St. Luke's Health Beat Fall 2012

Fall 2012

St. Luke’s

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SP

Breast cancer awaren ess

When cancer is inherited

Genetic testing increases cancer knowledge PAGE 6

Mammograms save lives Importance of early detection PAGE 3

Cool treatment

Helping oxygen-deprived newborns PAGE 8

Breast cancer treatment in half the time Surgery and radiation in one procedure PAGE 10

stlukescr.org

ON TI

B E A T

IAL ED I EC

What’s

Inside 1

Health Clips

Health news you can use.

4-5

8-9

2 - 3 Mammograms

save lives

A routine test turned out to be a lifesaver for a Fairfax woman.

4 - 5 Reason to celebrate

A heart attack survivor is grateful to see another birthday.

6 - 7 When cancer

is inherited

12

10 - 11

Genetic testing increases cancer knowledge for an eastern Iowa family.

On the

8 - 9 Cool treatment

for newborns

A new cooling therapy has many

benefits for oxygen-deprived newborns.

10 -11 Breast cancer

treatment in

half the time

New technology only at St. Luke’s helps women beat cancer.

12

Ask the Expert

How can I keep my kids safe online?

13

For your health

Timely health and medical news.

cover Amy White pursued genetic testing to determine her cancer risk.

ealth H

Summer 2012

St. Luke’s

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Mommy-to-be blogger Building an online community for moms PAGE 6

Stories from Health Beat, Summer 2012, are available at stlukescr.org.

Single-incision robotic surgery A first for Iowa’s Robotic Leader

PAGE 2

Health emergency Expert care for an East Coast patient

PAGE 5

Thriving after cancer Providing support for survivors

PAGE 10

stlukescr.org

Missed

the last issue?

B E A T

stlukescr.org

St. Luke’s

B E A T

Health Beat magazine is produced locally by St. Luke’s Marketing Communications for the community and friends of St. Luke’s Hospital.



Vol. 17 No. 4 l Fall 2012

P.O. Box 3026 l Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-3026 319/369-7395 l stlukescr.org

Connect with St. Luke’s at stlukescr.org

Health Clips New website St. Luke’s has a new website, which offers easier navigation, medical specialty landing pages and health information at your fingertips.

Here are some additional improvements:

Get help finding a doctor Whether you are looking for a family doctor or a specialist, St. Luke’s has an online directory that helps you find healthcare providers.

It’s called “Find a Doctor” and it’s free.

Go to stlukescr.org and click on the “Find a Doctor” tab on the hospital’s home page.

Online Chat. Ask questions about medical records, baby classes and employment.

News and events. Find out the latest news and happenings from St. Luke’s Hospital and its affiliated clinics.

Mobile website. At stlukescr:org/m.aspx get Urgent Care and ER wait times, turn-by-turn directions and health information for users on the go!

Individuals using the tool may search for a doctor by name, specialty or location. Once the list is narrowed down, individuals may browse each doctor and learn about their medical education and areas of expertise.

Learn more at stlukescr.org and look for the “Find a Doctor” tab.

99

$ Heart Scan

Visit stlukescr.org to see for yourself!

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. – it can strike anyone: men and women of all ages, races and economic classes.

There’s a great way to improve your odds: a $99 Heart Scan from St. Luke’s. A heart scan can help identify your risk for heart disease.

Find out what you are facing so you can make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk for heart complications.

The Heart Scan is for men and women between the ages of 40 and 70.

All that’s needed is a doctor’s referral.

To learn more log on to stlukescr.org/heartscan or to schedule yours, call St. Luke’s Heart Care Services at 319/369-8909.

St. Luke’s Health Beat | Fall 2012 |

1

Mammograms save lives O

riene Prescott’s annual mammogram was a real life saver. That’s because calcium deposits were detected in her right breast last fall. She was called back for a recheck.

“The results were unexpected and upsetting,” said Prescott. “I had a biopsy that determined I had breast cancer in my right breast. They also found cancer in my lymph nodes under my left arm but there was no cancer found in my left breast. I had a full body scan so doctors could see if there was cancer elsewhere. Thankfully they didn’t find anything.”

