Get Healthy

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Oncology report

AT THE

FOREFRONT Immunotherapy and targeted, customized treatments to fight cancer growing in Region

Mind OVER

malady

Using yoga, Reiki and meditation to improve the mental well-being of cancer patients

early fall 2017

A Survivor’s STORY

Early intervention, minimally invasive surgery the answer for woman with lung cancer

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contents

early fall 2017

4 Editors’ notes 6Hot Topics 8 your health

These health facts may surprise you.

Men’s: The latest in treatment and diagnosis of prostate cancer Women’s: Mammography goes 3-D, gets more reliable Seniors: Shining a Blue Light on subtle bladder cancer

11 the medical report Porter medical oncologist uses immunotherapy in lung cancer fight

Lentils can add a colorful, protein-packed boost to your menu

14 the fit life

Sports medicine specialist offers head’s up advice about concussion

16 families on the go

Calorie counts matter for children but not at the expense of proper nutrition

18

sound mind

Yoga, Reiki, meditation sessions get to the heart of mental aspect of fighting cancer

20 before & after

2418 16

feature package With tools and treatments that rival those used in Chicago medical centers, Region oncologists are making great strides in the fight against cancer

Lung cancer survivor is a testament to early screening, advanced surgical procedures

27 your best friend

Surgery, chemo, radiation offer hope for pets, too

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY V. MARTIN

12 on the table

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editors’ notes

A T

‌ fter reading the latest On the Table story, all I can say is: A I’m hungry for lentils.

The article brought back memories of my mom’s lentil soup, so hearty and warmth-inducing. I just never knew the legumes were so healthy.

I’ve always loved lentils. I’d eat them more if I could come up with meal ideas involving the superfood.

This edition of Get Healthy has some suggestions for preparing dishes with lentils, including salads, sides and meat substitutes.

And that’s exactly what we hope our little magazine can do for you: give you practical ideas for living a healthy life.

-Giles Bruce, Get Healthy co-editor

NWI.COM/GETHEALTHY

Oncology report

AT THE

FOREFRONT Immunotherapy and targeted, customized treatments to fight cancer growing in Region

Mind OVER

malady

Using yoga, Reiki and meditation to improve the mental well-being of cancer patients

A Survivor’s STORY

PUBLISHER

Christopher T. White CO-EDITORS

Giles Bruce Mary Jane Grandinetti DESIGN DIRECTOR

Mary Garrison April Burford

ON THE COVER Immunotherapy, as practiced by the Porter Physician Group, uses drugs to unlock the patient’s immune system to fight cancer.

Photo by Tony V. Martin

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Jane Ammeson, Karyn Brodsky, Christine Bryant, Julie Dean Kessler, Mark Loehrke, Bob Moulesong, Carrie Rodovich, Carrie Steinweg, Amanda Wilson VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

Joe Battistoni ADVERTISING OPERATIONS MANAGER

Eric Horon SALES LEAD

Andrea Walczak PUBLISHED BY LEE ENTERPRISES The Times of Northwest Indiana Niche Productions Division 601 W 45th Ave, Munster, Indiana 46321 219.933.3200 2080 N Main St, Crown Point, Indiana 46307 219.662.5300 1111 Glendale Blvd, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 219.462.5151 Copyright, Reprints and Permissions: You must have permission before reproducing material from Get Healthy magazine.

Early intervention, minimally invasive surgery the answer for woman with lung cancer

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VOLUME 11, ISSUE 13

DESIGNER

The veterinarian was concerned after examining a needle biopsy of a growth on the Jack Russell mix who had followed me home from the shelter three years ago. Though the doctor was reassuring — she has dealt with these tumors frequently and they generally are no big deal — the talk of quick removal and margins said this could be serious. Ladybug had surgery the following week. The pathology report confirmed it was a malignant mast-cell tumor, but it had not spread. Case closed, except for copious rubs and inspections in case this sometimes pesky tumor returns. Score another victory for early detection and quick action.

A cancer diagnosis in a loved one, human or pet, gives one pause. But this edition of Get Healthy is all about progress in treating this often devastating disease. The Region is brimming with the latest tools to find and treat cancers — from prostate to bladder to lung to canine and feline — and medical pros dedicated to using them.

So read, be vigilant and act.

-Mary Jane Grandinetti, Get Healthy co-editor

Healthy

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Get Healthy magazine is published six times each year by Lee Enterprises, The Times of Northwest Indiana, Niche Division, 601 W 45th

Follow Get Healthy on Facebook (facebook.com/GetHealthyNWI) and on Twitter at @GetHealthyNWI.

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topics

CHRISTINE BRYANT

money If happiness is your goal, researchers say you might want to consider spending money to save time.

A new study suggests that money spent on chores like housecleaning may reduce stress about the limited time in the day and allow a person to outsource disliked tasks.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Women with cancer skipping genetic test

O

f the nearly 4 million U.S. women who have had breast or ovarian cancer, at least 1.5 million have a high incidence of carrying genetic mutations that increase their risk for cancer in the future.

Though a simple blood or saliva test can identify these mutations, more than 80 percent of women do not take the test or discuss it with a health provider.

Identifying the gene is not only important for choosing the appropriate therapy for the patient, it also recognizes children who should be advised to undergo specialized screenings.

Source: UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

SITTING RISKY FOR THE FRAIL Though it’s widely known too much sitting is not good for your health, a new study does not link a sedentary lifestyle to early death in people who are generally healthy.

However, for inactive middle-age and older people with multiple health problems, it may increase risk of death.

TOP HEALTH CONCERNS PARENTS HAVE FOR THEIR KIDS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Bullying/cyberbullying (61%) Not enough exercise (60%) Unhealthy eating (57%) Drug abuse (56%)

Internet safety (55%)

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Child abuse and neglect (53%)

Suicide (45%) Depression (44%) Teen pregnancy (43%) Stress (43%)

Source: C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan

Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal

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SHOUT OUT FOR HIGH SCHOOL BFFS

S

till in contact with an old high school friend?

A new study shows keeping in touch with your teenage best friend could be good for your long-term mental health. The study found that teenagers age 15 to 16 who had a close friendship had a greater sense of self-worth by the time they were 25.

Those who kept up with that person were less likely to experience depression and social anxiety.

Source: Child Development Journal

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MEN’S HEALTH

Treatment advances Men diagnosed with prostate cancer, particularly early, find more options CARRIE RODOVICH

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According to the American Cancer Society: • African-American men have a 70 percent higher risk for prostate cancer than non-Hispanic Caucasian men.

• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. About 161,360 new cases are estimated to be diagnosed in 2017, with about 26,730 deaths.

• About one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Surgery technicians prepare the DaVinci Xi system for treating cancer at Community Hospital.

surveillance. This might be someone who is diagnosed at an advanced age.”

Other treatment options might include hormone therapy, immunotherapy, radiation and chemotherapy.

