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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 3
5 Crandoodles by Steve Crandall Komen Race 7 for the Cure 6 Pink Ink Women with cancer 10 breast come together 14 Health in a Handbasket: 24 Face your fears
Windsor woman survives breast cancer twice
Also inside Health shorts ............................................................................................. pg. 4 Uncommon Sense with Loveland’s Dr; Beth Firestein ............................. pg. 8 A new breast cancer vaccine is in clinical stages ................................... pg. 13 Ask Dr. H .................................................................................................. pg. 16 Destination: Healthy with Amanda Wicker .............................................. pg. 18 The Healthy Plate ..................................................................................... pg. 19 Book Review: “Taking Antidepressants................................................... pg. 20 Quality sleep is vital ................................................................................. pg. 21 Egg allergies are no reason not to immunize ......................................... pg. 23 Loveland health calendar ........................................................................ pg. 25 Loveland health briefs ............................................................................. pg. 26
Health Line of Northern Colorado is a monthly publication produced by the Loveland Daily ReporterHerald. The information provided in this publication is intended for personal, noncommercial, informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company, product, procedure or activity. You should seek the advice of a professional regarding your particular situation.
For advertising information, contact: Linda Story, advertising director: 970-635-3614
For editorial information, contact: Jade Cody, special sections editor: 970-635-3656 jcody@reporterherald.com Jennifer Lehman, special sections reporter: 970-635-3684 jlehman@reporterherald.com
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
1 in 8
women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
40,170 American women will die from breast cancer in 2009
3 percent The chance that breast cancer will be the cause of a woman's death.
2.5 million
breast cancer survivors in the United States.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women behind non-melanoma skin cancer.
Double
The risk for breast cancer for a woman if she has a first-degree relative (sister, mother, daughter) who has been diagnosed with the cancer. — Source: Susan G. Komen Foundation
Know the Symptoms Metro Services
W
ith respect to cancer, survival almost always depends on detection. In general, the earlier cancer is detected, the more likely a person is to survive. Such is the case with breast cancer. When breast cancer is detected in its earliest stage (stage 0), the rate of recovery is 100 percent. However, when breast cancer is not detected until its later stages, the survival rate is less than 20 percent. Such a reality underlies the importance of early detection. While an abnormality in the breast often shows up on a mammogram, women can also look and feel for additional symptoms as well. According to the American Cancer Society, the
following unusual changes in the breast could be indicative of breast cancer, and women who notice any of these symptoms should report them to their physician immediately and schedule a screening. • A lump in the underarm area • Nipple discharge • Persistent pains in the breast • Skin irritation or dimpling • Swelling of the breast • Redness of the nipple or breast skin • Scaliness of the nipple or breast skin • Thickening of the nipple or breast skin For more information on breast cancer, visit the American Cancer Society Web site at www.cancer.org.
Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 5
Some studies have shown that eating a lot of red and/or processed meats is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Eating a diet low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables is often recommended to reduce cancer risk. • Exercise. The American Cancer Society recommends enARE THERE RISK FACTORS gaging in 45 to 60 minutes of FOR BREAST CANCER? physical exercise five or more BreastCancer.org notes that Metro Creative Services days per week, as evidence viding without control or order, there are factors a woman or continues to mount that exercise producing more similar cells man can control that might can reduce breast cancer risk. and forming a tumor. n the United States, breast lessen their risk for breast cancancer incidence in women In the case of breast cancer, • Alcohol and smoking. Alcocer. Those risks include: is one in eight, or roughly 13 cancerous cells gradually invade hol limits the liver’s ability to • Weight. Post-menopausal percent. In fact, among women nearby healthy breast tissue and control blood levels of estrogen, women in particular can reduce in the U.S., breast cancer rates make their way into the underwhich can increase risk of breast their risk of breast cancer by are higher than those of any arm lymph nodes, which are cancer. Similarly, smoking has maintaining a healthy weight. cancer besides lung cancer. small organs that filter out forbeen associated with a small inFat tissue is the body’s main eign substances in the body. If crease in breast cancer risk. WHAT IS BREAST CANCER? source of estrogen after the cancer reaches the lymph While all of the mentioned Breast cancer is an unconnodes, it then has a pathway in- menopause, and having more risk factors are within an inditrolled growth of breast cells. to other parts of the body. Upon fat tissue means higher estrogen vidual’s control, there are a host levels, which increases breast Any type of cancer is the result diagnosis, a patient will be told of additional factors beyond a of mutations in genes responsi- what stage of breast cancer they cancer risk. person’s control that can inble for regulating the growth of are in, which tells how far the • Diet. Many cancers are crease risk of breast cancer. cells and keeping them healthy. cancer has spread beyond the linked to diet, but studies have These factors include age, famiIn a healthy body, the cells reyet to show for certain which original tumor. ly history, personal history, and place themselves in an orderly types of foods increase the risk CAN BREAST CANCER BE fashion, as healthy new cells for breast cancer. In general, it’s race among others. PREVENTED? take over as old ones die out. For more information on good to restrict sources of red When mutations occur, changed Maintaining a healthy lifestyle meat and other animal fats, such breast cancer, visit cells gain the ability to keep di- is always an ideal approach, but as fats from dairy products. www.breastcancer.org.
Understanding breast cancer
I
breast cancer is never the fault of the individual. A balanced diet, a lifestyle that includes abstaining from smoking and drinking alcohol in excess and regular exercise are all ways to stay healthy, but none will guarantee a woman or man will not get breast cancer.
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
Fort Collins tattoo artist provides cosmetic tattoos to breast cancer survivors Jade Cody Special Sections Editor
F
or many women afflicted with breast cancer in Northern Colorado, Greg Skibo is the last
stop. Skibo, co-owner of Skibo’s Tattoo, is contracted by several surgeons in the area including Northern Colorado Plastic and Hand Surgery, to perform nipple tattoos on women who recently have had mastectomies. NCPHS office manager Becky Winne said they have been contracting nipple tattooists for about 20 years now, and it has become an integral part of nipple and breast reconstruction. Most often with breast cancer, mastectomies result in the nipple-areolar complex being removed, Winne said. The purpose is to return the breast to the way it looked prior to breast cancer, she said. The last step in breast/ nipple reconstruction is adding color to mimic the pigment in a natural nipple. “It’s monochromatic after the doctor rebuilds the nipple and the areola,” Skibo said. As a tattoo artist since 1974, Skibo said he started doing nipple tattoos 12 years ago, and now does about 100 per year — most of which are contracted by surgeons. “I’m the last person they (patients) have to see,” Skibo said. “Essentially all of them are at the end of their ordeal.” Skibo said the majority of the women he sees are happier after getting nipple tattoos, because the color helps detract from the scarring and adds cos-
metic appeal. Some women are embarrassed, some are happy, and some are more worried about getting done before bingo starts, he said. “I’ve dealt with a couple women who were very embarrassed with the way they looked,” he said. “They were afraid to go to a public pool.” Winne said women who undergo nipple-areolar complex reconstruction are normally satisfied with the results. “They feel more complete. They feel like now they can move forward.” It’s never going to look exactly like it did before, she said, but it gives them physical and emotional satisfaction. Winne said Skibo is very meticulous when tattooing breast cancer patients, and RH photo/Jade Cody he can mix pigments to create a very natural looking nip- Greg Skibo, co-owner of Skibo’s Tattoo, performs about 100 nipple tattoos on breast canple. cer survivors per year. When he first began performing nipple tattoos, Skibo said he felt depressed. “But the reality 93 percent of the patients said they is that they’re survivors,” he said. “I’ve would undergo the procedures again. had women who hug me afterward, Seventy percent reported that they and then cry in the front room for 20 were satisfied with their nipple tattoos. minutes — tears of joy.” The commonest causes for disappointIn a study performed by Goh SC, ment were lack of projection of the Martin NA, and Pandya AN, Cutress RI., NAC reconstruction and fading of tatfrom 2001-2008, breast cancer patients toos. Ninety-six percent of women statwho had undergone nipple-areolar ed that NAC reconstruction and tattoocomplex reconstruction with tattoo, ing were important to them.