A breast cancer diagnosis can be a very stressful experience. That’s why each patient is connected with their own Breast Care Coordinator. This is a nurse who serves patients as a personal contact to provide support, information and

assistance through an often challenging maze of choices.

St. Luke’s Breast Care Coordinators are a team of registered nurses who have additional breast health training through the Oncology Nursing Society and were among the first in the country to become Certified Breast Care Nurses (CBCN).

When breast imaging is concerning, and further testing is needed, a Breast Care Coordinator becomes a dedicated member of a woman’s healthcare team. She assists in providing individual information, answering questions to help in the decision-making process and providing ongoing education and support.

me,” said Prescott. “She not only helped set up my first appointment with an oncologist but also helped connect me with services at St. Luke’s Cook Cancer Wellness Program.”

(Mona Cook is not related to the namesake of the Cook Cancer Wellness Program.)

“Each patient receives individualized services based on their needs,” said Mona Cook, St. Luke’s Breast Care Coordinator. “We are like a knowledgeable friend to the patient.

We link them with doctors and surgeons but also act as a sounding board when they might be having a tough time dealing with a cancer diagnosis.”

Healthcare team link

One thing that contributed to Prescott’s stressful diagnosis was cancer in the lymph nodes under her left arm.

If a diagnosis of breast cancer is made, as in Oriene Prescott’s case, the Breast Care Coordinator helps women and their families understand their diagnosis and guides them through treatment and recovery. She becomes the consistent link between the patient and her healthcare team.

“Having a tumor in one breast and cancerous lymph nodes under the opposite arm is very unusual,” said Hosne Begum, MD, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa oncologist. “We don’t typically see this type of presentation. As a result we recommended aggressive treatment with chemotherapy prior to surgery. ”

“Mona Cook was my Breast Cancer Coordinator and it was nice to have her assist

“I had two rounds of chemotherapy,” said Prescott. “Then in June, I had a

“ I recommend the Cook Cancer Wellness Program to many of my patients.

Diet is important – especially for breast cancer survivors.”

Hosne Begum, MD, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa oncologist

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Oriene Prescott and St. Luke’s Cancer Exercise Specialist Matt Schmitz work on balance exercises at St. Luke’s Cook Cancer Wellness Program.

total mastectomy. I am now undergoing radiation treatment.”

Supportive services “One of the things Oriene reported was a loss of appetite,” said Cook.

“Unfortunately it’s common for cancer patients undergoing treatment. That’s where the Cook Cancer Wellness Program helps because we offer free, supportive services to cancer patients and survivors. I put her in touch with a Cook Cancer Wellness dietitian.”

“The dietitian was excellent about suggesting things for me to eat that might sound appetizing and help maintain my health,” said Prescott. “I also worked with an exercise specialist to increase my strength.”

“I recommend the Cook Cancer Wellness Program to many of my patients,” said Dr. Begum. “Diet is important – especially for breast cancer survivors.

Their weight needs to be in the ideal range. Oriene struggled with maintaining her strength and was dealing with a lot of fatigue. The exercise specialist helped her with this issue.”

“My cancer journey is finally nearing the end,” said Prescott. “When you are going through treatment it’s all a blur but it’s nice to have such great support along the way.”

To schedule a free, individual and confidential appointment with a Breast Care Coordinator, contact St. Luke’s Breast and Bone Health at 319/369-7216.

When to have a mammogram When it comes to breast health, early detection is the best prevention. Women should have regular mammograms beginning at age 40, or sooner if recommended by their healthcare provider.

St. Luke’s uses state-of-the-art technology, including digital mammography, to screen for and diagnose breast health issues. Digital mammography is the newest technology available for early breast cancer detection and has many benefits, including higher detection rates in some patients, fewer recalls and lower doses of radiation.

