Survivorship empowerment class open to all local cancer survivors

CHI Memorial Rees Skillern Cancer Institute will host a Survivorship Empowerment class on Tuesday, March 28, at 5 p.m. The free class is open to all cancer survivors, regardless of where they received treatment, and their care givers.

The effects of a cancer diagnosis often continue even after treatment has been completed. Some survivors experience anxiety. Others deal with depression, fatigue and pain. Many notice cognitive changes, often called ‘chemo brain’. Relationships can also change throughout a person’s cancer journey. During this Survivorship Empowerment class, Gerre Schwert, MSW, LCSW, clinical oncology social worker, will discuss coping strategies for a wide variety of feelings and emotions as well as explain ways to reduce stress to enhance the survivorship journey.

Nearly 15 million people in the United States are cancer survivors, according to the American Cancer Society. It estimates that number will grow to almost 19 million by 2024. The survivorship program through CHI Memorial’s Rees Skillern Cancer Institute is designed to provide support and education to help survivors and their care givers live well after cancer.

For more information, and to register for this free class, call 423-495-7778.

CHI Memorial is a not-for-profit, faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to the healing ministry of the Church. Founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and strengthened as part of Catholic Health Initiatives, it offers a continuum of care including preventative, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer and cardiac care, orthopedic and rehabilitation services. CHI Memorial is a regional referral center of choice with 3,500 associates and more than 600 affiliated physicians providing health care throughout Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia and Northwest Alabama. To learn more, visit www.memorial.org.