“I’ve had women who hug me afterward, and then cry in the front room for 20 minutes — tears of joy.” — Greg Skibo
Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 7
Photos courtesy Sandy Puc Portrait Design
Breast cancer supporters showed up in droves for the 18th annual Komen Denver Race for the Cure.
Denver Komen Race for the Cure brings in 50,000 people Jade Cody Special Sections Editor
Komen for the Cure, spoke at the Denver Race. Viera-Simoes said Brinker founded the organization as a promise to her sishe 18th annual Komen ter to end breast cancer forevDenver Race for the er. Cure brought out more “Events like the Denver Race than 50,000 people on October 3, leading to $1 million in demonstrate the collective funds raised to go toward the strength of all women and men care and treatment of those af- who want to see this disease fected by breast cancer. relegated to the history books,” Brinker noted in a press reAmarilis Viera-Simoes, lease. Komen Denver Director of Marketing and Education, said “In our three decades at the organization is expecting to Komen, we’ve made tremenraise around $3 million total by dous strides against breast canthe end of October. Seventycer, funding research that has five percent of the Affiliate’s led to vastly improved survival annual net revenue stays in the rates for many early stage canlocal community and is curcers, and more personalized rently used in funding 37 protreatments for advanced and jects, totaling more than $2.7 aggressive disease. Over the million. Twenty-five percent of next 10 years, Komen will infunds go toward breast cancer vest $1 billion more to reresearch. search, and millions more to Ambassador Nancy Brinker, educate women about their risks.” founder and CEO of Susan G.
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Reconstructive Surgery
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Skin Cancer Reconstruction
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
HL
Uncommon Sense
Dealing with a sense of doom Beth Firestein Uncommon Sense
us and to other people, and to project our fears onto future events that may or may not uestion: I don’t think happen. I am a hypochondriMost of this is in the normal ac, but lately every realm of human experience time I have a sympand behavior, but if you start tom I immediately get a feelto feel that you are too stuck ing of doom and think the in fear and it is not balanced worst. It seems to be getting with normal optimism, there worse, too, and I’m spending may be something wrong. a lot of time worrying about Scary or traumatic life events things that eventually just go can trigger us into a phase like away. How can I stop this pro- this; so can changes in the cess? chemistry of the brain. Often, these feelings can be relieved Answer: Most of us go by talking out loud about our through cycles of confidence fears to a friend or family and fear. In our periods of member, but if you do not get confidence, we feel that we relief you might consider seeare fundamentally OK, our bodies and our lives are basi- ing a counselor. A counselor can help you come to terms cally intact, and things in our with events in your life that lives will turn out just fine. In our periods of fear and doubt, may be triggering fear and can we tend to focus on the worst help you determine if you may have developed a biologpossible outcomes to everyically-based obsessive thinking thing going on in our lives: thoughts that we may lose our disorder that requires treatjobs or that minor physical ail- ment. Either way, there is a way out of the forest of emoments signal a much worse tional and psychological sufunderlying health problem. fering. We may even the fear that death is just around the corner uestion: I am in high for us or for our loved ones school, and I live at when there is no rational reahome. I have a son to worry. There are severyounger brother in al reasons why these negative middle school and a younger thought phases might occur. sister in 6th grade. My problem is that my Dad drinks all Some of this can just be the time, and my Mom doesn’t chalked up to being human. do anything about it. I love my Unlike other living creatures, Dad, but when he is drinking we have a great capacity for he yells and acts like an idiot. reflecting on past events and imagining future ones. This is Sometimes he blames us kids for things we didn’t do and both a blessing and a curse. gets really mad at us. I want Thinking about the future almy Dad to stop drinking, and I lows us to plan and achieve am mad at Mom for not makgoals, look forward to our ing him stop. I need some adchildren growing up to be adults, and think about things vice. like retirement and travel we Answer: It sounds like your might want to do in the future. Dad may be an alcoholic, and Unfortunately, it also allows us that your Mom really doesn’t know what to do about it. Alto worry about what is going coholism is a disease that afto happen, to remember bad fects the mind, body and spirit things that have happened to
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of the alcoholic. Alcoholics are not “bad” people. In fact, many people suffering from the disease of alcoholism are really good peoples who are responsible, loving, kind family members when they are not drinking. People who do not have alcoholism can drink and not have to go overboard. Alcoholics are unable to stop drinking once they start. This has to do with differences in brain chemistry between alcoholics and non-alcoholics as well as other factors. The truth is that once your Dad takes his first drink, he loses control over how much he will drink or how he will act when he gets drunk. Even though it seems like Mom should be able to stop or control how much Dad drinks, I bet she has tried to do this many times and not succeeded. She does not have the power to stop his drinking no matter what she says or does. All she can really do is encourage him to get help and get help for herself and give you resources that can help you and your brother and sister cope with Dad’s drinking. Fortunately, there really are ways to help your family heal and find recovery. For someone who is an alcoholic, the only real solution is to avoid alcohol entirely. Many books and TV shows have dealt with the subject of
alcoholism. Rehab or treatment centers can be helpful, but 12 step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) seem to be the most effective approach for helping men, women, young people and older people stop drinking and stay sober. Fortunately, family members can also get real help and learn tools for coping with their loved one’s alcoholism and making their own lives better and calmer. Al-Anon is a 12-step group for family members and friends of alcoholics. It is separate from AA but also closely related to AA. Al-Anon groups offer support and teach you tools for coping with your alcoholic family member by learning to focus on improving your own life. There is also a program called Alateen which is specifically for younger people dealing with alcoholism in their family. All of these programs are free and open to anyone who wants to attend the support groups. There are meetings almost every day available in Loveland and elsewhere in Northern Colorado. Look online or in the phone book to find the meetings closest to you. Your Dad doesn’t have to go to AA in order for you and your Mom to get help. Give it a try, and I think you will find that it can make a real difference in you and your family’s life.
Uncommon Sense with Beth Firestein Dr. Beth Firestein is a licensed psychologist. She has 24 years of therapy experience and has practiced in Loveland for over 14 years. She may be reached by calling her office at 970-635-9116, via e-mail at firewom@webaccess.net, or by visiting www.bethfirestein.com.
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 9
Caring For People of All Ages Quality medicine. Lasting relationships. Compassionate care. General and preventative family medicine for newborns to geriatrics. Now accepting patients. To make an appointment, call 970.624.5170. .624.5170.
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3850 North Grant Ave., Suite 200 | Loveland, CO 80538 970.624.5170 www.pvhs.org HL-320228
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
Age of Survival Women with breast cancer come together at different times in life Jennifer Lehman Special Sections Reporter
Grandia, of Loveland, viewed the afghan like her life: it was being destroyed, hortly after being diag- and she had to repair it. nosed with breast can“I decided that I could eicer, Mary Fran Grandi- ther still make it beautiful by was wrapped in her security repairing it or go ahead and blanket, an afghan her 88just let it ravel and not beyear-old mother had knitted come useful. I could either for her birthday a few go on and do something months before. She noticed it with my life or be dehad begun to fray. pressed.”
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It was was 1982 and Grandia was 59. “I had so much to live for that I decided nope, we are going to overcome this, and so I that's when I started mending the afghan and making it whole again so I could enjoy my little security blanky. “That was just the way I handled it.” After her mastectomy and during treatment, Grandia also found comfort in the local breast cancer support group. The group had just been started by Loveland breast cancer survivor Charlie Johnson and was being held at a local church.
