Spr ing 2013 vol 6, issue 2 Golden Globe Nominee Andie MacDowell On Beating Cancer INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Cancer Detection Are You At Risk? Relay For Life Community Wellness Fair West Nile Virus Report Got the Bathing Suit Blues? Safe Fun in the Sun Cancer By The Numbers Visit: www.loganmemorial.com A Message from the CEO Supermodel/Super-Advocate Andie MacDowell Is Speaking Out About Ovarian Cancer Andie MacDowell has starred in such enduringly popular movies as Groundhog Day and Four Weddings and a Funeral, graced the covers of countless magazines, and modeled for fashion icons Bill Blass, Yves St. Laurent and others. She’s an international James L. Bills, CEO Logan Memorial Hospital We’re In This Together Cancer is a disease that can strike anyone at any age. We all know someone who has been diagnosed and watched with a sense of fearfulness and uncertainty. At Logan Memorial Hospital we believe part of being your community hospital, is to improve cancer awareness and offer ample opportunities to diagnose this terrifying disease in the earliest possible stages. Some examples include digital mammography, colonoscopy and our annual prostate cancer screening. This issue of HealthPoint is dedicated to educating you and your family about reducing the risk of cancer. While it is impossible to eliminate your risk, it is our goal that knowledge coupled with early diagnosis will lead to improved outcomes and a longer healthier life. We encourage you to join the fight against cancer on June 14 at Logan County High School for the annual American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. Together we can make a difference. supermodel and actress who’s also a longtime and passionate advocate for ovarian cancer research and education. She recently sat down with HealthPoint to discuss her work to raise awareness about this often forgotten disease. When did you first begin to raise awareness about ovarian cancer? I first learned about ovarian cancer when I began working as a spokesperson for L’Oreal Paris. I’m proud to say that L’Oreal has raised more than $18 million for ovarian cancer causes since 1997. Why are you so passionate about educating women about the disease? In 2012, more than 22,000 women in America were diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and more than 15,000 mothers and daughters, sisters and friends died from the disease. That’s just too great a loss. Why is education so important? Cervical cancer can be detected early with a Pap test. But there’s no easy way to diagnose ovarian cancer. There’s no routine screening test that provides early detection. As a result, ovarian cancer is all too often a silent killer. But that can change if women know the signs of ovarian cancer and see their doctor if they suspect something is wrong. Common warning signs for ovarian cancer • Swelling in the stomach or bloating caused by a build-up of fluid • Pelvic pressure or stomach pain • Trouble eating or feeling full quickly • Having to urinate often or feeling like you need to go right away. If you experience these symptoms almost every day for more than a few weeks, you need to see a doctor. Each woman needs to know her body so she can detect some of the more vague and (continued on following page) subtle changes that may indicate ovarian cancer: feeling tired, upset stomach, back pain, pain during sex, constipation and changes in the menstrual cycle. Early detection is critical. In fact, when the disease is detected before it has spread outside the ovary, the five-year survival rate is 94 percent! But sadly, only about 15 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at this stage. Are there other precautions women can take? Seeing your personal physician for a pelvic exam is one way to detect the disease early, but it’s no guarantee. It’s difficult to find ovarian tumors during this type of examination. What are the risk factors for ovarian cancer? Most cases of ovarian cancer occur after menopause. Half of the cases of ovarian cancer are found in women age 63 and older. Women who have not had children also have a higher risk as well as overweight and obese women. Ovarian cancer can also run in families. Are You At Risk? No one is immune from the risk of cancer. The disease strikes people regardless of age, race or gender. But there are certain risk factors that make a person more likely to develop cancer. Here are some of the more common risk factors: Growing Older: Most cancers occur in people after the age of 65. Tobacco Use: The use of tobacco causes approximately 174,000 cancer deaths each year in the United States and costs $96 billion in direct healthcare costs. Excessive Exposure to Sunlight: Ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning booths can increase the risk of skin cancer, the most common form of cancer. Family History: Cancer of the skin, breast, ovary, prostate and colon tend to run in families. Any final thoughts? Knowledge is the key. Talk to your doctor. Ask questions. Educate yourself. We’ve made great progress since the early 80s, when the five-year survival rate was as low as 10 percent. Thankfully, the overall five-year survival rate today is 46 percent. We need to keep moving in that same positive direction. For more information, call or visit us online at: www.loganmemorial.com Live What You Learn The bad news first. One in every two men and one in every three women will be diagnosed with cancer Kushal Singh, M.D. Internal Medicine during their lifetime. Now here’s the good news. According to a recent study, making a few lifestyle changes can prevent about 40 percent of cancers in women and 45 percent of cancers in men. Each of us has the power to reduce our risk for cancer by almost half. Here are three ways you can. 1) Quit Tobacco Smoking Stopping your smoking habit is one of the best ways to lower your risk of cancer. Talk to your doctor or contact your local hospital for information about smoking cessation classes. 