When you join our online DigiTEAL learning series, you will learn valuable self-care and coping skills for ovarian cancer that will make your journey through recovery and survivorship easier for you and your loved ones. DigiTEAL sessions have supported:
- Increased quality of life for ovarian cancer survivors and caregivers
- Opportunities to connect through shared experiences with the Teal community in a virtual setting
- Resources on ways to increase your physical, emotional, and mental well being
All sessions are aimed to help you by:
- Bringing attention to the importance of self-care and ways to provide self-care through the use of complementary therapies and nutritional support
- Teaching coping skills to help manage stress, sadness, depression, anxiety, grief, and loneliness
- Providing guidance on how to balance a “new normal” of an ovarian cancer diagnosis, gain a sense of control and find inner peace while living in a pandemic
- Providing connection and a chance to engage socially with other survivors and caregivers
This virtual series provides education on self-care and coping skills for those facing ovarian cancer.
Although we may find ourselves in a new virtual world, please know you are not alone. It’s important for you, whether you are living with ovarian cancer or you are a loved one, to connect with others and schedule some valuable “me time.” We want to help you learn how to balance life and help you gain back some control while finding inner peace.
The upcoming Summer Series theme is Mind, Body, and Soul (Eat, Sleep, and Move). Register using the form below.
Register Today
Summer Program Sessions
July: How to Get Proper Nutrition When Not Feeling Well
Chelsey Schneider, RD, CSO
July 26, 2022
7:30 pm ET/ 6:30 pm CT/ 4:30 pm PT
Many people experience side effects before, during and after treatment. When you are not feeling well, it can be a challenge to eat well. In this session, you will learn why nutrition is important during treatment and receive tips on how to get proper nutrition when you are facing side effects like stomach upset and nausea.
Chelsey Schneider is an Oncology Dietitian with Savor Health. Chelsey has eight years of experience working with a variety of cancer patients, including women with ovarian cancer, in the outpatient setting. Chelsey is passionate about working with patients to implement achievable lifestyle changes and translate oncology nutrition research into actionable goals.
August: Movement is Medicine - Yoga For Cancer
Presenter: Sharon Skittle – Yoga 4 Cancer
August 17, 2022
7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT/4:30 pm PT
Living with cancer can look different for each of us. Most have felt some stress after their diagnosis and during their treatment. Did you know that movement is essential for cancer recovery and can help lessen some side effects? In this session, Sharon Skittle, a certified oncology yoga instructor, will discuss with us the benefits of exercise and lead us through some very gentle yoga movements. We will be moving and breathing in a slow, gentle controlled fashion. We will link our inhales and our exhales to movement and use breath, lymphatic brushing, gentle twisting. If you would like to get an idea of what to expect check out y4c.com.
Sharon Skittle is a certified oncology yoga instructor with Y4C.com (Yoga 4 Cancer), and has taught power vinyasa yoga for over 20 years. She is the former owner of Urban Elements, a boutique yoga and cycling studio and has been in the health and wellness industry for over 25 years. Sharon has a master training license and is licensed to teach yoga, pilates, indoor cycling and a number of sport specific trainings. She has worked with all types of clients from professional athletes to those with special needs. She has taught workshops all over the country incorporating the key components of fitness and what she believes is the missing link, mindfulness. Regardless of the activity, Sharon believes attention to breath and intentional movement will enhance your exercise experience and improve your results. Her goal in any class/workshop is to leave clients feeling better than when they started and to help each person achieve strength and ease in both body and mind.
September: I Can’t Sleep! Help! Tips on How To Rest Better
Presenter: Laura Hendricks
September 29, 2022
7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT/4:30 pm PT
Whether you are going through treatment, menopause, taking meds, or you just can’t keep the thoughts and fears in your head from spinning, getting a good night’s sleep can be hard. Join fellow cancer survivor, Laura Hendricks, to discuss the importance of sleep and why we need to find ways to put our minds and bodies to sleep more calmly, and wake them up more soundly. She will discuss tips and approaches to getting a better night’s sleep, and ways to wake up and tackle the day with energy.
