LiveWell Fall 2019

Fall 2019

CEDAR RAPIDS

DOUBLY BLESSED

Twins Bring Unexpected Complications

A RECOVERY STORY A Personal Journey with Mental Health and Substance Abuse

REDUCING STROKE RISK FOR LIFE Life-Saving Procedure Only at St. Luke’s

ASK THE EXPERT What is IOeRT for breast cancer treatment?

unitypoint.org

WHAT’S INSIDE 1

Health Clips Health news you can use.

2

A Recovery Story A Cedar Rapids man shares his personal journey with mental health and substance abuse.

4

Miracle Man Duane Vanwie feels like a walking miracle after dying three times from cardiac arrest.

6

Transitional Care Center A unique skilled nursing facility is now open and helping individuals recover following an injury, surgery, hospitalization or serious illness with the intent to heal and return home.

8

Reducing Stroke Risk for Life St. Luke’s is the only Cedar Rapids hospital to offer a procedure that prevents strokes for certain patients.

10 Doubly Blessed A Center Point family doubles in size after welcoming twins with unexpected complications last summer.

12 Ask the Expert What is IOeRT for breast cancer treatment?

13 For Your Health Timely health and medical news.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month FACTS* 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer Most breast cancers are found in women age 55 and older

There are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the United States

Screening mammograms are recommended starting at age 40, unless there is a family history * Information source: American Cancer Society

KNOW St. Luke’s is your partner in early detection and treatment • Walk-In mammograms are offered between 9 a.m.

– 3 p.m at three St. Luke’s locations. St. Luke’s Breast & Bone is located in the PCI Medical Pavilion and on UnityPoint Clinic’s Marion and Westdale campuses.

Fall 2019 LiveWell magazine is produced by UnityPoint Health®.

P.O. Box 3026 | Cedar Rapids, IA 52406 (319) 369-7395 | unitypoint.org Copyright ® 2019 UnityPoint Health. All Rights Reserved. ® SM trademarks of UnityPoint Health.

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• St. Luke’s uses state-of-the-art technology, including digital, to screen and diagnose breast health issues.

• St. Luke’s Breast and Bone Health also provides breast ultrasounds, biopsies, needle localizations, cyst aspirations and bone density scans.

• You can request to schedule your St. Luke’s mammogram on-line at bit.ly/MammRequest.

Health Clips

Easy and Convenient Care

Nationally Recognized

We have the right care for your every need, at all hours of the day. If your primary care provider isn’t available, use one of our four convenient urgent care clinics for minor illness and injuries. Anamosa, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion urgent care clinics encourage you to check in online to reserve your place in line.

St. Luke’s continues to receive top honors and is recognized nationally as one of the best hospitals in the country. St. Luke’s was named a Top 100 Hospital for the eighth time by IBM Watson Health™ and was named the third best hospital in Iowa by U.S. News and World Report. The magazine also rated St. Luke’s as high performing in one adult specialty: pulmonology and lung surgery and received high performing status in six adult procedures and conditions: aortic valve surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart bypass surgery, heart failure, hip and knee replacement.

When urgent care clinics are closed, St. Luke’s Emergency Room has ER Check-in for minor illnesses and injuries.

St. Luke’s is the only hospital in Cedar Rapids offering ER Check-in where you can choose a time that works for you, allowing you to wait at home and when it’s close to your assigned time, head over to the ER to be seen by a provider.

It is not meant for life-threatening conditions. If your life is in danger, you have signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke or are having problems breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. To access our urgent care or ER Check-in go to bit.ly/UPHFindaDr.

These accolades are in addition to St. Luke’s achieving Magnet® recognition for a third time from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), signifying successful implementation of the national Magnet standards for nursing excellence.

Talk On…Podcast

TALK ON... with Dr. Dustin Arnold

As the area’s trusted resource for health and wellness, our medical experts are sharing their knowledge in a new series of podcasts.

LiveWell Talk On… podcasts hosted, by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dustin Arnold, feature conversations with UnityPoint Health experts from the region on a variety of topics to keep individuals current on healthcare trends and advice, which empower listeners to live their healthiest lives.

