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Networks ease way for cancer patients

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By Keri Brenner | The Olympian • Published December 24, 2007

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The class, taught by Joanna Cashman of Wild Grace Arts Yoga & Dance in Olympia, helped her feel more flexible, Zimny said. She plans to sign up again when new classes start in January.

"It teaches you some good relaxation, and just de-stressing," said Zimny, who, like Illing, went through chemotherapy and radiation.

Dr. Evan Hirsch, who has a private holistic medical practice in Olympia, is medical director for Sound Cancer Connections. Spyhalsky said she and Hirsch screen all of the practitioners before they join the program to make sure they are qualified and that they are familiar with how to adapt their services to people undergoing conventional cancer treatments.

"We make it so the patients and the medical community can trust the providers and modalities we've created," she said. So far, Sound Cancer Connections - which draws on the resources of Providence St. Peter Hospital, RadiantCare Radiation Oncology and Providence Western Washington Oncology - offers programs in yoga, acupuncture, nutrition services and massage.

More classes and services are planned, such as qi gong, a type of Chinese martial arts that has a healing component, Spyhalsky said.

Illing, who is undergoing treatment at Capital Medical Center, is organizing her own version of an integrative holistic cancer support network.

Working with staff at Capital Medical Center, Capital Oncology and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Illing is setting up a bi-monthly support group to introduce her fellow cancer patients to the complementary therapies she has found helpful. The group, expected to launch early next year, likely will meet on alternate Thursday evenings at Capital Medical Center.

"Before you have cancer, you just don't think about things like this," Illing said. Illing says she wants others to have it all set up in advance so they don't have to spend extra time and energy searching for help like she did.

"Meditation makes the process of chemo a thousand times easier," said Illing, whose friend Ann Karpel, a marriage and family therapist in Clark County, visited Illing weekly during her chemotherapy to offer guided meditation sessions.