Page 26 – North Central News, October 2012
HEALTHY LIVING TO YOUR HEALTH
Awareness is key to breast health By Nicole Stegman, M.D.
As a woman, you have a one-ineight chance of developing breast cancer at some point in your lifetime, and that risk goes up if you have a family history or genetic predisposition to the disease. Because early detection results in a better outcome for breast cancer patients, it’s important to take charge of your breast health. Know—and manage—your risk The most important thing is to know your risk factors. Be aware of your family history so you can schedule the right screenings at the right times with your doctor. And while you can’t change your family history, you can control many other risk factors with proper attention. Staying at a healthy weight is critical, since being overweight or obese is linked with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. It’s no surprise that regular exercise and eating a healthy diet are the prescription for accomplishing this. Incorporate moderate to vigorous exercise into your routine several times a week, and focus on eating a diet low in fat and rich in lean protein and fruits and vegetables. In addition, reducing your alcohol intake can also help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Get your screenings Monthly self breast exams will help you know what your breast tissue feels. You should contact your doctor immediately if you notice something different from what you have seen or felt in previous exams. This includes a lump that is hard and doesn’t move well, changes in the skin in the breast area and discharge from nipples. It’s important to note that breast cancer isn’t just an issue for women. Men need to be aware of changes in their breasts, too, since they also can develop breast cancer. It is also critical to have annual clinical breast exams and mammograms based on your doctor’s recommendations for your specific age and risk factors. Remember, screenings exist so we
can detect breast cancer in its earliest stages when it is treatable, manageable and potentially curable. Don’t delay! Nicole Stegman, M.D., is a board-certified gynecologist and fellow of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She practices at John C. Lincoln Care for Women North Mountain, 9225 N. 3rd St., Suite 103. Reach her at 602-2647630 or JCL.com/practices. The information in “To Your Health” is provided by John C. Lincoln Health Network as general information only. For medical advice, please consult your physician.
Health Briefs A health tune up for your Saturday Enjoy low-cost exercise events Saturdays this month at the North Mountain Visitor Center, 12950 N. 7th St. All classes are only $5 each and take place inside the center, which is run entirely by volunteers. A Tai Chi class will take place in the small classroom 9-10 a.m. Oct. 6 and Oct. 20. Or, get grooving with Zumba classes Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the large classroom. Need a little jumpstart before your workout, or some relaxing music to help wind you down afterward? Enjoy free coffee and music from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 6 and Oct. 20 on the back terrace. For more information about these or other classes, call 602-335-1962 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.
Treatment options for esophageal cancer Banner Good Samaritan’s Esophageal Cancer Support Group offers support for patients, families and community members dealing with this or other types of cancers. The next meeting is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, in Brown Health Sciences Library LL2 at Banner Good Samaritan, 1111 E. McDowell Road. Guest speaker is Tomislav Dragovich, M.D., Ph.D., division chief, Medical Oncology and Hematology, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. He will discuss the definition and regulation of clinical trials. Guests can park in the visitor’s parking structure outside of the main lobby, or use the hospital’s free valet service. Dinner will be provided. RSVP to Terry Ratner, RN, MFA, at 602-839-4970 or 602-527-3776.
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North Central News, October 2012 – Page 27 HEALTHY LIVING
How to handle varicose veins Varicose veins can be a source of physical and emotional discomfort. Learn more about radiofrequency vein ablation, an outpatient, noninvasive treatment covered by insurance, from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Cowden Center, 9202 N. 2nd St. The program will be presented by physicians who are interventional radiologists. RSVP via e-mail to RSVP@JCL.com or call 623-434-6265 by Oct. 21. Learn more at JCL.com/varicoseveins.
Sharing the pain of grief to find hope When someone you love has died, who do you talk to? Where do you go? A new Grief Support Group at First United Methodist Church of Phoenix will offer a safe place to share your story and process your grief. The group will meet on seven consecutive Monday afternoons, starting Oct. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Wesley Lounge. The group is facilitated by parish nurse Robin Spencer. There is no charge for the series but pre-registration is required. Call 602263-5013, ext.107 and leave your name, phone number and a short summary of your situation. You will be contacted. You must attend the first session as this is not a “drop-in” group and it will be closed after that. The church is located at 5510 N. Central Ave. Park in the lot on Central and follow the signs to the church office.
Learn more about treating joint pain Learn about the causes and treatment options for knee and hip pain from Charles Creasman, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Cowden Center, 9202 N. 2nd St., on the campus of John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital. RSVP at RSVP@JCL.com or call 623-434-6265 by Oct. 21. Learn more at JCL.com/ortho.
Blood donors can sit on 50-yard line Did you know every two seconds someone requires blood? Premature babies, trauma victims, as well as patients suffering from cancer, leukemia and heart disease all receive lifesaving blood transfusions.
Several blood drives are scheduled in North Central Phoenix this month. Donate in October and you will be entered to win one of two pairs of 50yard-line Ring of Honor Level Cardinals’ tickets, donated by Scottsdale Insurance Company. Two lucky winners will cheer on the Cards as they take on the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, Nov. 25, at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Visit www.BloodHero.com and enter your ZIP code to find the blood drive nearest to you. To make a blood donation appointment, call 1-877-8274376.
Jarnagin joins JCL as a ‘transition coach’ A Special Operations combat medic recently returned from Afghanistan has been hired as John C. Lincoln’s first transition coach to help at-risk Medicare patients stay healthy after release from hospitalization. Thomas Jarnagin, a 24-year-old Army veteran, began visiting designated Medicare patients in John C. Lincoln’s North Mountain and Deer Valley hospitals in mid-August and continued to follow-up with them after they return home. He also is being trained in patient communication skills, HIPAA and other applicable government regulations, hospital and community resources, use of electronic health records systems and paraprofessional counseling. More than a dozen “transition coaches” ultimately will be employed by the Health Network to help elderly and other frail hospital inpatients successfully transition and maintain health at home to help reduce hospital readmissions, especially those that occur for reasons that could be readily remedied. The transition coach assists patients for 30 days after hospital discharge to empower them to manage and maintain their own health care. They help patients manage medications, ensure follow-up medical care and access to community resources for transportation, nutrition and other necessities. The JCL proposal to hire combat medics as transition coaches, “A New Dimension of Service to the Country,” was the national winner in the Startup America Policy Challenge sponsored by the White House, the U.S. Departments of Education, Energy, and Health and Human Services in conjunction with Arizona State University.
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