Healthy
Living
Fall
2011
High-tech cancer care:
Local hospitals provide new technology to treat cancer A supplement to the Skagit Valley Herald and Anacortes American
2011
Fall
Healthy Living Table
of Contents
Signs and symptoms that might indicate cancer................ 3 High-tech cancer care......................................................... 4
pg. 4-7
Health Announcements....................................................... 8
High -tech Cancer Care
Classes & Workshops.......................................................... 9 Mediterranean diet may help fight breast cancer............. 10 Did you know?.................................................................. 11 Simple ways to reduce cancer risk.................................... 12 Secondhand smoke a killer to nonsmokers...................... 13 Can sunscreen be dangerous?......................................... 14 Origins of cancer not always known.................................. 15
Editor Bev Crichfield | bcrichfield@skagitpublishing.com Advertising Director Mark Dobie | mdobie@skagitpublishing.com Display Advertising Manager Deb Bundy | dbundy@skagitpublishing.com Advertising Operations Manager Sarah Hickman | shickman@skagitpublishing.com Photographers Scott Terrell | sterrell@skagitpublishing.com Jordan Stead | news@skagitpublishing.com
Advertising Consultants Stephanie Harper | sharper@skagitpublishing.com Marcus McCoy | mmccoy@skagitpublishing.com Michelle O’Donnell | modonnell@skagitpublishing.com Kathy Schultz | kschultz@skagitpublishing.com Katie Sundermeyer | ksundermeyer@skagitpublishing.com Paul Tinnon | ptinnon@skagitpublishing.com John Williams | jwilliams@skagitpublishing.com Linda Fahnlander | linda@skagitpublishing.com
Advertising Operations Christina Poisal Patricia Stowell SKAGIT PUBLISHING Abby Jackson 1215 Anderson Road Jenny Overman Mount Vernon, WA Dana Perry P: 360.424.3251 ©2010 Skagit Publishing Design & Layout Jody Hendrix
Mediterranean diet may help fight breast cancer pg. 10
On the cover:
Dawn Fucillo, United General Hospital’s oncology director, explains how the hospital’s particle accelerator focuses its beam to target cancer cells for radiation.
pg. 12
Simple ways to reduce cancer risk
Scott Terrell / Skagit Publishing
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Healthy Living | october 2011
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Signs and symptoms that might indicate cancer Cancer is a disease so complex that even the most veteran of cancer researchers cannot fully explain it. Progress toward the diagnosis and treatment of cancer continues to be made, but there’s still no telling if an individual will or won’t get this potentially deadly disease. One of the many things the medical community can say with certainty regarding cancer is that treatment is most effective when the cancer is found early. Melanoma skin cancer, for instance, can be easily removed if it’s detected early and has not grown into the skin. In fact, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent for those whose melanoma skin cancer is detected early enough to remove it. However, if that melanoma has already spread to other parts of the body by the time it’s detected, the five-year survival rate is below 20 percent. While the disparity between survival rates is not as severe for all cancers as it is for melanoma skin cancers, early detection is still imperative when it comes to beating
cancer. Part of the reason cancer is not always detected early is that it doesn’t always make its presence felt until it has already reached an advanced stage. Though the following signs and symptoms are not always indicative of cancer, their presence should be enough for adults to consult their physicians. • Fatigue: Extreme tiredness that does not improve even with ample rest could be a sign that cancer is growing. In certain cancers, including leukemia, this happens in the early stages. In addition, some colon or stomach cancers cause blood loss, which can result in fatigue. • Pain: Early on, bone cancers or testicular cancer often manifest themselves through pain. Back pain can be a symptom of ovarian cancer or cancer of the colon or rectum. Unfortunately, when pain is a result of cancer, the cancer has already begun to metastasize. • Unexplained weight loss: One of the first signs of cancer might be the
unexplained loss of 10 pounds or more. This is most common with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus or lung. • Skin changes: Cancers of the skin and other cancers can cause certain changes in the skin. Jaundice, when the skin and eyes turn a yellowish color, is one such change. The skin can also redden, itch or darken, a condition known as hyperpigmentation. Excessive hair growth on the skin is another skin change that might indicate the presence of cancer. • Fever: A common side effect of cancer, fever most often happens after the cancer has metastasized. Cancers that affect the immune system often cause fever as the body finds it more difficult to fight infection. In certain blood cancers, including leukemia or lymphoma, fever is an early sign of cancer. Should any of the aforementioned signs or symptoms appear, men and women should consult their physicians immediately. – Metro Creative Services
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High-tech cancer care:
Local hospitals provide new technology to treat cancer
Scott Terrell / Skagit Publishing Physicist Alex Cardenas maintains a linear accelerator at United General Hospital. Thanks to new advances in hardware and software, the device can manage treatments in one single rotation lasting about 45 seconds. Story by AARON BURKHALTER | Skagit Publishing
Red lasers criss-crossed a room at United General Hospital’s North Puget Cancer Center.