LiveWell Talk On… is available for free at unitypoint.org/talkon.

Also, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and other major podcast apps so you never miss an episode!

LiveWell Fall 2019 | 1

MENTAL HEALTH

Chris Key is looking forward to completing his degree in social work so he can help others and getting married to his high school sweetheart.

A Recovery Story Flashback to the 1990s. Chris Key had just graduated from high school in Chicago and was going to college on a basketball scholarship. The summer before he was to report to college, he was playing a game of pick-up basketball and injured his leg. He took some time off to heal but during one of his first college basketball practices he went in for a dunk and his leg gave out. His leg hadn’t healed, and he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

“I told the coach I had originally hurt my knee over the summer,” Key said. “That was it. My basketball season was over before it started. I lost my scholarship. After I was off the 2 | unitypoint.org

team, that’s when I started drinking. At one point I got into a fight with another student and was kicked out of college.”

Key returned to Chicago and the drinking continued. He also struggled with serious mental illness. Key had two sons with his high school sweetheart and the relationship fell apart.

“I drank that relationship away,” said Key. “I was diagnosed with mental health issues and heard voices growing up. I moved to Iowa in about 1995. I was in a residential treatment facility in northeast Iowa when I found AbbeHealth Services – Community Mental Health. They gave me a new start.”

ROCK BOTTOM “When I first met Chris, he had been in and out of emergency rooms so many times,” said Theresa Graham-Mineart, associate director of recovery services at AbbeHealth Services – Community Mental Health. “It was a real struggle to figure out a way to help him. He could barely function. His condition, medications he was taking and his drinking were all concerning.

We were worried about his safety, but we continued to hang in there for Chris and he continued to allow us to be in his life.”

When Key met Graham-Mineart about 10 years ago he was admitted to a program through AbbeHealth Services – Community Mental Health called Transitional Living Services.

The program started in 1997. The goal of the program was to assist individuals like Key living on their own during recovery.

It offered stable housing and regular access to supported community living staff who focused on developing skills to address Key’s mental health and substance abuse needs.

“We leased several apartments, offered community-based care during off hours so individuals wouldn’t need to call 911 when they were feeling scared, suicidal or hallucinating,” said GrahamMineart. “Instead they could talk to someone immediately. Our services provide them with an alternative to the ER. Over the years the program has evolved. We still have apartments and see people in their own homes but the philosophy is the same and that is to meet people where they are at and focus on what is going to make them happy and healthy.”

“Initially I was able to find a job, saved some money, got my own place and married,” said Key. “But my marriage fell apart because of my drinking. I couldn’t stop drinking. I had to be committed for mental health treatment and there was a time I was homeless. I would get a job, a new apartment and even managed to obtain an associate’s degree but the divorce and mental illness just destroyed me, so I was evicted again.

I tried to work through it all. I really tried to do a lot because I messed up a lot. It’s all about rebuilding.”

“ We want to provide the right service at the right time for each person so they can be successful like Chris.”

– Theresa Graham-Mineart, AbbeHealth Services – Community Mental Health

PROVIDING A LIFELINE “I think we’ve had at least three different admissions with Chris over the years,” said Graham-Mineart. “We would find appropriate medication for him and we’d work with him even when he was drinking. AbbeHealth Services – Community Mental Health practices what is called stage-matched interventions and harm reduction. Talking with individuals about if they are going to continue drinking, how can they do it safely where they won’t hurt themselves or others. It’s a different approach. Historically in America, substance abuse treatment practices an abstinence approach. At AbbeHealth Services we try to work with people to find the approach that works best for them, which might be abstinence, or it might be harm reduction, as we did with Chris, it may change over time. Our programs are not 60- or 30-day programs. For individuals with co-occurring serious mental health illness and substance abuse disorders it is very common for people to require more time and flexibility in their recovery plan. Relapse can be part of recovery. We hang in there with people and do not break away because we think they are not doing their part. They are doing the best they can and it’s important we try to continue to help them.”