“If you're with other people who have gone through a mastectomy, they understood, and if I cried, they all cried with me,” Grandia said. The women helped each other and greeted one another with a big hug when they came in the door. “We were in our comfort zone there. We could say what we wanted to, and we understood one another. Because it’s hard if you’ve never had cancer yourself to understand what one’s feelings are. “It’s amazing how one person learns from another that yes, it’s okay, I felt the same way,” she said.
“If you're with other people who have gone through a mastectomy, they understood, and if I cried, they all cried with me.” — Mary Fran Grandia
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 11
“When I tell them it’s been 28 years, you have no idea how wide their eyes get.” —Mary Fran Grandia
A few years ago Marianne Pearson, a licensed clinical social worker with McKee Medical Center, contacted Johnson to see if they could collaborate in providing support for breast cancer patients. Johnson requested that Pearson become the facilitator for the group and that it be moved to McKee after running it for 22 years, Pearson said. “Banner and McKee wanted to fill that need in the community, and we really wanted to do it,” Pearson said. Support groups are important for cancer patients largely because there is so much medical information and various paths offered to them while undergoing treatment, Pearson said. Being surrounded by people who have survived and are feeling well reduces their anxiety and helps them to feel supported, Pearson said, adding that members of the breast cancer group will offer friendship immediately, share numbers and meet for coffee. Women move in and out of the group depending on their needs and where they are in their treatment. Pearson has noticed that women usually participate during treatment and then stop for a while to give themselves a break, and then a year or so after their treatment, some will return, she said. There is a core group of 20 women who she has seen consistently for the past three years and about another 15 that
are in and out. Grandia left the group when she had completed her treatments and felt like she no longer needed the support, but a few years ago she found herself attending again to encourage her newly diagnosed neighbor to participate. That’s when the now 28year survivor found her new role in the group. “When I tell them it’s been 28 years, you have no idea how wide their eyes get,” she said. Grandia said they just can’t believe it, and it gives the newly diagnosed and more recent survivors hope to know there is life after cancer. “When you're first told you have breast cancer, it's like a death sentence. And now for somebody that has just been recently diagnosed, they look at me and say, you're still here. I now feel that I am giving them a lot of encouragement,” Grandia said. “Its just such a good feeling to be able to be helpful to others,” she said. Janet Ahlstrom, of Loveland, is a two-year breast cancer survivor in the support group. “It gives the rest of us hope that people do survive the disease for many, many years, 20, 25 plus years,” Ahlstrom said. “When you're newly diagnosed and you immediately go into catastrophic thinking, you go to this group and you see you
can overcome and join that long term survivor group.” Ahlstrom joined the group after being diagnosed in 2008 with an aggressive form of stage one breast cancer. “I joined almost immediately and was glad I did because even though your family and friends are loving and supportive, to be in a room full of women that have been through the same situation is very nurturing. It made me feel that I was with people that really understood what this journey was about,” Ahlstrom said. Members have name tags with stars signifying each year of survival, Ahlstrom said. The level of open discussion on the illness has shifted over the decades, Grandia said. “I will say that today people talk more freely about it.
Twenty-eight years ago you just did not talk about it,” she said, because people were not as aware of the illness as they are today. Grandia has learned about treatments and knowledge available today that wasn’t around when she was diagnosed but with breast cancer 28 years behind her, the camaraderie and love between the members are the most important aspects of the support group to her. “I think the most giving thing that you can give to anyone is being a good supporter and being a good listener,” Grandia said. Ahlstrom said she'll participate in the group as long as she feels she needs it. “We watch out for each other and support each other as different things arise. As long as I feel I'm benefiting and contributing, I'll continue.”
BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Each meeting consists of a light dinner and then discussions on a variety of topics related to breast cancer from chemotherapy to intimacy issues to depression. Experts and medical professionals will sometimes speak to the group to provide education and resources. People in the group can be treated anywhere and be from anywhere, Pearson said, with some members driving up from Denver. When: Second Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Where: McKee Cancer Center lobby. Contact: 970-622-1961
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 13
A breast cancer vaccine? Cleveland Clinic developing breast cancer vaccine Story by Delthia Ricks • Newsday
A
team at the Cleveland Clinic has laid the scientific groundwork for a breast cancer vaccine that may work much the same way as immunizations for mumps and measles. The vaccine is made using a protein called alpha-lactalbumin, which is prevalent in a wide range of breast cancers, scientists said yesterday. “This is a first-of-its-kind prototype,” said Dr. Vincent Tuohy, principal investigator of the research. While the vaccine so far has been tested only in mice, Tuohy said human clinical trials could begin as early as next year, though a marketable vaccine is at least a decade away. He also predicted that the vaccine one day could be administered routinely to women starting at age 40. Dr. Janice Lu, a specialist in breast cancer and director of medical oncology at Stony Brook University Medical Center, praised the Cleveland effort this week. “This is very important research,” Lu said, adding “they targeted a protein that is expressed in high amounts in breast tumors.” She said the prototype vaccine differs from the other 40 anti-breast cancer vaccines under study that are designed to thwart breast cancer only after it has advanced. The recently approved prostate cancer vaccine, Provenge, was developed to attack cancer only after it has spread. As with immunizations against infectious diseases, the anti-breast cancer vaccine is administered by injection. Many of the vaccines under study that are designed to attack advanced breast cancer are delivered intravenously, as is Provenge. In his research at the clinic’s Lerner Research Institute, Tuohy and his colleagues vaccinated two groups of cancer-prone mice — one with alpha-lactalbumin and the other with a sham vaccine. None of the mice vaccinated with alpha-lactalbumin developed the cancer, while all of the animals immunized with the sham developed tumors. Complete results of the research are reported in the current online edition of Nature Medicine and in next week’s bound edition of the journal.