A large, gray machine towered to the ceiling. Craning over a bed, the linear accelerator
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Healthy Living | october 2011
beamed an abstract shape of light onto the table. The multi-leaf collimator uses little rods called “fingers” to shape the area of radiation specifically to each patient at multiple angles. The machine can rotate 360 degrees, snapping pictures and changing the shape of the beam as it rotates.
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“We don’t want to treat just who may already visit a doctor’s much as the speed at which it can squares and rectangles,” said office several times a week. be done. Dawn Fucillo, director of oncology “The basic treatment of how at United General Hospital. “We cancer works and how we treat “Technology is great for want to shape the beam to treat it has not changed in the last discovering what’s going the cancer.” decade,” Dalseg said. “When on, but when it comes It’s one of several pieces of it comes down to it, what we’re technology throughout Skagit putting in their bodies is poison.” down to it, we’re dealing County using the latest innovations With faster and more versatile with people.” to treat a variety of cancer cases. machines developed every year, - Rod Dalseg, Director of This accelerator and a similar it’s easier to pinpoint the cancer Imaging, Oncology and Food one at Skagit Valley Hospital in and determine the treatment. The Service at Island Hospital Mount Vernon can orbit a patient, treatment can happen at a faster pinpointing radiation therapy pace, too. to eliminate just the cancer cells Rod Dalseg, director of At Island Hospital, doctors and none of the important tissue imaging, oncology and food use a machine brought in surrounding them. service at Island Hospital, said the once a week that can manage With a software and emerging health care technologies multiple scanning and imaging hardware upgrade to the device have not changed the actual technologies, allowing for a more in Sedro-Woolley, a treatment that treatment of cancer in the area, as precise diagnosis. once took 40 minutes or more to complete can now take about 45 seconds. Before, the accelerator was positioned, the “fingers” created the shape needed for treatment and the radiation was turned on. Patients waited, strapped down, often wearing a hard mesh mask to hold their heads perfectly still. “If you’re someone who’s in a lot of pain or you’re claustrophobic, that could feel like forever,” Fucillo said. Now the accelerator rotates in a single, smooth orbit, reshaping itself and blasting Jordan Stead / Skagit Publishing Tug, an entirely automated medicine delivery robot, interacts with a patient at unwanted cancer cells as it Island Hospital in Anacortes. The robot glides between wings, delivering prescripgoes. tions and lab samples to and from the cancer center. That’s a big deal for patients www.goskagit.com
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october 2011 | Healthy Living
5
Jordan Stead / Skagit Publishing Community relations director Dennis Richards pauses to observe progress on a room at the new cancer center at Island Hospital in Anacortes, Wash.
Technology can’t replace an efficient, well-organized medical center. That’s why workers are building a new cancer treatment center designed “from scratch” at Island Hospital.