“I haven’t had a drink since April 13, 2015,” said Key. “Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and my sponsor was also an important part of my recovery. Alcohol destroyed everything.

I learned to stop living for myself and I learned humility.

It took me a long time to quit drinking but thankfully I’ve developed good coping skills. Abbe also helped me so much and they continue to manage my care.”

“It’s awesome to see Chris doing so well,” said GrahamMineart. “AbbeHealth Services – Community Mental Health has many community-based programs. We want to provide the right service at the right time for each person so they can be successful like Chris.”

Key is proud to share that he is working full-time, pursuing a degree in social work and he’s repaired his relationship with his high school sweetheart and they are now engaged.

AbbeHealth Services – Community Mental Health has offices in Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities, offering a variety of programs. To learn more about their services, call (319) 398-3562.

LiveWell Fall 2019 | 3

HEART

Duane Vanwie near his Lamont home. Vanwie is recovering after a nearly fatal cardiac arrest in May.

Miracle Man Duane Vanwie is a walking miracle. The 43-year-old Lamont

all surrounded him with care. If there was one person who didn’t

man died several times and thanks to dozens of doctors,

do their job, it may have been a different outcome for Duane.”

nurses, EMTs, other medical professionals, his neighbor and even fiancée, he is alive to share his story.

“I was told I died three times,” said Vanwie. “I don’t remember a lot from that day, but I feel fortunate to be here. Sandra performing CPR and all the paramedics saving my life.

If it wasn’t for her and everyone I wouldn’t be here. I get

CARDIAC ARREST Conway wishes she could forget the night of Vanwie’s cardiac arrest. The details are forever etched into her memory. Vanwie had complained of some arm and chest pain before they went to bed on May 23.

frustrated I can’t do some of the things I used to do but feel

“Duane woke up and was sitting on the edge of the bed,”

blessed to be alive.”

said Conway. “I remember asking him if he was still having

“Everything just fell into place for him that day,” said Sandra Conway, Vanwie’s fiancée. “The right people were called, and they

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chest pain and he said, ‘yes.’ I told him it was time to call an ambulance. I went downstairs, he yelled down asking for a

glass of water and then I heard him fall. My heart raced and

“It’s remarkable he survived all of this and his heart is back

I knew he was in trouble. I called 911. He hit a wall in our

to normal as if nothing happened to him,” said Dr. Halawa.

bedroom and was making a gasping noise, he was struggling

“From the CPR in the field, to the quick transport to St. Luke’s

to breathe. That’s when I ran next door to get the neighbor to

and for us to be able to go in immediately and open the

help and we took turns doing CPR on Duane.”

widowmaker and put in a heart pump — all of these things

LIFEGUARD AIR AMBULANCE

combined made for the best possible outcome for him.”

“When we received the call, we were told it was a cardiac

WEDDING BELLS

arrest patient that had been revived,” said Jordan Kelly,

“If I had gone by ambulance, I probably wouldn’t have made

St. Luke’s LifeGuard Air Ambulance flight paramedic.

it,” said Vanwie. “I feel fortunate to have received great care

“We landed in the baseball field in Lamont. He was in the

from everyone.”

ambulance and the EMTs were trying to get his airway managed. We were able to place a breathing tube. Between the CPR in the field and the EMTs quick work, all of those efforts helped save his life.”

“LifeGuard is like an ER at 1,000 feet,” said Craig Liscum, LifeGuard flight nurse. “There’s very little we can’t do for patients. We stabilize and quickly fly patients to a hospital where they will receive the lifesaving care they need. With Duane, he needed to get to a cardiac catheterization lab as soon as possible to open his heart blockages.”

When Vanwie arrived at St. Luke’s Emergency Room (ER) he was quickly moved to the heart catheterization lab.

“It’s a miracle he’s alive,” said Conway. “This experience has given us a whole new perspective and appreciation for life.

We don’t take life, family or friendships for granted.”

Vanwie and Conway are already planning their wedding. It’s tentatively set for May 23, 2020, the one-year anniversary of Vanwie’s cardiac arrest. They hope to be surrounded by many of the medical team that saved Vanwie’s life and made the special day a reality.