Screenings are available at two convenient locations - the Medical Office Plaza on St. Luke’s Campus and St. Luke’s Marion Campus. Additionally St. Luke’s Marion Campus offers walk-in mammograms with a doctor’s order. Preference is given to patients with appointments. Walk-ins are available Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

To learn more or to schedule your mammogram, contact St. Luke’s Breast and Bone Health at 319/369-7216.

St. Luke’s Health Beat | Fall 2012 |

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Reason to celebrate Heart attack survivor grateful to see another birthday

B

ernard Devine wasn’t well enough to attend his brother’s funeral in early June. The 81-yearold Manchester man skipped the services and convalesced at home.

His daughter Deirdre Byrne was in town from Kansas City to attend the services. She set off for home after her father assured her he was fine.

“Sometime later I remember waking up in my home and I couldn’t breathe,” said Devine. “I knew if I didn’t get to my phone I wasn’t going to make it. I somehow crawled from my bedroom into the next room and called 9-1-1.”

Devine was transported to the local hospital in Manchester where it was determined he was having a heart attack.

“They asked me where I wanted to go,” said Devine. “I told them to take me to St. Luke’s. I knew St. Luke’s was the tops for treating heart problems. When I was on my way there I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

I felt I had a chance to live.”

“I had just arrived at my Kansas City home when I saw my message light flashing,” said Byrne. “It was the Manchester Police telling me to call the hospital – that my dad had suffered a heart attack. By the time I called, he was en route to St. Luke’s via an ambulance. I knew he was getting great care because the communication between the hospitals was excellent and that’s what got me through my long drive back to Iowa.”

Bernard Devine in a Manchester park.

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“ We first treated his heart attack with a stent and then treated his other issues.

He gradually improved each day.”

Roy Venzon, MD, Cardiologists, LC

“I remember arriving at St. Luke’s and Dr. Roy Venzon meeting us in the Emergency Room,” said Devine. “I seem to recall him telling me we were going right up to the cath lab where I was going to have a stent placed. Everything happened very fast.”

“By the time I arrived at St. Luke’s my dad was bright-eyed, sitting up, pink and in good spirits,” said Byrne. “When I think about his care I am amazed. To think – he was transported to the regional hospital, then to St. Luke’s, had a stent placed and was in recovery in less than three hours.

I find that amazing.”

“I remember when Bernard came in he was pretty sick,” said Roy Venzon, MD, Cardiologists, LC. “It wasn’t just one thing that was wrong with his heart, it was multiple things. We first treated his heart attack with a stent and then treated his other issues. He gradually improved each day.”

Devine was in the cardiac care unit for three days and spent another three days in the heart unit at St. Luke’s.

Excellent nurses “I can’t say enough nice things about my nurses,” said Devine. “They were all excellent. One in particular was Deb O’Neil.

I called her Shaq because of her last name.

We had a lot of fun. A student nurse was

following her around and I thought how fortunate this student was because Shaq was really good at her job.

She was learning from the best.”

“All of the staff at St. Luke’s used humor and compassion,” Byrne said. “It’s like they had this ‘Spidey’ sense of what patients and their loved ones needed.”

“I really enjoyed Bernard and Deirdre,” said Deb O’Neil, St. Luke’s Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) nurse. “Our mission at St. Luke’s is to provide the care we’d like our loved ones to receive and I just try to do my best and do what’s right for my patients every day.

How would I like my own loved one to be cared for? That is my guiding principle.”

“Dad had never been sick a day in his life before this and here he is in the hospital, very ill and dependent on these doctors and nurses and all of them were superb. They always asked ‘is there anything else we can do for you?’ They were so respectful and obviously very busy with other patients but they always had time for us,” said Byrne.

“I enjoy my job very much,” said O’Neil. “If I can make things a little easier for each patient or teach them something that allows them to go home and live independently again – than I’ve done my job. I was so happy Bernard was able to return to his home and do the things he enjoys.”

Unbelievable care “To be 81-years-old and be in the hospital for less than a week and live independently is phenomenal,” said Byrne. “I attribute a great deal of that to the competence and care of St. Luke’s team of doctors and nurses. My dad’s care was unbelievable.”

