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Young cancer survivors start support group

By Joanne Fox

Two young cancer survivors found encouragement and empathy when they started to meet and discuss their disease.Earlier this year, Sarah LaBrune and Kristen Loffswold expanded their small network to include other cancer survivors in their 40s or younger.Sarah LaBrune, 26, and Kristen Loffswold, 30, had been meeting on their own to offer support to each other for the past year.In June of 2007, LaBrune was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. In need of someone to provide answers to her growing list of cancer questions, LaBrune was given the name of a fellow Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer survivor who had just finished her treatment. LaBrune contacted Loffswold and after a couple long phone calls, the two met at Starbucks the night before LaBrune was to start her chemotherapy treatments."I found out I was not the only one with concerns and apprehensions," LaBrune said.After meeting on their own for a year, the two decided to start a support group."We made that choice because Sarah and I got so much out of talking to each other," Loffswold said. "We were sure others would benefit by sharing their experiences."Their first meeting was set for August. Information went out. Nobody showed."That was disheartening," LaBrune admitted. "But Kristen pointed out to me that we scheduled the meeting the week school started and it just might have been too much."The next month was better attended, Loffswold said."We talk about hair loss, fertility issues, juggling work, taking care of family, side effects and after effects of chemotherapy and radiation, and going back to a 'normal' life," said Loffswold."People ask just how sick they might get from treatments and we can give them our experience with that," LaBrune said.Another item that many young cancer survivors struggle with is insurance.LaBrune can provide as much information on that as any expert. After LaBrune was diagnosed with her cancer, had surgery and began chemotherapy, her health insurance company terminated its agreement with her employer.LaBrune searched for coverage elsewhere, and finally found a state insurance plan offered to people with life-threatening illnesses, but LaBrune would have to meet a $1,000 deductible and $2,500 out-of-pocket expense plus $30 co-pays. Ultimately, the insurance company reinstated the policy with her original company, but by that time, LaBrune had moved on to another company.But most questions aren't at that level of complexity. Most have to do with just living life in general."We realized we had been relying on family to talk about the challenges that were facing us," said Loffswold, a registered nurse at Mercy Medical Center who lives with her husband and two children in Sergeant Bluff. "They're supportive, but they're not experiencing the same things we are and often, can't relate to what we're going through."Attendance continues to increase, but both LaBrune and Loffswold insisted it's not about quantity."If we can help one person, then we've been successful," LaBrune said.

VITA

Name: Sarah LaBrune

Hometown: Sioux City

Education: 2000 East High graduate; awarded a bachelor's degree in mass communications from Buena Vista University in 2004

Professional: Employed for four years at the Dakota County Star from 2004; joined SIMPCO as a community development planner in May

Name: Kristen Loffswold

Hometown: Sioux City; currently resides in Sergeant Bluff

Education: 1996 East High graduate; awarded an R.N. from St. Luke's College of Nursing in 2000

Professional: Nurse at Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City for eight years in Intensive Care Unit

Personal: Married to husband Corey since 2001; two children, Sophie and Tate

How they're making a difference:

By initiating a support group for young cancer survivors

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2008/11/17/news/top/c77d53ffdbe4c880862575040010ded6.txt