2) Lose Weight If you’re overweight or obese, you have a higher risk for many cancers, including breast, colorectal, uterine, esophageal and kidney. Studies have also shown that increased physical activity, which can help you lose weight, decreases the risk of cancer. 3) Drink Less Alcohol There is a clear link between alcohol consumption and an increase in the risk for breast cancer. In addition to these lifestyle changes, regular cancer screening tests for colon, prostate, breast and cervical cancers can help detect the disease at an early stage, when successful treatment is much more likely. Talk to your doctor about scheduling these screenings on a regular basis. Sources: American Cancer Society, National Institute of Cancer West Nile Virus Report West Nile Virus is a potentially dangerous disease spread by mosquitos. The summer of 2012 saw one of the largest outbreaks of West Nile Virus since it was first reported in the United States in 1999. During 2012, 48 states reported cases of West Nile Virus in people, birds and mosquitos. More than 5,000 cases were reported nationwide, with 534 deaths. The disease flares up during the summer and continues through the fall. August and September are usually the peak months. In the past, hot spots for human infection have included Louisiana, southern California and Texas, especially the areas around Dallas and Houston. Many people are infected with the West Nile Virus and never know it. That’s because about 80 Muhammed Ahmed, M.D. percent of people who have the virus do not experience any symptoms. And only one Internal Medicine/ in 150 with the virus develop a severe illness. Symptoms can include high fever, Pulmonology headache, neck stiffness, tremors, disorientation, muscle weakness and vision loss. Preventing mosquito bites is the most effective way to avoid the disease. Protect your family by following these recommendations. • Use an insect repellant when outdoors. Make sure it has an EPA-registered active ingredient such as avobenzone or benzophenone. • Check the screens on your windows and doors for holes. • Be more careful during the hours of dusk and dawn, when mosquitos are most active. • Get rid of or replace any standing water near your house. Mosquitos love to breed in the stagnant water found in flower pots, bird baths and wading pools. Source: CDC For more information, call or visit us online at: www.loganmemorial.com Got the Bathing Suit Blues? Talk about depressing. With summer just around the corner, you try on your bathing suit for the first time in nine months, and it’s feeling, well—a bit snug. Uh-oh! Losing weight is practically a national pastime these days, with hundreds of diets and gimmicks to choose from. But if you really want to lose weight, your best first move is to remember the basics. Eat Healthy: At least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Add fiber to your diet and reduce fat. Exercise: At least 150 minutes per week. That’s a 30-minute walk five times a week, for example. Exercising with a friend or group increases the likelihood that you’ll stick with it. Set A Realistic Goal: Losing a pound or two a week is a good place to start. It’s much better to set a modest goal you can reach rather than shoot for the stars and become discouraged if you fail. Sources: American Heart Association. Cleveland Clinic What About Weight-Loss Surgery? Tried everything and nothing has worked? People who are severely obese may want to consider weight-reducing bariatric surgery. Patients who have the surgery not only lose weight and keep it off, they also have fewer weight-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Talk to your physician for more information. Safe Fun in the Sun How To Protect Your Family This Summer Summer is the season when people love to be outside. But if you’re not careful, the summer heat can cause any number of serious health issues. Here are four ways to play it safe. 1) Avoid Sunburn Just one serious case of sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. There were more than two million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer in the United States each year. Excessive exposure to sunlight also causes age spots and wrinkles. Unfortunately, about one-third of American adults experience some form of sunburn each year. So use plenty of sunscreen (30 SPF or higher) when you’re outside. If you don’t have sunscreen handy, cover up exposed skin. Wear a long sleeve shirt and a hat. And remember that sunburn can occur on cloudy days, too. 2) Protect Your Eyes Overexposure to sunlight can damage the eyes. Wear sunglasses that offer 99 - 100 percent UV (ultraviolet) protection. And be sure to teach your children to never look directly at the sun, which can cause eye damage. 