16 The Courier sun • JUNE 11, 2015 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com Cancer survivors celebrate journey at Monter Cancer Center BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected] @AngelaMatua Cancer survivors and their families on June 6 celebrated life during the ninth-annual Don Monti Cancer Survivors Day at the Monter Cancer Center in New Hyde Park. Former patients of the North-Shore Long Island Jewish Medical Center were treated to lunch, dancing and a chance to share stories of survival. The event was inspired by Don Monti, the son of Joseph and Tita Monti, who died of myeloblastic leukemia at just 16. His family dedicated their lives to founding an organization to find a cure for cancer. His sister Caroline Monti- Saladino, the president of the Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation and recipient of the Compassionate Care Award said this day was established as a way to extend Don Monti’s life. “Mom would say in every patient’s eyes she would see her son and in every survivor’s eyes she would see his life extended,” Monti- Saladino said. Moeen Ahmed — a Jamaica resident who is currently in remission from multiple myeloma, a cancer that affects white blood cells — attended the event with his wife. Ahmed said this day is important to inspire those who are currently dealing with cancer. “One of the major reasons this event is important is cancer patients are not alone. He has a lot of people around and if you see a person who has the same disease or similar disease, you exchange views with each other and the newcomers I have seen, they are very upset with this disease. But if the people who have survived for a longer period, if they share their experience with them I can tell you, they feel very good and they feel very encouraged.” Ahmed was diagnosed in May 2011 and eventually had to receive a bone marrow transplant. He said it took him about a year to feel like his normal self after the surgery. Mark Herzlich, a linebacker for the New York Giants, was the keynote speaker and outlined his battle with Ewing’s sarcoma, a bone cancer that affects children and adolescents. Herzlich was 21 and playing football as a junior at Boston College when he suffered from pain in his left leg but continued to play football and go to practices. The pain became so unbearable that he eventually visited a doctor who told him he needed to visit an oncologist. After being diagnosed with cancer, doctors told Herzlich that he would never play football again and might possibly have to use a cane to walk. Instead of going through surgery to remove a portion of his thigh bone, he decided to take a less traditional route and go through aggressive sessions Cancer survivors shared their experiences at the ninth annual Don Monti Cancer Survivors Day. of radiation and chemotherapy. Herzlich said three words from his father encouraged his journey to recovery: “Let’s do this.” “He said the three most important words that anyone THE COURIER/Photo by Angela Matua has ever said to me throughout my whole treatment, my childhood and up until now,” Herzlich said. “When you’re diagnosed you lose your identity but when someone says let’s do this, they have created a bond.” New York Hospital Queens’ Center for Healthy Aging Focuses on Prevention, Chronic Care of Elderly Special health needs develop for all of us as we age. As our U.S. population continues to live longer, more of our friends and family are requiring care targeted to their needs. With this in mind, three years ago the professionals at New York Hospital Queens Jackson Heights Family Health Center established a Center for Healthy Aging to offer preventative and chronic care to the elderly of the Queens community. The Center for Healthy Aging offers a spectrum of health programs designed to help senior citizens stay well. These can range from fall prevention evaluations, to screenings for the leading chronic diseases “We help them learn how to handle the that require ongoing care, i.e., diabetes, common activities of daily living. We help cancer, and cardiovascular disease. them to set realistic goals and maintain an “One of our goals is to help seniors be able optimal level of function,” she said. to continue to live at home independently,” Dr. Roseme-Frederic explained that says Nathalie Roseme-Frederic, M.D., a the Center for Healthy Aging tends to deemphasize family medicine specialist who joined the medications and tries to limit the Center three years ago soon after it opened. amount of drugs that patients take. When a patient comes into the Center for the fi rst time, there is an initial assessment of his or her health status, followed by an inventory of medications the patient is taking, and a discussion to gain understanding of the home environment where the patient lives. For example, does the individual live alone or with a caregiver? Are there social aspects to the patient’s life? Who is the nearest contact person for the patient? Sometimes a caregiver may know more about the patient than the patient’s family. A patient’s mental health is carefully evaluated. Depression is very common among the elderly, Dr. Roseme-Frederic notes, and this can be treated with medication. Also, sometimes when dementia is suspected, a blood test can demonstrate whether the real issue may be a medical problem or defi ciency, she says. Visiting nurses are another resource that the staff at the Center for Healthy Aging can access. Dr. Roseme-Frederic often has them visit a patient at home to help with teaching about diabetes and using needed equipment. The Center for Healthy Aging is a welcome addition to the arsenal of health services in Queens. Visit the New York Hospital Queens Jackson Heights Family Health Center webpage for more information: www.nyhq.org/jackson_heights_family_health. 73-15 Northern Boulevard • Jackson Heights • 718-424-2788
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