The faster your heart attack is treated, the less damage your heart experiences and the better outcome you can expect from treatment. Save a life, learn the signs of a heart attack at bit.ly/AttackSigns.

“We had to give Duane 100 percent oxygen all the time,” said Dr. Subhi Halawa, St. Luke’s Cardiology Cardiologist. “He had aspirated and had a lot of fluid in his lungs from the cardiac arrest. I found a blockage in his widowmaker blood vessel.

Why is St. Luke’s the best choice for emergency care?

I opened it up and placed two stents and a balloon pump.

• Home of LifeGuard Air Ambulance

He then went to St. Luke’s ICU where we started him on the

• Area’s only Heart and Vascular Institute

cooling therapy to preserve brain and organ function.”

Cooling therapy also known as therapeutic hypothermia

• St. Luke’s ER delivers quick heart care with 22 minutes as the fastest reported time to open blockages in 2019 (90 minutes or less is best)

after cardiac arrest lowers the body’s temperature for about

• St. Luke’s is an Accredited Chest Pain Center

24 hours to prevent further brain damage and increases the chances for recovery. After Vanwie recovered from his cardiac arrest he spent about 10 days in St. Luke’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation unit working with physical,

• Doctors are board-certified in Emergency Medicine • St. Luke’s ER physicians train future ER doctors through the Emergency Medicine Residency Program with the University of Iowa

occupational and speech therapists. He continues these therapies as an outpatient.

LiveWell Fall 2019 | 5

SKILLED NURSING FACILITY

Transitional Care Facility

A first of its kind transitional care center recently opened in Cedar Rapids. It’s called St. Luke’s Helen G. Nassif Transitional Care Center. It’s a new skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility near Council Street and Tower Terrace on the northeast side of Cedar Rapids.

you will go to a section of a nursing home where they do rehab and monitor medications but it’s still based out of a nursing home. This is not a location for long-term nursing care. It’s an entire facility dedicated to returning a patient to their appropriate level of care.”

The new 46,420 sq. ft. skilled nursing facility has 46 dedicated skilled nursing and rehabilitation patient suites for short-term care. The new facility is unique to the area in that it is not a nursing home, but a transitional care center designed for short-term rehabilitation. It’s a facility where individuals can recover and heal following an injury, surgery, hospitalization or

The typical stay for a patient at the Transitional Care Center is generally no longer than 12 to 14 days. Our experienced medical team, which includes a physician, three nurse practitioners, nurses and other team members previously worked at our nationally ranked Living Centers East facility.

Medical providers are on-site five days a week.

serious illness with the intent to heal and return home.

Sometimes when people are in the hospital, they meet their insurance’s criteria to go home but they may not be completely ready to care for themselves without closer supervision and assistance with a medical, nursing and therapy team,” said Peg Bradke, UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids Patient Transitions and Experience vice president.

“We want them to know this facility is there for them in these situations. This is a transition to get them back home. It’s not an endpoint and it’s not going to be for very long. They just may need a little bit of help to get them more fully recovered and a short stay here will set them up for success when they do return home.”

“The Transitional Care Center is a game-changer because it is focused solely on stabilizing individuals and helping them get stronger and healthier to return to their previous living environment,” said Clete Younger, MD, UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids Skilled Nursing Facility medical director.

“This facility will do just that. In our community and in most communities across the country if you need post-acute care 6 | unitypoint.org

“Our national ranking means our care is the highest quality,” said Dr. Younger. “Our hospital readmissions are low, our patients see fewer return visits to the ER and we have a short length of stay. We have the ability to provide hospitallevel care in this facility, which keeps the patient’s progress forward even in the event of a setback. We can do labs and other tests you would receive in the hospital. In the event that specialty care is needed we use our close relationships to specialty providers to communicate and collaborate to consistently provide the highest level of care.”

“We are excited to offer this new and unique facility to the community,” said Bradke. “A stay at St. Luke’s Transitional Care Center is a time when every resource is available to focus on your care and getting you stronger and confident in your ability to care for yourself for a successful transition to your usual activities at home.”