For those patients whose doctors recommend surgery, that procedure also has changed.

Open surgery was a customary treatment option for prostate cancer until 2005, said Dr. Hassan Alsheik, a urologist on staff at Community Hospital in Munster and St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago.

“For 100 years, the treatment for prostate cancer didn’t change at all,” he said. “Now, we use roboticassisted (surgery) to go into the body through a small port with a small camera and use robotic arms to conduct the procedure.”

There are many advantages to this type of surgery, including a shorter hospitalization, quicker recovery process and less trauma to the body, including less blood loss and the preservation of body functions.

Braik acknowledged that a diagnosis of prostate cancer was more serious decades ago than it is today.

“Cancer patients are living longer, and prostate cancer is becoming a chronic disease thanks to new treatment options,” he said. “It does not have to be something that is going to kill you.”

• About 7,250 men in Illinois and 3,510 men in Indiana will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.

• Prostate cancer develops mainly in older men and is rare before age 40. The average age at the time of diagnosis is 66.

• Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind lung cancer and colorectal cancer.

• About 2.9 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive.

• From 1975-1977, the 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer was 68 percent. Today, it’s about 99 percent.

Source: American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figures

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PHOTO COURTESY OF COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

I

n the last 10 or 15 years, treatment for prostate cancer has changed dramatically, going from traditional surgery to robotic surgery to no treatment at all.

Prostate cancer is uncommon in men younger than 50, but it becomes more prevalent as men age, said Dr. Robert Woodburn, radiation oncologist at Methodist Hospitals Oncology Institute.

Though there are no symptoms specifically associated with early-stage prostate cancer, some indicators can include difficulty urinating and bleeding and pain when urinating, he said.

“Some of these symptoms can also be associated with benign enlargement of the prostate and benign prostatic hypertrophy,” he said. “That’s why it’s important to be screened with a PSA blood test and a medical exam.”

He recommends men have a conversation with their primary care doctor about when to first be screened for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancers, with almost 181,000 men diagnosed with it in 2016 alone, said Dr. Tareq Braik, a medical oncologist in Valparaiso with Porter Health Care System. For reasons unknown to doctors, African-American men are at a higher risk than Caucasian men.

There is no way to prevent prostate cancer; the best way to treat it is to catch it early, before symptoms start.

“The screening process may help you catch it when it’s very small, before it causes problems or spreads and goes to the bone,” Braik said. “Typically, you should start at age 50 if you have no family history and don’t have any risk factors for the disease.”

If you have a positive diagnosis, there are several options for treatment. Older patients diagnosed with early-stage cancer may opt for a “wait-and-see” approach.

“There’s no one treatment option that fits all,” Braik said. “Some prostate cancer patients have a cancer that is growing so slowly that they might practice active

ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER

WOMEN’S HEALTH

3-D mammography Community Healthcare leads the way on early breast cancer detection JANE AMMESON

TIMES FILE PHOTO

U

sing some of the most advanced diagnostic technologies available to help in the fight against women’s reproductive cancers, Community Healthcare System can identify cancers in their earliest stages when the chances for successful treatment are greatest.

“One of the most current technologies that we’re offering is breast tomosynthesis or 3-D mammography, which is capable of identifying very small cancers at very early stages,” says Suzanne Ruiz, a registered nurse, nurse practitioner and supervisor of the Women’s Diagnostic Center of Community Healthcare System. “It’s one of the latest and greatest mammographies.”

Using high-powered computing capable of converting digital breast images into a stack of very thin layers, tomosynthesis builds a three-dimensional mammogram that is easier to read. Traditional mammograms show only a flat image of complex breast tissue, while 3-D mammograms allow radiologists to view breast tissue one millimeter at a time, making fine details much more visible.

Just like a conventional mammogram, a 3-D mammogram is conducted by a technologist who positions a woman’s breast on the machine and takes images from several angles.

The procedure time is approximately the same as well.

Tomosynthesis also reduces the need for follow-up mammograms by 40 percent, and cuts the amount of radiation exposure.

The very low X-ray energy used in 3-D mammography is below the exposure guidelines of the American College of Radiology.

Recent clinical studies have concluded that 3-D mammography can detect 41 percent nwi.com/gethealthy

more invasive cancers at an early stage than the conventional 2-D mammography.

“Here at Community Healthcare System, we’re also taking part in EA1141, a national clinical trial for women with dense breasts,” Ruiz says of the trial to determine how well abbreviated breast MRI and digital tomosynthesis mammography work in detecting cancer in women with less fatty tissue in their breasts.

Dense breasts also have more gland and supportive tissue surrounding the mammary gland, all of which can make detecting cancers more difficult.

“It’s an exciting trial,” says Ruiz, a certified breast navigator, “and the information gathered from the first trial has been very informative.”

Dr. Janice Zunich, a geneticist and former director of the Genetics Center at Indiana University Northwest, is also part of Community Healthcare System’s reproductive cancer team.

Community Healthcare System offers the area’s only advanced positron emission mammography, a high-resolution scan capable of showing the location as well as the metabolic phase of a breast mass. This lets the physician view abnormalities as tiny as a grain of rice and differentiate between noncancerous and cancerous masses.

Accredited staff also can provide early detection in such areas as stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

“We offer a lot of options for early diagnosis, which is an essential part of successfully treating reproductive cancers,” Ruiz says.

Dr. Janice Zunich, medical geneticist in the Women’s Diagnostic Center of Community Hospital, talks about various advancements in cancer detection and treatment at the hospital’s Lights of Life tree lighting ceremony in 2013.

early fall 2017

9

SENIOR HEALTH

In the spotlight KARYN BRODSKY

W

hat goes through a person’s mind with a cancer diagnosis?

In addition to the feeling of shock and disbelief, myriad questions swirl, including, “Will the doctors get it all?”

In the case of superficial, nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer, the type found on the most superficial layers of the bladder lining, a new technique can significantly increase detection, especially of tumors that may be missed with conventional diagnostics.

Dr. Bruce Yalowitz, a urologist, chairman of surgery and subsection chief of urology at Community Hospital in Munster, is using this procedure in the Region.

Referred to as Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview, the technology makes superficial bladder tumors easier to see.

According to the American Bladder Cancer Society, the recurrence rate for superficial transitional cell cancer of the bladder is high, with more than 50 percent of patients having at least one recurrence within five years. Yalowitz says the overall recurrence rate, depending on the type of bladder tumor, can be 50 to 80 percent, making it the highest recurrence rate of any

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Dr. Bruce Yalowitz, urologist, chairman of Surgery and subsection chief of Urology at Community Hospital in Munster, with a Blue Light cystoscopy scan in which bladder tumors show up in bright pink.

cancer. Using this breakthrough technology, however, can improve these statistics.

Yalowitz first used CysView blue light technology at Community Hospital on Aug. 19, 2015. The technology was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in May 2010.