“They gave me another birthday,” said Devine. “They saved my life and I will be forever grateful. Dr. Venzon is my hero. Not many people can do that job – work as a cardiologist and save lives – I am grateful for him and what he does for people like me.”

To watch this story or hear other patient stories go to our Video Library at stlukescr.org/st-lukes-videos.aspx.

St. Luke’s Health Beat | Fall 2012 | 7 5

Cancer in the

family The White family at their rural Independence home.

T

o say cancer runs in Amy White’s family would be a bit of an understatement. The 27-year-old has had five members of her family on her dad’s side diagnosed with either breast or ovarian cancer. The cancer connection is traced back to one of Amy’s grandparents.

“I recently had a cousin diagnosed with breast cancer around the time she turned 40,” said White. “She decided to pursue genetic counseling.”

Julie Thompson is an advance practice nurse with St. Luke’s Cancer Risk Assessment Services. She is trained to help families understand genetic disorders and provide information and support to those families. Genetic testing is a free service St. Luke’s provides.

“Amy’s cousin tested positive for BRCA1, which means there is a gene mutation in the family,” said Thompson. “All of us are born with the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2.

These genes help to suppress tumor growth. When there has been damage or a mutation for some unknown reason, 6 | stlukescr.org

these genes can’t do their job. This mutation is then passed on from generation to generation and that’s when we will see a family with a high rate of cancer. In this case, BRCA1 and BRCA2 is closely associated with breast and ovarian cancer.”

When it’s determined there is a gene mutation each family member has a 50/50 chance of passing that gene onto their children. It turns out Amy’s cousin tested positive for the gene mutation, which meant cancer was indeed an inherited trait.

Preventative steps “When I received the news about my cousin I knew I wanted to pursue genetic testing as well,” said White.

“I wanted to be proactive. If I did carry the gene mutation I would be able to take preventative steps that would hopefully allow me to keep cancer at bay.”

Those steps mean an annual mammogram for White starting immediately, and an MRI and pelvic ultrasound to look for ovarian and breast cancer.

Genetic testing increases cancer knowledge “Women who carry this gene mutation have an 85 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and a 25 to 45 percent risk for ovarian cancer,” said Thompson. “Many individuals with this gene mutation choose to remove their breasts and ovaries before receiving a cancer diagnosis – these steps would greatly reduce their cancer risks.”

White also has two children, Kynzley, 3, and Kohen, 2. She decided pursuing genetic testing was not only a good move for her but for them, too. If she was a carrier of the genetic mutation they would also have that 50/50 chance of carrying the gene.

“My first meeting with Julie at St. Luke’s was pretty simple,” recalled White. “We mapped out my family tree to determine what gene to test for and also discussed what I would do with this information once I received it.”

“My services are free,” said Thompson.

“There is a cost for the blood test but some insurance companies may cover

Cook Cancer Wellness Program St. Luke’s offers this program, free of charge, to anyone touched by cancer regardless of where they’ve received care. The services provided include:

the cost of these tests. Also Congress passed a law several years ago called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which is designed to prohibit the use of genetic information in health insurance and employment so individuals should feel comfortable this information will not be used to harm them.”

Positive test result “I tested positive for the genetic mutation,” said White. “Julie was great when she delivered the news and we went right to work on what this positive test meant.”

“I encourage genetic testing with many of my patients,” said Lisa Hess, MD, OB-GYN Associates. “We started using a screening questionnaire several years ago at our office. It’s an excellent tool to identify patients who might benefit from genetic testing.”

“Dr. Hess is my family doctor so during my annual exam I shared the news about what I recently learned,” said White. “She immediately worked with me to develop a care plan involving annual mammograms and other tests to keep an eye out for cancer.”

“Each woman is different,” said Dr. Hess.

“I counsel them on what is appropriate for them right now and what options they may want to consider down the road. Genetic counseling is a great service St. Luke’s Hospital provides.”

