Dan Foster remembers sitting with his primary care physician as they discussed the results from a colonoscopy. He was hoping his doctor was going to say the first diagnosis was a mistake. Just days before, Dan had been rushed to the hospital with pain that simply wouldn’t go away. Doctors ordered a colonoscopy, and it showed evidence of cancer.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Live Well New York has a wealth of information from our experts on everything from mammograms to cancer-fighting foods. Explore the links below to find out more:
Predicting Breast Cancer’s Unpredictability Learn what you should be doing in your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond to reduce your risk for breast cancer from Michael Osborne, MD, Breast Surgeon and Director of Breast Surgery Programs for the Continuum Cancer Centers of New York.
A Real Patient Tells Her Story – Patricia Shabot’s perspective on life can be summed up quite simply: “I’m 66 going on 34,” says the New Jersey jewelry store employee. “Very few things slow me down.” Not even two bouts of breast cancer.
Ask A Doc: When Should I Get a Mammogram? Find out the answer from Breast Surgeon Aye Moe Thu Ma, MD.
Better Imaging Detects Breast Cancer Early Winning the battle against breast cancer is becoming a reality for women of all ages, thanks to diagnostic technology that can frequently detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. “Digital mammography acquires images electronically, resulting in better contrast, so we can often pick up smaller abnormalities before they become cancerous,” says Tamara A. Fulop, MD, Director of Breast Imaging at the Appel-Venet Comprehensive Breast Service at Beth Israel Medical Center.
Alternative Therapies for Breast Cancer According to Roberta Anne Lee, MD, Vice Chair of the Department of Integrative Medicine, integrative therapies for breast cancer not only ease the symptoms and side effects of breast cancer and treatment, they can actually motivate the body’s cells to heal naturally.
Top 5 Cancer Fighting Foods Shayne Robinson, RD, C.S.O, Nutrition Services Supervisor reveals how in the battle to combat cancer, nutrition can be one of our most surprising defense tactics – when it’s used in combination with other strategies.
Live Well New York is a health care information partnership between the Continuum Hospitals of New York, NBC New York and the New York Daily News created to provide the latest wellness information and help people in the Greater New York City Area live healthier lives.
Guest blog post by Michael Wayne, DO.
Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer. Unfortunately, the majority of patients have an advanced stage of the disease by the time they come to a doctor’s office with complaints. Science does not yet have any early markers, such as simple, reliable blood or urine tests, to help detect this deadly cancer or to determine if you are at risk for pancreatic cancer.
Still, there are things to keep in mind that can possibly give you a better edge on the odds:
* If you have a family history of pancreatic cancer, you should speak to your doctor about genetic testing and/or other possible screenings.
* If you have unexplained weight loss, new onset of diabetes as an adult or a worsening of previously controlled diabetes, talk to your doctor about the possibility of pancreatic cancer screening. When patients have any of the symptoms mentioned above, they should get either a CT scan or an MRI of the abdomen.
* Unexplained back pain can be another presenting sign of pancreatic cancer and should be investigated thoroughly.
If anything abnormal is found in the imaging tests, then there are other tests we can do to determine if this is pancreatic cancer. If we suspect pancreatic cancer, hopefully we can catch it at an early stage when it is more likely to be treated successfully.
Michael Wayne, DO is surgical director at the Center for Digestive Health and the Chief of Pancreato-biliary Surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center.
Guest blog post by Angelo T. Reyes, MD.
As a surgeon at Beth Israel Medical Center, I use a range of surgical techniques to treat my lung cancer patients. Advancing minimally invasive techniques like robotic surgery and video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) allow for very small incisions and limited trauma to the body, resulting in faster recovery times, shorter hospital stays and less pain and scarring for patients.
Robotic thoracic surgery is the very latest advance in minimally invasive approaches to traditional lung cancer and Beth Israel is a citywide leader in the field. When I operate on a patient robotically, I accomplish all the goals of traditional lung cancer surgery, but I use only tiny incisions through which I insert the robot’s special instruments, which allows me to see the structures inside the chest via three-dimensional, high-definition optics. In fact, I see the structures better and more accurately than if I were operating in an open surgery using just my own eyes!
