Cancer. The word has become a daunting part of our everyday vocabulary conjuring images of sick people who’ve lost their hair and, for many of us, the face of a loved one we knew.

But there’s a place, a house tucked away in a little corner of Hinsdale where people of all ages, races and economic status are brought together, linked by cancer and the fight to live and make the most of life.

This place is the Wellness House, and since it opened its doors in 1990, it has maintained a mission to provide services to cancer patients and their loved ones. On average, the Wellness House offers free services and programming to more than 1,500 adults and children each year.

In many cases, participants find their way to Wellness House through recommendations from doctors and friends, and continue to use the house long after the chemo has ended.

“There are a lot of helpful, informative classes,” said Sue Mitchell of Downers Grove.
Mitchell has been a volunteer at Wellness House for the last 10 years. She and her husband, Phil, first came to the Wellness House 15 years ago when Phil was diagnosed with cancer. Back then, they came to the house for its support programs. They’ve continued attending programs, taking occasional classes to learn about insurance, investments and just this February, to learn some cooking tips.

“We’re trying to eat more nutritious,” she said.

Mary Sinclair, program coordinator for the Wellness House, said lifestyle classes, such as cooking and exercise, are among the fastest-growing programs. During one Saturday in February, more than 75 people came for a cooking class. There are more than 15 different fitness classes available, ranging from mediation and yoga classes to cardio classes using equipment such as the stationary bike.

“We really want to support people,” Sinclair said. “We want to make people feel empowered to make changes. Wellness is about the things you can do for yourself.”

Back when the Wellness House opened its doors 16 years ago, the primary support was through emotional and educational services. The small library contained articles and books, to help people in their search for knowledge. Cancer patients and their loved ones could choose from a number of small support groups where they could meet with peers to share their feelings.

Today, that small library has grown and a clinical psychologist staffs the library to help people find literature as well as other multi-media files of information. There are still support groups, but the number of groups and the specific subject matters has grown considerably.

Among the more popular support groups is Family Matters, a special program designed for parents and their children where they first meet with their peers before returning together as a group to discuss issues. Sinclair said this gives parents, both cancer patients and their spouses, a chance to talk with other parents while their children can talk with other children.

“Cancer, it doesn’t affect one person, it affects the whole family,” Sinclair said. This is why Wellness House invites the cancer patient as well as their spouse, children, parents and even caregivers to participate in programs and services, all free of charge, she said.

There is no government funding; support for programming and services is through volunteers, individual and corporate donations as well as other foundations. Special events, such as the Equinox Ball in the spring and the annual Rotary Run in the fall help raise money and awareness.

It was through special fundraising efforts that the Wellness House raised money to build its third addition — 7,000-foot expansions for space specifically designed for children programs, exercise and nutrition programs. Tim Walker, director of development, said these are the fastest growing programs in the house.

Fitness and nutrition
Down in the fitness area, a small group stretches on mats for a yoga class, one of 15 different classes offered during February, Sinclair said. Fitness may sound like a strange assignment for cancer patients; after all, one major side effect of chemotherapy is debilitating fatigue.

“Exercise can really combat fatigue and some of the other side effects, such as balance, neuropathy — a numbness,” she said.

Exercise isn’t just for patients; it’s for the caregivers and the survivors fighting their risks of cancer reoccurrence. And in these exercise classes, something special happens. Staff keeps the classes limited to approximately 12 participants to keep the groups small, and from this the staff sees a positive side effect where participants find themselves bonding, sharing stories and tips, and reaching out to support each other.

“The ones who come get really cohesive,” Sinclair said. “They can be open and honest. They get support from each other.”

Healthy living isn’t just about exercise, it means making dietary changes, too. In the house’s demonstration kitchen, more than 20 people take seats as nutritionist Julie Fulton begins preparing a meal for her monthly cooking class. As Fulton prepares the meal of rice pilaf, salmon and lentils and a special low-fat cookie recipe, she offers her class tips on the meal and ingredients that can offer health benefits.

“In curry powder there is the spice that gives curry its color and it’s also a really powerful antioxicide and anti-inflammatory,” Fulton says while mixing the spice into a mixture of lentils.

Just like a television chef, she talks her way through the recipe, fielding questions from an audience eager to learn as the smell of simmering olive oil sifts through the room. One participant wants to know why she’s heard sugar is bad for cancer. Fulton explains that studies have shown sugar raises insulin, which is linked to hormones and studies have seen this can stimulate tumor progression.

Soon she’s passing around ingredients so audience members can see and taste agave nectar — a substitute for sugar — and Earth Balance, her choice for a butter substitute. Wild Oats Natural Marketplace in Hinsdale provides all of the ingredients for her and other cooking classes at Wellness House.

Michelle Mohney, a representative from Wild Oats, explains providing the food is just one of the many partnerships between the local grocery store and Wellness House. The partnership is a way to help give back to the community.

“Excellent nutrition, managing dietary restrictions ... that’s what we’re all about, too,” Mohney said.

For the cooking classes, Wild Oats staff receives the menus and recipes and does the shopping for the teachers.

“Tart cherries help reduce inflammation,” Fulton explains as she adds some to her rice pilaf recipe before spooning up a taste for each member of the audience.

Wellness House volunteer Kay Firlit of Burr Ridge enjoys the sample.

“I think we’re all looking for tasty alternatives,” she said. “I like the rice pilaf, I will try that.”

Barb Collins of Oak Brook said she was impressed with the recipe and said she may try it on her family, although she won’t quite tell them all of the ingredients, she said, admitting sometimes when it comes to getting people to change their eating habits a little food disguise can help.

“If you can get the family to eat cooking that’s healthy, that would be great,” she said.
Collins is a cancer survivor of almost five years. Like many, she began coming to the Wellness House for one need and continues to participate in programs to learn.

“There are always new things coming up, like the tip about curry. There’s so much to keep up with,” Collins said.

Support the cause
Every year, the Equinox Ball is held around the date of the vernal equinox marking the arrival of spring. This black-tie event, to be held Saturday, March 17, at the Adler Planetarium, is the primary fundraising event for Wellness House, offering support and community to people whose lives are affected by cancer. For more information about the Wellness House, visit www.wellnesshouse.org or call (630) 654-5104.