Survivorship Special Topic: Self Care with Dara Kurtz, Breast Cancer Survivor & Author of Crush Cancer
Triad Cancer Connection Podcast
Our survivorship topic speaker today is Dara Kurtz. Dara is a breast cancer survivor, author of Crush Cancer, and survivorship mentor. As of March 2025, she is also Cancer Services’ Survivor Engagement Coordinator! Listen to our interview with Dara to hear: - The most significant mental or emotional shift she experienced after finishing treatment - How she began to rebuild identity after cancer - What tools or habits have helped her the most in navigating life post-cancer - The role that community played in her healing
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May Survivorship Topic: Oncology Dental Health
Triad Cancer Connection Podcast
Our May Survivorship Special Topic is Oncology Dental Health with expert Dr. Shaiba Sandhu, Oral Medicine and Orofacial Pain Specialist for High Point University. She cares for patients at Novant Cancer Institute. Dr. Sandhu addresses several questions including: What is an “oral medicine oncology specialist”? What’s the role of oral health for oncology care? Is there a need for a break from cancer medications before dental work? What kinds of issues are people typically seeing an oncology dental health specialist for? Do people have to be referred to see you? What do you like about the...
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March Survivorship Expert Interview: Integrative Oncology
Triad Cancer Connection Podcast
Our expert speaker this month is Dr Rachel Baldwin, integrative medicine physician for Novant Health Cancer Institute in Winston-Salem, NC. Dr Baldwin answers Julie’s questions including: What’s the role of integrative medicine for oncology care? What kinds of issues are people typically seeing you for? people have to be referred to see you? Do you think a change in diet or lifestyle will shrink the cancer and keep it from growing back without chemotherapy? What advice do you have for managing cancer related side effects?
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Body Image and Nutrition for your Nervous System
Triad Cancer Connection Podcast
January 2024 Survivorship Special Topic: Body Image and Nutrition for your Nervous System Today’s episode is the first survivorship special topic for 2024! Our expert speaker today is Debra Benfield, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Certified Yoga Teacher. Debra is the founder of Body in Mind Nutrition, a body positive nutrition therapy practice here in Winston Salem. You can find Debra on IG and her website has more podcast interviews and resources. . We decided to do this topic because first of all, it’s January! We’re all thinking of...
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GYN Cancer Survivorship with Endometrial Cancer Survivor Kris Ryan
Triad Cancer Connection Podcast
Today’s episode is the last in our 3 part series sponsored by Athena’s Run for GYN Cancer. The mission of Athena's Run is to celebrate, honor and lift up the women affected by gynecologic cancers. They increase public awareness about gynecologic cancers and raise funds to support education, advocacy, care and research. Their vision is to end gynecologic cancers through prevention, early detection and effective treatment. In this episode, we talk with GYN cancer survivor, Kris Ryan, about life during and after cancer. Episode 1 focuses on prevent, and early detection....
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Gynecologic Cancer Treatment and Side Effect Management
Triad Cancer Connection Podcast
Today’s episode is the 2nd in a 3 part series sponsored by Athena’s Run for GYN Cancer. Our expert guest is Robin Atkinson, oncology certified nurse and Gynecologic Cancer Nurse Navigator for the Novant Cancer Institute. The mission of Athena's Run is to celebrate, honor and lift up the women affected by gynecologic cancers. They increase public awareness about gynecologic cancers and raise funds to support education, advocacy, care and research. Their vision is to end gynecologic cancers through prevention, early detection and effective treatment. This 3 part...
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Survivorship Topic: The Effects of High Blood Pressure on Cancer Survivorship
Triad Cancer Connection Podcast
Check out our last survivorship expert interview for 2023 with expert Dr. Ken E. Bodek, a cardio-oncologist with Novant Health Cardiology. We decided to do this topic because high blood pressure affects 50% of the US adult population, and cancer survivors are affected at a higher rate and the effects can be more harmful. This will be helpful information for everyone!
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Reducing Risk for GYN Cancer
Triad Cancer Connection Podcast
Today’s episode is the first in a 3 part series sponsored by Athena’s Run for GYN Cancer. The mission of Athena's Run is to celebrate, honor and lift up the women affected by gynecologic cancers. They increase public awareness about gynecologic cancers and raise funds to support education, advocacy, care and research. Their vision is to end gynecologic cancers through prevention, early detection and effective treatment. This 3 part series will cover just that! Episode 1 focuses on prevent, and early detection. Episode 2 focuses on treatment and managing side effects....
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Survivorship Topic: What to Know when You’re Facing Cancer
Triad Cancer Connection Podcast
Getting a cancer diagnosis for the first time can be scary and overwhelming, and you may feel like you don't know where to start. And for those who are close to the end of active treatment, or done with active treatment, that’s a scary time too when you’re not seeing your cancer care team every week! This month's interview aims to help listeners know where to go, who to talk to, what to ask, and what resources to keep in your toolbox. Cancer Services has dozens of resources for patients to provide support and assistance throughout this journey, and there's even more organizations and...
