Last week the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center's Oncology Unit held an Education Day for patients and their families. The theme of the day was Palliative Care in Oncology Patients - a reflection of the treatment approach that uses conventional methods - diagnosis and medication therapy as well as adjuvaent methods: complementary medicine, psychological assistance such as support groups and more - all designed to alleviate patients' symptoms and improve quality of life for them and their families.
Dr. Katerina Shulman, who heads the unit and opened the Education Day, told the audience that this is the method the unit has been implementing virtually since opening about three years ago, because cancer treatment clearly does not end with medication therapy. It must be holistic and tailored to the needs of the individual patient. Shulman further noted that as part of this treatment method, the unit staff has begun a new study that is examining the effectiveness of anti-nausea medication when used in conjunction with reflexology treatment.
In addition to Dr. Shulman, Dr. Mickey Dudkiewicz, Director General of Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, and Ms. Ariella Litivich-Sherman, representative of the Israel Cancer Association also spoke. Dr. Dudkiewicz welcomed the initiative to hold the Education Day, stating that aside from the fact that since its establishment Hillel Yaffe's Oncology Unit has created a treatment and service approach that is based on quality medicine, advanced technology, innovative treatment and more, it also uses its advantage of working in an environment that facilitates close cooperation with additional and supportive departments and units such as the MRI Institute, the Gynecology Oncology Unit, the Breast Surgery Service, Social Services and more. Dr. Dudkiewicz further noted that now, since Hillel Yaffe opened its Mammography Institute, the Oncology Unit will be able to further expand its services to patients.
Ms. Litivich-Sherman spoke about the outstanding and important response the unit provides oncology patients in the region, something that was not available in this manner previously. She further praised the excellent and ongoing cooperation between the Association and the department.
Dr. Ilan Bruchim, Director of the Gynecology-Oncology Unit at Hillel Yaffe, also spoke and explained how the two units work as a matter of routine - in terms of diagnosis, treatment and communication with the patient and family.
Later, the patients, families and even medical center employees who attended the Education Day, heard lectures on a variety of topics, including Palliative Care and Legislation (Elina Fishensohn, Unit Social Worker); Pain Management in Oncology Patients (Oksana Machlof, Coordinating Nurse at the Pain Clinic); Vitamins - Are They Our Friends? (Dr. Olga Kazarin, senior physician in the unit); Dietary Supplements for Oncology Patients - Pros and Cons (Orine Frenkel, Unit Dietitian); Sexuality and Intimacy When Fighting Cancer (Lena Kurtz, Nurse and Sex Therapist Certified by the Israel Cancer Association); Psycho-Social Aspects of Palliative Care (Yael Melamed, Unit Medical Psychologist).
At the end of the Education Day, a patient took the stage and spoke about the disease and treatment from her perspective, rounding out the day, which had focused on comprehensive care and truly presented various perspectives - medical, emotional, medication and personal.
The Oncology Staff at the opening of the Education Day
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