Education

The Katzmann Breast Care and MercyOne Cancer Center offer a variety of education and support, including:

• One-on-one counseling.
• Assistance in obtaining breast forms, intimate apparel or other clothing.
• Information on complementary therapies such as art, music therapy, meditation, relaxation and soft exercises, imagery, massage, post mastectomy/lumpectomy exercise instructions and pain management.
• An extensive collection of books, pamphlets, periodicals and videos with the latest information on breast care, support readings, cancer detection, prevention and treatment. Most resources are free of charge or can be borrowed.
• Referral to aesthetic services, wigs and styling.
• Yearly educational symposium.

The American Cancer Society offers many online resources as well at www.cancer.org

Community Outreach

A primary goal of Katzmann Breast Care is to ensure all women know about breast self-examination and mammography, and have the opportunity to be screened for breast cancer. Our physicians and staff support the efforts of various community groups in the fight against cancer by helping to raise funds and awareness for cancer research and services.

The Katzmann Breast Care Symposium, held each spring, is one-day educational seminar designed specifically for breast cancer survivors and related health care providers. Look for more details coming soon!

Helpful Resources

None of us need to face cancer alone.

Join the MercyOne Comfort Health Center confidential and free peer support group for women living through all types and stages of cancer.  Learn more

Following are links to other helpful websites:

• BreastCancer.org - a non-profit organization for breast cancer education. This site contains more than a thousand pages of accurate, up-to-date, easy-to-understand medical information, reviewed by medical professionals. The information is divided into topics as listed on the tabs at the top of each page.
• Breast Cancer Risk Tool - calculate your risk for breast cancer with this free screening.
• Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation - The Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation sponsors Infinite Boundaries wellness retreats for breast cancer survivors. We nurture, enhance and aid the emotional, spiritual and physical recovery for women diagnosed with breast cancer
• Breast Cancer Surgery - This site explains breast cancer surgery options and highlights the Hidden ScarTM breast cancer surgery available at Katzmann Breast Center.
• Breast360.org - Information about breast issues, written by breast surgeons
• Cancer Center of Iowa - Medical Oncology Hematology Associates are a group of physicians in practice in Des Moines that care for women who are diagnosed with breast cancer or at increased risk for breast cancer.
• Care for Yourself - The Iowa Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, is part of a national program to help reduce the number of deaths from breast and cervical cancer. Local Care for Yourself programs offer free mammograms and financial assistance in finding treatment for women. Women who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through the Care for Yourself program receive assistance in finding treatment.
• Clinical Trials Support Unit - The National Cancer Center Institute's web-based research program that makes phase III clinical trials available to all cooperative oncology research groups.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) - Established in 1955 as one of the first cooperative groups launched to perform multi-center cancer clinical trials.
• Lymphedema Network - An internationally recognized non-profit organization providing education and guidance to lymphedema patients, health care professionals and the general public.
• Mayo Clinic Cancer Center - Conducts a broad spectrum of research to develop better treatments as well as access to one of the largest repositories of reliable, relevant and current information about cancer. Oncologists at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center treat virtually every type of cancer known from the most common to the rarest forms of disease.
• MercyOne Cancer Center - Mercy's Cancer Center is available to provide information, counseling, nutrition, family risk assessment, wigs and breast prosthesis.
• MercyOne Hospice - Offers care and support to patients in the final stages of a terminal illness. People of all ages and with any type of life-limiting illness may receive hospice care in their home, in a nursing home or assisted living facility or at our residential Hospice facility in Johnston. Hospice care neither hastens death nor prolongs life. Through specialized care and attention to pain control issues, hospice helps improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
• National Cancer Institute (NCI)  - Provides a wealth of information about coping with cancer, cancer care and treatment information.
• National Consortium of Breast Center - Provides informational resources and support services to care professionals and collaborative research opportunities as well as core measures to define, improve and sustain quality standards in comprehensive breast programs and centers.
• National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) - A clinical trials Cooperative group supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
• NeedyMeds - An information source on the programs many drug companies have that provide free prescription medications to people who have no insurance and qualify for their programs.
• North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCT) - A national clinical research group consisting of a network of cancer specialists at community clinics, hospitals and medical centers in the United States, Canada and Mexico and is based at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
• Patient Advocate Foundation - Patient Advocate Foundation helps both insured and uninsured Iowans access medical care.
• Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization - Using information, empowerment and peer support, this organization ensures that no one faces breast cancer alone.
• Young Women with Breast Cancer - Young Survival Coalition encourages young women to become advocates for their own health and become educated about breast cancer. On the pages of this website, you will find information and resources for and about young women affected by breast cancer. On this website you will be able to: Access the bulletin boards and chat rooms to join a community of other young women living with the disease. Learn about breast cancer in young women through Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and find informational and support resources - local, national and international - for these women and their families. Gain insight into the lives of young women living with the disease through our survivor stories. See our real-time profile of young women who register on the site highlighting the demographic and disease characteristics of our survivor constituency.