Monthly from January through December 2008
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Take a moment to discover the healing possibilities of the world's contemplative traditions in this series of noontime lectures and meditations. A growing number of scientific studies suggest that meditative practice can have significant physical and psychological benefits. All are welcome to these free presentations at The Rothko Chapel and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, whether you are new to meditation or interested in enriching your practice by learning about other traditions.

Seating is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis; however, we appreciate your RSVP for counting purposes. For questions or to RSVP for meditations held at The Rothko Chapel, please call 713-524-9839 or email info@rothkochapel.org. For the M.D. Anderson meditations, please call 713-792-7184 or email mjkenned@mdanderson.org.

This series is presented in collaboration with The Jung Center, Institute for Religion and Health, Ligmincha Texas Institute and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The following meditations will be held at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in the Louise J. Moran Chapel, ACB2.1035. The Chapel is located on the 2nd floor of Mays Clinic, 1220 Holcombe. For directions to this location please click here. To RSVP call 713-792-7184 or for more information.

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Who: M. D. Anderson employees who are currently undergoing treatment or have been treated for cancer
What: Group facilitated by Social Work, Employee Assistance Program and Nurse Counseling to address unique needs and interests of attendees

Assorted salads, sandwiches and drinks provided for the first 12 attendees
Employee Cancer Support Group is a program of the Anderson Network, a program of Volunteer Services. For more information, call 2-2553.

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Book Signing by Author, Josie Sethi
Josie Sethi, author of the Faces Behind Breast Cancer, will be signing copies of her book at Appearances on the 2nd floor of the Mays Clinic near the Tree Sculpture. Books are for sale at the event and proceeds benefit M. D. Anderson. Seventy-nine men and women in various stages of treatment for breast cancer at M. D. Anderson are featured in the book. For more information or to purchase a book, visit http://www.pinkcrusader.org/orders.html.

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As human beings, we naturally group ourselves with people that are like us, but the kingdom of God is radically different, like the community at MDACC. Just as surely as cancer knows no race, gender or economics, the love and compassion for strangers that God calls us to, goes beyond those we know or those who are just like us. No matter our good intentions, the power to love is the power of God working through us. Yes, the patients and families here share a common enemy. But the illness merely strips away barriers to our shared humanity, so that God can unite us in love. It is God working in us that lets us experience a community at MDACC. We know the love, support, and encouragement from stories that are shared here. Very diverse people supporting one another, giving as needs arose, sharing resources and praying for one another. We experience each other as fellow human beings struggling on the journey that is life. People do not understand that it is hard to leave this place and go into a world that does not know this kind of community. It is like getting into a boat and leaving the safety of the harbor. We find ourselves rowing furiously, relying on our own efforts. We forget God's promise to be with us always. "The Wind of God is always blowing, but you must hoist your sail." (Fenelon) Our sails are up when we are open to God - not just when we are here at MDACC, but also when we venture outside these walls. We may not find complete understanding out there, but hopefully we will find a community of unconditional love and care.

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Excerpts of interview by Carol Bryce of Alma Rodriguez, M.D., vice president for medical affairs.

At M. D. Anderson, we're defining cancer survivorship, in accordance with the official definition by the National Cancer Institute's Office of Survivorship, as beginning at the time of disease diagnosis and continuing throughout the rest of the patient's life.

There are, however, different stages and phases of cancer survivorship, each with unique clinical care needs. The acute phase is the period of diagnosis and treatment; the intermediate phase is the period of observation and monitoring post-treatment, when probability of recurrence is high and long-term survivorship is beyond that threshold of highest risk of recurrence. These phases can be different in duration depending upon the cancer type and the stage of disease at diagnosis.

Our objective is to be sure we've met the needs of the patient based upon his or her particular phase of survivorship. We're obviously most focused and expert at acute and intermediate cancer care. But once a patient gets past those phases, we assume that the patient is well and ready to get back to life. Unfortunately, that’s not always true.

Long-term cancer survivors have many different issues to deal with. Some patients may still be at risk of latent side effects years after they were first treated. Some malignancies also have patterns in which there are periodic recurrences and thus patients move back from long-term survivorship to acute treatment at different time points. Survivorship care should be designed to help patients deal with latent side effects or prepare them for relapse periods.

That means we need a whole new set of providers, including people who can deal with patients' psychosocial needs and general health maintenance issues. We need to shift from dealing with acute disease management issues to looking at health maintenance issues. This takes educating patients and providers, both at M. D. Anderson and in the community.

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A meditation from Chaplain Christiana Liem
Fear is a very real enemy, especially when you are experiencing sickness, disabilities, danger, pain or death. Living with fear is like living with an enemy. Is it possible to live with your enemy peacefully?
Daniel was a man of faith who had a discipline of prayer to his God. There came a time when he was accused of a wrong doing and was thrown into the lion's den. There were a number of hungry lions ready to devour him in the den. Cold sweats ran down from his forehead to his cheeks. He had a lot of fear while he was being thrown into the den as he heard tens of hungry lions roared. He knew his enemies and he was about to live with them. He was aware what harms could be brought by those lions. If he fought against those lions, he would not win. They are so many and they are very strong. So, he quickly remembered to pray to his God. He closed his eyes and prayed that God would seal him from any danger. When he finished praying, he was amazed to see that all of the lions sat quietly and waved their tails as a sign of peace. He had a peace of mind, knowing that God protected him from any harm that his enemies could bring to him. Daniel lived with his enemies for some time until he was taken out from the lion's den without being harmed.
You may experience cold sweats, panic attack, distress or anxiety that endangers your health as you are living with your fears. Name your fears and be aware of what harms could be brought by your fears. Remember to pray that God would help you as you go through your fears. May you have a sign of God's peace. As God's precious child, please remember his faithful promise, "Fear not, for I am always with you." Surely, God will take you out from the den of fears.

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Even as people of faith, armed with 2000 years of witness to the hope of eternal life, we fear saying good-bye. We fear the absence, the unknown, the finality of good-bye. It is part of our human nature. And the occasions for saying good-bye come in many forms, not just death. People change, relationships end, the things that we acquire, that we depend on, disappear. The ground shifts beneath our feet. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. In his love, we can face loss with hope, because nothing can separate us from the love of God. God has given us hope, given us a possibility that transcends our fear. In God's love, our good-bye is an ending and a beginning. It is an end of what has been and the sadness accompanying that loss and the beginning of new possibilities. The beginning of a new life with God not fettered by the things of this world. The ending of life in the flesh is the beginning of our life in God. To say good-bye with hope and love is to live in the promise that every ending is a beginning. What God has started in creation, he will finish in us. How we face good-byes and the unknown of new beginnings will witness to the love and power of God.

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