3) Don’t Overdo It Any combination of high temperatures, strenuous activity and not drinking enough water can cause heat exhaustion. Wearing too much clothing and drinking alcohol are also contributing factors. Heat stroke, a much more serious heatrelated illness, can cause brain damage, even death. So whenever it’s hot outside, limit your physical activities, wear light clothing and drink plenty of water. Signs of Heat Exhaustion • • • • • • • • • • Confusion Dark-colored urine (a sign of dehydration) Dizziness and fainting Fatigue Headache Muscle cramps Nausea Pale skin Profuse sweating Rapid heartbeat Signs of Heat Stroke • • • • • • • • • • • Throbbing headache Dizziness and light-headedness James Dodson, M.D. Lack of sweating despite the heat Internal Medicine Red, hot, and dry skin Muscle weakness or cramps Nausea and vomiting Rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak Rapid, shallow breathing Behavioral changes such as confusion, disorientation, or staggering Seizures Unconsciousness 4) Be Safe, Not Sorry NEVER leave a child or a pet in a parked car. Temperatures inside a parked car can soar to a dangerous level in just a few minutes. Sources: American Cancer Society, WebMD Free Skin Cancer Screening will be held on Saturday, April 27 in Auburn. See page 7 for event information. HOW WE DETECT CANCER AT LOGAN MEMORIAL Everybody knows somebody who’s had to fight cancer. Just this past year, more than 1.6 million Americans were diagnosed with the disease, and every day, cancer caused the deaths of more than 1,500 people. At Logan Memorial Hospital, we’ve made a commitment to provide our community with the technology, resources and expertise that are critical in detecting and fighting cancer. Sharon Smith, M.D. Radiology The best way to beat cancer is to detect it early, which greatly increases the chances of a successful treatment. Thanks to new technology and better screening techniques available at Logan Memorial Hospital, the death rate for cancer has decreased 30 percent since its peak in 1991. Diagnostic Imaging: We provide a full range of diagnostic tools used to detect cancer, including ultrasound, MRI, CT Scan and X-ray. Screening Tests and Procedures: • Mammogram to detect breast cancer • Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy to detect colorectal cancer • Pap test to check for cervical cancer in women • Digital rectal exam to check for prostate cancer in men Lab Tests: Sophisticated laboratory equipment is used to analyze blood, urine, or tissue for any abnormalities that may indicate cancer. Biopsy: Often performed when an imaging test cannot make a definitive diagnosis of cancer. Body tissue or a sample of cells is removed and then analyzed in a lab. For more information, call or visit us online at: www.loganmemorial.com Community Wellness Fair Logan County Relay For Life Helps in Fight Against Cancer Saturday, April 27 from 8-11 AM The American Cancer Society is the official sponsor of birthdays…did you know that because of research for life saving treatments, that the overall death rate for cancer in the U.S. continues to decline? This means we are now saving more Auburn Senior Center 169 Wrenwood (in Auburn Park) than 400 lives a day! Our continued fight against cancer relies on the generosity of volunteers and donors through fundraisers like Relay For Life. The Logan County Relay For Life is in full gear for the 2013 event, to be held June 14th at the Logan County High School starting at 6pm. The fundraising goal this year is $115,000 with 30 teams. A great start has been created with 21 teams registered so far. It’s never too late to form a team at your workplace, school, church or friends and family. For more information on starting or joining a team, contact 2013 Chair, Melynda Riley at 270.726.0127. The focus for Relay For Life is Survivors and those we have lost to the fight. The annual Relay For Life Survivor Dinner will be held on April 19, 2013 at 6pm at the United Methodist Temple, 395 South Main Street in Russellville. The menu will include lasagna, green beans, salad and garlic bread. Dessert will be a birthday cake! We formally invite all survivors to come to this dinner so that we may honor you and a caregiver because of the hope you give us in this fight! Please RSVP Beth Clark at 270.725.7543. Patricia Webb and Sally Clark at last year’s Relay For Life Screening Opportunities • Blood Glucose* • Blood Pressure Checks • Body Fat Analysis/Body Mass Index • Cholesterol Testing (LDL, HDL, Risk)* • Colon Cancer Screening • Lung Function Testing • PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) * Indicates fasting recommended For Christ’s Sake! Foraacomplete completelist listof ofscreenings screeningsgo goto to For www.LoganMemorial.com or or call call 725-4601 725-4601 www.LoganMemorial.com www.loganmemorial.com Sp r i n g 2 01 3 vol 6, issue 2 LO G A N M E MO R I A L H OS P I TA L HealthPoint is published as a community service by Logan Memorial Hospital. It in no way seeks to diagnose or treat illness or to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. For individual guidance, consult your physician. For more information about Logan Memorial Hospital or anything in this publication, please call 270-725-4601. Logan Memorial Hospital 1625 Nashville Street Russellville, KY 42276 Important News and Helpful Advice for a Healthier Life inside: Cancer Treatment Are You At Risk? West Nile Virus Report Got the Bathing Suit Blues? Safe Fun in the Sun Cancer By The Numbers Community Wellness Fair Cancer By the Numbers • Decrease in the death rate from cancer since its peak in 1991: 30 percent • Number of cancer deaths avoided because of this lower death rate: 1.2 million • Number of new cancer cases that will occur in the United States in 2013: 1.6+ million • Number of cancer survivors alive in the United States today: 13.7 million • Percentage of women over 40 who had an annual mammogram in the last year: 50 percent • Approximate number of cancer deaths caused by tobacco each year in America: 174,000 • Percentage of people with cancer who survive more than five years: 68 percent Source: American Cancer Society