• Exercise specialist

• Nutrition education

• Group exercise classes – yoga, pilates, Zumba

• Reiki and massage therapy

• Family and individual counseling • Genetic counseling • Mind Body Skills workshop

• Sexuality counseling • Emotional support • Spiritual support

The program is named in honor of Jane Borg Cook of Cedar Rapids. She lost her battle with breast cancer in 2008. In her memory, her family provided the lead gift.

If you are interested in helping cancer patients by making a contribution to the Cook Cancer Wellness Program, contact St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation at 319/369-7716.

With two children at home White and her husband Andy feel their family is complete. But at 26, she’s not quite ready to make the move towards cancer-sparing surgeries.

“I am considering it in the future but not right now,” said White. “And when the time comes, I anticipate having both of our kids go through genetic testing – when they are older.”

The news his wife had an increased risk for breast cancer hit too close to home for Andy White – his mother is a breast cancer survivor.

“Andy farms in Independence where we live,” said White.

“About two years ago he bought a John Deere tractor and painted it pink and white. I think it’s his way of coping with everything we are dealing with. And for the past couple of years we’ve hosted a tractor ride with donations going to St. Luke’s Cook Cancer Wellness Program. It’s a great program, which helps cancer survivors cope with their diagnosis. Our tractor ride is a lot of fun and for a good cause.”

It’s their own way of dealing with a disease they hope to never fight.

For more information about St. Luke’s Cancer Risk Assessment Services call 319/369-7816.

“Women who carry this gene mutation have an 85 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and a 25 to 45 percent risk for ovarian cancer.”

Julie Thompson, ARNP, St. Luke’s Cancer Risk Assessment Services

St. Luke’s Health Beat | Fall 2012 |

7

Cool treatment for newborns

D

octors at St. Luke’s Hospital used cooling blankets immediately after Deegan Mizaur’s birth to keep him alive and minimize potential disabilities. Deegan was born without a pulse and remained that way for nine minutes. Prior to his birth – his mother, Graham Ziese arrived at St. Luke’s for what she thought was going to be a routine delivery after her water broke at home.

“Deegan was born a little over three weeks early,” said Ziese. “When I arrived at St. Luke’s I mentioned he might be breech.

A quick ultrasound indicated he was and I was prepped for a C-section. Suddenly Deegan’s heart rate plummeted and I was rushed into the operating room for an emergency C-section.”

When Ziese awoke after surgery her fiancé, Kyle Mizaur, was in St. Luke’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) standing watch over his son following his traumatic birth.

“After Deegan was born and not breathing the doctors worked to revive him,” said Ziese. “They were successful.

The St. Luke’s NICU team used a pediatric cooling blanket to lower his body temperature.”

Total body cooling This treatment is called systemic hypothermia or total body cooling. The St. Luke’s NICU team used a pediatric cooling blanket to lower Deegan’s body temperature to 92.3° Fahrenheit for 72 hours and then slowly rewarmed him to normal temperatures. Cooling the body slows down the basic functioning of the body and may decrease injury to the brain caused by the lack of oxygen (hypoxia) and lack of blood flow. St. Luke’s started offering this treatment because a number of large research studies have shown when babies are treated with hypothermia shortly after birth, they have less risk of dying and less brain injury. This means fewer cognitive and

motor problems compared to those babies not treated with hypothermia.

“Any time a baby doesn’t have a heart rate for a period of several minutes, we are concerned about the potential lack of oxygen,” said Dennis Rosenblum, MD, St. Luke’s NICU medical director. “The longer a baby goes without breathing or a heart rate, particularly at around 10 – 15 minutes of age, the more concerned we are about the worst possible prognosis. We worry about transient effects, like damage to the liver, kidneys and heart. But more importantly we are concerned about long-term effects, particularly to the brain, that may not be reversible.”

After a baby is revived, there’s a six-hour window of opportunity to induce hypothermia before there is an increased rate of brain cell death.

“We just started using this cooling treatment within the last couple of years at St. Luke’s when the medical literature clearly indicated it was beneficial,” said Dr. Rosenblum. “The advantage for us and for the babies is we can start cooling right away without having to transfer babies to another hospital where they would have to wait to be cooled.”

