For Immediate Release

Cancer Hope for Baby Boomers and Beyond

Oklahoma City — The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will partner with Mercy Health Center to offer a free dinner and informational program Thursday, June 19. The evening will include information to help cancer patients, family members and healthcare professionals learn about age and its impact on cancer treatment plans.

“We will give cancer patients and their caregivers knowledge about how age affects treatment, as well as provide information on all their options,” said Steve Fontenot, BSN, RN, Mercy’s clinical nurse leader who is giving the program. “There are a lot of misconceptions about cancer treatment for aging adults. The reality is that older patients can benefit from treatment just as much as younger patients, and older patients generally tolerate treatments just as well. We want to get the word out that they can navigate through cancer treatments and enjoy quality of life. It’s easier to get through a cancer diagnosis if you know there’s hope beyond treatment.”

The evening includes information about treatment options for blood cancers, emotional impact, how to find support and a Q & A session. Free to the public, the program is from 5 to 7 p.m. in Mercy’s conference center, Room C. To pre-register, call (405) 943-8888 or visit www.lls.org/ok for more information.

Press release dated: May 16, 2008

Mercy Health Center, the first Magnet hospital in Oklahoma and among only 3 percent of hospitals in the nation to be awarded Magnet status, is a member of Mercy Health System of Oklahoma and the Sisters of Mercy Health System. Magnet-designated facilities: report higher patient satisfaction rates, deliver better patient outcomes, provide more nursing care at the bedside of patients and consistently outperform non-magnet organizations.