Laura Hendricks is a wife, a mother, and a survivor of an aggressive form of blood cancer (acute myeloid leukemia) through chemotherapy, full body radiation, and a stem cell transplant. On February 2nd, 2018, her life changed forever. After an unexpected ER visit, she was admitted to the hospital immediately, and remained there for the majority of the next 6 months. When she was finally released from the hospital, she was relieved to begin her Survivorship journey. She was lucky to have a support system of friends and family to assist and encourage her, but she had no idea what to expect, or even ask for. To say the least, Survivorship was not as elating as she had imagined. She felt lost, lonely, and confused. It is a very personal journey, but there is a desire to know you aren’t alone, and others have the same struggles. She eventually came to realize that by listening to her body and focusing on her own innate abilities, she could become more resilient – step by step. Laura believes each one of us can achieve more in Survivorship than we ever thought was possible. That is why she started Luminaries, an honest program that looks inward and revisits your own potential and abilities. Built to make Survivorship more purposeful, less lonely, and by someone who continues down the same journey.
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) is a 501(c)(3) organization, and these programs are funded solely by financial commitments from partners and individuals who want to make an impact on the lives of those affected by ovarian cancer.
Past Sessions
Summer Foods to Help You Feel Better
Presenter: Chelsey Schneider, Savor Health
June 23, 2021
Watch Session
Learn how incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your summer diet can help you combat some of the most common side effects of treatment, keep up your strength and energy, and obtain the nutrients you need to heal and recover. Recipes will be provided.
Calming Stars - Art Therapy for Self-Care and Stress Management
Presenter: Mignon Dupepe LCPC, ATR
June 30, 2021
Watch Session
Join NOCC and Twist Out Cancer for an evening of healing, relaxation, and self-care through art. Art therapy can help reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress related to a cancer diagnosis. Using star metaphors and symbols, we will explore grounding and breath practices that support self-care and stress management. No artistic background is necessary to participate — just an interest in using art for expression. We encourage you to use what you have in your home when possible. Suggested art supplies include: white multi-use paper or watercolor paper, colorful markers or crayons (including white crayon), table salt, watercolor paints and paintbrush, oil pastels, paper towels, and a cup of water.
Improved Sleep for Healing
Presenter: Dr. Brian Gonzalez, Moffitt Cancer Center
July 14, 2021
Watch Session
Experiencing sleep disruptions is common for both patients and caregivers following a cancer diagnosis. Yet research shows that sleep is a necessity for your body’s ability to heal. Whether physically driven as a result of treatments or emotionally driven due to stress and anxiety, learn how making sleep a priority can help improve your quality of life, and come away with strategies for obtaining a more restful night’s sleep.
Meditation and Chocolate!
Presenter: Wendy Myers
March 30, 2022
Watch Session
Join us for our third and final Winter DigiTEAL session, where our expert David Romanelli will remind us to find joy (and fun) through everyday pleasures, like slowing down and tasting chocolate. David believes “there is a place where the chocolate tastes sweeter, the music sounds better, the inspiration feels richer, and the visions look clearer.” David will remind you to celebrate “joie de vivre” (the joy of life) every single day. Then he will lead you through a short guided meditation (and exotic chocolate-tasting). You’ll finish this experience by releasing your stress and anxiety and feeling the sweetness that can only be experienced at this moment, and this breath. To meditate, you don’t need any previous experience, you just need to like or love chocolate (or any sweet)!
Cozy Up With Us In The Kitchen - Winter Nutrition
Presenter: Karen Berg, MS, RD, CSO – Savor Health
February 16, 2022
Watch Session
Let’s get cozy in the kitchen and make a batch of easy, warm, protein-packed soup! During these cold months, it’s important to stay warm, hydrated, and as healthy as possible. This soup will provide you with the nutrition you need to accomplish these things, and can also help comfort you and keep you warm on a cold evening! We will also discuss nutrition tips for winter.
Setting Intentions for Your Cancer Journey
Presenter: Wendy Myers
January 26, 2022
Watch Session
When healthy self-care is practiced regularly, there are long-term benefits for the body, mind, and spirit. We will discuss how we can find courage, acceptance, hope, and joy during this unpredictable time. It’s a lot to balance, but we can do it together.