But Dalseg said some of the most helpful technologies make
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Healthy Living | october 2011
the system more efficient and keep nurses and doctors with the
patient as they’re in treatment. A robot named “Tug” helps there. Island Hospital’s current oncology department is in another building, away from the hospital’s labs and pharmacy, so this selfnavigating robot carts lab samples and prescriptions so the nurses can stay with patients. The device looks like something out of “Star Wars,” with a small, self-navigating pod at the bottom and a camera mounted three feet from the ground. The pod pulls a cart with locked drawers behind. The robot can stop when blocked, asks to be allowed through and will go around obstacles as needed. The technology looks cool and is helpful, but Dasleg said no technology can replace in-house efficiency and personal care.
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A room at the new cancer center is under construction at Island Hospital in Anacortes. Construction will be completed in December.
“Technology is great for discovering what’s going on, but when it comes down to it, we’re dealing with people,” Dalseg said. “Meeting their emotional needs is almost as important.” Patients with cancer are often coming to the hospital twice a week for medications that can cost $18,000 a dose. They can’t participate in their normal lives anymore and are trying to find time for their family and friends during rigorous treatment plans. That’s why the hospital is building a new oncology center that will streamline the service and be housed inside its own building. “We have a system that’s designed from scratch,” Dalseg said. That sounds like a dream come true to Fucillo. Asked if there were any new technologies on her wishlist for United General, she said “space.” www.goskagit.com
“There’s always some new technology. For the near future, we’re where we need to be,” Fucillo said, adding her real
concern — “It’s helping the patient with their experience.” • Aaron Burkhalter can be reached at 360-416-2141 or aburkhalter@ skagitpublishing.com.
October is
Breast CanCer awareness Month
Call to schedule your mammogram screening 360.428.7270 1320 East Division Street Mount Vernon, WA 98273 nwbreascarecenter.com Skagit Publishing
360.428.7270 888.371.2812 M-F 7am-5pm october 2011 | Healthy Living
7
2011
Upcoming Local Health Announcements
Fall
The Washington Poison Center is accepting entries until Jan. 6 for the 2012 Mr. Yuk Poster Contest, which is open to all children ages 6 to 12 in Washington state. The theme for the poison safety awareness posters is suggestions on how Mr. Yuk helps kids avoid being poisoned. The winning artist will receive a $500 gift card and the poster will be featured in the 2012 Poison Prevention Week campaign in March. For information or entry forms, visit www.wapc.org.
A Women’s Health Fair, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. IMAGINE 22, at United General Hospital, 2000 Hospital Drive, SedroWoolley. Learn more about women’s health with workshops, lunch, and a talk by keynote speaker Elaine Bernstein Partnow, a veteran actor and scholar who will introduce you to a list of outstanding women in history. $15 per person, includes lunch. For more information or to register: 360-856-7245 or www.unitedgeneral.org.
The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program in Skagit County, sponsored by United General Hospital, offers free individual counseling on Medicare and other health insurance to people of all ages. SHIBA appointments are available from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesdays, in Sedro-Woolley at 360-856-7298 or in Mount Vernon at 360-428-2345. For more information visit www. unitedgeneral.org.
Washington families needing KIDS’ financial assistance to pay for MEDICAL their child’s health care treatments, GRANTS services or equipment can seek help from the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation. Grants are available up to $5,000 to help pay for medical services and equipment, such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, counseling services, surgeries, prescriptions, wheelchairs, orthotics, eyeglasses and hearing aids. Children must be age 16 or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States and have a commercial health insurance plan. Parents or legal guardians may apply for grants at www.uhccf.org, which also accepts tax-deductible donations.
