Siletz
Community
CHA-MAY WEEYA - MEDICINETALK
<
¥
ir-
£
Clinic
Health
Clinic Offers HPV Vaccine
Last spring, the national Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices,
a panel of immunization experts that
advises the federal government on vac
cine policy, approved the HPV vaccine
for girls and women from ages 9-26,
with a specific recommendation that all
girls ages 11-12 be routinely given the
three-dose series of HPV vaccine to
provide maximum protection.
HPV is the most common sexually
transmitted virus in the country. The
HPV vaccine is remarkably effective
against the two strains that cause 70
percent of all cervical cancer in women.
The Siletz Clinic offers the vac
cine to female Siletz Tribal members
between the ages of 9-26, Although
the state of Oregon has provided the
Siletz. Clinic with the vaccine for female
tribal members between 9-18 years old,
the Siletz Tribe has purchased addi
tional vaccine for female tribal mem
bers only, ages 19-26. Enrolled patients
can get the immunization at a sched
uled visit either with their PCP or RN.
Cervical cancer used to be a com
mon cause of cancer death for women
in the United States, but the widespread
use of Pap tests has dramatically re
duced the frequency and rate of death
from cervical cancer.
Even so, each year more than 100
Oregon women develop invasive cer
vical cancer and 40 die of the disease,
says Lorraine Duncan, immunization
manager in the Oregon Department of
Human Services Public Health Division.
“HPV vaccine is a powerful tool in
the fight against cervical cancer." says
Duncan, “We are very pleased that the
federal government has added it to the
list of vaccines they will provide un
der the VFC program. This means that
life-saving protection is available to
these young women in Oregon."
The Vaccines for Children program
is administered by the DHS Public
Health Division. It supplies federally pur
chased vaccines at no cost to public and
private health care providers. Patients
through age 18 are eligible if they are
uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid, or are
an American Indian or Alaska Native.
The VFC program is one of many
public health programs that focus on
prevention and helping people manage
Bloomstrom Tells Story of Cancer Diagnosis, New
Network for Survivors
Article first published in the newsletter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Oregon and SU' Washington affiliate, earlier this year
Carol Blomstrom, a 60-year-old
breast cancer survivor and member of
the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, has
created a network of cancer survivors.
Her journey began when she was
diagnosed with Stage III infiltrating, in
flammatory ductal carcinoma in March
2006. She knew something was wrong
when the doctor told her she needed
to have someone with her for their next
appointment. Being a single mom,
Carol took her two sons and her daugh
ter. She was told she had cancer.
While she was a little shocked by
the diagnosis and the family worried
about how much time she had. she set
her goal: To see her six grandsons, age
1 to 20, grow up. Carol entered three
months of chemotherapy, had a mas
tectomy and five weeks of radiation.
This journey of nearly one year was
not just about medical treatment. While
battling recurrent nausea, growing fa
tigue. and the loss of 33 pounds, Carol
began educating herself.
In November 2006, she attended a
Susan G. Komen-Oregon & SW Wash
ington Foundation-funded Leadership
and How to Start Your Own Cancer
Support Group training presented by
the Native People's Circle of Hope.
NPCOH is a coalition of Native cancer
survivors and support groups.
When asked how to improve this
training, Carol said, “Make it longer
and teach us more about cancer." Her
thirst for knowledge is high.
Carol's cancer education expanded
while staying at the Mario Pastega House,
another Komen-supported cancer project
that provides housing to cancer survivors
who are receiving treatment from the
Community Hospital Cancer program in
Corvallis, Ore. (The Siletz Tribal Chari
table Contribution Fund also has provided
funding for the Mario Pastega House.)
To overcome feelings of isolation,
she and other residents gathered each
evening for mutual support, learning
^0
•
Siletz News
•
Sandra Hahn RN (nurse navigator) or
DeAnna Pearl (tobacco prevention and
community navigator) at the Siletz. Clinic,
541-444-1030 or 1-800-648-0449.
The nextTillicum Siletz
Community Cancer Support
Group meeting is scheduled for
noon on June 19 at the Siletz
Public Library.
Carol Blomstrom
of how to cope with their treatment side
effects, and receiving further cancer
education. She is particularly grateful
to the volunteers who made themselves
available at any time, day or night, to
listen to the residents’ concerns.
Carol's network of cancer support
ers has grown to 30 people. The net
work began with the many friends who
helped her manage her household
chores and grew to include the men and
women she met during her various
medical appointments.
She now accompanies the tribal pa
tient navigator. Sandra Hahn, to cancer
support group meetings and encourages
early detection. Carol recently celebrated
the end of her radiation treatments and
looks forward to expanding her network
with more cancer support group meet
ings, regional and national gatherings.
She enjoys and appreciates each
day. each person she meets, and any
opportunity to expand her knowledge.
Congratulations Carol! Welcome to the
world of cancer survivors and thrivers!
Update: Carol recently saw her on
cologist. who reviewed her latest tests and
said she can celebrate being cancer-free!
For cancer-related issues, including
learning more about cancer, contact
June 2007
their health so they can be as produc
tive and healthy as possible.
Additional information about the
program is on the DHS Immunization
Web site - www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/
imm/vfc/index. shtml.
For more information on HPV. visit
http://search.oregon.gov/
query.html?ql=, and specify the search
requirements “must include" “HPV" to
find various DHS articles on this topic.
Also, you can e-mail your ques
tions to dhs.info@state.or.us, or call the
DHS office at 503-945-5944.
Siletz Tribal members wishing to
make an appointment to receive the
vaccinations through the Siletz Clinic
can call 1-800-648-0449, ext. 9604, or
541-444-1604.
Out-of-Area
Health Care
by Judy Muschamp, Health Director
Call-in dates for pre-authorization are
July 2 and Oct. 1.
Calls are answered starting at 8 a.m.
in the order received. Be sure to register
for health care before these dates.
Only one authorization per year per
tribal member is allowed. Members
have a choice of selecting medical,
dental, vision, or hearing services.
Numbers to call: 541-444-1236 or
1-800-628-5720.