Cancer Connections Treats Mind, Body and Spirit
Northwestern Medicine
Cancer Care/Oncology
July 19, 2012


When Joni Alvarez developed stomach pains, headaches and noticed that she was extremely tired most of the time, she assumed it was due to work, stress, or a lack of exercise. The diagnosis of cervical cancer caught her completely by surprise. “I’m still shocked at how quickly cancer happened to me,” Alvarez says. “It was only four months from the onset of my symptoms, to receiving my diagnosis, to the completion of my treatment.”

She is an active participant in many of the Lurie Cancer Center programs, including Cancer Connections—which is being offered again this Saturday, July 21st on the 3rd floor of Prentice Women’s Hospital. At Cancer Connections, patients and caregivers are able to experience the benefits of massage therapy, and learn about tools, techniques, and services they can use during and after cancer treatment. Workshops led by Lurie Cancer Center clinicians and Supportive Oncology team members include:
- Active Days & Restful Nights: Managing Cancer-Related Fatigue & Insomnia
- Breakthroughs & Challenges in Cancer Pain Management
- Growth, Resilience & Renewal: The Cancer Experience
- Navigating Health Insurance
- Creating Family-Friendly Meals from the Farmer's Market
- Hope, Happiness & Positive Thinking: Finding What Works for You
Alvarez says that in addition to learning new things at each Cancer Connections, which is offered quarterly, she values the chance to ask questions and interact with other cancer survivors in such a relaxed and positive setting. “Cancer is always somewhere in the back of my mind, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come and that I’m still learning and growing,” said Alvarez. “Now I focus more on the quality of my live as a cancer survivor than the fact that I survived cancer!”
To find out more information, please visit the website.