MR. YUK POSTER
HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING
Shriner’s Hospitals for Children will offer a free screening clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at United General Hospital’s North Puget Cancer Center, 2000 Hospital Drive, Sedro-Woolley, to identify children who may benefit from pediatric-orthopedic specialty care. A local physician will screen children, ages 0 to 18, from Skagit, Whatcom and Island counties for bone or joint injuries, sports injuries, cerebral palsy, scoliosis, hand or foot disorders and many other orthopedic conditions. Those identified for further evaluation will be referred to the Shriner’s Hospital in Spokane. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No appointments are necessary. For more information, call 360-675-1269. shriner’s orthopedic screening
With a special presentation of WOMEN’S “Keeping Tumors at Bay with HEALTH Vaccines,” by Dr. Nora Disis, LUNCHEON Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center researcher and University of Washington professor, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Nov. 17, at McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon. $15. To register or for more information: 360-814-2424, 360-629-6481 or www. skagitvalleyhospital.org/events. 8
Healthy Living | october 2011
The WIC Program at Skagit NUTRITION County Community Action has ASSISTANCE openings for eligible pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, and children under age 5. WIC free benefits include nutritious and fresh foods, health and nutrition information, breastfeeding support and assistance, and referral to other helpful programs. Breastfeeding moms and babies may qualify for extra benefits. Call 360-416-7595 to make an appointment.
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Classes & Workshops Begins at 9 a.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 27-28, at Island Hospital, 1211 24th St., Anacortes. 360-299-1309. Drivers age 55 and older who complete the senior driver refresher and safety course may qualify for a modest reduction in their automobile insurance. Classes in other locations will be offered in coming weeks, and an online course is available. For more information: www.aarp.org. DRIVER SAFETY CLASS
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation, 1717 S. 13th St. Students in grades 5 to 8 can learn the basics from American Red Cross experts to become a great babysitter. First aid and choking response are included. $60 resident, $62 nonresident. Preregistration required: 360-336-6215. BABYSITTING BASICS
7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the United Methodist Church, 1607 E. Division St., Mount Vernon. Dermatologist Andy Hines will discuss his recovery from mental illness in “Overcoming the Stigma: A Personal Story.” For more information about NAMI-Skagit education night: 360-588-8229. OVERCOME STIGMA
Combating Isolation and Finding Support, 7 p.m., the Mount Baker Room of Skagit Valley Hospital, 1415 E. Kincaid St., Mount Vernon. This 90-minute class for parents and caregivers of children with autism who wish to better understand this disorder. Includes a parental panel. Free. For information and to register: 360-814-2424 or www. skagitvalleyhospital.org/events. “AUTISM 211”
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Fall
Six sessions taught by professional, registered nurses who help you answer questions and gain confidence in your ability to parent, Dec. 6 through Jan. 10; Jan. 4 through Feb. 8; and Feb. 2 through March 8; in the Family Birth Center at Skagit Valley Hospital, 1415 E. Kincaid St., Mount Vernon. $110. For more information and to register: 360814-2424 or www. skagitvalleyhospital. org/events.
2011 CHILDBIRTH PREPARATION CLASS
For people with reduced kidney PRE-DIALYSIS function who want to explore EDUCATION treatment options for renal replacement therapy, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the Mount Baker Room at Skagit Valley Hospital, 1415 E. Kincaid St., Mount Vernon. For more information or to register: 360-416-5717 or www.skagitvalleyhospital.org/events. This three-session class includes MEDITATION breath awareness, mindfulness FOR EVERYtechniques and guided exercises, DAY LIVING from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 26-Nov. 9, at Island Hospital, 1211 24th St., Anacortes. $48. For more information or to register: 360-299-4204 or www.islandhospital.org. 9 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 1, at IMPROVING Island Hospital, 1211 24th St., YOUR AGING Anacortes. Join Island Hospital’s MEMORY speech-language pathologist, Alisha Kleindel, to learn strategies and activities to improve your memory and keep your mind sharp. To register: 360299-4204 or www.islandhospital.org. Come discover physical therapy URINARY interventions that can help you LEAKAGE if you’re having a tough time staying dry after childbirth, power walking or even sneezing from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 8, at Island Hospital, 1211 24th St., Anacortes. $10. To register: 360-299-4204.
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october 2011 | Healthy Living
9
Mediterranean diet
may help fight breast cancer New research suggests women looking to prevent breast cancer after menopause may want to consider dietary changes, including adopting Mediterranean eating habits, to reduce their risk.
