing reoccurrences, she said. And caregivers "bear a tremendous burden." Saturday's event is designed to help both groups.

The morning-long program will include three 40-minute roundtable sessions, and attendees will have the option of 10 different tables.

The table topics are: The Caregiver: A Balancing Act; Coping with the Fear of Cancer Recurrence; Nutrition Ammunition in Cancer Prevention and Treatment; Can We Talk? (About pain and symptom management); Preventing and Managing Cancer-Related Lymphedema: What You Should Know; Post-Treatment Challenges of Chemotherapy Treatment; Advance What? Talking About Advance Directives; Using Exercise as an Important Ally in Cancer Recovery; Tired of Being "Bone Tired" and Treatment and Post-Treatment Challenges of Radiation Treatment.

"This unique event will allow attendees to sit in small roundtable groups and discuss specific topics with speakers considered experts in their fields of practice," said Corizzo. "Each facilitator will speak briefly, and time will be allowed for questions and discussion between the speaker and attendees. Educational materials related to the topics and health and recovery will also be provided."

The topics were decided by members of cancer support groups, she said.

The Survivors Day program is a joint project of St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Pontchartrain Hematology Oncology, the Leonard C. Thomas HOS Foundation and Holiday Inn. It is offered to the public free of charge, but Corizzo asks that everyone call ahead so organizers can make sure there is enough food available.

The event will take place from 8:45 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. Registration and a buffet breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. The Holiday Inn is located at 501 North Louisiana Highway 190, Covington. For more information or to pre-register, call Corizzo at 898-4581 or e-mail ccorizzo@stph.org.