ThinkStock photo
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
A
Continuous
Journey
Windsor woman brings breast cancer survivorship full circle Jennifer Lehman Special Sections Reporter
seven weeks. Within three weeks of starting chemo, her hair was gone. ikki Wagner’s hand Wagner said her family, brushed against somefriends and co-workers at Kothing unusual in her dak were blown-away by the right breast when she crossed diagnosis. her arms one day. “I was kind of the first kid on One week later, that lump the block to have something she felt in her breast was biop- like this, and we didn’t have sied. The surgeon did not wait anything in our family. I never for the test results and called knew anybody that had cancer, her at 6 p.m. that evening. let alone me.” “I think he could tell just by While getting chemo treatlooking at it that it was probments one day, Wagner saw an lematic,” Wagner said. “I went ad on television about a threeback in that night, and he had day, 60-mile breast cancer walk, taken the liberty of scheduling and she decided she was going me for surgery the very next to do it even though it took morning.” place just one week after her last radiation treatment. It was Halloween in 2000, and Wagner and her husband at Through the radiation and the time sent their five-year-old debilitating chemotherapy treatson, Zane, to a friend’s house ments, Wagner took small steps while they went to the hospital to train for the walk. for the surgery. She trained one day at a time, Wagner was 44 years old and getting off the couch, walking had no family history of breast to the end of the driveway, then cancer, so she thought she was to the end of the block. She at a low risk. She didn’t want to moved up to three miles, five have a mastectomy and chose miles, seven miles and fifteen breast conservation. miles. She joined a group and trained to walk 20 miles. “That was really kind of it During the three 20-mile days back then, it was very popular,” of walking from CSU to LoveWagner said, the idea that a lumpectomy followed by radia- land to Longmont to CU, temtion was every bit as effective as peratures were in the mid-90s, Wagner said. a mastectomy. “I really didn’t think I was goBut the cancer had moved into her lymph nodes so Wagner ing to be able to make it.” had eight chemo treatments Women were dropping like over six-seven months in addi- flies, Wagner said, passing out, tion to radiation every day for having heat stroke, bad sun-
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burn and ending up in the hospital. Her husband told her to wait and see how she felt the next day. “I got up that next day; I could have walked to Kansas. Something just came over me, and I knew the third day would be a piece of cake because of all the adrenaline.” At the event, Wagner was asked to speak to the crowd of some 4,000 people because she had just finished radiation. “It was very heartwarming and very symbolic for me, because if I could do that I could beat this, so it was huge.” It took a year for Wagner to feel normal again, but she jumped right back into work and life like a “possessed workaholic,” she said. “I was like, all right, done with that and time to get back to my life.” Six-month follow-ups became annual follow-ups. “This went on for five years, six years and I would just go in and have it and say goodbye and that was that,” she said. A mammogram found the second cancer. It was Halloween, six years later. The cancer was not a recurrence of the first, but a new primary. This time her son Zane was eleven and old enough to un-
RH Photo/Jennifer Lehman
Vikki Wagner of Windsor and her son, Zane, now 15. derstand. “The first time I don’t think he knew enough to be scared, but he was scared the second time because people with cancer die. Mom are you going to die? How do you answer that? No, I’m not going to die.” With a second breast cancer diagnosis in six years, Wagner did not push for breast conservation. “This time I said let’s just go ahead and take both.” Wagner had a bilateral mastectomy in January of 2007. Like many women, Wagner’s bilateral mastectomy was followed by breast reconstruction in the same surgery. Wagner’s reconstruction plan was to have implants. Other reconstruction options include using fat and muscle from the belly, called a TRAM flap or a latissimus flap when muscle and fat
are pulled from the back to the chest. Radiated breasts can undergo significant damage, compromising blood flow and causing the breast to behave poorly with an implant. Wagner was told it was a 50-50 chance the breast would take the implant. “I said well, 50 percent is better than nothing, so I took the chance.” Within days Wagner knew the breast that had been radiated six years ago wasn’t going to take. It wasn’t healing which left Wagner vulnerable to infection. “They had to take it out and that began a year that started in January with the mastectomy and five surgeries later in December.” Wagner experienced horrible infections and was on heavy antibiotics most of they year. One day into a visit with her sis-
ter in Boston, W spend the night and undergo em surgery to drain built up in the in Her blood pre low that she nea “I really was a couple times tha said. In what Wagn her wipeout yea of surgeries for t breast, unexpec apy treatments b results listing Wa risk for getting t again in 10 year ic oxygen therap three hours a da week for eight w a glass tube in a her right breast. This time the was different, an enced every sid book. “You get whis the medical syst that’s where I w “I kind of coll time I didn’t go life.” Wagner used more introspect on herself. She picked up had abandoned her hair with the and started writi She hasn’t stopp “You don’t ge chances, and th wake up call for Wagner said s whelming supp husband, family workers. “They just step ery way, every p she said. At the end of treatments were final implant wa left breast, but W troubled right br “We just said w that breast alone no nothing. We’ Wagner said t then what she k
Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 15
RH Photo/Jennifer Lehman
er son, Zane, now 15. are pulled from the back to the chest. Radiated breasts can undergo significant damage, compromising blood flow and causing the breast to behave poorly with an implant. Wagner was told it was a 50-50 chance the breast would take the implant. “I said well, 50 percent is better than nothing, so I took the chance.” Within days Wagner knew the breast that had been radiated six years ago wasn’t going to take. It wasn’t healing which left Wagner vulnerable to infection. “They had to take it out and that began a year that started in January with the mastectomy and five surgeries later in December.” Wagner experienced horrible infections and was on heavy antibiotics most of they year. One day into a visit with her sis-
ter in Boston, Wagner had to spend the night in a hospital and undergo emergency surgery to drain fluid that had built up in the infected breast. Her blood pressure was so low that she nearly died. “I really was at death’s door a couple times that year,” she said. In what Wagner describes as her wipeout year, 2007 was full of surgeries for the infected breast, unexpected chemotherapy treatments because of tests results listing Wagner as high risk for getting the same cancer again in 10 years and hyperbaric oxygen therapy where for three hours a day, five days a week for eight weeks, she lay in a glass tube in attempts to heal her right breast. This time the chemo cocktail was different, and she experienced every side effect in the book. “You get whisked away into the medical system again and that’s where I was.” “I kind of collapsed, and this time I didn’t go right back to my life.” Wagner used the time to be more introspective and focused on herself. She picked up the journal she had abandoned the day she lost her hair with the first diagnosis and started writing in it again. She hasn’t stopped since. “You don’t get many second chances, and this was a huge wake up call for me,” she said. Wagner said she had overwhelming support from her husband, family, friends and coworkers. “They just stepped up in every way, every possible way,” she said. At the end of 2007, after her treatments were completed, a final implant was put into her left breast, but Wagner left the troubled right breast alone. “We just said we’re leaving that breast alone, so no implant, no nothing. We’re done.” Wagner said that if she knew then what she knew now, she’s
not sure she would have tried to get implants right away. Wagner said the radiation had far more damaging impacts than she expected it would. “If the breast were left alone, then it would have been fine. But we didn’t leave it alone, we opened it up and tried to do stuff with it, and it wasn’t okay with that.” But Wagner said she has no regrets. “I was a pretty informed patient, and I have absolutely no regrets on any of my decisions. You make your decision that’s the best for you at that time.” That harrowing year changed Wagner’s life, in a good way, she said. “It changed my priorities in my life. It taught me what was important, that every day’s a gift and that I had not one chance but two at this life.” “This part of my journey has lead me to the rest of my life so it’s all connected.” Wagner has been actively involved in Poudre Valley Health System’s Engage in Life campaign that is raising money for a new comprehensive cancer center in Fort Collins. Being involved with the cancer center and helping get it off the ground “is going to be the next half of my life,” she said. “We’re making progress and it’s something that I have a huge passion for and a huge commitment to, because if I can do anything to help one cancer patient have a more comfortable journey, I’m going to do it because it’s daunting. You’re never ready for it, you’re never sure that you’re going to survive it and it’s never over when it’s over either.” Wagner said the new comprehensive cancer treatment will allow cancer patients to enter a one-stop shop for their treatments and appointments. She said the new cancer center will offer complimentary therapies like acupuncture and yoga. There will also be a teaching kitchen and a garden.
Wagner also serves as cochairperson of the Survivorship Advisory Committee working with a group of about 35 people to offer insight into the PVHS cancer program offerings and and input regarding the design and implementation of the new cancer center. Wagner said breast cancer changed her life for the better, and that she is living her best life since cancer. “ I know what’s important, and you know I’m truly blessed to have gone through the experience and survived it.” Wagner said anxiety might be in her DNA for the month of October, because it is the anniversary of both diagnosis and the month that all follow up appointments fall. But earlier this month, Wagner’s six month check-up results gave her the free and clear, something she is very happy about. People tell Wagner she’s courageous, but she said it’s about working through each day. “One moment, one breath at a time, that’s how you survive this, because there’s days you don’t think you can even do that. There’s days that I couldn’t get off the couch, that I couldn’t walk to the end of the driveway, and then I walked 60 miles and after my second one I walked 39 miles in the Avon walk in summit county.” Between the two breast cancer walks, Wagner raised $20,000 for breast cancer, the 7th highest pledger in the state. Wagner said she wasn’t ready to reconstruct the right breast in 2007. “I couldn’t imagine another surgery or sacrificing another part of my body for a breast.” But things change. “I wasn’t ready two years ago, three years ago, even a year ago.” But she’s ready and she’s back, she said. “You just want to feel whole again.”
