“Cancer Therapy by the Cup”

Cleveland Clinic News Service

December 12, 2007

Reporter: Anne Doerr	Photog: Chuck Kelso
Produced by: Anne Doerr	Split audio track
Package Length: 1:46	PF: 60

ANCHOR LEAD Having cancer and dealing with treatment can be grueling both physically and emotionally. But a new program at Cleveland Clinic is giving patients comfort by the cup.

Anne Doerr has the story.

VO/Instructions Sound on Tape (SOT)

Judy Mendenhall showing stockings “This is my husbands.” (:03)

Judy with stockings at home IT TAKES COUNTLESS HOURS, BUT EVERY YEAR,

JUDY MENDENHALL MAKES A CHRISTMAS STOCKING FOR EVERYONE IN HER FAMILY…THAT’S 21-STOCKINGS!

Judy showing each stocking “I’ve been doing it for...oh my gosh...for almost 40-years.” (:06)

Judy making new stockings BUT THE DESIGNING AND THE SEWING IS A STRUGGLE THIS YEAR. A FEW MONTHS AGO, DOCTORS DISCOVERED A TUMOR WRAPPED AROUND JUDY’S LIVER.

CG: Judy Mendenhall

Cancer Patient “They found out that it is neuro-intercrainal cancer, which is a very rare form of cancer.” (:06)

Nurse with Judy “This is alcohol.” (:02)

Judy with husband in hospital NOW, LIKE MOST CANCER PATIENTS, JUDY SPENDS LONG DAYS HERE IN THE HOSPITAL GETTING TREATMENT AND CHECK-UPS.

CG: Judy Mendenhall

Cancer Patient “I’ve had a lot of visits here…I’ve gone through a complete round of chemo.” (:05)

Judy walking into tea room BUT JUDY SAYS WHAT HAS GIVEN HER COMFORT DURING A LOT OF THOSE VISITS IS THIS...

Pouring tea in cup Tea pouring into cup. (:02)

Tea cup ...A SIMPLE CUP OF TEA.

Hospital announcer “Attention please, attention please, once again it’s tea time.” (:04)

Patients at high tea EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 2:30 MARKS HIGH TEA AT CLEVELAND CLINIC. CANCER PATIENTS CAN ESCAPE HERE FOR A RESTFUL HOUR OF DRINKS

People drinking tea AND TREATS.

Pre-production of study RECENT STUDIES INCLUDING ONE INVOLVING MEN AND WOMEN WITH LUNG CANCER, SHOW THE NEED TO TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON, NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL ONE.

CG: Michael McKee, Ph.D.

Cleveland Clinic “They found that one third of them came out and said they weren’t getting the emotional care they needed. It somehow hasn’t been built into the system traditionally and I think we’re doing a better job now of starting to recognize those needs are important too.” (:15)

Judy signing guest book SINCE THE TEA STARTED BREWING IN FEBRUARY, MORE THAN TWO-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED THE GUEST BOOK. JUDY SAYS THE SPOT OF TEA HAS BEEN A SPOT OF RELIEF.

Judy at home talking “I’ve gotten a lot of stares, a lot of stares because I haven’t had hair for so long, but there, you don’t get the stares, you just kind of fit right in.” (:11)

Judy drinking tea and eating AND WHEN YOU’RE BATTLING CANCER, FITTING RIGHT IN CAN BE THE BEST MEDICINE.

ANNE DOERR REPORTING.

Anchor Tag All the cups, more than one-hundred, used at “High Tea” were donated by cancer patients treated at Cleveland Clinic. And every week, the pastries and fresh flowers are donated by the family of a cancer patient.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Any calls received regarding this topic can be directed to our website at www.clevelandclinic.org/media/ccns_headlines/.

TO OUR AFFILIATES: Medical news content changes as new clinical and scientific information becomes available. Information contained in Cleveland Clinic News Service material is factual at the time of its release. If you choose to use material more than one month after it becomes available, PLEASE check with us to be certain it is still current and correct.

For Viewer Information on this story:

Cleveland Clinic

Phone: (216) 444-2200

www.clevelandclinic.com/

Produced by:

Cleveland Clinic News Service

9500 Euclid Avenue W14

Cleveland, Ohio 44195

Tele: (216) 636-4225 Fax: (216) 445-9510