“ The advantage for us and for the babies is we can start cooling right away without having to transfer babies to another hospital where they would have to wait to be cooled.”

Dennis Rosenblum, MD St. Luke's NICU medical director

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For babies who have had prolonged hypoxia, this treatment decreases death rates or rates of moderate to severe neurologic impairment about 30 – 50 percent, compared to a 50 – 80 percent rate of death or neurologic impairment for those who don’t receive this therapy.

St. Luke’s is the only hospital in the Cedar Rapids area that uses total body cooling for newborns.

Cutting edge treatment

Getting ready for baby!

Expecting parents can register online for many services at St. Luke’s. Moms can sign up to have their baby at St. Luke’s Center for Women’s and Children’s Health, schedule a tour or register for free pregnancy or parenting classes.

Personal tours are free and parents-to-be learn about St. Luke’s one-on-one nursing care and Cedar Rapids’ most experienced NICU team.

St. Luke’s pregnancy and parenting classes are available to the entire family – from expecting parents, to new siblings and soon-to-be grandparents.

Find out more at stlukescr.org/baby.

“As a team, we are always trying to stay on the cutting edge of best practices and providing the highest quality outcomes for our patients and their families,” Rosenblum said.

“We are grateful we were at St. Luke’s NICU where they have this treatment available,” said Ziese. “Deegan’s care was pretty amazing. I was so impressed with the doctors and nurses in St. Luke’s NICU.” Deegan spent 26 days in St. Luke’s NICU. He went home using oxygen but today his mom reports he is a healthy 11-month old.

“Deegan is doing amazing,” said Ziese. “He is crawling and standing up. He’s doing everything a baby his age should be doing.

The only thing they predict is Deegan having vision problems but it’s not related to his birth.

He’s constantly on the go, a very happy baby.”

St. Luke’s NICU is the area’s only Level II Regional Neonatology Center, caring for 300 to 400 babies each year. Learn more at stlukescr.org/nicu.

Graham Ziese and her son, Deegan, play in their backyard.

St. Luke’s Health Beat | Fall 2012 |

9

Breast cancer treatment

in half the time a long haul. It was definitely a grind. I work full-time so I would schedule the treatments during my lunch hour. It was a tough time for me physically and mentally.”

IORT now available But now thanks to new technology available only at St. Luke’s Hospital radiation treatments for breast cancer may be cut in half.

Specialized equipment called intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) will be available to patients at St. Luke’s this month.

Jody Meyer is now cancer free thanks to her treatment at St. Luke’s.

New technology only at St. Luke’s helps women beat cancer

J

ody Meyer would have loved to have more treatment options available to her when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The Cedar Rapids woman was only 40 when she received the devastating news.

“I remember feeling a lump and thinking it was a benign fatty tumor because I’ve had those before,” said Meyer. I called to get it checked out and learned I had breast cancer in my right breast. It was horrible news.

I wasn’t prepared.”

10 | stlukescr.org

Meyer also wasn’t prepared for what was to come next – the treatment needed to destroy the cancer.

“I had a lumpectomy followed by four chemotherapy treatments over a 12 week period and about six weeks of radiation treatment,” said Meyer. “I was constantly fatigued. It was overwhelming; it made for

“This is exciting technology, which gives selected breast cancer patients another treatment option,” said Robert Brimmer, MD, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa general surgeon. “It eliminates weeks of radiation treatment and applies radiation precisely where most breast cancers recur. Patients will only need three weeks of whole-breast radiation therapy following surgery. Patients who don’t receive IORT typically require six weeks of whole-breast radiation.”

“As a leader in minimally invasive surgery St. Luke’s saw this as a way to expand our program and is only one of three sites to offer IORT using electrons in the Midwest,” said Kimberly Ivester, St. Luke’s Cancer Care director. “IORT delivers a single targeted dose of radiation directly to a tumor site during surgery. St. Luke’s is the first and only hospital in Cedar Rapids to offer IORT.” During surgery, after the doctor removes the tumor, a radiation oncologist, using IORT, applies a concentrated dose of electron beam radiation directly to the tumor bed.