Superficial bladder cancer, most commonly found in smokers or people exposed to environmental carcinogens, typically presents itself through the passing of blood in the urine. Though bladder cancer is most frequently diagnosed among men ages 75 to 84, according to the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, it can occur in younger men and women.

Superficial bladder cancer

can be treated, says Yalowitz, by “shaving” it out, at times administering topical intravesical chemotherapy in the bladder and closely monitoring for recurrence with surveillance “looks” or cystoscopies in the office or hospital.

“It’s like a mosquito bite: If it’s superficial, you get rid of it. But remember, like a mosquito bite, you can get it again,” he cautions.

“Many superficial bladder tumors are recurrent. They can be life threatening, but are more often a nuisance due to their recurrent nature.”

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 79,000 cases of bladder cancer diagnosed in the U.S. this year and more than 16,000 deaths

from the disease.

If the physician suspects cancer, patients have an imaging study, such as a computerized tomography, to check for abnormalities in the kidneys, ureter (tube between the kidney and bladder) and bladder.

Next is a cystoscopy, which traditionally uses a small flexible telescope with a white light, to look through the urethra to examine the bladder. The Blue Light Cystoscopy procedure, performed under anesthesia in the physician’s office or at the hospital, uses the Cysview solution, administered one hour before the procedure, to make the tumor appear bright pink under the special blue filter on the cystoscope. Such tumors can be missed with the typical white light.

The Blue Light Cystoscopy procedure as well as the Cysview medication come with a price, however, and though both are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, they are not covered by Medicare. Yalowitz says the treatment at this time is optional, versus the standard of care, and is used on a case-by-case basis because of its high cost.

However, he notes, “When it’s helpful, the Cysview is unbelievable. I had a patient with a ureteral cancer who was having a surveillance cystoscopy and found 20 additional tumors that I would have otherwise missed with white light cystoscopy alone.” nwi.com/gethealthy

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Urologist shines Blue Light on subtle forms of bladder cancer

THE MEDICAL REPORT

Early screening emerges as a weapon in lung cancer battle

‌L

ung cancer remains screening with a low-dose CT the leading cause of scan is at least as effective in cancer death among preventing deaths as annual men and women in mammographies are for the United States. breast cancer.

Only 15 percent of Until the late 1990s, lung cancers are diagnosed treatment of advanced at the localized early stage, lung cancer followed a when treatment could straightforward regimen of markedly improve outcomes. various chemotherapies.

Dr. Tareq Braik But early detection is Nowadays, cancer possible. In 2011, the National immunotherapy is a Lung Screening Trial reported a 20 percent standard treatment option. It offers often the reduction in lung cancer deaths in high-risk only chance to live longer and better. And individuals screened by low-dose CT scan. many believe that this first wave of success This means annual lung screenings prevent with immunotherapy is just the beginning. one in five lung cancer deaths.

While chemotherapy directly destroys A key element in the conversation with cancer cells, cancer immunotherapy uses high-risk smokers and former smokers one’s own immune cells to fight them. In should be the fact that annual lung cancer lung cancer, this can be achieved by a class

of drugs called checkpoint inhibitors. These drugs can unleash the body’s own immune cells to attack the lung cancer cells.

New molecular technologies can quickly pinpoint the molecular and genetic changes in a tumor, which can let doctors select the best therapy for their patients.

In addition to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, other forms of treatment such as targeted therapy have proven to be very effective in certain types of lung cancer.

These advances in early lung cancer detection have dramatically improved patients’ quality of life and survival.

Board certified in medical oncology, hematology and internal medicine, Dr. Tareq Braik treats all types of cancer with a focus on breast, lung, gastrointestinal and prostate cancers as part of the Porter Physician Group. For more information, call 219-983-6260.

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CARRIE STEINWEG

Super

lentils Iron-rich, protein-packed legume can lower cholesterol, improve immune functions

A

member of the legume family, lentils are regarded by nutrition experts as a superfood.

According to Health magazine, black lentils are loaded with iron, and a 1-cup serving has nearly half the daily requirement of iron for women, along with high levels of soluble fiber, which can help lower cholesterol and improve immune function.

“Lentils are a great source of soluble fiber, protein and iron. When some of my patients complain that salads don’t fill them up, I suggest beans and lentils be added,” said Terri Sakelaris, a registered dietitian/ nutritionist and certified diabetes educator with Community Healthcare System. “The lentil is low on the glycemic index and helps prevent glucose from spiking quickly like many starches.”

The protein helps fill you up, so Sakelaris said it is a good food to add to your diet if you are aiming toward weight loss.

There are several types of lentils — green, brown, black and red — that also vary in size, taste and texture. Some hold their shape well while others disintegrate and are best suited for soups.

While lentils can be cooked and eaten without soaking, the soaking process may help make them easier to digest and reduce cooking time. Once cooked, they can be stored in the refrigerator for several days, making lentils a great make-ahead option to

INCREDIBLE EDIBLE LENTIL Kelly Devine Rickert, registered dietitian with Franciscan Alliance, offers these suggestions for adding lentils to your menus: • Precook lentils and keep them in the refrigerator as a protein source to substitute for meat once or twice a week.

• Add lentils to soups.

• Use as a side dish in place of rice or potatoes.

• Use in cold salads.

• Saute vegetables and add cooked lentils for a vegetarian skillet.

• Make a lentil dip by mashing with seasoning. Dip with crackers, pita bread or vegetables.

add to dishes. Lentils can also be purchased in a precooked state. Some grocery stores sell a steamed lentil that is ready to eat right out of the package.

“Legumes, like other beans, are high in soluble and insoluble fiber. They are also a good source of protein and B vitamins,” said Kelly Devine Rickert, a registered dietitian with Franciscan Alliance. “Fiber helps keep us full longer and also helps to decrease our bad cholesterol.”

Devine Rickert called legumes “nature’s power food” because they are low in fat, high in fiber, nutrient dense and give you an energy boost.

Knowing they are good for you is one thing, but incorporating them into your diet is another. If lentils are new to you, you might be a little intimidated by them.

“I love lentils since they are so versatile.

I rinse them and then cook as the package directs, but I don’t add salt to the water. It makes the lentils tough,” said Sakelaris. “I have cooked them and then stored them in

the refrigerator to use in salads. I place the cold lentils in a green leafy salad, mix with feta cheese, tomatoes and cucumber, then toss with a balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. It’s a great dish for the summer.”

Devine Rickert emphasized the ease of preparation — typically just rinse and boil.

She said to be sure to follow directions on the packaging, but that you can usually cook them in less than 30 minutes.

Using lentils in soup, for example, can boost the nutritional value and make a light soup more hearty. “My mother-in-law makes a fantastic lentil soup with spinach or greens and lemon,” said Sakelaris.

