Have you noticed any extra pink ribbons hanging around this week? The beginning of October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although breast cancer is often treatable when caught in the early stages, it still claims the lives of up to 40,000 women every year. According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer for women, after skin cancer. Education and prevention can help save your life and the lives of those you love.

Risk Factors
No one can know for sure why they get breast cancer, but there are certain risk factors that could increase your chances. A family history of breast or ovarian cancer has been linked with higher rates of breast cancer, especially if the cancer was found in an immediate family member, such as a parent or sibling. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 to 30 percent of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. Risk increases as you age, with most diagnoses occurring after age 60. Smoking, excessive drinking, and obesity have also been linked with breast cancer.

A woman’s reproductive life can also increase or decrease her risk of breast cancer. Women who have their first child before the age 30, or who breastfeed their children, have lower rates of breast cancer. The younger a woman begins her first menstrual cycle, or the older she is when she goes through the menopause, can also increase her risk.

What to Look For
No one is guaranteed to be cancer-free—even a small fraction of men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. A monthly self-exam, along with annual doctor check-ups, can make sure cancer is caught early on and effectively treated. Look for lumps or thickening in the breasts, changes in the size or shape of the breast or nipple, discharge, dimpling, or swollen skin.

Have you had a breast exam with your doctor in the last twelve months? Protect your health and set up an appointment today. You should also discuss a mammogram schedule with your doctor. Call our free Consult-a-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7724 to receive a physician referral or to ask any questions you might have about breast health.

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Leukemia is a form of cancer that affects the blood-forming tissue, primarily in bone marrow. The cancer causes the production of abnormal white blood cells, known as leukemia cells. These cells don’t follow the normal life span of the healthy blood cells. Instead, they will begin to overtake the other white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood stream.

Symptoms

Since leukemia spreads throughout the entire body, symptoms often vary between patients depending on which area of the body is affected the most. Some patients do not notice any symptoms and receive the diagnosis unexpectedly during a routine blood test. Other patients might complain of headaches, confusion, vomiting or seizures. Leukemia will typically affect the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, or digestive tract. Other symptoms may include:

• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Fever
• Chronic infections
• Weight loss
• Painful joints
• Unexplained bruising
• Bleeding gums
• A swollen abdomen

Risk Factors

Although no one knows the exact cause of their leukemia, there are several risk factors that have been linked with the disease. Many of these are difficult or impossible to avoid, such as a family history, chemotherapy, exposure to radiation or having Down syndrome. The risk factor you can control is cigarette smoking, which will increase the likelihood of acute myeloid leukemia.

Diagnosis

The most common method of leukemia diagnosis is a blood test that checks for abnormal levels of white blood cells or low levels of platelets and hemoglobin. Even if you are experiencing few symptoms, your doctor may order this test if he notices unexplained swollen lymph nodes or a swollen abdomen. A biopsy will also be ordered to see if the leukemia is in your bone marrow. Other tests might include a chest X-ray or a spinal tap.

Treatment

There are several treatment options to discuss with your doctor if you are diagnosed with leukemia. Common approaches are chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Depending on your situation, watchful waiting or targeted therapy might be recommended, which will cut down on treatment side effects and allow for a better quality of life than the more aggressive approaches. Biological therapy or a stem cell transplant could be alternative options.

September is Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month. If you want to be tested, need a second opinion, or want to discuss your treatment options with a doctor, call our Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7724 to get a physician referral and set up an appointment.

Sources:
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
National Cancer Institute

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Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. It is important to know if you or your partner is considered at high risk for prostate cancer, and what you can do to reduce that risk.

Men who have the highest risk for prostate cancer include:
· Men age 50 years or older
· African American men
· Men who have a father, brother, or son with prostate cancer

Ways to reduce your risk for prostate cancer:
· Don’t smoke or use tobacco
· Keep your diet healthy
· Keep your weight healthy
· Exercise

Prostate cancer is not always detected through symptoms, but when it is, symptoms include:
· Urine flow that has difficulty beginning
· Urine flow that is weak
· Urine flow that becomes interrupted
· An urge to urinate more often than normal, especially at night
· Difficulty voiding the bladder completely
· Bloody semen or urine
· Ejaculation pain
· Constant pain in the back, hips, or pelvis

There are two prostate cancer screenings:

1. During a digital rectal exam (DRE), your doctor will feel for irregularity in the prostate gland by placing a finger inside the rectum.
2. A prostate specific antigen test (PSA) can also be used to screen for prostate cancer by measuring the amount of PSA in the blood. Higher amounts of PSA can indicate the presence of prostate cancer.

