St. John’s Mercy Hospital to Host “All About Hope” Oct. 24.  

The public is invited – and encouraged – to attend All About Hope at St. John’s Mercy Hospital in Washington from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 24. All About Hope is a heath fair dedicated to awareness, education, health and well-being with a focus on cancer prevention and treatment. Admission is free.

“We are proud to present All About Hope to the people we serve. This is an opportunity to show everyone how the medical community has come a very long way in diagnosing and treating cancer as well as offering support services to patients and caregivers,” said Terri L. McLain, president of St. John’s Mercy Hospital. “It’s also a chance to see what cancer services are available in our own backyard.”

The event will offer guest speakers, inspirational personal stories, clinical information, demonstrations, health screenings and vendors that offer products and services related to cancer care. Guest also may tour the new “healing garden,” areas of the hospital and the new David C. Pratt Cancer Center at St. John’s Mercy Hospital, where they will learn about the tools that are used to diagnose and treat cancer.

Bruce Jacobs, author of the new book “One Tough Journey,” is the keynote speaker at the event. Jacobs was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer of the esophagus in 2004. After his battle, he was inspired to create a lecture to help cancer patients. To reach more people, he parlayed the lecture into a book that was published this year.

“Every cancer has a survival rate, and somebody has to be in that survival rate – so why can’t it be you?’ Jacobs said. “The message (of my presentation) is the belief that they’re not dying; they’ve just got cancer. They can beat it. They just have to get engaged, and I can show them how to get engaged.”

Jacobs will speak from 8:25 to 9:15 a.m.

Attendees will have their choice of the following speaker presentations:

9:30 to 10 a.m.

• Dr. Thomas Riechers, surgeon and chief of staff at St. John’s Mercy Hospital, discussing “A Summary of Surgical Options for Breast Cancer Patients.”
• Dr. Mark Blucher, a cardiothoracic surgeon, will discuss “Lung Cancer: Fact Versus Fiction.”
• Charli Prather will present “Cancer Care for the Whole Patient.”

10:15 to 10:45 a.m.

• Dr. Gregory Potts, OB/GYN, will present “I Don't Want to Catch Cancer.”
• Dr. Dinesh Vyas, a general surgeon, will present “Introduction to Colon Cancer.”
• Bob Sander, a physical therapist with St. John’s Mercy, will present “Let’s Keep Moving.”

11 to 11:30 a.m.

• Dr. Rachel Borson, an oncologist, will present “Everything You Thought You Already Knew About Breast Cancer.”
• Dr. Julie Mai, a radiation oncologist, will discuss “Treatment of Prostate Cancer.”
• Cindy Martin, a registered dietician will present “Cancer Prevention: Take Control of Your Health.”

Guests may participate in these health screenings: 

• A free Derma Scan, which is an ultraviolet light that shows skin damage caused by the sun,
• A free At Home Colon Cancer (FOTB) Screening Kit will be given to people age 50 or older, while supplies last.
• Free Prostate Cancer (PSA) Test. The test is available to the first 50 men who are at least 50 years old.
• Screening-level Mammograms (by appointment). To schedule a screening mammogram for Oct. 24, please call 636-239-8265 and select option “0.”

This is a St. John’s Mercy Hospital event. It is sponsored in part by funding from Provider Plus, Inc., Pfizer, Bard Biopsy Systems, Washington Dermatology Center, Juice Plus, Claim and Shared Medical Services. Parking and registration is available at the hospital and the Mercy Medical Building. St. John’s Mercy Hospital is located at 901 E. Fifth St. and the Mercy Medical Building is located at 851 E. Fifth St. in Washington. For more information about this event, please call Public Relations at 636-239-8234.

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