Casa Serena Oliver House for Mothers and Children
(805) 966-1260
www.casaserena.org
147 Oliver Road
Santa Barbara CA 93105

Rehab and Insurance Services

Substance abuse treatment services
Services Provided: Substance abuse treatment
Type of Care: Residential long-term treatment (more than 30 days)
Special Programs/Groups: Pregnant/postpartum women, Women, Residential beds for clients' children

Self Help

Self help groups can complement and extend the effects of professional treatment. The most prominent self help groups are Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous. These help groups operate on the 12-step model. Most drug addiction treatment programs encourage patients to participate in self help group therapy during and after formal treatment. These groups can be particularly helpful during recovery, offering an added layer of community and social support to help people achieve and maintain abstinence and other healthy lifestyle behaviors over the course of a lifetime.

Cancer and Weight

Cancer occurs when cells in one part of the body, such as the colon, grow abnormally or out of control. The cancerous cells sometimes spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.
Being overweight may increase the risk of developing several types of cancer, including cancers of the colon, esophagus and kidney. Overweight women may also have to deal with uterine and postmenopausal breast cancer. Gaining weight during adult life increases the risk for several of these cancers, even if the weight gain does not result in overweight or obesity.
Doctors are unsure how being overweight increases the risk of cancer. It may be that fat cells release hormones that affect cell growth, leading to cancer. In addition, eating or physical activity habits that may lead to being overweight may also contribute to cancer risk. Avoiding weight gain may prevent a rise in cancer risk. Healthy eating and physical activity habits may lower cancer risk. Weight loss may also lower the risk, although studies are inconclusive.