We invite you to tour St. Luke’s Transitional Care Center, call (319) 366-8701 or watch a video tour at bit.ly/stlukestcc.

Inside the Transitional Care Center REHABILITATION GYM A highly-skilled team works with patients on physical, occupational and speech therapy. The gym has a multi-surface walking area for learning to safely navigate various terrain.

PRIVATE SUITES Each room is private, has a home like appearance and includes a bathroom and adjustable heating and cooling.

TRANSITIONAL APARTMENT Patients may take advantage of one of two transitional apartments before they go home. A family member or caregiver stays and provides care to make sure everyone is ready to go home.

OTHER AMENITIES •

Caregiver Resource Library

•

Spa and full-service hair salon

•

Two large dining rooms with a chef on-site

•

Outdoor patio

•

Walking path

LiveWell Fall 2019 | 7

STROKE

Reducing Stroke Risk

for Life DJ Carpenter had a watchman device implanted at St. Luke’s Hospital to reduce his stroke risk.

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DJ Carpenter has atrial fibrillation (AFib). It’s something he’s

can dislodge and cause a stroke. Generally, if an individual is

had for many years and it causes his heart to beat irregularly.

on blood thinners the clots don’t form because the blood is

If the heart doesn’t beat normally, blood can collect and form

so thin but if someone isn’t able to take a blood thinner this

clots. If a clot escapes, it can cut off blood supply to the brain

is a great option because the Watchman seals the area off

and cause a stroke.

where the clots form.”

Most of the time when Carpenter’s heart would beat

Watchman isn’t a good option for all AFib patients. It’s

irregularly it would eventually return to normal rhythm

best for a patient with AFib not caused by a heart valve

on its own or he would take medicine. But recently these

problem. It’s also recommended for individuals who need an

approaches stopped working and he would have to go to the

alternative to long-term blood thinners because they have

ER where doctors had to shock his heart into normal rhythm.

a history of serious bleeding because of a health condition,

“My AFib episodes started to increase so my doctor

occupation or lifestyle.

prescribed a blood thinner to reduce my stroke risk,” said

“The Watchman procedure takes about an hour to perform

Carpenter. “I also have Parkinson’s disease. When I would

and patients typically stay overnight at St. Luke’s,” said

fall, I would bleed a lot because of the blood thinners I was

Dr. Chawla. “About 45 days after the procedure we do a

taking. I had to be really careful.”

transesophageal echocardiogram to make sure everything

“Having Parkinson’s disease put DJ at a higher risk for

looks good. If it does, then they can go off the blood thinner

falls,” said Mohit Chawla, MD, a cardiologist with St. Luke’s Hospital – Cedar Rapids Heart and Vascular Institute. “If

and take aspirin and Plavix for six months. After that, it is basically aspirin for life and then we do another test in a year

you have a serious bleeding issue like a trauma such as a

to make sure everything is well positioned.”

fall, taking a blood thinner is not an ideal strategy to help

“I’d recommend it,” said Carpenter. “I’m glad I had the

prevent a stroke.”

procedure. I’ve had falls so having this Watchman gives me

ONLY OFFERED AT ST. LUKE’S In 2016 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a device called the Watchman. It’s a tiny implant, which reduces stroke risk in individuals with AFib. Dr. Chawla was the first physician in Cedar Rapids to perform the Watchman

peace of mind. The staff was excellent and staying close to home for this procedure was great and I am glad St. Luke’s offers this advanced procedure. Everything about it is positive.”

To learn more about the Watchman procedure, contact us at StLukesCR@unitypoint.org or call (319) 739-2036.

procedure in November 2016. St. Luke’s Hospital – Cedar Rapids Heart and Vascular Institute is one of only three facilities offering this procedure in the state.

“Dr. Chawla recommended the Watchman treatment for me,” said Carpenter. “I was somewhat reluctant at first because I didn’t want to have a procedure, but I decided to proceed. It has worked out really well and now I am glad I did it.”

“The Watchman is a very small device that looks like a little umbrella,” said Dr. Chawla. “You use a catheter to move it into the part of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA).

