This newsletter was created by our team of oncologists and supportive service providers.

If you have a story idea, please let us know.

Summer's Coming...

Whether you head out for a walk, dig in the dirt, or try one of these summer programs, we hope you find moments of joy in the warmer days ahead.

• Sail Beyond Cancer: Free 3-hour sailing excursions on Lake Champlain for people diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones. Memorial sails are also available for those who have lost someone to cancer in the past 3 years.
• Wellness on Wheels: Free guided mountain bike adventures for people who have been diagnosed with cancer. 
• Mahana Magic: Offering free outdoor movie nights in Shelburne beginning in June for kids impacted by a caregiver's experience with cancer.
• Camp Ta-Kum-Ta: Free week-long summer camp and other events for kids who have or have had cancer and their families.
• Casting for Recovery: Free fly-casting retreats for women at any stage of breast cancer or recovery, with a focus on wellness, empowerment, and opportunity.
• Camp Kesem Foundation at UVM: Free week-long camp for kids whose parents have or have had cancer. 
• Dragonboat Festival: All funds stay local and support Dragonheart Vermont and an annually designated cancer organization. Join a team or watch for fun. 

Clinical trials are the best option for many cancer patients, but what is it like to be enrolled? 

Read Bob's story and learn common myths about clinical trials, starting with Myth #1: Patients frequently get placebos.

The Young Survivors group, whose members range from ages 18-40, addresses issues like relationships, fertility, and navigating work and school. The group meets on Zoom at 5:30 p.m. on the 4th Tuesday of each month and is co-facilitated by oncology nurse Kelly Gernander (pictured above).  

Caregivers are often called "invisible patients" and are critical members of the care team. 

UVM Cancer Center researcher Maija Reblin, PhD studies the science of caregiving and offers expert advice on how to support the patient-caregiver relationship. 

Can what we eat really impact our mental health? The answer is a definite "Yes!" 

We asked UVM oncologist Kim Dittus, MD which foods are particularly helpful? "Plants, of course! Or, remember this rhyme by Drew Ramsay, MD, 'seafood, greens, nuts, and beans (and a little bit of dark chocolate).'"