Besides using them in salads, soups or as a simple side dish, she said she has a patient who makes a dip using mashed lentils, spices, lemon and olive oil. “I have also seen recipes that use lentils for half of the meat in a lasagna recipe,” she said.

“Everyone seems to like quinoa, but for a change, use lentils,” she said. “Lentils have double the protein and fiber.”

10 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT LENTILS • Lentils are high in soluble fiber.

• A 1-cup serving of black lentils has about 8 milligrams of iron, almost half the daily requirement of 18 milligrams for women.

• A good source of folic acid and magnesium, lentils are a hearty healthy food.

• Consuming lentils can help reduce blood cholesterol.

• Lentils have almost no fat.

• Eating lentils can help stabilize blood sugar.

• Lentils are a good source of protein, making them a solid choice for vegetarians and vegans.

• As a high-fiber complex carbohydrate, lentils provide steady, slowburning energy.

• Lentils are low in calories.

• Lentils are versatile, tasty alone or in side dishes, soups, entrees and salads.

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Dr. Anthony Levenda with Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute examines an athlete for concussion.

Sports medicine doctor offers tips for dealing with concussion

T

AMANDA WILSON

he human body can withstand a lot of abuse, but even the most hardheaded child and mightiest athlete are vulnerable to concussion.

A concussion is more than just a simple hit to the head, explains Dr. Anthony Levenda, orthopedic surgeon with a specialty in sports medicine for Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute in Chesterton and team physician for Valparaiso University and Chesterton, Wheeler and Portage high schools.

“It’s trauma to the brain or, basically, a bruise on the brain, not just the bone.”

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It can be caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another event that jars or shakes the brain, according to WebMD. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recreational and sports activities lead to as many as 3.8 million concussions in the U.S. annually, with only 5 to 10 percent of those recognized and diagnosed. High school athletes sustain about 300,000 of them.

“When it comes to athletes, team doctors should have a low threshold of suspicion with concussion,” Levenda says, erring on the side of assuming a concussion when assessing the severity of a head injury. That goes for

athletes and nonathletes, especially because a concussion doesn’t always present with obvious symptoms such as loss of consciousness. “When an athlete has a head injury, we keep track of how the athlete is feeling. Football is the sport in which we watch it the most, but we also have a low threshold for head injuries in basketball, soccer, and baseball. Team doctors and coaches rely on the expertise of athletic trainers, who are well-trained in recognizing and treating concussions.”

If a concussion is suspected, athletic trainers report it to the coach and team physician so the athlete can be monitored and treated as needed. nwi.com/gethealthy

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY V. MARTIN, THE TIMES

Top of the head

CONCUSSION SIGNS Life is a series of hard knocks.

How do you know when that bump on the noggin requires medical attention?

SEE YOUR

“Selfie”

at Hartsfield Village

KNOW THE SIGNS One well-known sign of a possible concussion is a headache resulting from trauma to the head, especially the day after the injury.

Dr. Anthony Levenda, a concussion specialist, with Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute works with many athletic programs in the Region.

There’s tremendous pressure on kids and their parents to “tough it out” and stay in the game, but that can cloud what’s important.

Indiana law gives trainers the say on whether to sideline an athlete if concussion is suspected.

Levenda says, “We have to protect kids from themselves.

Sometimes when the trainer pulls kids, it takes the pressure off parents and kids.”

Those with concussion need to rest the brain as much as possible, which is not easy in the age of smartphones and electronic devices.

“Resting the brain is difficult, as it’s more than sleeping,” Levenda says. “It means no reading, no phones or iPads, and keeping the room dark.”

For students, teachers also need to be enlisted to delay school work and tests until the brain heals.

Depending on the severity of concussion, activities from reading to driving, work to athletics can be reintroduced slowly based on clearance from a doctor.

Because there is still much that isn’t understood about concussion, the risk must be weighed against the reward, Levenda says. In particular, repeated concussions can lead to memory loss and worse to an athlete who might want to stop playing the sport.

“You have to decide: Is the risk worth it?” he says. nwi.com/gethealthy

Lesser known signs of concussion may warrant a trip to the doctor’s office.

“Any sensory changes, like increased sensitivity to light, changes in vision, memory or mood changes — as in increased anger or aggression — point to a possible concussion,” says Dr. Anthony Levenda, orthopedic surgeon with a specialty in sports medicine for Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute in Chesterton.

Levenda recommends that moms and dads follow their instincts if they suspect their child has sustained a concussion. “Parents know their kids better than anyone else,” he says.

LISTEN TO YOUR GUT If you have even the smallest suspicion that there’s cause for concern, schedule a trip to your family doctor or visit an urgent care or concussion clinic. Levenda says extra caution is warranted when it comes to potential head injuries such as concussion. If in doubt, he says, “Don’t tough it out.”

SEEK IMMEDIATE CARE FOR SEVERE SYMPTOMS Any head injury that results in an abrupt, severe headache, vomiting, or loss of consciousness warrants an immediate visit to the emergency room, says Levenda. With severe concussion, hesitation can make things worse, even leading to death.

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NEW LEASE OPTION GET HEALTHY

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15

Calories count

Still, nutritionists point out that fat and carbs must figure into any healthy eating plan JULIE DEAN KESSLER

Y

ou try to feed your kids a healthy diet. Yet there are days when cooking at home just isn’t an option. That favorite fastfood place saves the day.

But it may not be saving calories. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that fast food has been associated with higher caloric intake and poorer diet quality in children and adolescents.

And “with both parents working outside the home and parents racing around to get kids to practices, a lot of families are doing fast food multiple times a week,” said Kelly Devine Rickert, a dietitian with Franciscan Alliance.

Match that with a report from the National Institutes of Health: French fry portions jumped from 210 calories to 610 over 20 years.

UH-OH. WHAT’S A PARENT TO DO? The answer comes from Northwest Indiana health professionals: Take notice and regain control. Fast food is still an option, as long as parents check calorie counts of menu items and control their children’s choices.

“A lot of people don’t have a clue how many calories there are in fast-food kids meals,” Devine Rickert said. “Many assume they’re healthy. But mac and cheese can come in at 460 calories.” That’s a third of the daily recommended calories for an average 4-year-old.

Keeping track of kids’ calories is “absolutely one of the most important things to avoid becoming overweight,” said Dr. Zuhair Alsakaji, a pediatrician with Community Healthcare System.

But what if your child insists on 16

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fries as a side? “Fries are OK, but make it once a week and make it a small fry,” Alsakaji said.

His suggestions: • Try salad instead of fries.

• Try to avoid fried foods; go for grilled instead.

• Avoid sweetened pop and other sugary drinks.

“Watch those free refills: If it’s pop, that’s a lot of calories.”

Said Devine Rickert: “Just say, ‘Let’s not do fries this time, let’s do fruit or yogurt or a vegetable.’” End of discussion. And if a child really won’t eat enough or only one item, she suggests meeting with a dietitian to make sure the child is getting enough vitamins.