Did you know?

Doctors at St. Luke’s Hospital – Cedar Rapids Heart and Vascular Institute have the expertise to treat 95 percent of heart-related issues, so patients are able to stay close to home to receive care.

Our heart care has been nationally recognized six times as a Top Heart Hospital for offering better outcomes for patients.

Watch a video of Dr. Chawla performing a Watchman procedure at bit.ly/STLWatchman.

The appendage is where clots tend to form, and these clots

LiveWell Fall 2019 | 9

MATERNITY

Doubly Blessed

Drew and Jenna Whiting play with their twins in their Center Point home.

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Drew and Jenna Whiting were shocked and thrilled when they learned they were having twins last year. The Center Point couple had a lot of important decisions to make as they prepared to welcome their sons.

“Drew and I were born at St. Luke’s and knew that’s where we wanted to deliver our twins,” shared Whiting. “We have heard great things about St. Luke’s Birth Care Center over the years and we also liked that the NICU is excellent. We didn’t anticipate needing the NICU but with twins you just never know what to expect.”

According to the March of Dimes the most common complication of being pregnant with multiples is premature birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy).

“We all hope for a routine pregnancy and delivery, but pregnancies with multiple gestations are at higher risk of complications including preterm birth and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission,” said Andrew Nordine, MD, MS, Medical Director of St. Luke’s NICU. “We see many multiples and our NICU includes adjoining and larger rooms, which help facilitate family-centered care for families with more than one infant in the NICU.”

UNEXPECTED COMPLICATIONS “Overall my pregnancy went well,” said Whiting. “I really didn’t have any issues until towards the end. I was at work and I started to have headaches for a few days. I called my doctor and they sent me to St. Luke’s where I had lab work and a stress test. My blood pressure was high, so they had me stay at the hospital for a couple of days on bed rest.”

Whiting was experiencing preeclampsia, or high blood pressure. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) this condition occurs in about one in 25 pregnancies in the U.S. Whiting was able to return home with orders to continue bed rest and to monitor her blood pressure.

“Wesley was having breathing issues when he was born,” recalled Drew Whiting. “I remember they took him right away to the NICU and I went with him. Shortly after she delivered the twins Jenna started hemorrhaging. The doctors and nurses took immediate action.”

“I remember feeling a little faint and scared but was confident the team at St. Luke’s would take good care of me,” shared Whiting. “They really put us at ease and had a calming effect.

They took good care of me.”

“The communication was great from the birth care and NICU teams on what they were doing for both Jenna and Wesley,” said Drew Whiting. “I felt like they were in good hands with the team at St. Luke’s.”

FAMILY REUNITED Jenna was out of recovery after several hours and Wesley was reunited with his family after spending about three hours in the NICU. “I had such great care at St. Luke’s,” said Whiting. “I had excellent nurses and the nurse we started with would come back when she was working to check up on us. It was a nice touch. We felt very cared for our entire stay at St. Luke’s. We had hoped we wouldn’t need the NICU, but we are glad it was there for Wesley when he needed it – even for a short time.”

Find out why three out of four babies in Cedar Rapids are born at St. Luke’s. Schedule your tour of St. Luke’s birth suites today, call (319) 369-8129 or go online at bit.ly/STLBaby.

Room Service St. Luke’s now offers new moms and their support person room service. It’s part of St. Luke’s commitment to providing easier, more personalized care to patients.

“After about a week and a half of bed rest at home I was 36 weeks (40 weeks is full-term) along in my pregnancy,” said Whiting. “My high blood pressure persisted, and they felt it was best for me and the twins if we delivered early by C-section.”

Room service allows patients to choose from an extensive menu available in their rooms during room service hours. The room service menu features a wide range of options, including flatbread pizzas, garlic-herb salmon and cheeseburgers.

On July 29, the Whitings welcomed Coy Michael, 6 lbs., 2 oz. and Wesley John, 7 lbs., .5 oz. to their family.

Those who deliver outside of those hours will have access to pre-made meals at the Center.

LiveWell Fall 2019 | 11

Ask the Expert

What is IOeRT for breast cancer treatment?

