Cancer society shows it cares

The local office used to be on S.R. 52, but people may not know of the new office just opened in Lutz. Its support services are free.

By ERIN SULLIVAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 22, 2008

LUTZ - A woman and her husband came to the American Cancer Society's office in Lutz looking for a wig. The woman has cancer and is losing her hair.

Vivian Bogul, an administrative assistant at the society, helped the woman try on wigs. They found two that looked really cute. As the woman and her husband were leaving, they asked how much they owed.

"Nothing," Bogul said.

The couple were stunned. They kept trying to pay.

"All of our services are free," Bogul said.

The couple ended up making a donation to the cancer society, but they didn't have to. Bogul's face lit up the next day as she talked about the woman. Bogul, who still has her soft Savannah, Ga., accent, battled breast cancer 19 years ago.

She was 35 at the time. There wasn't anything like this available for cancer patients then. Bogul had to drive from Georgia to Florida to buy her wigs, which can be expensive. She and her husband moved to Hudson a few years ago and Bogul, who was a tax accountant in Savannah, got a job at the cancer society. She loves it because she can help people. She knows what it's like to be so sick, praying and visualizing the cancer to be gone.

That's why she wants people to know about everything the society offers - for free - to patients and their loved ones. There are support groups, for women, men and children - for the newly diagnosed and for long-term survivors. There is information available at the office and online at cancer.org. There are also beauty sessions for women to feel like themselves again, volunteers who drive patients to their appointments, and rooms where patients and their families can stay for free while at a hospital. There are gift closets, with free wigs, breast prostheses, special bras, turbans and scarves. And there are ample opportunities for people to volunteer to raise money for the cancer society, such as the upcoming Relay for Life events.

The society's local office covers Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Once on State Road 52 in West Pasco, it changed locations more than a year ago to the Osprey Cove Professional Park in Lutz. But it seems that few people know where it is now.

"We had heavy client traffic in the old office," Bogul said. "But here, we don't.

"So many people don't know about our services. We can help them."

Erin Sullivan can be reached at esullivan@sptimes.com or 813 909-4609.

FAST FACTS

For patients and their loved ones

The American Cancer Society offers these free programs for patients and their loved ones. Call toll-free at 1-800-227-9954 for more information, to register and to verify times and dates.

Look Good ... Feel Better: Licensed cosmetologists teach cancer patients beauty techniques to restore their self-confidence in a happy, positive atmosphere.

Upcoming classes will be:

Thursday, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Florida Cancer Institute, 7154 Medical Center Drive, Spring Hill.

Feb. 4, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Florida Cancer Institute, 8763 River Crossing Blvd., New Port Richey.

Feb. 4, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the New Hope Cancer Center, 11063 County Line Road, Spring Hill.

Feb. 18, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Health Resource Center at Community Hospital, 5637 Marine Pkwy., New Port Richey.

Feb. 20, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Florida Cancer Institute, 10441 Quality Drive, Suite 205, Spring Hill.

- Hope Lodges: These are free rooms near hospitals for patients and families to stay during treatment.

- Man to Man: This is an educational and support group for men with cancer.

Upcoming sessions are:

Feb. 4, at 6 p.m., at the Florida Cancer Institute, 7154 Medical Center Drive, Spring Hill.

Feb. 16, 10 a.m., at the Regional Medical Center at Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road, Hudson.

Feb. 21, 5 p.m., at the Florida Cancer Institute, 8763 River Crossing Blvd., New Port Richey.

- Gift Closets: These are places where patients can go to receive free wigs, bras, breast prostheses, scarves, turbans and more. The gift closets are run by donations. The cancer society is always thankful for donations of new wigs, turbans, scarves and other headgear a cancer patient would like.

Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., American Cancer Society office, Osprey Cove Professional Office Park, 21756 State Road 54, Suite 101. No appointments needed.

Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, Zephyrhills Center for Radiation Oncology, 7315 Green Slope Drive, Zephyrhills.

Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Community Hospital, 5637 Marine Pkwy., New Port Richey.

There also is a gift closet in Citrus County, but it is by appointment. Call (352) 637-5577.

Also, the cancer society is looking for a space to open a gift closet in Hernando County. If anyone knows of a doctor's office or another place with a small, unused room that could be rented, call (813) 949-0291.

- I Can Cope: This is an educational and support program for cancer patients.

- Road to Recovery: Volunteers drive cancer patients who have no transportation to medical appointments.

- Reach to Recovery: Cancer survivors mentor the newly diagnosed and those undergoing treatment.

- Reaching Out to Cancer Kids: These are camps for kids battling cancer or with a history of cancer. There is a medical staff, so the kids are in a safe environment. Even if they are very ill, they can come to this camp and know they are not alone.

On the Web:

For information on the American Cancer Society, visit the Web site at cancer.org or call (813) 949-0291.

[Last modified January 21, 2008, 20:12:28]