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Celebrating Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day!
Triad Cancer Connection Podcast
Today’s interview is with Melanie Sisk, a local metastatic breast cancer thriver who is also a volunteer with Cancer Services and is the group leader for our local Metastatic Breast Cancer group in the Triad area of North Carolina. To contact Melanie about the group, email
info_outlineIt's been a week with our new reality and I think most of us are tired of the new words we are using all the time...things like "social distance" and "coronavirus" and "homeschool." At Cancer Services, we are working to maintain our services as much as possible and offering many things online.
Let us know if you have questions or suggestions on how we can assist you during this time. We are open to ideas!! In the next few weeks, we will be setting up online classes, like Cancer Transitions, from home!
As a reminder: Please call us before you come by the office so we can determine if you need to come or not. We want to keep all our clients safe, and our staff as well. We are happy to talk with you during normal business hours at 336-760-9983. UPDATE ON OFFICE HOURS: We will be open M-Th 9am - 4pm and Friday 9am - 2pm.
Be sure you connect with us via the Cancer Services Facebook page and our YouTube channel!
Sign up for our email list HERE.
We had to cancel our annual auction, Wrapped Up In Ribbons, which raises 25% of our budget. If you are able, consider helping us make our goal despite the cancellation. FIND OUT MORE HERE!
MOVE MORE. STRESS LESS. Virtual Activity Program: - http://cancerservicesonline.org/movemore/
Dates: April 1 – May 27
Requirements: Track the time spent doing dedicated physical activity and email to Lindy ([email protected]), our Survivorship Coordinator, each week.
PRIZES: Of course, the best prize of all is feeling good & less stressed! To help motivate you, we will have prizes for participation and grand prize drawings at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Grand prizes will be delivered by mail, but due to the cost of postage, participation prizes must be picked up.
SIGN UP HERE: http://cancerservicesonline.org/movemore/
Coronavirus quick links:
- How to Navigate Cancer in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic from Cure Magazine
- Cancer Services has information regarding coronavirus on our website here: www.cancerservicesonline.org/coronavirus and in Spanish here: www.cancerservicessonline.org/informaciondecoronavirus.
- Local public radio, WFDD, has a coronavirus page with updates.
https://www.wfdd.org/story/live-updates-coronavirus-north-carolina
Para versión en Español, haga click aquí. - Find science-based coronavirus websites here:
CDC – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus
NCDHHS – www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus
Forsyth County Department of Public Health - https://www.forsyth.cc/PublicHealth/novel_coronavirus.aspx - NC coronavirus call center (in English and Spanish) – 866-462-3821
- Forsyth County Department of Public Health coronavirus call line - 336-582-0800
Relaxation Tools:
- CBT-I Coach, a free app made by the VA for veterans, which has a series of really excellent meditation and relaxation tools.
- Insight Timer App and website to assist with anxiety, stress, and relaxation.
NUTRITION IDEAS:
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING:
- The Hidden Worlds of National Parks - an interactive documentary. It's really cool!!
- On Friday, March 13, Old Salem Museums & Gardens launched a new online platform, OLD SALEM EXPLORATORIUM, created to serve those school students who have had to cancel their field trip to the Old Salem Historic District due to Coronavirus measures. The series of 5- to 10-minute experiences will bring the students in direct visual (but not physical!) contact with our master craftsman and educators. Check out their Old Salem YouTube channel here!
- Here are 450 Ivy League courses you can take online right now for free.
- Missing The NCAA Tourneys? Try March Mammal Madness
Mammals, alliteration, survival-of-the-fittest. These brackets have it all. - Kids and teens books streaming for free from audible!
EXERCISE AT HOME:
- Virginia is one of our volunteers who teaches a dance class for our Spanish speaking clients on Monday nights. She recorded a video for us to dance with her from home! Check it out and get your exercise! Follow along, or make up your own moves. That's the great thing about dancing at home!!
- Join Angela Gallagher from North Joy Yoga as she teaches her yoga for cancer classes virtually on Wednesdays at 9am and 5pm. If you would like to join these classes, please email Angela at [email protected].
- This elementary PE teacher from Chattanooga, Coach Wood, is doing a PE video EVERY DAY during the school closings and they are super fun for kids of all ages (yes, that includes kids over 60 years old!!). (PE with Coach Wood) A great way to get your wiggles out each day for about 20 minutes. Check it out.
- YMCA NWNC is posting workouts every day on their Facebook page. Find your local branch's page here: ymcanwnc.org/yourvirtualymca. You don't have to be a YMCA member to take advantage of this!
- Also, the national YMCA offers free online workouts right now! No membership is needed to access the classes. Find them at https://ymca360.org/