3 Group aids young cancer victims Wednesday, September 19, 1979 By ROSEMARY INTFEN Staff Reporter Staff Renarter The reality of having cancer can be difficult for anyone to face, but it can be especially trying for the young. Teen-age cancer patients being treated at the University of Kansas Medical Center have been given the Youth Against Cancer) to share their problems and provide moral support in their journey. Paula Fried, a lab technician in the medical department of her and group's supervisor, said yesterday that YAC was formed because of a need for teen-age cancer patients to meet other teen-age needs. "Most of our members had never known another teen-ager with cancer before they joined our group," Fried said. YAC, formed during the summer of 1978, is a branch of a support group at the Med Center called PALMS (Parents Against Malaria and Mangatory Society), Fried said. KAREN BRISCOS, an office manager in the hematology department, is the organizer for PALMS, which provides support for families of children with cancer. "The groups are basically the same. They both are there for the purpose of moral support, but VAC is devoted to teen-age memberships," Briscoe said. YAC is open to any cancer patient between the ages of 11 and 19 who is treated at the Med Center. Fried said. *Most of our members are outpatients who come into the Med Center for a clinic held on Tuesdays. We usually don't have more than 10 or 12 members there at one time because they are coming from all over the country, and they can't all come on the same day." During the meetings the patients talk about problems they are having with their disease and also about any social problems they might have, Fried said. "THE KIDS ARE very close to each other and really open about some very vague and possibly unhelpful topics, but mostly they talk about what it is like to have cancer and how their friends react to it." Dale Davis, 15, a sophomore at Ottawa Senior High School and a victim of Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the blood, is a member of YAC. "I don't get to a lot of meetings because I only come to the Med Center every six months now," Davis said yesterday. One person Davis met yesterday was 15-year-old Doug Torberon, a Shawnee Mission North High School sophomore who is a cancer patient at the Med Center. Torberson said he had been coming to the Med Center for treatment for about two years. "BEFORE I STARTED coming here and to YAC I didn't know anyone else in my position," he said. Sharon Kollon, a 16-year-old Olathe High school junior, also a victim of Hodgkin's disease, said she came to YAC meetings whenever she could. "I have a job that takes up a lot of my time, but I come when I can because I think the meetings are a big help in meeting others," she said. Kolling has been going to the Med Center since October of 1975, but she only had therapy every three months so she missed many of A.C.'s meetings. Barr Garb, clinician in the pediatrics department, she said attended the YAC meetings because it gave her a better chance to get to know her patients. GRADOLF SAID most of the members of YAC had a good chance to recover from cancer but a few did not. "We had a member die just recently and that kind of tends to keep the kids from talking for a while." she said. In addition to the meetings, Fried said YAC also had social meetings such as picnics, barbeques and various athletic activities. "One of their biggest activities is having pen pals. A lot of members will write back and forth to others they have met only once," Briscoa said. She said the group had its own directory and mailing list of about 50 names. BRISCOE SAID Kansas City was the only city she knew of that had a YAC organization. YAC also is alerted when new teen-age cancer patients enter the Med Center or when someone is diagnosed as having cancer. Brisca said. "However, as a result of our group, Wichita has formed a group and are calling themselves YACII," she said. Membership in the group is growing rapidly, according to Fried. University Women's League Starts Wed. Sept. 26 1:00 pm For Information call 864-3545 KANSAS UNION NOTICE September 24 and 27 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Registration Required. Effective Listening Program Next Session Call 864-4064 or come by 121 Strong Hall if you wish further information or have any questions. YEAHI Street Cars are built for comfort. Slip into foam inner soles wrapped in soft flexible leather, surrounded by durable leather uppers, set atop a great looking rugged sole. 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