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
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Ask Dr. H
Reduce HCA levels when grilling
Q
uestion: A friend of mine told me that if I add dried ground cherries to the ground beef, it’ll greatly reduce the level of HCAs — cancer-causing compounds formed while barbequing. Is that really true? Answer: E. coli bacteria and salmonella aren’t the only health concerns from grilling beef and chicken. Research from the National Cancer Institute, as well as from several universities here and abroad, have pointed out that cooking beef, chicken or fish at a high temperature creates chemicals known as “heterocyclic amines,“ or HCAs. HCAs are
indeed associated with a higher risk of breast, colon, pancreatic and stomach cancers. These HCAs aren’t present in uncooked meats; they’re created when muscle protein reacts to the high temperatures of a grill. Other sources of protein like eggs, tofu or milk don’t produce much HCAs at all. Cooking at lower temperatures with oven roasting, baking, microwaving or broiling keeps the formation of HCAs to a minimum. While HCAs appear to be unsafe when consumed regularly, no one knows precisely what is a safe level of exposure. Remember, grilling is something that’s been enjoyed since the time of prehistoric cavemen. It’s going to take a lot of research before accurate
guidelines can be established. Currently, no federal agency monitors HCA content. The only evidence that cherries can reduce the level of HCAs in ground beef (by as much as 90 percent) is based on research conducted at Michigan State University. They substituted dried ground cherries for 11.5 percent of the ground beef. They postulate that the antioxidants in cherries suppress HCA formation. Other fruits probably can provide equivalent anti-oxidant protection, including ground dried blueberries, raisins and prunes. The cherries’ antioxidants even helped to keep ground beef fresher, with fruitburgers showing 50-65 percent less oxidation after four days in the refrigerator
than the fruit-free burgers. Researchers at Kansas State University found that adding rosemary extract to marinade lowered HCA levels by 30-100 percent. Basil, sage, marjoram, mint, garlic and oregano also lower HCA formation. Other suggestions include: 1) Avoid eating charred edges; they’re high in HCAs; 2) Partially cook meat in the microwave to significantly reduce the HCAs formed; 3) Use aluminum foil with holes poked for draining fat to reduce the amount of smoke; 4) Don’t grill every day; 5) Trim excess fat before cooking; 6) Mix the contents of a 400 IU vitamin E capsule into the ground beef before cooking to greatly lower HCAs formed; and 7) Marinade meat, chicken and fish
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 17 more). What matters most is whether or not you’re rested upon awakening. The two types of insomnia you’re describing are “initial” and “middle” insomnia. The reasons for having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep are several. It may be due to stress/anxiety; depression; medical problems like arthritis pain, heart disease or sleep apnea; negative conditioning such that your body has developed a habit where you can’t get to sleep or you awaken nightly at 3:30 a.m.; too much caffeine or alcohol in the evening hours; drugs like steroids, asthma inhalers, nicotine, decongestants, or illicit drugs like cocaine; and restless legs syndrome. It’s important to search for any underlying cause so that it can be dealt with. Treating depression will most certainly help sleep. Job-related anxiety may respond well to exercise (e.g.- home treadmill) shortly before bedtime. Restless legs
syndrome may respond to a hot tub/bath before bed and/or a leg massage. Arthritis pain that can be controlled with pain relievers will greatly help sleep. Congestive heart failure or emphysema may respond to nighttime supplemental oxygen. If you can’t fall asleep within 15 minutes or so, get out of bed and don’t return until you think you’re able to fall asleep. If you still can’t fall asleep, get out of bed and repeat this
until you can fall asleep quickly. Don’t use the bed for watching TV, reading or paying the bills. Avoid naps; if you’re tired during the day, you’ll sleep better at night. Sleeping pills are best used for short periods to retrain the body back into a healthier sleep pattern. An excellent book on sleep is “All I Want Is A Good Night’s Sleep,” by Sonia Ancoli-Israel, Ph.D.
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before cooking to lower HCAs. Question: Why can’t I sleep seven or eight hours a night? If I awaken, it may be four-six hours before I can fall back to sleep. I’m not having any pains that can keep me up. Some nights, I feel sleepy but can’t fall asleep at all. Answer: Sleep isn’t just seven or eight hours of wasted time. It’s your body’s chance to heal itself- not just physically, but mentally. When we don’t get enough sleep, everything gradually unravels. Our ability to fight and prevent infections are some of the obvious benefits. But if we don’t get enough good quality sleep, areas like mood, concentration, and problem-solving ability suffer. Drivers with a sleep disturbance are dangerous. Not everyone needs seveneight hours of sleep a night. Some folks need as little as four-five hours of sleep; others need 9-10 hours of sleep (or
or email: kevin.dunnigan@investmentcenters.com www.helpwithmyinvestments.com Investment Centers of America, Inc. (ICA) member FINRA, SIPC and a registered Broker Dealer, is not affiliated with Home State Bank. Securities and insurance products offered through ICA and affiliated insurance agencies are *not insured by the FDIC or any other Federal Government agency *not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by any bank or their affiliates *subject to risks including the possible loss of principal amount invested.
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
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Destination: Healthy
Move beyond weight loss plateaus Amanda Wicker Destination: Healthy
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ating right and tracking my food: Check. Consistent exercise: Check. Daily vitamins: Check. And then it hit — the dreaded plateau. The place where nothing changes even though you are doing all the things that worked before. No one is immune to this place including athletes, fitness models, trainers or even regular people. No matter who you are, plateaus can be a major motivation killer. Our body has an amazing ability to adapt. When we first make a change to our diet or increase our fitness, it is a shock to the body and it responds with weight loss and muscle gain. As time passes our body adjusts to those changes and becomes normal to the body. So that just means it is time to change it up again. The key is not to get discouraged. One of the best things my trainer helped me understand is that plateaus are normal. It is not a sign that I am doing something wrong, but merely part of the journey. How I respond determines the outcome. Don’t let a plateau kill the momentum you have built, change it up and keep going. HOW TO PUSH PAST PLATEAUS: • Change up your workout. Increase your strength training, intensity, the number of days you work out or hire a trainer. • Make sure you are getting enough protein in your diet. • Check your food journal for hidden calories like drinks, dressings or portion sizes. •Make a new goal to keep you motivated Amanda Wicker is a Loveland native and the founder of Destination: Healthy, a free weight loss support group held at Message of Life Ministries on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. She also hosts Destination Healthy, a segment on NOCO 5 News every Monday Night at 10 p.m. Amanda has lost a total of 130 pounds using diet and exercise. She can be reached at destinationhealthy@gmail.com or www.mydestinationhealthy.com
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 19
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The Healthy Plate
Nutritious Casserole Cheesy turkey casserole packs a nutritious punch Jim Romanoff The Associated Press
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f youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to lose weight, filling up on fiber and low-calorie liquids are key. Low-fat soups for example, especially varieties that are loaded with nutrientrich vegetables, are an excellent way to go. They are both filling and low in calories. Vegetables, besides being loaded with vitamins and minerals, primarily consist of water and fiber, which help to curb hunger. And if you add grains such as rice or whole-wheat pasta, you get lots of soluble dietary fiber, which have been shown to be appetite-satisfying, while also helping the body maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Low-fat proteins, such as white-meat chicken and turkey, tofu, low-fat cheese and yogurt, also help to fill you up. Beans and other legumes, such as lentils, are an excellent source of both rib-sticking protein and fiber. This cheesy baked lentils, rice and turkey casserole is a heartwarming comfort dish that contains a little bit of all these foods. Lean, ground turkey and rice are combined with canned lentil soup, which in the twist of a can opener provides protein, fiber and flavor to this dish. The recipe calls for fresh spinach, but sauteed Swiss chard or broccoli could be substituted.
