ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995              TAG: 9512070009
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 6    EDITION: METRO 
COLUMN: Health Notes
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY


CANCER NEEDN'T BE A CLOSED SUBJECT

As a society, we avoid talking about cancer until forced to, and then we want as much information as possible, Salem physician Jeffrey Patton has found.

Patton, an oncologist with Lewis-Gale Clinic, said that when he is on the program for a public talk, the turnout is always lower than for topics like high blood pressure or cholesterol.

Patton and other health-care workers want to change this with a new program from the American Cancer Society and Lewis-Gale Regional Cancer Center.

Beginning Jan. 9, the center at Lewis-Gale Hospital will sponsor six educational programs designed to help friends, family and caregivers of cancer patients feel more comfortable talking about cancer. The meetings will be from 7-8 p.m. every other Tuesday, and each will feature a videotape with Dr. Nancy Snyderman of ``Good Morning America'' as host. Specialists in nutrition, fitness and social issues will then help answer questions.

Cancer Society research showed that people often wonder what they can do to help, but don't know how, Patton said.

``In the past, we just had support groups, but we found that if we have an educational focus first we get more participation, more questions,'' the cancer specialist said.

Patton will be the first speaker. He will explain what cancer is and what treatment options are available and the side effects that can be expected.

Leaders in subsequent weeks will include Suzanne Zollman and Sarah Wolfe, social workers; Audrey Burt, a dietitian at Lewis-Gale Hospital, and Daphne Depuy, executive director of the American Cancer Society.

The program also will be offered on-site to churches, civic groups and others organizations. Groups interested should call Sarah Wolfe at 776-4160. Anyone interested in more details on the series should phone MedLine at 776-4863.

Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia

A panel of persons who have substantially recovered from chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia will join Shirley Bodie, a registered nurse and alternative practitioner, for a discussion of the illnesses Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in the Northside Library at Albemarle Square in Charlottesville.

The group will share personal stories about the debilitating effects of the illnesses. Symptoms vary from individual to individual, but most complain of a ``crushing exhaustion,'' said Charlotte Gibson, director of the Charlottesville Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association. Other symptoms are low-grade fever, swollen lymph nodes, confusion and lack of ability to concentrate.

The pain associated with fibromyalgia, which officially is listed as a form of arthritis, is more like muscle ache and joint pain, Gibson said.

Both conditions are being increasingly diagnosed. The Roanoke Valley has both day and night support groups for persons who have the illnesses. Information is available from the Mental Health Association of Roanoke Valley at 344-0931.


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