It is advised that most men begin screenings when they are 50. However, if you fall into the high-risk category, you doctor may suggest screening as early as age 40 or 45.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Be sure to spread the word and encourage your loved ones to think about being screened. To set up an appointment with one of Plantation General Hospital’s skilled physicians, please take advantage of our free Consult-A-Nurse referral service by calling 1-888-256-7724.

Sources:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The American Cancer Society

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The summer months have arrived, and we are all spending more time outside. But before you do, have you checked your sunscreen supply? Here are a few sunscreen tips to consider before you pack your beach bag with what you have.

Look at the expiration date. While going through your supply, be sure to check the expiration dates on each bottle. Sunscreen loses its strength after three years. However, sunscreen left in hot temperatures breaks down and expires even earlier. If you suspect that it may be out of date, replace it.

Use a high enough SPF. Everyone should apply a daily sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 15. However, for long hours of exposure, a higher SPF of at least 30 should be applied.

Check the ingredients. Your sunscreen should include a “broad spectrum” of protection against both UVA and UVB rays. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends sunscreens with the following ingredients: avobenzone, ecamsule, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Did you put on enough? Each person applying sunscreen should use enough to fill a shot glass, and it should be applied over their entire body.

Keep your head covered. An easy spot to miss is your head. An exposed hair line or those with thinning hair are particularly vulnerable. Use a spray-on sunscreen or wear a hat.

Watch your lips. Since your lips do not have natural pigments to protect against the sun, your lips need regular sunscreen coverage too.

Have you reapplied? Unintentional sunburns are commonly caused by forgetting to reapply sunscreen after two hours of sun exposure. If you have been sweating excessively or swimming, reapplication is necessary also.

For more information about skin cancer risks and prevention, please visit our website.

Sources:

Skin Cancer: Prevention (CDC)

Q&A: The Truth About SPFs, Sunscreen Types, Protection (Skin Cancer Foundation)

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Breast Cancer: Not Just an October Disease

If your doctor has recommended a breast MRI, you may wonder why. After all, a mammogram should be enough, right? While mammography is an effective and common breast examination tool, there are times when an MRI can be helpful.

MRI, which is short for magnetic resonance imaging, is a noninvasive test that uses radio frequency pulses, a magnetic field, and a computer to produce detailed images of your body. Unlike x-rays, MRI does not use radiation.

Here are some reasons why your physician may suggest a breast MRI:

· There is a suspicious area on your mammogram that requires a closer look.

· You feel a lump in one of your breasts, but a mammogram does not detect it.

· You have a breast implant that is leaking or ruptured.

· You have a family history of breast cancer and/or you are considered high risk for the disease.

· You have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and your doctor wants to determine the extent of your condition.

When you have an MRI, this is what you can expect:

· You will wear a medical gown or robe.

· If you have trouble with confined areas, your doctor may give you a mild sedative so you can relax.

· A contrast agent will be inserted into your veins. This will enhance the appearance of your breast tissues and blood vessels.

· You will lie face-down on a padded table that has depressions your breasts will fit into.

· The table slides into the MRI machine. While you are inside, you won’t feel any pain but you may hear a loud thumping sound.

· You will be monitored from another room, and you’ll need to remain very still. The test can last from 30 to 60 minutes.

Prior to having an MRI, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or suspect that you might be, since an MRI may not be recommended for you. Also tell your doctor about any allergies you have, since the contrast dye may be problematic. Avoid wearing any metal objects, such as jewelry or hair accessories, when you have the test, and advise your doctor about any implanted medical devices (pacemaker, artificial joint, etc.) that you may have.

Keep in mind that a breast MRI is often used in conjunction with a mammogram or ultrasound to provide your physician with the most comprehensive images possible.

To learn more about breast MRIs, contact Plantation General Hospital. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362. Serving Plantation and surrounding Central Broward County, we want to help protect your health.

Sources:
Plantation General Hospital
RadiologyInfo

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