Greek post-menopausal women who consumed foods typical of a Mediterranean diet were 22 percent less likely to develop breast cancer during the study than others, according to information published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Although the diet is not a cureall for breast cancer, researchers estimate that if all women in their study population had closely adhered to a traditional Mediterranean diet, about 10 percent of the 127 postmenopausal breast cancers in the group would have been avoided. It has long been believed that a Mediterranean diet has many positive 10
Healthy Living | october 2011
effects on personal health. Although studies have only been conducted on breast cancer thus far, there is also hopeful evidence that the diet may reduce the risk for other cancers, including colon and stomach cancer, as well as reduce the chances for heart disease. What Is a Mediterranean Diet? Nations in the Mediterranean region, including Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Spain, have historically had lower rates of heart disease and some cancers, including breast cancer, compared with other European countries and the United States. Researchers believe there is a correlation between the foods Mediterranean people eat and the rates of cancer and other illnesses. A traditional Mediterranean diet is rich in seafood, heart-healthy fish, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and olive oil. It is relatively low in dairy and red meat products. According to the Mayo Clinic, most if
not all major scientific organizations encourage healthy adults to adopt a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet to prevent major chronic diseases. Those who want to follow a Mediterranean diet can consider the following guidelines. • Base every meal on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, grains, olive oil, beans, nuts, legumes, seeds, herbs and spices. • Consume fish and seafood often, at least two times per week. • Enjoy moderate portions of poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt daily to weekly. • Reduce and limit consumption of meats and sweets. Experts say that if the Mediterranean diet does have a preventative nature toward breast cancer and other illnesses, it is likely due to the antioxidant components of the diet. The Mediterranean diet is rich in antioxidants, which protect cells from damage that may lead to diseases. The diet also helps to
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promote a health body weight, which is instrumental in keeping the body in top form and helping with immune system function. To get started on the path of healthy Mediterranean eating, enjoy this recipe for Eggplant Dip.
Eggplant Dip 1 medium eggplant 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt 1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped 1 small chile pepper, such as jalapeno, seeded and minced (optional) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 1 tablespoon finely chopped flat leaf parsley 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste 1/4 teaspoon salt Position oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source; preheat broiler. Line a baking pan with foil. Place eggplant in the pan and poke a few holes all over it to vent steam. Broil the eggplant, turning with tongs every 5 minutes, until the skin is charred and a knife inserted into the dense flesh near the stem goes in easily, 14 to 18 minutes. Cool on a cutting board until ready to handle. Put lemon juice in a medium bowl. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and scrape the flesh into the bowl, tossing with the lemon juice to help prevent discoloring. Add oil and stir with a fork until the oil is absorbed. (It should be a little chunky.) Stir in yogurt, onion, bell pepper, chile pepper (if using), basil, parsley, cayenne and salt. If the eggplant has a lot of seeds it may be bitter. Add a dash of salt to sweeten the dip. Serve with whole-wheat crackers, wedges of toasted pita, or fresh vegetable slices.
Did you know? Cancer is the name given to a group of more than 100 diseases. What these diseases have in common is the rapid growth of cells in a part of the body. In a healthy body, the cells grow, divide and eventually die in an orderly fashion. Young people’s cells divide faster, which allows them to grow. However, when a person has cancer, the cells start to grow out of control. Whereas normal cells would eventually die, cancer cells continue to grow and form new, abnormal cells that invade other tissues, something normal cells cannot do. DNA also plays a role in cancer. Each cell contains DNA that directs its action. This DNA can sometimes get damaged, but a normal cell can either repair that damage or the cell will simply die. In cancer cells, however, that DNA
is not repaired nor does the cell die. Instead, these cancer cells make new, unneeded cells, containing the same damaged DNA. Eventually, these cells can form a tumor. While the reason for the initial damage to the DNA is often unknown, sometimes the damage can be linked to certain behaviors, including cigarette smoking. When cancer cells form, they often travel to other parts of the body. When that happens, these cells can form new tumors that replace the body’s normal tissue. This process is known as metastasis. When detected early, before the cancer has metastasized, treatment is often successful. However, if the cancer has begun to spread to other parts of the body before it’s been diagnosed, the survival rates are significantly lower.
