According to a recently released national report, Iowa has some of the highest lymph-cancer rates in the country. The Lymphoma Foundation of America summarized the findings of 117 scientific studies of lymphoma, and rates for that type of cancer are higher than normal in Iowa.

While a definite cause of the problem has not been identified, Iowans can be assured they will receive top flight nursing care at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at The University of Iowa.

"Since I began working at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics twenty five years ago, there have been lots of changes in cancer treatment," said Jeanette Peck, RN, OCN The "OCN" stands for oncology nurse certified. It means that Peck has been specially trained as a cancer nurse, a status she maintains through regular testing by the national Oncology Nursing Society.

"Patients were in the hospital longer then, and if they received radiation therapy, they may have been here for up to six weeks, going home only on weekends. Surgical patients stayed in the hospital longer too. Now, for some surgical procedures, patients come in early in the morning and go home late in the afternoon."

Peck explained that many of the changes in treatment have come from the development of better medicine. "We administer chemotherapy differently now. The agents have changed over the years, and we can relieve much of the nausea typically associated with chemotherapy better than ever today."

In 1995 Peck was awarded the Lane W. Adams Award by the American Cancer Society as one of the top 10 nurses in America.

"Part of the reason I was given the award was because I helped bring the Celebration of Life Cancer Survivors Day event to UI Health Care. During this annual event, anyone living with the diagnosis of cancer and their loved ones celebrate the beauty of life. We sponsor this day to recognize patients for going through treatment, to honor them. Cancer Survivors Day gives our staff the opportunity to see patients healed or healing," Peck said.

Many UI Health Care Staff participate in the event each year, planning the festivities, baking cakes for the cakewalks, volunteering to entertain the families who have come for an afternoon of fun. Joan Felkner, information specialist with the Cancer Information Service, has raised hundreds of butterflies for the past three years that are released during the event.

"Originally the idea occurred to me because butterflies go through incredible life changes, just as a cancer patient goes through a number of changes after receiving a diagnosis of cancer," said Felkner.

"Butterflies are a symbol of hope," Peck said. "And they are environmentally friendly."

At home, Peck enjoys growing flowers and vegetables in her garden. "I plant a variety of things," she said. "But I’ve got to have my green beans and tomatoes for canning each year."

On February 1, 2001, after fifteen years on the inpatient unit, Peck changed the focus of her work. She now works in the clinic and is experiencing a whole other dimension of cancer care. "In the clinic, many of the patients are quite healthy. I assist with breast biopsies and see patients who are recuperating or who have been out of treatment for quite a while."

Besides coordinating the Celebration of Life, Peck was instrumental in organizing new staff orientation and a special bereavement committee that sends letters to patients’ families after a patient has died.

She clearly loves her work and feels so appreciated by her patients. "This is an area where nurses can show their emotions. Sometimes we cry, but what’s wrong with that? Our patients are so grateful for the care they receive. Not every nurse can say that. It makes the work very gratifying."