Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center To Host Look Good…Feel Better® Program For Women Undergoing Cancer Treatment

Hospital Helps Cancer Patients ‘Look good, Feel better’ in the New Year

In partnership with the American Cancer Society, The Center for Breast Health at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center has announced that they will host a series of workshops designed to help cancer patients improve self-image through group beauty sessions. Entitled “Look Good … Feel Better®” (LGFB), the first session will be held on Monday, January 28 from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at The Center for Breast Health, located in Good Samaritan’s new Medical Office Building, Suite 200, 257 Lafayette Ave., Suffern.

A diagnosis of cancer can be one of the most devastating challenges a woman faces, both physically and emotionally. Not the least of the issues she may face are those that can be seen by others: changes in or loss of hair, skin issues and other bodily changes as radiation and chemotherapy work to cure the disease.

Since 1989, LGFB has helped over 700,000 women being treated for cancer face these inner and outer challenges with helpful, uplifting, compassionate classes where volunteer beauty industry professionals teach them how to make the most of makeup, hair care, clothing, jewelry and accessories – to transform not only the way they look on the outside, but the way they feel on the inside.

“Women who attend LGFB programs at Good Samaritan are much more positive when they leave the program than when they arrive”, said Ana Gonzalez, Patient Navigator at The Center for Breast Health at Good Samaritan Hospital Regional Medical Center. “Everyone shows off their new look and you can just see their smiles. It is wonderful to be a part of LGFB to see the difference that it makes in someone’s life.”

In addition to the upcoming January session, LGFB classes will be offered monthly at Good Samaritan throughout the year from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on the last Monday of each month with the exception of March and May when the class will be held on the third Monday (March 18 and May 20). There will be no class during the month of August.

The event is free, however, seating is limited and registration is required. Each participant will receive a free cosmetics kit. To register for the LGFB class at Good Samaritan, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. For more information about The Center for Breast Health at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, please contact 845-357-7462.

Cancer patients: Learn to ‘Look Good … Feel Better’ May 21 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center

A diagnosis of cancer can be one of the most devastating challenges a woman faces, both physically and emotionally. Not the least of the issues she may face are those that can be seen by others: changes in or loss of hair, skin issues and other bodily changes as radiation and chemotherapy work to cure the disease.

Since 1989, a program called “Look Good … Feel Better” has been helping women face these inner and outer challenges with helpful, uplifting, compassionate classes that teach them how to make the most of makeup, hair care, clothing, jewelry and accessories – to transform not only the way they look on the outside, but the way they feel on the inside.

On May 21 at 6 p.m., Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center will offer a “Look Good … Feel Better” class at the Center for Breast Health, located in Good Samaritan’s new Medical Office Building, Suite 200, 257 Lafayette Ave., Suffern. To register, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. Each participant will receive a free custom makeup kit.

“Look Good … Feel Better” is a free, non-medical, brand-neutral, national public service program supported by the American Cancer Society, the National Cosmetology Association and the Personal Care Products Council Foundation.

FREE Breast Health Screening at Good Samaritan Hospital

Don’t miss this opportunity for a FREE breast health screening.  The free screening is eligible for uninsured or under-insured women, age 40 to 64.

We all know cancer screenings save lives. But, if you have little or no insurance, you may not be able to pay for screenings on your own.  Now, thanks to a grant from the New York State Department of Health, you can get a FREE

• Clinical breast exam by a physician
• Mammogram
• Pap test

We’ll make your screening easy… we handle all the paperwork and details.  All you have to do is show up!

Date: Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
8:00AM-5:00PM

Location:  The Center For Breast Health, Imaging Vision at
Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center (Screening located WITHIN the hospital)
255 Lafayettte Ave, Suffern, NY 10901
RSVP to 845.667.6315
Walk-ins are welcome!

Your free clinical breast exam will be conducted by Karen Karsif, MD breast surgeon and medical director of The Center for Breast Health.  Dr. Karsif has years of experience and expertise in treating women with breast disease.

Click Here for the Official Flyer

Yoga for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors

Please join us in The Center for Breast Health at 257 Lafayette Avenue Suffern, NY for a relaxing and uplifting “Yoga” class.  The class is free of charge and equipment will be provided at no cost.  It is suggested to wear comfortable clothing for the hour long event, and bring a water bottle for refreshment. We hope to see you on March 29th for the kickoff of this monthly offering for breast cancer patients and survivors.  For additional class dates and information, please contact The Center for Breast Health Patient Navigator Ana Gonzalez at 845-533-4954.

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Receives Grant from Avon

This past January, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center was notified that it was to be the recipient of a $75,000 dollar grant from Avon’s Foundation for Women.  The check was awarded as part of the foundations “Safety Net Funding Initiative” of 2011 put in place to support hospitals and healthcare systems maintain breast health programs.  Avon has been particularly active in awarding funding for these programs, especially those that cater to lower income, non-insured, and under-insured individuals.

The $75,000 check will be utilized to support programs within the hospital’s Center for Breast Health.  Avon’s grant will be used to improve local access to important services such as breast diagnostic testing as well as improved access to quality treatment for those who need it most.  Good Samaritan is proud to be the recipient of such a generous contribution.  The institution looks forward to using the grant to further improve the Center for Breast Health for its patients.