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11
Simple
ways to reduce cancer risk
Millions of people have had their lives touched by cancer. Whether dealing with their own diagnosis or that of a loved one, men and women often wonder what, if anything, they can do or could have done to prevent cancer from becoming a part of their lives. physicians about what constitutes a healthy While cancer risk depends on a host of consumption of alcohol. factors, some of which are beyond an indi• Be safe in the sun. Though a deep tan vidual’s control, there are certain preventamight look good, individuals must emphative measures men and women can take to size protecting their skin from the sun. Skin reduce their risk of cancer. cancer is the most common form of can• Stop smoking. The Canadian Cancer cer in the U.S., and exposure to the sun’s Society estimates that smoking is responultraviolet (UV) rays plays a significant role sible for 30 percent of all cancer deaths in in the development of skin cancer. When Canada. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that going out in the sun, apply sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor, or SPF, of smoking causes 90 percent of lung can15; wear loose fitting clothing and a proteccer deaths in men and nearly 80 percent tive hat, as many skin cancers happen on in women. However, within 10 years of the face and neck; and quitting, an ex-smoker’s always wear sunglasses, risk of dying from lung Reducing alcohol preferably those that cancer is cut in half consumption is one way provide UVA and UVB while the risk for other protection. cancers, including canmen and women can • Maintain a healthy cers of the mouth, throat, weight. Being overlarynx and cervix, reduce their cancer risk. weight or obese brings decreases as well. forth a host of potentially deadly side • Reduce alcohol consumption. In a effects, not the least of which is increasing study examining the relationship between a person’s risk for cancer. A report from the cancer and alcohol consumption, reNational Institutes of Health that examined searchers working with the World Health being overweight and obesity in men and Organization found that daily consumpwomen found that carrying excessive weight tion of roughly 50g, or less than two fluid ounces, of alcohol doubles or triples the risk substantially increases an adult’s risk of getting breast, colorectal, endometrial (uterine), for mouth, voice box and throat cancers and prostate cancers. Healthy weight varies compared with the risk in nondrinkers. Addepending on the individual, so men and ditional studies have shown a link between women concerned about their weight should alcohol consumption and cancers of the liver and colon. What’s more, no fewer than consult a physician about the best ways to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. 100 studies have found an increased risk More information is available at www. of breast cancer with increasing alcohol intake. Men and women should consult their cancer.ca or www.cancer.org.
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Healthy Living | october 2011
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Secondhand smoke a killer to nonsmokers
Most men and women who smoke tobacco are fully aware of the damage they might be doing to their bodies. In addition to increasing their risk for lung cancer, smoking can also increase a person’s risk for heart disease and other potentially deadly ailments. What those men and women might not know is the extent of the damage their smoking is doing to those around them. According to the American Cancer Society, secondhand smoke is responsible for 3,400 lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers each year. Gaining a better understanding of secondhand smoke might help smokers quit once and for all. What exactly is secondhand smoke? Also known as environmental tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke is actually a mixture of two forms of smoke that comes from burning tobacco. Smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe is known as sidestream smoke, while the smoke a smoker exhales is called mainstream smoke. Compared to mainstream smoke, sidestream smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing agents known as carcinogens. Sidestream smoke also contains smaller particles than mainstream smoke, making it easier for sidestream smoke to enter the body’s cells. Do nonsmokers take in nicotine from secondhand smoke? Nonsmokers who inhale secondhand smoke do take in nicotine in the process. A 1988 report from the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that nicotine is a drug that causes addiction and can cause a short-term increase in blood pressure, heart rate and the flow of blood from the heart. Because nonsmokers who take in secondhand smoke are taking in nicotine, they, too, are susceptible to the aforementioned side effects. In addition to taking in nicotine, nonsmokers around secondhand smoke are also taking in the thousands of other chemicals secondhand smoke contains. These chemicals include carbon monoxide, which is also found in automobile exhaust, and cadmium, a chemical element commonly used in batteries. Does secondhand smoke cause other kinds of diseases? Secondhand smoke is responsible for thousands of deaths each year in the U.S. www.goskagit.com
