Nurses meet to discuss new treatment techniques

The eighth annual Cancer Nursing Conference was Sept. 13 at the Best Western Gate-way Inn in Barboursville. The purpose of the conference was to educate nurses on the treatment of a cancer patient as a person.

"There has been a physician's cancer conference for a number of years, but I noticed there was not one geared towards nurses, so the nursing conference was suggested," Dr. Lynne B. Welch, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions said.

Denise Eagan, a consulting dietitian and assistant professor at Marshall, was one of the speakers on the panel.

She has seen patients with both long-term and short-term cancer and was present primarily to teach nurses about getting patients to eat a diet that will benefit them.

Eagan said she attended the conference to reinforce the idea that "when patients have optimal nutritional status it maximizes treatments for cancer."

She said she believes in the power of positive health in relation to recovery.

"If you take some of these techniques that are being taught today and apply them to the patient, then the patient can cope easier with the disease," she said.

Sometimes patients have trouble eating because of nausea and loss of taste, but Eagan wants to emphasize the importance of contacting a dietitian.

Exercise is also a concern when dealing with cancer patients because they often are sedentary.

If the patients exercise, they may experience a faster recovery time.

William Marley, director of Human Performance Labora-tory at Marshall said exercise can also help with stress felt during chemotherapy.

"Some patients are not given the opportunity to exercise, which increases the opportunity of invalidism and depression," Marley said.

Sherry Kincaid, a paid staff member for the American Cancer Society, is responsible for seven counties in the state and deals with all facets of the society.

"We wanted to raise awareness of unique treatment that cancer patients need and update the nurses on the newest treatment modalities," Kincaid said.

Additional events and fund-raisers are scheduled for the awareness of cancer.

Those interested may call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345 for more information.