KEEPING TRACK Discovering fast-food calories has become easier. The 2010 Affordable Care Act required all retail food establishments with 20 or more locations to list calories on their menus and menu boards, a rule that is not yet being enforced. However, many larger chains have already begun meeting that requirement, including McDonald’s, which has made nutritional information available for more than 35 years, said Andrea Abate, a McDonald’s spokeswoman based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Calorie counts have been posted on all U.S. McDonald’s menu boards since 2012.

“We believe it’s important to provide this information when consumers are making decisions,” Abate said. “Our customers also told us that they would like to see more nutritionally balanced choices in McDonald’s kids’ meals and we listened,” by offering a smaller fry, apple slices, fat-free yogurt, Cuties (in season), apple juice, and fat-free or 1 percent chocolate milk.

But overall nutrition is more important than just calories, Devine Rickert said. Alsakaji pointed out the need to know about fat and carbohydrates as well as the calorie count. In a February 2016 report in The New York Times, certified holistic health consultant Jessica Shepard explained that nutritional density and value are critical factors: “If the low-fat strawberry-banana smoothie at 260 calories is made with yogurt and gets its sugar largely from whole fruits, it has a much different nutritional profile than the 240-calorie lemonade.”

Many fast food places have online nutrition calculators for individual menu items.

“Even at fast food places, people should be able to choose wisely,” Alsakaji said. nwi.com/gethealthy

FOR YOUR INFORMATION Nutrition information for items popular with children at McDonald’s

REGULAR HAMBURGER

250 CALORIES • 8 grams total fat (12% daily value based on a 2,000-calorie diet) • 31 grams total carbs (10% DV) • 13 grams protein CALORIES FROM FAT: 70 • Saturated fat: 3 grams (16% DV) • Trans fat: 0 grams • Cholesterol: 30 milligrams (9% DV) • Sodium: 480 milligrams (20% DV) • Dietary fiber: 2 grams (6% DV) • Sugars: 6 grams • Vitamin A: 80 international unit (2% DV) • Vitamin C: 1 milligram (2% DV) • Calcium: 35 milligrams (4% DV) • Iron: 2.5 milligrams (15% DV)

REGULAR CHEESEBURGER

300 CALORIES • 12 grams total fat (18% DV) • 33 grams total carbs (11% DV) • 15 grams protein CALORIES FROM FAT: 100 • Saturated fat: 5 grams (27% DV) • Trans fat: 0.5 grams • Cholesterol: 40 milligrams (14% DV) • Sodium: 680 milligrams (28% DV) • Dietary fiber: 2 grams (8% DV) • Sugars: 7 grams • Vitamin A: 530 IU (10% DV) • Vitamin C: 1 milligram (2% DV) • Calcium: 100 milligrams (10% DV) • Iron: 2.5 milligrams (15% DV)

CHICKEN MCNUGGETS 4 PIECE

180 CALORIES • 11 grams total fat (16% DV) • 11 grams total carbs (4% DV) • 10 grams protein CALORIES FROM FAT: 100 • Saturated fat: 2 grams (9% DV) • Trans fat: 0 grams • Cholesterol: 30 milligrams (10% DV) • Sodium: 340 milligrams (14% DV) • Dietary fiber: 1 grams (3% DV) • Sugars: 0 grams • Vitamin A: 0 IU (0% DV) • Vitamin C: 1 milligram (2% DV) • Calcium: 6 milligrams (0% DV) • Iron: 0.5 milligrams (2% DV)

KID-SIZE FRIES

110 CALORIES • 5 grams total fat (8% DV) • 15 grams total carbs (5% DV) • 1 grams protein CALORIES FROM FAT: 50 • Saturated fat: 1 gram (4% DV) • Trans fat: 0 grams

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• Cholesterol: 0 milligram (0% DV) • Sodium: 80 milligrams (3% DV) • Dietary fiber: 1 gram (5% DV) • Sugars: 0 grams • Vitamin A: 0 IU (0% DV) • Vitamin C: 4 milligrams (6% DV) • Calcium: 6 milligrams (0% DV) • Iron: 0.5 milligram (2% DV)

Quality Rehab Care at Hartsfield Village

APPLE SLICES

15 CALORIES • 0 grams total fat (0% DV) • 4 grams total carbs (1% DV) • 0 grams protein CALORIES FROM FAT: 0 • Saturated fat: 0 grams (0% DV) • Trans fat: 0 grams • Cholesterol: 0 milligrams (0% DV) • Sodium: 0 milligrams (0% DV) • Dietary fiber: 0 grams (0% DV) • Sugars: 3 grams • Vitamin A: 0 IU (0% DV) • Vitamin C: 94 milligrams (160% DV) • Calcium: 20 milligrams (2% DV) • Iron: 0 milligram (0% DV)

CUTIES

35 CALORIES • 0 grams total fat (0% DV) • 8 grams total carbs (3% DV) • 0 grams protein CALORIES FROM FAT: 0 • Saturated fat: 0 grams (0% DV) • Trans fat: 0 grams • Cholesterol: 0 milligrams (0% DV) • Sodium: 0 milligrams (0% DV) • Dietary fiber: 0 grams (0% DV) • Sugars: 6 grams • Vitamin A: 0 IU (0% DV) • Vitamin C: 20 milligrams (35% DV) • Calcium: 15 milligrams (2% DV) • Iron: 0 milligrams (0% DV)

YOPLAIT GO-GURT LOW-FAT STRAWBERRY YOGURT

50 CALORIES • 0.5 gram total fat (1% DV) • 8 grams total carbs (3% DV) • 3 grams protein CALORIES FROM FAT: 5 • Saturated fat: 0 grams (2% DV) • Trans fat: 0 grams • Cholesterol: 5 milligrams (1% DV) • Sodium: 30 milligrams (1% DV) • Dietary fiber: 0 grams (0% DV) • Sugars: 6 grams • Vitamin A: 200 IU (4% DV) • Vitamin C: 0 milligrams (0% DV) • Calcium: 120 milligrams (10% DV) • Iron: 0 milligrams (0% DV) Source: www.mcdonalds.com

Our Rehabilitation Center is Joint Commission accredited with Post-Acute Care certification.

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keep

And try relaxation techniques for patients in cancer fight

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MARK LOERHKE

Andy Wichlinski is the yoga instructor at the Cancer Resource Centre in Munster.

18

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hile it certainly goes without saying that the greatest agonies wrought by cancer are of the physical variety, the psychological toll of dealing with the disease and its treatments — not to mention the fear and uncertainty they inspire — is just as heavy a burden for patients to bear. nwi.com/gethealthy

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY V. MARTIN

calm

Cancer patients participate in yoga at the Cancer Resource Centre in Munster.