A recent lung cancer patient was able to go home the following day after robotic surgery. One week later, he was experiencing minimal pain and all his incisions were well healed. This patient had essentially returned to the normal functioning he enjoyed before his surgery. Compare this to traditional lung cancer surgery patients who are in the hospital for one week and have to wait up to eight weeks or longer before they can return to their regular activities of daily living and you can see why, in my opinion, robotic surgery is a real game changer in treating patients with lung cancer.
Video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is another surgical technique we use to treat lung cancer that carries the benefits of minimally invasive surgery. Watch this video where I explain how VATS works.
Each case requires careful determination on which type of surgical technique will best serve the patient, but continually advancing minimally invasive techniques are letting many patients get back to their lives quicker and with less pain. Learn more about how you can reduce your risk for lung cancer at www.cancerteam.com.
Angelo T. Reyes, MD is Chief of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Thoracic Surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center and Beth Israel Brooklyn; Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Beth Israel Brooklyn; and Chief of the Asian Services Program at Beth Israel Medical Center.Summer may be drawing to an end, but protecting yourself sun damage is important all year round. Now is the perfect time to brush up on your sun protection knowledge. Before you learn how to protect yourself, you need to know what you’re up against.
How does the sun damage skin?
UV radiation is responsible for skin damage. Short wavelength radiation (UVB rays) and long wavelength radiation (UVA rays) both stimulate the body to produce melanin, giving skin that bronzed glow. The fact is, a suntan is really the body’s attempt to protect itself from further damage. “Remember: There is no such thing as a safe tan,” says Vincent A. DeLeo, MD, Chairman, Department of Dermatology, St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals and Beth Israel Medical Center.
UVA rays penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and damage connective tissue and blood vessels. “UVA and UVB rays damage the DNA of our skin’s cells, leading to premature aging and an increased risk for skin cancer,” Dr. DeLeo says.
The good news is, there are several ways you can protect your skin from damaging UV rays. Dr. DeLeo offers these tips:
1. Avoid peak sun hours.
Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s UV rays are most intense – even when it’s overcast. The sun can be just as damaging, even if you can’t see it through the clouds. “People with a family history of skin cancer or fair skin should take extra precaution since they’re more prone to skin damage,” Dr. DeLeo says.
2. Apply (and reapply) sunscreen.
Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher will protect against UVA and UVB rays. Apply one to two ounces of sunscreen over your entire body, including areas you might overlook like your ears, nose and neck, at least 30 minutes prior to exposure.
3. Review your medications.
Certain medications and over-the-counter drugs cause skin hypersensitivity to sunlight, including antibiotics; diuretics; certain cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes medications; and immune suppressing medications. Take extra precaution in the sun if you take these.
4. Go faux.
If you can’t give up that bronzed look, get a sunless tan. “Spray tans are wonderful; they make you look tan and they cause no damage like tanning beds do,” Dr. DeLeo says. Bronzers and self-tanners can provide head-to-toe color without harming the skin. Today’s formulas include sprays, lotions, foams and creams, and can be found in your local drug store. Whatever method you choose, stay away from tanning beds – they can triple the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
5. Know the signs of skin cancer.
Examine your skin each month for new skin growths or changes in existing moles, freckles, or bumps. Knowing the ABCDEs of skin cancer will help you recognize the signs and symptoms of the disease in its early stages, when it’s most treatable. Learn how to perform a self-skin exam here. If you notice anything abnormal, call your physician or dermatologist to schedule a thorough screening.
Get more advice on preventing sun damage and skin cancer when you make an appointment with a dermatologist. Find one near you by visiting chpnyc.org or calling 1-855-411-LWNY (5969).
Guest post by Ronald Ennis, MD
You’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer. There is so much information out there, but how do you sort through it? The first thing is to take a deep breath. The vast majority of people with prostate cancer do not need treatment, and if they do, they are cured. (more…)