alone. But secondhand smoke does not only contribute to cancer. In fact, the ACS notes that secondhand smoke is responsible for an estimated 46,000 deaths from heart disease in nonsmokers who live with smokers. What many people find the most troubling figures associated with secondhand smoke is its impact on children, especially those younger than 18 months of age. The ACS estimates that each year secondhand smoke is responsible for 50,000 to 300,000 lung infections, including pneumonia and bronchitis, in children younger than 18. An additional 750,000 middle ear infections in children can be linked to secondhand smoke. Studies are ongoing into a possible link between secondhand smoke and breast cancer. Though research is ongoing, the ACS notes that chemicals from tobacco smoke reach breast tissue and have been found in breast milk. However, debate over a possible link between breast cancer and secondhand smoke continues for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that breast cancer risk has not been shown to increase among active smokers. Where does secondhand smoke pose a problem? Secondhand smoke is problematic anywhere someone is smoking or has smoked. In fact, the Canadian Cancer Society points out that cigarettes produce roughly 12 minutes of smoke, even though a smoker might only inhale 30 seconds of smoke from the cigarette. As the smoke lingers, even long after a smoker has disappeared, nonsmokers are left to breathe in that smoke. Smokers who recognize the potentially deadly side effects of their habit should be especially mindful of those side effects when lighting up. Smoking inside a home, for instance, is putting everyone in the home at heightened risk of a host of ailments. Children are especially sensitive to secondhand smoke, and the ACS notes that between 50 to 75 percent of children in the U.S. have detectable levels of cotinine, the breakdown product of nicotine, in their blood. Many public places, including New York City’s famed Central Park, have banned smoking, and smoking in the workplace is illegal in many countries. More information on secondhand smoke is available at www.cancer.org. Skagit Publishing
Need Help to Quit Smoking? Resources Abound Anyone who has ever attempted to quit smoking knows full well how difficult it can be. For those who need help, there are numerous resources that can help smokers quit this potentially deadly habit once and for all. Those resources include: • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc. gov/tobacco) • The American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org) • Nicotine Anonymous (www.nicotineanonymous.org) • Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov/ smokefree)
Smoke from a cigarette can linger in the air for as long as 12 minutes, leaving nonsmokers at risk even after smokers finish a cigarette.
october 2011 | Healthy Living
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Can sunscreen be
dangerous? For years doctors and skin cancer experts have been telling the public to apply sunscreen on a daily basis to protect against harmful exposure to ultraviolet rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation offers that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed annually. Health Canada states that skin cancer accounts for one-third of all new cases of cancer in Canada. But are the products we slather on our skin to protect against skin cancer doing any harm? As it turns out, most sunscreens themselves are not necessarily harmful. But the false sense of security that sunscreens provide might be harmful, especially ones with higher levels of SPF. Many of the “sport” or “active” products on the market boast a high level of SPF and waterproof capabilities. Individuals who apply these products may think it’s a one-time deal and they’re adequately protected. However, even an SPF 50 product is only as effective as the manner in which it was applied and how frequently. Too often people do not apply enough product and not nearly as
frequently as they should, and burns and skin damage often result. Although sunscreens are a good idea, some manufacturers add ingredients that may actually damage the skin cells the products are meant to protect. According to a 2010 report from the Environmental Working Group, only 39 of the 500 products they examined were considered safe and effective to use. Some manufacturers inflate SPF inaccurately, causing consumers to believe they’re getting more protection than they really are. Others are adding vitamin A and its derivatives, retinol and retinyl palmitate to formulations. Their reasoning is that vitamin A is an antioxidant that slows skin aging. However the EWG has examined safety reports that indicate vitamin A may contribute to cancerous tumors when used on skin exposed to sunlight. Other products outside of sunscreens that contain vitamin A even warn consumers that retinol and vitamin A can increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and that prolonged exposure should be avoided. In most cases, an effective sunscreen prevents more damage than it causes, but consumers should have accurate
information on sunscreen limitations and on the potentially harmful chemicals in some of those products. There is also the matter of wearing sunscreen the right way. When going out in the sun: • Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes beforehand. • Use a teaspoon on your face and a shot-glass amount on the body to achieve the SPF listed on the package. • Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your ears, lips, forehead and the part in your hair. Bald individuals should also apply all over their heads. • Reapply every 2 hours or more frequently if you have been swimming or sweating heavily. • Use a hat and sun-protective clothing as an added measure of protection. • Use new sunblock every year, otherwise you risk an ineffective product. • Avoid the midday sun as much as possible. • Sunblock is needed every day, even if it’s cloudy.