AP photo
CHEESY BAKED LENTILS, RICE AND TURKEY CASSEROLE Start to finish: 1 hour 5 minutes (20 minutes active) Servings: 4 Ingredients: 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil 8 ounces turkey breast, cut into bite-size cubes 1 small yellow onion, chopped 19-ounce can lentil soup 5-ounce package fresh spinach (about 2 cups packed) 3 /4 cup converted (parboiled) brown rice 1 /2 teaspoon dried thyme 1 /2 teaspoon salt 1 /4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 /4 cup water 1 /2 cup grated reduced-fat Swiss cheese 1 /2 cup grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. In a large skillet over medium-high, heat the oil. Add the turkey and onions and saute until the turkey is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and saute for another minute. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Add the soup, rice, thyme, salt, pepper and water. Stir to combine. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes, or until the rice has absorbed all the liquid. Uncover and sprinkle with both cheeses. Bake for another 5 minutes, or until the cheeses have melted. Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 321 calories; 33 calories from fat (10 percent of total calories); 4 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 32 mg cholesterol; 43 g carbohydrate; 29 g protein; 5 g fiber; 620 mg sodium.
Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
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brand-new FDA-approved medicines that can augment your current antidepressant. Banov discusses what to do if you’re not fully responding, how to know when you need another medicine and whether it’s safe to busting facts in a switch. Finally, he comprehensive delves into a little disnew resource by cussed topic: stopnoted psychiatrist ping antidepressants Dr. Michael Banov safely. Do a self-test called “Taking Anthat helps you detertidepressants: mine if you’re a good Your Comprehencandidate for tapersive Guide to ing off medications, Starting, Staying and discover right On, and Safely Quitting” (Sunand wrong reasons to stop anrise River Press, $16.95). tidepressants, how to safely ta“Taking Antidepressants” is a one-stop resource that offers the per off and how to manage chalmost reliable, balanced and cur- lenges posed by your taper schedule and coming off multirent information to date about depression and the newest, most ple psychiatric medications. Far from being a dry medical effective ways to manage it. reference, “Taking AntidepresBanov explains the causes and symptoms of depression and the sants” presents the latest facts about managing depression full range of medications and through the stories of four peononmedical treatments for the ple we come to know and relate condition — including the new trend of using multiple medica- to, each suffering from some tions to treat depression, and type of depression but whose at-
Book Review
“Taking Antidepressants” covers new ground Patricia Gale McClatchey-Tribune
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any people believe that once you start taking antidepressants, you have to take them for life. After all, if they “correct” a chemical imbalance in your brain, it logically follows that stopping the medication will only deliver you back to your original moodimbalanced state, right? Wrong. New scientific research shows that, when prescribed correctly, antidepressants not only relieve symptoms of depression, but they can actually reverse the underlying conditions in the brain that are causing the mood disorder — particularly when the depression is diagnosed and treated early. This is one of the many myth-
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titudes and treatment choices differ widely. Readers learn there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for this complex mental health condition. A resource section at the end of the book includes helpful tools, such as a self-test for bipolar disorder, one for depression, a mood diary template and a self-assessment to see if you’re ready to taper off antidepressants. “Taking Antidepressants” is an invaluable reference for patients, family members, caregivers and health care professionals who want the latest research-based information about antidepressant therapy. Banov neither promotes nor discourages the use of antidepressant medication, but gives the facts so individuals can determine a course that’s best for them. Banov is a Harvard-trained, triple board-certified adult, adolescent and addiction psychiatrist who specializes in depression and other mood disorders. You can find out more about him at www.takingantidepressants.com.
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 21
SCOUNTS LEEP
BIG Getting a good night’s rest is paramount to your well-being
Leslie Barker Garcia The Dallas Morning News
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lose to midnight, when I probably should have been sleeping, I was instead trying to figure out my heart-rate zones. They’re a way of maximizing workouts, and I wanted to get mine right. But I just couldn’t, even though a few hours earlier I thought I understood the concept just fine. I sent an e-mail to my running partner, who sent me back a formula. But it still didn’t register with me. So I went to bed, flustered at my ignorance. The next morning, I woke up refreshed with the formula on my mind. The formula which, I might add, now made perfect sense. Such is the beauty of sleep. “Sleep is an important restorative function for our entire body,” said Dr. Won Lee, medical director of the sleep and breathing disorder center at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. “It allows the body to rest, the brain to rest, and to help improve neuro-cognitive function during the daytime. “It’s an essential part of existence for humans.” But we (especially we Americans) tend to take pride in not sleeping. After all, there’s so much else to do, so many other ways to spend our time. Twentyfour seven, we can watch TV, talk to friends, surf the internet, pay bills, buy stuff. “If you go back 100 years, we slept much closer to 10 hours a night,” said Dr. Jay Harvey. As medical director of North Texas Sleep Lab and a staff neurologist at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, he studies the relationship between sleep and epilepsy. “Now it’s closer to six or seven.”
When we’re short on time, sleep tends to go by the wayside. Without it, we’re more prone to a host of problems both physical and emotional. With enough of it, we’re healthier and, quite frankly, much nicer to be around. Whether we’re snoozing or not, sleep affects us 24 hours a day. Here’s how, along with advice on coping with sleep issues.
7 A.M. Getting up early isn’t fun for kids or their parents. To ensure good sleep, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time. Yes, even on weekends. 9 A.M. Time to reap the benefits of a good night’s sleep: In research studies at the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory in California, wellrested athletes reported significant improvements in such drills as sprints, hitting accuracy in tennis, and quicker turn-times while swimming laps. 11 A.M. Lack of sleep affects your general health, day in and day out: People who average less than five hours of sleep a night have an increased mortality rate
from all causes by about 15 percent. In a University of Chicago study, those who slept averaged five or fewer hours had 4.5 times the normal risk of heart disease. You’re even more likely to catch a cold if you’re not sleeping enough.
3 P.M. A nap can revive you and catch up on sleep you may have missed the night before. A NASA study, as cited by the National Sleep Foundation, found that a 40-minute nap improved performance of sleepy military pilots and astronauts by 34 percent. One caution, though: If you have chronic insomnia, napping during the day could make it worse. 5 P.M. If you meet a friend for coffee after work, make yours decaf. “Most people are affected by it,” Harvey said. “It should be turned off in late afternoon, early evening.” That’s because caffeine — think chocolate, tea, energy drinks as well as coffee — stays in your system six hours or so. If you tend to go to bed around 10 p.m., Harvey recommends stopping caffeine consumption around 6 p.m.
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
8 P.M. If you’re going to exercise, do it by now. Though exercise can help you get a good night’s sleep, doing it too close to bedtime could instead end up keeping you awake. “You drive body temperature up when you exercise,” said Harvey. “A natural part of sleep is your body temperature going down, so it’s counterintuitive if you exercise too late.”
thing relaxing like listening to calm music, or reading something that’s boring. Don’t exercise or turn on the TV; it’ll activate your mind and keep you awake. When you get sleepy again, go back to the bedroom and fall asleep. “If your mom told you to drink warm milk to fall asleep, that’s fine,” he said. “I don’t know of any research to support that though.” The American Academy of Sleep Medicine said this about other natural 9 P.M. remedies: “There is only limited scientific Remember when you were a kid, the evidence to show that herbal supplebedtime ritual of brushing your teeth and ments are effective sleep aids. Because hearing a story? It helped you sleep then, these products may be marketed and and it’s still a good idea. sold without FDA approval and may in“The sleep environment must be one volve dangerous side effects or adverse that invites sleep and not other activities; drug reactions, they should be taken ona cool, quiet and darkened room with a ly if approved by a physician.” comfortable and support mattress is typically the best setting,” Harvey said. 5 A.M. A hot bath or shower might be temptIf you’re a shift worker and just got ing, but hold off, he said. It raises the home, Dr. Sonya Merrill of Medical City body temperature and thus might be Dallas Hospital offers these thoughts. counterproductive to a good night’s “Shift work may impair the worker’s sleep. ability to sleep, as well as to stay alert and perform effectively at work,” said 11 P.M. Close your textbook. You might think Merrill, medical director of The Sleep you’re better off studying for that test to- Center at the hospital. “Bright light expomorrow. But your brain needs a chance sure during the night shift facilitates wakefulness. Conversely, in the morning to process what you’ve learned. “It’s been shown sleep itself helps with mem- after the shift, workers should wear dark ory consolidation,” Lee said. “That’s why we recommend that it’s better to get a good night’s sleep than stay up all night.”