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center Offers Free Breast Health Screening

On Wednesday, January 25, the Center for Breast Health will be offering free breast health screenings for uninsured or under-insured women between the ages of 40 and 64. The exams will take place from 8am-5pm in The Center for Breast Health, Imaging Division at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 255 Lafayette Avenue, Suffern, NY.

The free clinical breast exam will be conducted by Dr. Karen Karsif, breast surgeon and director of The Center for Breast Health. Dr. Karsif has years of experience and expertise in treating women with breast disease.

Cancer screenings save lives, but when someone has little or no insurance they may not be able to afford screenings on their own. Thanks to a grant from the New York State Department of Health, these people can now get a free clinical breast exam, mammogram, and Pap test.

“Early detection of breast cancer is the key to beating this disease and mammography is a valuable screening tool in finding breast cancer early, when it is most treatable,” says Karsif.

Appointments can be made by calling 855.277.4482 ext. 3005 or ext. 2007. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Look Good, Feel Better!

Look Good..Feel Better is a free non-medical,  brand-neutral, national public service program founded in 1989 and supported by the American Cancer Society along with National Cosmetology Association, and Personal Care Products.

The program is provided to all female cancer patients free of charge and includes a custom make-up kit.

Pre-registration is required.

This great program is being offered within a beautiful new meeting space within The Center for Breast Health.  To register, please call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345

The meeting dates for the year of 2012 are as follows:

January 30th
February 27
March 26
April 30
May 21
June 25

For a PDF version of the Look Good, Feel Better flyer, click here!

Karen Karsif MD, Featured on the Front Page of LoHud

Dr. Karen Karsif makes the news yet again this month, gracing the front page with an interesting story set around a study that has determined there to be no clear link between environmental factors and breast cancer. Dr.Karsif, who has over fifteen years of experience within the concentration of treating breast disease, agrees, stating “I would agree that there is no data to support the relationship”. She continues on “But it’s naive to think that we live in an environment with all this stuff and it doesn’t do anything.”. Many appear to share her view. The Lower Hudson Valley article goes on to state a list of recommendations to avoid risk of exposing oneself to unnecessary or possibly, avoidable environmental factors linked to breast cancer. Although some argue that there must be some sort of environmental factor that is linked to breast cancer, the study, performed by The Institute of Medicine, could not conclusively link an environmental factor to breast cancer.

Please read the article in its entirety, available online at http://www.lohud.com/article/20111209/NEWS03/112090328/Breast-cancer-report-finds-little-evidence-environment-link

Source: LoHud.com New York’s Lower Hudson Valley Online

Visit the website for The Center for Breast Health

Dr. Karen Karsif Receives Award From Industry Leader

Avon presents Dr. Karsif with $70,000 Mammography Challenge Pay it Forward Grant

On October 14th, Bon Secours Charity Health System representatives received a prestigious recognition from Avon Global R&D Center in Suffern, New York, honoring the accomplishments of medical staff member, Dr. Karen Karsif.

Since 2011, Avon associates have been challenged to increase their mammography compliance rates. Last year, less than 25% of eligible Avon associates in North America received a mammogram. In response to this statistic, Avon formed a healthy lifestyle movement, Avon Vital, to increase mammography compliance rates as well as to improve the health of Avon associates, their families, and communities.

To promote the mammography challenge, the Avon Foundation pledged to award grant money to a facility chosen for each of Avon’s locations.  Facilities were chosen based on their commitment to breast health for all patients, including those that are uninsured or underinsured.  Each of the eleven Avon locations was required to increase their mammography rates by 1% or more in order for their chosen facilities to receive a grant.

Avon R&D, Suffern, New York, had the highest increase of mammography compliance – from 15.6% to 46.6% – with Avon’s overall compliance rate increasing from 22% to 48%.

The success of several outreach programs, sponsored by Bon Secours Charity Health System and spearheaded by Dr. Karsif, resulted in The Center for Breast Health at Good Samaritan Hospital, Suffern, New York being selected to receive the generous “Pay it Forward Grant” of $70,000. “I am proud of the efforts made in hosting countless outreach programs focused on breast health,” Karsif stated. “Early detection of breast cancer is the key to beating this disease and mammography is a valuable screening tool in finding breast cancer early, when it is most treatable” she concluded.

Men Battle Breast Cancer Too

Don’t think that because you are a man you are exempt from breast cancer. One in 1,000 men, compared to one in eight women, will face breast cancer at some point throughout their life.

This year, the American Cancer Society estimates 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer in men in this country. They estimate 450 men will die. Early detection and treatment of this deadly disease is vital; unfortunately, many men cannot fathom the notion that they are not exempt to what some may perceive as “a woman’s disease.”

 “Breast cancer is very different from any other disease because of the fear that comes along with it. It’s every woman’s worst nightmare,” said Dr. Karen Karsif. “One percent of all breast cancer occurs in men. I have had a number of male patients. Men approach it the same, they’re just as terrified. They may not have the same needs as a woman, but they have emotional needs as well.”

Both men and women deal with an identity issue when facing the disease, both making them feel insecure in front of society and their loved one. According to Karsif, women face the challenge of losing their femininity; the idea of having their breasts removed makes them think they will be less attractive than before. As for men, they are more concerned with the fact that they have what is know to be a women’s disease, and fear this makes them less of a man.

Men and women have similar treatments including surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapies. This disease is deadly and terrifying; please know that help is available. Get checked and help us help you stay healthy.