Believing that a sound mind is crucial to the restoration of a sound body, the caregivers at the Cancer Resource Centre in Munster place as much emphasis on attending to the mental and emotional needs of cancer patients as they do their physical ones.

To that end, the centre offers sessions in yoga, meditation and Reiki, disciplines and activities that may not have a direct hand in fighting off the physical ravages of cancer but which can be as strong as any medicine or high-tech treatment for mental and emotional healing power.

“When the Centre first opened, we were looking to offer different mind-body healing therapies,” explained Mary Shields, administrator of the Community Cancer Research Foundation, which supports the Cancer Resource Centre. “Yoga was one of these therapies, as it is well known to help not nwi.com/gethealthy

only physically in a number of different ailments but also emotionally in helping with relaxation and stress reduction.

“As it turned out, Andy Wichlinski was already teaching yoga at Community Hospital Fitness Pointe and became the Centre’s first yoga instructor; 14 years later, Andy still conducts classes at the Centre.”

Wichlinski is one of several practitioners working with the Centre for more than a decade. In addition to yoga, the Centre also offers meditation and Reiki, and Pamela Kozy has guided hundreds of patients in these disciplines over the last 14 years as well.

“It has been such an honor and a privilege to work with the patients at the Cancer Resource Centre,” said Kozy, director of Heart in Hand natural health center in Highland.

“It’s an amazing place that provides support, encouragement and healing therapies that provide relaxation and calm to these patients’ lives.”

Kozy says these techniques have become increasingly popular as cancer patients and their families have come to better understand how important the mental aspect of cancer care is to the healing process. Meditation, for example, can restore a much-needed sense of peace for patients staring down a grueling schedule of treatments and procedures.

“Meditation increases awareness of the present moment, which helps to reduce stress and promote a calm and relaxed state of mind,” Kozy said. “Teaching someone how to

be in the moment, to relax, to calm their mind and body — whether for 5 minutes or 30 minutes — is a wonderful way to take a break from everyday life and find a quiet space to just sit and breathe, calm the mind and de-stress the body.”

Those goals of mental soundness and relaxation are also at the heart of Reiki, an ancient Japanese art of touch therapy designed to recharge, realign and rebalance a patient’s energy field. Though not as well known as yoga and meditation, Reiki has proven to be a great way for patients to manage pain and promote healing, Kozy says.

“Patients are more relaxed, and have reported decreased pain and an increase in circulation,” she explained. “Patients can learn to do Reiki on themselves, which can serve as a self-help tool that promotes balance, relaxation and overall well-being.”

No matter what type of relaxation therapy a patient chooses — yoga, meditation, Reiki or some other discipline — the key is to get into a better state of mind. While none of these practices will cure a patient’s cancer, Kozy and others believe that they can complement traditional medical treatments to help create an environment that promotes better healing and wellness.

“Doctors, nurses and caregivers have found that these techniques give patients an increased physical and emotional ability to cope,” she said.

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AN

early

WARNING For one patient, low-dose CT scan found lung cancer early, improved results

S

BOB MOULESONG

andy Roth, a nurse at Franciscan Health hospital in Crown Point, thought she had the flu.

“It was very early in 2017,” she said. “I was sick for about a week: light-headed, that overall feeling that something’s not right. Just trying to push

through it.”

Something was definitely not right.

She was with her daughter, also a nurse, when she passed out. A trip to the emergency room and subsequent tests discovered pulmonary embolism — blood clots in the left lung.

A CT scan found a mass in her upper left lung. The results of a PET scan raised the suspicion that the mass might be more than an infection.

That was when Roth met Dr. Eias Jweied, a Franciscan-affiliated cardiothoracic surgeon and member of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgical Associates.

“Dr. Jweied walked me through every step,” she said. “His bedside manner was incredible.

I was very nervous, but he kept me calm and focused.”

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Dr. Eias Jweied at St. Anthony Hospital in Crown Point is a hearty advocate for lung cancer screening.

Roth, 55, had stage-one lung cancer.

PHOTO BY TONY V. MARTIN

MANY AMERICANS HAVE HAD DISEASE In 2016, more than 224,000 cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in America. That represents 13 percent of all new cancer diagnoses. About 415,000 Americans alive have been diagnosed with lung cancer at some point in their lives.

However, those statistics do not mean lung cancer is a death sentence. Jweied touts advancements in early detection and treatment that promise to make lung cancer less lethal.

In Roth’s case, Jweied performed a lobectomy to remove the upper left lobe, one of two lobes in the left lung. The right has three.

The surrounding tissue and lymph nodes were tested, and all came back clean. Roth’s tumor was isolated.

“I did not need any follow-up chemo or radiation,” said Roth, who had started smoking as a teenager. “I quit for eight years, but …

“In six weeks, I was allowed to go back to work and resume a normal life. I just need follow-up CT scans every six months.”

Jweied calls early screening such as Roth’s vital. “If we can catch lung cancer early, in stage one (in which the lymph nodes are not affected), we have the chance to place 75 percent of our patients in remission,” he explained.

SCREENING CAN SAVE LIVES The screening, a low-dose CT scan of the lungs, can detect a tumor as small as 1 centimeter, about the size of a pea. And though there is great variability in the types of lung cancers, Jweied said most tumors that small have not spread to the lymph nodes or other organs.

“Lung cancer patients usually display no symptoms until the disease has advanced,” he said. “A few years ago, early detection wasn’t possible. That’s one main reason the death rate is so high.”

Researchers from the American Cancer Society have found that screening former and current smokers who fall within guideline recommendations (see accompanying box) could prevent 12,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. “If you are at risk, getting a screening (annually) is just as critical as a colonoscopy, a prostate exam, or a mammogram,” he said. nwi.com/gethealthy

Not all insurance plans will pay for a lung cancer screening. However, several local medical facilities offer the CT scan for less than $50.

NOT ALWAYS CANCER Even when a scan looks suspicious, Jweied reminds that not all “spots” are cancer.

“There are various lung infections that show up on a scan,” he explained. “They can be treated with medications.”

But when something shows up on a scan, a PET scan and needle biopsy follow. That scan looks for tumors in other areas of the body, while the biopsy checks for malignancy. A positive biopsy means treatment is necessary.

At this point, a team composed of a pulmonologist, oncologist and surgeon work together to determine the best course of treatment.

“If the tumor is small (less than 3 centimeters, which is about the size of a strawberry) and appears to be local, we frequently opt for a lobectomy,” Jweied

WHO’S AT RISK The guidelines from the American Cancer Society state the following: • Patients between the ages of 55 and 74 • Currently in fair or good health • Have a smoking history of 30 years • Smoked a pack a day or more • Currently smoke, or have quit within the past 15 years

said. “It’s a very different procedure than a complete lung removal. By not spreading or cutting the rib cage, we reduce the pain, hospital stay, and risk of infection. It’s still surgery, but much less drastic than past practices.”