Are you worried about Osteoporosis? We do a safe & easy test that can assess your risk. Osteoporosis is a gradual thinning & weakening of bones, which can lead to bone fractures. 28 million Americans, 80% of whom are women, have or are at risk of developing this condition.
Call 360.428.7270 to schedule.
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Healthy Living | october 2011
Sunscreens are largely effective at protecting the skin. Consumers may be surprised to know some warnings about these products.
Skagit Publishing www.goskagit.com
Origin of cancer not always known When diagnosed with cancer, patients are typically informed where the cancer is or, when the cancer is in an advanced stage, where it started. However, in some instances doctors struggle to determine the origin of a cancer in the body. Cancer of unknown primary, commonly referred to as CUP, means that the cancer has already metastasized at diagnosis and doctors do not know where it started. Upon further testing, the primary site for the cancer might be identified, but in many cases doctors never learn where the cancer began. In some instances, the primary cancer can be identified thanks to the cancer cells’ appearance. The cancer cells usually look like the cells in the type of tissue in which they began. For instance, if breast cancer cells spread to the lungs, the cancer cells in the lung will look like breast cancer cells, giving doctors a good idea of where the cancer might have begun. But the primary cancer may not be found for a number of reasons, including: • the primary cancer is very small and grows slowly, • the primary cancer was actually killed by the body’s immune system, • the primary cancer was removed during surgery for a different condition and doctors never realized a cancer had formed. A CUP diagnosis is not especially common, though the CCS estimates that roughly 2 to 5 percent of all new cases of cancer are CUP. The figures are similar in the United States, where the American Cancer Society estimates that 2 percent of all cancers, or roughly 30,000 diagnoses, are CUP. Because they depend on where the cancer has spread in the body, CUP’s signs and symptoms are different depending on each individual case. However, symptoms can include: • a lump or thickening in any part of www.goskagit.com
the body; • persistent pain in one part of the body; • change in bowel or bladder habits, including constipation, diarrhea or frequent urination; • persistent fever for no known reason that does not go away; • unusual bleeding or discharge; • night sweats; • persistent cough or hoarseness in the voice. Despite unawareness as to its origins, CUP can be treated. In such cases, doc-
tors will look at the cancer cells under a microscope, study lab results and then consider which organs the cancer has affected before determining a course of treatment. Determining the treatment strategy, however, is not easy, as doctors do not often find the origin of the cancer. In addition, CUP often involves fast-spreading cancers, most of which are already widespread upon diagnosis. The ACS reports that the average survival time is 9 to 12 months after the cancer is found. More information on CUP is available at www.cancer.org and www.cancer.ca.
Upon diagnosing a patient with CUP, doctors will study a host of factors to determine the best course of treatment.
Customizing Medications to Meet Your Needs
Medications Made with YOU in Mind! Michelle Moser, RPh, dedicated Compounding Pharmacist welcomes you to visit the new store! 839 S. Burlington Blvd, Burlington (in front of Haggens)
Skagit Publishing
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october 2011 | Healthy Living
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