A shield and cone protect skin and healthy tissue from unnecessary radiation. In two minutes or less patients receive radiation

equal to five to seven daily treatments of traditional radiation, but with fewer side effects and a quicker recovery. This decreases the number of radiation treatments an individual receives by half. Studies show IORT offers low recurrence rates because it treats the precise area where most breast cancers recur.

International research trial “This is a new technique,” said Kerri Nowell, MD, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa general surgeon. “We deliver a concentrated dose of radiation in a shortened period during the actual surgery. Sometimes radiation can damage the skin. IORT spares the skin because it’s retracted out of the way compared to using whole-breast radiation after surgery, which can lead to some undesirable effects on the skin.”

IORT is a precise, less invasive cancer treatment for early stage breast cancer and is available at St. Luke’s through an international research trial.

“To date, IORT has not been used as standard treatment of breast cancer,” said Dr. Brimmer. “We’re hoping our research will provide one more standard option for selected breast cancer patients.”

The treatment involves a lumpectomy, and includes IORT at the same time as surgery. Then women will have three weeks of external beam radiation therapy.

“For selected women with early stage breast cancer, IORT may be an alternative to mastectomy, or lumpectomy with six to seven weeks radiation,” said Dr. Brimmer. “In rural Iowa, IORT could save significant drive time, stress and expense to cancer patients. It is hard to see a woman choose to have a mastectomy because she cannot tolerate the time commitment required of radiation therapy after breast conservation. It is hoped that more women would be able to fit the IORT treatment into their busy lives and take advantage of breast-conserving surgery rather than undergoing a mastectomy.

Likewise oncoplastic surgical techniques can be incorporated.”

“I would seek this treatment out for myself if I or any family member was diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Dr. Nowell. “I see the benefits of this new treatment. It will allow women to get back to their families, work and normal activities in much less time than the ‘traditional methods’ we’ve

IORT benefits • Recurrence rates are among the lowest of any breast cancer study.

• Treatment is focused at the location where most breast cancer recurs.

• Surgery, radiation and reconstruction are performed in one procedure.

• Length of overall treatment time is cut in half.

• Costs of overall treatment are lower.

• Disruption to patients’ daily life is minimized.

had up to this point, and the best part is the desired effect is the same – to get rid of the cancer.”

“If IORT had been available to me when I was treated for breast cancer – I would have gone for it in a heartbeat,” said Meyer. “It makes so much sense and if it has the same desired effect why wouldn’t you pursue it?”

To see if IORT is right for you, contact a St. Luke’s Breast Cancer Coordinator at 319/369-7216. Visit slukescr.org/ radiationtherapy to watch an animated video of an IORT procedure.

“For selected women with early stage breast cancer, IORT may be an alternative to mastectomy or lumpectomy with six to seven weeks radiation.”

Kerri Nowell, MD and Robert Brimmer, MD, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa general surgeons.

Robert Brimmer, MD Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa general surgeon

St. Luke’s Health Beat | Fall 2012 | 11

Ask the

Expert

How can I keep my kids safe online?

A

ccording to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) there are more than half a million pedophiles online every day. So if your child visits an online forum for a popular musician or actor you can almost guarantee there will be online predators lurking.

“Unfortunately girls are the most common victims,” said Regina Butteris, MD, St. Luke’s Child Protection Center medical director. “Men are usually the perpetrators. These individuals are really good at finding kids that don’t have an adult nearby and they try to take advantage of the child.”

Pedophiles go where children are.

Before the Internet, that meant places such as amusement parks and zoos. Today, the virtual world makes it alarmingly simple for pedophiles—often pretending to be teens themselves—to make contact with young people.

“They will try to “friend” your teen on Facebook (FB) or try to talk with them in a chat room,” said Dr. Butteris. “They troll the web for any personal information they can find on your child in an attempt to make a connection and gain their trust. For example they may pretend to like the same band.”

The FBI refers to this as “grooming.” This back and forth may last days to weeks

12 | stlukescr.org

before the pedophile attempts to set up a face-to-face meeting or asks for illicit photos of the child.

