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• American Cancer Society Relay for Life – A 24-hour event held at Chemawa Indian School in Salem. Cancer survivors are invited to attend a special welcome ceremony and lunch on July 18, 2020.

• Play for a Cure Oregon – Annual softball tournament for breast cancer awareness where teams from across the region play to “strike out” breast cancer. This year’s event unfortunately is canceled due to COVID-19.

• Discover Pink Walk and Fun Run – Local event on Oct. 3, 2020 that will promote women’s health, plus raise awareness and funds for breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings for women in Marion and Polk counties.

• Shine a Light on Lung Cancer – An educational and inspirational event held annually for patients and families affected by lung cancer. Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. on the Salem Hospital campus — and virtually. More details to come. 

People often find comfort when they find others that have experienced similar experiences. Support groups for cancer survivorship are essential for maintaining a positive environment for emotional healing and recovery. The Salem Health Community Health Education Center (CHEC) offers a wide array of support groups to the community.

COVID-19 has created many obstacles for conducting safe social group gatherings and most are currently canceled. However, the Gynecologic and Women’s Metastatic cancer support groups are meeting virtually.

Cancer awareness ribbons

Regular exercise promotes lifelong wellness and helps combat cancer risk and recurrence. Following an exercise program during treatment can help improve your quality of life. The American Cancer Society recommends these actions for safe exercise.

To demonstrate staying active while staying safe at home, the Salem Health Cancer Institute partnered with our physical therapists to show you how to turn sitting in a chair into a healthy workout.

Always talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. 

• Physical activity tips for cancer survivors

A healthy, well-balanced diet is essential for proper nutrition. Radiation and chemotherapy often affect your taste buds and can lead to food becoming unpalatable. That unfortunately can also make healthy foods less desirable — and impair the absorption of much-needed nutrients into your system.

To help maximize great taste and nutrition in survivorship, a Salem Health Cancer Institute registered dietitian shows how to make three quick-and-easy and delicious plant-based dishes.

Recipes featured in video:

• Roasted vegetables (FoodHero.org)
• Plant powered meals

NEW VIDEO: Healthy eating habits for cancer prevention and survivorship

Rev. David Watson, Salem Health chaplain says:

“All life is beautifully and wondrously spiritual. While a cancer diagnosis interrupts life and living, and while living with cancer may challenge our life more than ever before, the spirituality of our life remains the same.” (Read Rev. Watson’s full message)

Spirituality in cancer care (National Cancer Institute)