Roth, the Crown Point nurse, realizes how blessed she is. “I have two beautiful grandchildren,” she said. “I get to be a part of their lives.”

“I am living proof of the importance of getting screened — literally,” she added.

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Dr. Jay Platt has served Northwest Indiana for over 25 years with quality oral surgery care. Choosing an oral surgeon is an important decision. Our team is composed of experienced professionals who are dedicated to your care. Dr. Platt attends 100 or more hours of Continuing Education per year and provides many Continuing Education seminars to the surrounding dental community often lecturing himself. Dr. Platt has extensive training and expertise in placing dental implants, preserving and rebuilding the jaw, and treating conditions that affect a person’s face, teeth and mouth structures. Dr. Platt has placed thousands of dental implants over the past 28 years - placing his first one in 1989. We have a state-of-the-art Cone Beam CT Scanner in our office which provides 3D images enabling us to better plan for patient care and treatment. We offer a no-cost consultation and a complimentary CT scan if necessary for patients who are treated by Dr. Platt.

Do You Need to Go to an Implant Center?

You have undoubtedly seen and heard t.v. and radio ads promoting implant centers which are springing up all over the country. Many of them are advertising the convenience of having everything under one roof: the surgeon, the prosthodontist, the dental lab and a CT scan. It is certainly convenient for the patients and the doctors providing treatment to have everything in one location; however, convenience should not be the primary consideration with implant treatment. The most important factors should be the experience of the treating clinicians, especially

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since surgical procedures are involved, so that each patient receives the optimal outcome. Some implant centers claim to be the leaders in implant dentistry and to have more experience than other clinicians. It is implied that because of the volume of implants placed and restored they are more experienced. However, the volume of implants placed in some cases is for all of their centers. The truth is that some of the doctors in these centers are very experienced and some are not any more experienced than their colleagues in the area. Some implant centers have general dentists placing and restoring

nwi.com/gethealthy

implants who do not have near the training or experience as specialists. It is important to remember that this “advertising” is intended to “sell” the benefits of those particular implant centers, and you should take this into consideration when evaluating your various options.

New Teeth in One Day??

We get many patients asking about the TV commercials and billboards that promise Teeth in A Day®. It is somewhat of a misleading statement. However, Dr. Platt, working with your dentist, can in some cases AFTER planning remove your teeth (if necessary), place implants and attach fixed teeth in one procedure. We are happy to see you to discuss and work with your dentist or refer you to one of our restorative colleagues.

No Need to Change Dentists!

Unlike some “one stop shop” dental implant centers that make you use their dentists; we work with you and your current dentist. We are very fortunate in that in Northwest Indiana and Northeastern Illinois, there are many outstanding restorative clinicians. Dr. Platt works with most of them on a regular basis. We would encourage you to seek treatment from your current dentist whom you have a long standing relationship with. If you do not currently have a dentist, we can refer you to one that we work with frequently.

Please feel free to contact our implant coordinator, Monette, if you have any questions about treatment or to schedule a no-cost consultation.

322 Indianapolis Blvd.,• Suite 100 (Behind Steak N’ Shake) • Schererville, IN Interest Free Patient Financing Available

We Welcome neW patients

Mon.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. • Fri. 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

219•864•1133

www.jplattdds.com

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Dr. B.H. Barai at Methodist Hospitals meets with his patient Nilda Seuberling whose cancer responded well to targeted treatment and is in remission.

Sophisticated

arsenal

Region’s oncologists find success with latest weapons to fight cancer

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early fall 2017

GILES BRUCE

ive years ago, Nilda Seuberling said she had to talk herself into getting out of bed in the morning.

The Lake Station woman was tired all the time. Bruises

GET HEALTHY

covered her body. She couldn’t muster the energy to continue caring for her sick parents.

Her diagnosis: chronic myeloid leukemia.

Her doctor recommended target therapies, designed for her specific form of cancer.

She tried a couple of medications before she found one without unpleasant side effects.

Now, the 64-year-old retiree’s cancer is in remission. She can once again care for her mother (her father has since died).

“I now use my treadmill, do Pilates — stuff I couldn’t do before,” she said. “I feel more energized, more able to get up and do things.”

Seuberling is one of a number of Northwest nwi.com/gethealthy

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY V. MARTIN

Indiana residents who have benefited from local advances in cancer treatments in recent years. Oncologists say the cancer care in the Region often rivals that offered at university hospitals in Chicago.

“Twenty years ago, chronic myeloid leukemia used to kill everyone who had it within five years,” said Seuberling’s oncologist, Dr. B.H. Barai, medical director of the Methodist Hospitals Oncology Institute. “Now more than 90 percent survive a natural lifetime.”

As in Seuberling’s case, cancer treatment has become much more targeted and, in turn, the side effects have lessened.

“In cancer, we know what cells we want to kill,” Barai said. “But how do we differentiate between normal cells that we don’t want to harm and cancer cells we want to kill?”

Traditional chemotherapy and radiation often kill the good cells along with the bad ones, leading to ill effects, including early death.

The new approach, Barai said, is more like a “GPS guided bomb.” “You want to hit the particular building while causing minimal or no collateral damage,” he said. The new drugs are also much more lethal. Using another war analogy, Barai compared them to missiles with nuclear warheads.

Older drugs couldn’t be as lethal specifically because they weren’t as targeted, he said.

He expects cancer treatment to become more targeted, in the form of genomic editing, where immune cells would be genetically edited to kill cancer cells. He predicts the treatment will be in wide use in 20 years, transforming cancer care.

IMMUNOTHERAPY, TECHNOLOGY ADVANCE CARE Another promising advancement in cancer treatment is immunotherapy, where drugs stimulate the patient’s immune system to fight the cancer.

Dr. Janet Retseck, a medical oncologist with the Porter Physician Group, explained that cancer cells put the brakes on healthy immune functioning.

“What these drugs do is take these brakes off and allow the immune system to recognize cancer cells as something foreign or bad and destroy them,” she said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 nwi.com/gethealthy

BTreating Cancer We’re here for you, ...every step of the way!

“Twenty years ago, chronic myeloid leukemia used to kill everyone who had it within five years. Now more than 90 percent survive a natural lifetime.”

Dr. B.H. Barai, medical director of the Methodist Hospitals Oncology Institute

St. Mary Medical Center Cancer Care Center in Hobart offers one of the most advanced diagnostic tools available for cancer detection: the Siemens PET/CT. This revolutionary scanner combines two tests – the PET scan and the CT scan –to create remarkable high-definition images that detect the tiniest cancer lesions. Earlier detection can help doctors better target therapies to treat and beat cancer! This PET/CT operates at twice the speed, strength and clarity of traditional imaging. With a wider opening and shorter scan time, this scanner provides a more comfortable patient experience.

comhs.org/cancer Appointments are available Monday through Friday.