MIDNIGHT You’re driving home from vacation, long after the sun has set. The kids are asleep in the back seat and you’d give anything just to curl up next to them. But no, you need to drive. What’s two more hours? What you really should do is just pony up for one more night at a motel. Otherwise, you’re putting yourself and others in danger. “Studies have been done on healthy volunteers who are deprived of sleep and given an attention test,” Harvey said. “Sleep deprivation approaches levels of being intoxicated.” If you close your eyes for even five seconds while driving 60 miles per hour, you’ll go about the length of two football fields. A lot can happen during that brief period, he said. 3 A.M. If you just woke up and can’t get back to sleep, Lee has some suggestions: Don’t stay in bed for more than 20 minutes. Go to another room and do some-
glasses and avoid bright light.” The National Sleep Foundation also suggests using light-blocking curtains or drapes, wearing ear plugs and an eye mask, and keeping the same sleep schedule (even on weekends).
MORE SLEEP TIPS Dr. Won Lee, medical director of the Sleep and Breathing Disorder Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, sleep hygiene is imperative for a good night’s sleep. Here’s what he means by that: • Use your bed only for sleeping and sex. “It’s not a place to read or watch TV or eat. That leads you to associate the bed with thoughts outside of sleep. What we want you to do is associate bed with where you’ll rest.” • Avoid alcohol before bedtime. Sure, it may help you go to sleep, but it disrupts the second part of your night. “As you’re metabolizing it, you go through a brief state of withdrawal, which results in disruption.” • Be proactive if you tend to wake up in the middle of the night. “Jot down stressors on a notepad and try to get them out of your mind before you go to bed.”
Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 23
Immunization safe with egg allergy William Culver, M.D. Paid Advertorial
swelling; difficulty breathing and collapse. These reactions occur at less than one per million immunizations. ar too many people fail to get Mild local reactions, fever, and other protective immunizations beminor symptoms after vaccinations occause of a history of egg allergy. cur often and are not a contraindication While these to subsequent doses or an indication of recommendaallergy. tions were apThe MMR (measles and mumps vacpropriate many cines) and one type of rabies vaccine years ago, recontain negligible or no egg protein, cent studies and can be safely administered to egg show that alallergic individuals. Egg protein is premost all individsent in higher amounts in Yellow fever, uals with a hisand influenza vaccines contain tiny tory of egg alamounts of egg protein that may cause lergy can be reactions in severe egg-allergic patients. safely immuAt times, these immunizations may be nized. given safely using split doses to obWilliam Culver, M.D. serve any potential reaction to the As most indismaller first dose. viduals with an egg allergy in childhood outgrow their Recent studies have shown that 830 sensitivity, a very few will retain the confirmed egg allergic patients safely most severe symptoms with egg expo- received the influenza vaccine with 1 sure. These severe symptoms may inpercent having only mild reactions. Anclude total body hives, redness and other 3,600 other children with report-
F
ed egg allergy experienced no severe reactions to immunization. For patients with suspected or bonafide egg allergy, immunizations may be inaccurately limited. Such immunizations have proven to be life saving and effective in reducing the spread of common illnesses. That is the reason for recommendation of universal influenza immunization for those older than six months. An immunized population is minimally susceptible to the disease to which they are immunized. Therefore, individuals with a history of non-life threatening egg allergy should and can be safely immunized to influenza and other diseases despite what they may have been told by medical authorities in the past. Those with serious reactions to egg products can most often be immunized after consultation with an allergist. Dr. William Culver is an allergist at Banner Healthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aspen Medical Center â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Allergy with locations in Loveland and Fort Collins.
HL-320421
Want to begin your career in the health care profession?
AT HOME CAREGIVER Want more skills to continue to be the caregiver? Class size is limited! Class schedule and apply on-line at: www.columbinehealth.com
Personal Care Provider/Worker Training Program at our Geriatric Education Centre For details call:
970-492-6230
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
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Health in a Handbasket
It’s time to paint your face and throw war batteries right at your fear’s stupid mouth Jade Cody Special Sections Editor
I
t’s October, let’s talk fear. I’ll start. I’m scared of ghosts. Not in a weird “I own a dream catcher” kind of way, but in a “night lights are OK by me” way. Here’s why: As a child, arrowheads dotted the landscape of my family’s 4thgeneration Colorado farm, which obviously could only mean centuries of deceased native American ghosts were and still are out for my soul. Almost every night it seemed, I was having nightmares of being chased by black figures on war horses, and I’d wake up to something or someone touching my back and my neck, but every time I looked up, nobody was there. We all enjoy a good back rub, but haunting spirits are always so obsessed with your soul — so annoying. Around age 10, I was fed up, and I took action. After an awful nightmare the night prior, the next day I sliced the palm of my hand with a knife and smeared blood on my
face as war paint. Dramatic, yes. But effective. I was going to war with my ghosts. I packed a war backpack with weapons such as batteries that I pretended were bombs, plastic guns and snacks (thanks mom). I might have been 10, but I was ready to face my fear, in my own silly pretend war kind of way. Twenty years later, there are no more ghosts. I know now that fear is a basic element of human existence, and it helps us escape from dangerous situations such as man-eating cave bears and marriage. Everybody is afraid of something. Death, airplanes, outie belly buttons ... the list goes on infinitely. According to some useless site I stumbled upon online, the top three most common human fears are as follows: 1. Spiders 2. Snakes 3. Heights Normal people probably don’t put blood on their faces and jump across rooftops to deal with their fear of heights. I get that. But maybe they should. I’m willing to bet that
Health in a Handbasket is a monthly feature in which I try a health-related adventure and write about it. If you have an idea for a new adventure, write to me at jcody@reporter-herald.com.
Health in a Handbasket
ThinkStock photo
When hiding from your fears, never, ever forget to cover your trailer in camoflauge netting. Big rookie mistake. the 10-year-old inside all of us is saying “put on your war backpack and do it ... and then eat that sandwich mom made you.” Personally, my three biggest fears in life are public speaking, wasps and getting cancer. I have come to terms with my public speaking disability by doing all of my public speaking in private now. I’m still a pansy with wasps, and I am half-convinced they are in cahoots with those ghosts of mine. And cancer. As a 31-yearold male, I am probably still young enough to avoid prostate cancer and some of the other cancers related to older age, but I think it’s a good idea to be aware of my risks and do what I can on the preventative side of things anyway. Not saying I’m going to enthusiastically hop up on the table for a prostate exam every six months, but when the time comes, I’ll bite down on a piece of rope and go through with it. I also need to watch for oral cancer. Some readers might remember when I quit chewing tobacco a couple years back. Well, I fell off the wagon last year and had to quit again. I recently had some pain in my neck and went to the doctor. If you’re wondering, the answer is yes, my medical charts officially now say “pain
in neck,” which I think is fantastic. Anyway, it didn’t turn out to be cancer, but it was enough to scare me into reaching out for help with quitting. I got a prescription for a pill called Chantix, which is a smoking cessation drug that is supposed to help ease the withdrawal from nicotine. After a few nights under a blanket, rocking back and forth on the couch like Rain Man, I quit. My war backpack included sunflower seeds, gum, a supportive girlfriend and Chantix. The Chantix drug actually kept my brain from feeling the warm fuzzies from nicotine by attaching to the nicotine receptors in my brain. It also provided a faux dopamine release that helped with the withdrawal symptoms (which can include sobbing, thinking seriously about making toast in the bathtub and yelling at kittens/small children). Since October is breast cancer month, I would like to encourage everyone, males and females, to be proactive with their fears. Whether it’s breast cancer, prostate, testicular, outie belly button cancer, pain in the neck cancer ... whatever, just do self-examinations and visit your doctor regularly. I’ll even make you a sandwich to put in your war backpack.
Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010 25
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Health Line Calendar
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS Poudre Valley Health System offers free Bright Beginnings materials for all families in Larimer County with children birth to 36 months of age. Materials cover growth and development, health and safety, and information on community resources. These materials can be obtained through a home visit or by attending a class. Registration is required. Call 4957528 to register or to learn more about the programs. Program A for birth to 12 months •11:15 a.m. on November 15 at McKee Medical Center •Noon on November 16 at Medical Center of the Rockies Program B for 12-24 months •9 a.m. on November 8 at Medical Center of the Rockies Program C for 24-36 months •10 a.m. on November 8 & 13 at Medical Center of the Rockies
COPD (CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE) This seven-session multidisciplinary education series helps with the management of COPD. The team reviews the respiratory system, how it works, what has gone wrong and how you can conserve energy and decrease shortness of breath. Anyone who has COPD, emphysema or bronchitis is encouraged to attend along with family and/or significant others. When: 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Oct. 26. Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Cost: No charge Contact: (970) 635-4138
DIABETES INFORMATION GROUP An informational/educational meeting for anyone touched by diabetes who wants to learn and share. There will be a different subject matter for each meeting. Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Cost: No charge. No regBREAST FEEDING SUPPORT GROUP istration needed. When: 10-11 a.m. MonContact: 970-203-6550 day, Wednesday and Frifor more information and day topics. Cost: Free HEART FAILURE EDUCAContact: 970-669-9355 TIONAL SERIES 2010
subject to change without notice. When: 3:30-5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month Where: McKee Medical Center in the Wellness and Conference Center Cost: No charge. Contact: McKee Medical Center Care Coordination at 970-635-4138. Upcoming dates: Nov. 9 Topic: Stress Management/Coping/Advanced Life Care Planning with Guest Speakers Paulette Jackson, RN, Bruce Rippe, Chaplain, /Linda Davidson, LCSW CAREGIVER’S SUPPORT GROUP For caregivers of cancer patients. When: Call 970-6354129 for times and locations. GENERAL CANCER SUPPORT GROUP When: 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays. Where: McKee Cancer Center lobby. Contact: 970-635-4129
Contact: 970-635-4129 MAN TO MAN PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP When: 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month. Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Contact: 970-622-1961 for more information. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT For caregivers of elderly adults. The group focuses on providing support and education about community resources and behavior issues, particularly for people with Alzheimer's and memory impairment. When: 1:30-3:30 p.m. on third Thursday of the month Where: First Christian Church, 2000 N. Lincoln Ave. Cost: No charge. Contact: 970-669-7069
WORLDWIDE CANDLE LIGHTING VIGIL This ceremony takes place around the world to recognize and honor children who have died. More than 200 family members BREAST CANCER SUPPORT and friends from Loveland GROUP and surrounding commuWhen: Second Thursday nities attend. of each month from 5:30- 7 When: 6:30 p.m. on p.m. Dec. 12 Where: McKee Cancer Where: McKee Medical Center lobby. Center Contact: 622-1961 THE SEASONS CLUB BLOOD PRESSURE The goal of the Heart SCREENING Failure Educational Series The Seasons Club at McHave your blood presSOULPLAY ART THERAPY is to offer people with Kee Medical Center strives sure checked by a Wellness Heart Failure (and their People whose lives are to enhance the quality of Specialist. When: 8 a.m.touched by cancer experi- life for mature adults family and friends) infor4:30 p.m., Monday through mation, resources and sup- ence the benefits of exthrough health promotion, Thursday; 8 a.m.-noon on port. We focus on manage- pressing themselves education and recreation. Friday ment of Heart Failure. The through art. No art experi- To learn more about SeaWhere: McKee Wellness series is open to members ence needed. sons Club activities, call Services, 1805 E. 18th St. When: 9:45-11:45 a.m. of the community who 970-635-4097 or visit Suite 6, Loveland on Wednesdays want to learn more about www.bannerhealth.com Cost: No charge Heart Failure. There is no Where: McKee Cancer Keyword: McKee Seasons need to register. Topics are Center Conference Room Contact: 970-635-4056 Club.
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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado October 21, 2010
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Health Line Briefs
HUNT JOINS ORTHOPEDIC & SPINE CENTER
For holistic family medicine, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here for you Dr. Pamela (Horstmeyer) Levine is now taking patients. Dr. Levine offers holistic medicine for the entire family. Special interests include:
Dr. Nathan Hunt has joined the Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies as a podiatrist caring for patients with foot and ankle condiNathan Hunt tions and injuries, including those who have diabetes-related problems such as recent or chronic wounds. Hunt is a native of Fort Collins who is returning here to establish his practice. He is seeing patients at OCR after moving here from Scott & White Hospital at the Texas A&M School of Medicine, where he completed a two-year research and patient care fellowship in diabetes and wound care. For more information, call 970-419-7050 or 800-722-7441.
ASPEN MEDICAL CENTER WELCOMES NEW INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST
acupuncture
To make an appointment, call 970.392.4752.
! 2500 Rocky Mountain Avenue Loveland, CO 80538
Banner Medical Group announces the addition of an internal medicine specialist, Julia Cuervo, M.D., at Aspen Medical Center Internal Medicine, 2923 Ginnala Drive, in Julia Cuervo Loveland. Cuervo was born in Texas. She spent four years in the Air Force as an Internal Medicine physician at Ehrling Bergquist Military Treatment Facility, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. She speaks English and Spanish and looks forward to treating all aspects of adult health care. For more information, call 970-6696660.
PATHWAYS HOSPICE RECEIVES GRANT
970.203.7180 www.greeleymedclinic.com HL-320229
Pathways Hospice was honored to be selected as the recipient of a $20,000 Daniels Fund grant to support its mission of
providing compassionate, excellent, comprehensive care for those who have an advanced medical condition and those who are grieving. For more information, visit www.daniels fund.org. For more information about Pathways Hospice, call 970.663.3500 or visit www.pathways-care.org.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains announced its partnership with Rocky Mountain CARES. PPRM and RMC will collaborate to heighten awareness around public health issues with an emphasis on HIV through education, advocacy work and by providing high quality health care in keeping with the organizationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mutual commitment to public health. A joint venture is planned for Worlds AIDS Day on Dec. 1 to raise awareness about the importance of education, testing, and the availability of accurate, timely information on HIV/AIDS research as well as long-term treatment options at the community level.
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIST TO EXPLORE HEART RHYTHMS DURING DINNER A cardiologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders will provide updates to guests at a Dinner with a Cardiologist at McKee Medical Center on Nov. 9. Dr. Arnold Arnold Pfahnl Pfahnl is an electrophysiologist with the CardioVascular Institute of North Colorado. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and Dr. Pfahnlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. The event takes place at the McKee Conference and Wellness Center, 2000 Boise Ave. Tickets are $12 per person. Pre-registration is requested by Nov. 3. Call 970635-4053.
Ask a friend.
85 percent of patients say they would “definitely” recommend Medical Center of the Rockies. That’s higher than any other hospital in Loveland and Greeley, according to a government survey. Is it the world-class care, the dedicated and compassionate staff, or the state-of-the-art facility? Simple. All of the above. But don’t take our word for it. Ask a friend about Medical Center of the Rockies. Source: www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov
2500 Rocky Mountain Avenue Loveland, CO
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I-25 and Highway 34
pvhs.org
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970.624.2500