Golfing for a Cause: Merging Passion with Support for the Cancer Wellness Center Written by Dymond Redd, Marketing & Communication Associate at the Cancer Wellness Center How you choose to support the Center can be personal – just ask Matt Gable and JD Goering. Current co-chairs of the Cancer Wellness Center’s Golf Outing, Matt and JD, are excited to combine their passion for the sport with their love of the Center. Matt initially heard and learned more about the Cancer Wellness Center after being invited to his first Golf Outing through business connections 15 years ago. However, that eve ..read more

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian From avoiding carbs to adding collagen to coffee, nutrition trends of all kinds gained traction over the years.  Intermittent Fasting  Our first nutrition trend is one of today’s most popular diets: intermittent fasting. Its most obvious use is for individuals interested in pursuing weight loss, but proponents claim that it also can help improve mental clarity, focus, mood and emotional resilience.  Depending on who you ask, there are many different approaches to intermittent fasting that vary in time spent fasting ..read more

Holding statement for Cancer Wellness Center (CWC) Nancy Bulzoni, our long-time Executive Director, has announced her intention to transition to a part-time consulting role in 2025. She will continue to remain in her current position during our search for a new Executive Director. The Board of Directors fully supports this decision by Nancy and appreciates her continued professionalism and leadership. “We cannot thank Nancy enough for her transformative leadership of the Cancer Wellness Center.” said Art Mollenhauer, CWC Board Chair. The Board of Directors of CWC has formed a five-person Searc ..read more

Written by Dr. Gabrielle Wolk, PsyD, Clinical Associate On April 25th the Cancer Wellness Center featured a panel discussion on Psychedelics and Cancer, which I had the immense honor of moderating. The panel included Dr. Mendoza -Temple, the director of Integrative Health at Endeavor Health and Jean Lacy, the founder of Illinois Psychedelic Society and Illinois policy advocate.   Dr. Mendoza-Temple first presented various types of psychedelic medicines and how they are being researched to treat a range of mental health conditions, including the use of psilocybin (or ma ..read more

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian Individuals diagnosed with cancer often have questions about what to eat to help prepare and recover from treatments.  Often, food is used to nourish the body towards an optimal state to support immune function and energy levels.  Sometimes, those diagnosed with cancer also have changes to their gut function.  Individuals may have some pre-existing conditions that affect their gut health as well.  Experts are learning how we can support our gut health through a lifestyle, which includes several approaches using ..read more

Written by Serena Jain, Mindfulness Specialist A wellness routine is a holistic approach to taking care your physical, emotional and spiritual health. Wellness routines are the implementation of a daily routine that integrate areas such as sleep, nutrition, exercise, work, social life, community engagement, spirituality and self-care activities such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, nature walks, journaling and many more. Having a wellness routine can support your wellbeing in many ways. These routines can be highly supportive on challenging days and provide an added boost of energy and positi ..read more

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian Just like spring cleaning our home, now is the time for a reminder that we can also do the same with our food choices. As the days become longer and the weather becomes warmer, it is a good opportunity to refresh our approach to eating. Taking the time to clean out and restock our pantry with options will give us a chance to eat in a way that serves us well. Soon enough, we will be welcoming the fresh fruits and vegetables that easily provide an abundance of nutrients and flavor.    There are a few simple steps to ta ..read more

My dollar goes a long way at the Center Written by Dymond Redd, Marketing & Communication Associate at the Cancer Wellness Center Ryan Carey first heard of the Cancer Wellness Center after his dad, who had been diagnosed with stomach cancer, started utilizing the programs and services. One of the biggest benefits of the Center was knowing there was a community of people helping his dad care for his physical and mental well-being. Ryan’s involvement quickly grew from a proud Do-It-Yourself (DIY) fundraiser, raffling off Super Bowl squares with friends or asking for donations in honor of his ..read more

Written by Mark Livshots, MA, LPC, Clinical Associate, Men’s Programming Specialist  When asked where they find the most peace and relaxation, many people may say “the outdoors”. Whether it be a forest preserve, mountains, bodies of water, or even a backyard, these sites in nature have brought solace and beauty to humans for thousands of years. Interestingly, to the surprise of some, one must not be physically active in nature to experience its benefits. A growing amount of research has shed light on the positive impact that being in nature has on our mental health. Let’s look at just a f ..read more

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian Eat Beyond the Table in March and All Year Long  All the food we eat affects not only our health, but also the environment. Did you know that many of the food choices that are beneficial for our health also happen to benefit the planet? Minimally processed foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds are included on that list. One important step towards eating with the environment in mind is to think about how our food is produced. We live in an area where we have access to local farms and farmers’ mar ..read more