“Facebook is a popular spot for pedophiles,” said Dr. Butteris. “They may send a friend request to a teen and when the teen accepts it – this opens them up to danger. Teens need to know they shouldn’t accept friend requests from people they don’t know.”

“When parents sit down to talk with their children about Internet safety they should explain to kids that people aren’t always who they say they are,” said Dr. Butteris. “Someone who says ‘she’ is a 12-year-old girl could really be an older man. Parents should also urge their child to talk to them if they read something on the Internet that makes them uncomfortable. Assure them you won’t get angry – that you are here to help.”

If you suspect your child is the victim of an Internet predator, call the police.

St. Luke’s Child Protection Center is marking 25 years of protecting eastern Iowa’s children, and you can also help protect children by making a donation of any size to the Center.

To learn more or make a gift, please contact St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation at 319/3697716 or go online to stlukesfoundation.com.

Regina Butteris, MD Child Protection Center medical director

Advice for parents: • Talk with your children about the danger of being sexually exploited online (revisit this topic two to three times a year) • Keep the computer in a high traffic common area (kitchen, living room, family room) • Consider using an Internet filter or parental blocking software • Review Internet history on the family computer periodically • Do not allow kids to have computers or laptops in their bedrooms • Set time limits for Internet use • Ask children what sites they visit • Keep an eye on online video gaming use, this is an area where pedophiles are also operating • Know their online friends • Ask for your child’s Facebook password or set up your own account to review their friends and keep an eye on content • Set privacy settings on social networks, like Facebook, to limit identifiable information about the child to the outside world

For your

Health Breast Cancer: Beyond Hope Cancer is complicated. Arm yourself with knowledge about prevention, early detection, and the very latest technology in revolutionary treatment options.

Tuesday, October 23 6:30 p.m.

Free Diabetes Foot Screening Sometimes the feet show the first signs that diabetes is developing – and those diagnosed with diabetes often experience complications on their lower extremities. Some of these issues may not be noticeable at first, and others seem unrelated. Don’t ignore your feet, sign up for a free foot screening offered by The Foot and Ankle Specialists of Iowa.

Monday, November 5 • 4 - 8 p.m. by appointment

Stop Diabetes Before It Starts More than 80 million individuals have pre-diabetes and don’t know it – are you one of them? Attend to learn how you can reverse the trend and stop diabetes before it starts, or at least lower your risk. Those already diagnosed with diabetes will appreciate hearing lots of valuable tips too.

Tuesday, November 13 • 6:30 p.m.

Classes are held at St. Luke’s Hospital, 3rd floor Nassif Heart Center classrooms.

To register for these free events, go to stlukescr.org/livewell, or call 319/369-7395.

St. Luke’s Health Beat | Fall 2012 | 13

ealth H St. Luke’s

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1026 A Avenue NE P.O. Box 3026 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-3026

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We apologize for mailing problems such as duplicate copies. If you have questions or concerns about Health Beat magazine, please call us at 319/369-7395 or e-mail stlukes@crstlukes.com. © 2012 by St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, IA

Get the best check of your life.

Have you had a mammogram this year? If you’re a woman over 40, you should have a mammogram every year.

It’s the best way to check for breast cancer.

For a walk-in mammogram, simply bring your doctor’s order to: St. Luke’s Breast and Bone Health 2996 7th Ave., Marion

319/286-4344

Call to schedule an appointment at: St. Luke’s Breast and Bone Health 855 A Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids

319/369-7216

stlukesearlydetection.com

oin the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders as hey donate $2 from every ticket purchased Oct. 19 o St. Luke’s SpiritFriday, Fund, which provides p.m. nancial assistance to7:05 women dealing with cancer.Cedar Rapids Ice Arena

PINK in the RINK

Breast and Bone Health

Join the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders as they donate $2 from every ticket purchased to St. Luke’s Spirit Fund, which provides financial assistance to women dealing with cancer.

For tickets, call 319/261-GOAL or visit ridertownusa.com/tickets.