To schedule an appointment, please call 800-809-9828 or 219-947-6436 Dr. Barai GET HEALTHY

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She said immunotherapy has been most effective against melanoma and renal cell cancer but is expanding into breast, prostate, bladder, head and neck cancers.

“We’re all very excited about immunotherapy,” she said. “I’ve heard stories of people who had been ready for hospice, at the end, taking immunotherapy, and the cancer vanishing, being able to go back to regular daily activities. That’s why we do this.”

Cancer screening is also becoming more accurate. One advancement is 3-D mammograms.

“Those are good at unveiling cancers in breasts with dense tissue,” said Dr. Chadwick Mills, a diagnostic radiologist with Franciscan Health hospital in Crown Point.

He expects the diagnostics to continue to advance.

“Just in the time since I started medical school, I’ve seen the technology rapidly improve,” he said. “Do I think there’ll be a new technology that will replace mammography? I do.”

He predicts the next forefront in diagnostics will be molecular imaging, which provides detailed pictures at the molecular and cellular levels.

Medical Oncologist Dr. Janet Retseck MD at Porter Regional Hospital uses drug infusion treatments to help the body’s immune system stop cancer.

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INCREASED CUSTOMIZATION Cancer treatment is increasingly being customized to each patient.

Dr. Mohamad Kassar, an oncologist with Community Healthcare System, brought up the case of a middle-age woman with an aggressive form of breast cancer that had spread to her liver.

“She was very disturbed about her diagnosis,” he said.

She got a second opinion at a hospital that recommended palliative chemotherapy, predicting that she had no chance of living past Dr. Kassar a couple of years.

She went back to Kassar, who chose to be aggressive with dose-dense chemotherapy, which delivers chemo in shorter intervals than the traditional version, as well as beamdirected radiation. She is now in remission.

“We are getting smarter now in the way we treat cancer,” he said. “We are not going to provide the same recipe to everyone with cancer.” nwi.com/gethealthy

Next steps

Treatments grow along with diagnoses of cancer in pets CHRISTINE BRYANT

PHOTOS PROVIDED

W

hen Shaunna Sommers saw Rico’s picture online, she fell in love.

Who wouldn’t with Rico’s contagious smile and soulful eyes?

The New Carlisle resident had just lost her 11-year-old pitbull, Kapone, and sought comfort from another four-legged friend in need of a home. That’s when she came across Rico’s photo on the Michiana Humane Society’s website.

“It truly made me melt and made me feel more at peace with Kapone passing away,” she said. “I met Rico that afternoon and as soon as they let me have alone time with him and shut the door, I shed so many tears of happiness and joy. Rico made my heart feel at ease and put a genuine smile on my face.”

Her happiness turned to fear, however, when three months after she adopted Rico, she noticed a slight limp in his right front leg. Sommers suspected at first it was simply from roughhousing with her kids, but after the limp continued to come and go, she knew something was wrong.

“The third time it came back, it came back with a vengeance and it was excruciating for him, so I took him into the vet immediately,” she said. “They did an X-ray on the spot and diagnosed him that moment with osteosarcoma — bone cancer — in his paw and arm joint.”

The diagnosis would be a blow for any pet owner, but it was especially hard for Sommers, who had just lost Kapone to liver cancer.

It’s estimated that about 1 in 2 dogs, particularly those older than 10, and about 1 in 3 cats in the United States die of cancer, says Dr. Michael Childress, an associate professor of

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comparative oncology with the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Dogs and cats both get cancer with about the same frequency as humans do,” he said.

OCCURRENCE Most human cancers are carcinomas, tumors arising from the tissues that line the skin, respiratory tree, stomach, intestines and secretory glands — such as those in the breast or pancreas.

“Most cancers in dogs and cats, on the other hand, are sarcomas, tumors arising from the so-called connective tissues of the body, such as bone, muscle, blood and other supporting tissues that more or less hold the body together,” Childress said.

In dogs and cats that have not been spayed, mammary cancer — or breast cancer — is also extremely common, he said. However, because a high rate of dogs and cats are spayed in the United States, mammary cancer is less prevalent here than in other parts of the world.

Dr. Michael RISK FACTORS Childress Researchers haven’t determined what causes most pets’ cancer, though some risk factors have been identified, Childress said.

For example, the feline leukemia virus

increases the risk of lymphoma in Rico cats by a factor Sommers of about 60, an astronomical figure, he says.

Vaccinating cats at high risk for the virus, however, provides some protection.

Exposure to excessive ultraviolet light from the sun can cause dogs and cats to develop skin cancer, which is most common in pets with light skin and white or mostly white coats.

“The areas of the body typically affected are those with little hair coverage,” Childress said.

Other environmental factors that may increase the risk of certain cancers in dogs and cats include certain herbicides or lawn chemicals, asbestos, cigarette smoke and proximity to sources of urban air pollution or unregulated waste disposal, he said.

TREATMENT Cancer treatments for dogs and cats are similar to those used in humans. “Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy all play major roles in the treatment of pet cancers,” Childress said.

In Rico’s case, his veterinarian recommended immediate treatment, including a leg amputation up to the scapula and chemotherapy at Purdue. He finished his last treatment in February.

“The doctors gave him about a year to 400 days after the amputation and chemotherapy,” Sommers said. “He’s currently six months into that and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.”

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Don’t fall for thinking you need to live with gut discomfort!

Get back on track now!

Get in touch with Digestive Disease Centers

today!

Harsh, Dalal, MD, FACG

Navin Kumar, MD

Call Today!

Schedule an Appointment at One of Our Convenient Locations!

The specialist at Digestive Disease Centers bring their expertise and experience to patients throughout Northwest Indiana.

With offices in Merrillville, Highland, Dyer, Winfield, and Valparaiso, we are able to schedule patient appointments very quickly to assess your symptoms, recommended a testing/treatment plan or to simply provide digestive wellness screenings and check-ups.

Dr. Harsh Dalal and Dr. Navin Kumar are dedicated to providing the highest quality of compassionate care, placing emphasis on their patients’ comfort, privacy, and health concerns at all times.

COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE Digestive Disease Centers specialize in comprehensive care of all gastrointestinal and liver diseases with an array of testing and treatment services, including: • • • • •

Colon Cancer Screening Colon Polypectomy Upper Endoscopy Esophageal Dilation ERCP

• Video Capsule Endoscopy • Gastric Pacemaker • RFA for Barrett’s Esophagus • H-Pylori Bacteria Breath Test • Hepatitis Treatment

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU Call Today!

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HIGHLAND 9731 Prairie 219-922-4900 28

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MERRILLVILLE 5825 Broadway Suite B 219-981-9000

DYER 16000 W 101st Ave. 219-864-0101

WINFIELD 9150 109th Ave. Suite 2D 219-981-9000

VALPARAISO 1551 S. Sturdy Rd. 219-464-7200 nwi.com/gethealthy