Kerri Nowell, MD, Surgeon For women with early stage breast cancer there is an option, which preserves breast tissue, delivers a high dose of radiation to the tumor bed where the cancer was removed and significantly reduces or eliminates follow-up radiation treatment. It’s called intra-operative electron radiation therapy or IOeRT and it’s available at St. Luke’s Hospital, which is the only facility in Cedar Rapids with this technology.

“We have a process to identify if individuals are good candidates for IOeRT,” said Kerri Nowell, MD, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa surgeon.

“It’s not indicated for all individuals with breast cancer. It is dependent on several factors including the type of cancer, size of the tumor, hormone receptor status and presence of DCIS or in situ disease. Some women may get all their radiation as a single fraction during surgery, while others may receive a boost dose during surgery and then complete a few weeks of daily radiation at St. Luke’s Nassif Radiation Center once surgery is completed.”

IOeRT is also only available to patients who choose a lumpectomy.

During surgery the surgeon removes the tumor and a radiation oncologist applies a concentrated dose of electron beam radiation directly to the tumor bed. A shield and cone protect healthy tissue from unnecessary radiation. During the treatment the patient receives a high dose boost of radiation. Studies show

IOeRT offers low recurrence rates because it treats the area where most breast cancers recur.

“In a sense, IOeRT gives patients a little more control when they are facing breast cancer because it is another treatment option available,” said Dr. Nowell. “As a doctor you want to present patients with several options. It’s nice to offer IOeRT to select individuals. It’s a great feeling to tell them, ‘we can greatly shorten your course of treatment.’

It also allows them to get back to the things they want to do before cancer interfered with their life. It’s something I would want for myself and I am thrilled to be able to offer it to our patients.”

Call (319) 861-6944 for a one-on-one, same-day consultation with a care coordinator. You’ll be guided through the steps to determine if you’re a candidate for IOeRT or fill out a questionnaire online at bit.ly/IOERT.

“ It also allows them to get back to the things they want to do before cancer interfered with their life.”

– Kerri Nowell, MD, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa surgeon

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For Your Health

YOU’RE INVITED TO OUR NICU REUNION

Help to Quit Smoking Let us help you kick the smoking habit. Join UnityPoint Clinic Multi-Specialty Nurse Practitioner Mary Jo Henry on November 20 from 4–6:30 p.m. at the Nassif Community Cancer Center Cook Cancer Wellness Center for a special smoking cessation event. The program is part of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, a day which encourages smokers to quit smoking.

St. Luke’s will welcome former Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients and their families to a celebratory reunion on Saturday, October 26. The reunion will bring graduates of the NICU and their families back together with the doctors, nurses and other NICU staff members who worked so hard to help them survive and thrive. The free event will include refreshments, games and activities for children of all ages.

What: St. Luke’s NICU Reunion Who: NICU “graduates” and their families When: Saturday, October 26 from 9-11 a.m.

Where: St. Luke’s Hospital, Nassif Heart Center, 3rd floor How: Any St. Luke’s NICU graduate is welcome to attend.

Henry will offer advice for individuals that may be considering how to quit, including a step-by-step tool, which aims to determine how ready you are to quit smoking forever.

Established in 1977, St. Luke’s NICU cares for the tiniest babies in Cedar Rapids – babies as young as 23 weeks gestation.

St. Luke’s is the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) as determined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in the Cedar Rapids area.

Details and registration for the UnityPoint Clinic smoking cessation event may be found at unitypoint.org.

Heart Healthy Soup for Fall Dinners

Tortilla Soup with Grilled Chicken Serves four, 1¼ cups per serving

INGREDIENTS

Cooking spray 2 6-inch corn tortillas, halved, then cut into ¼-inch strips 2 C fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth 2 C water 1 8-ounce can no salt-added tomato sauce 6 oz cubed, grilled, skinless chicken breast, cooked without salt, all visible fat discarded 1 small yellow summer squash (about four-ounces), diced

1 small zucchini (about four-ounces), diced ½ C frozen whole-kernel corn 1 tsp salt-free, all-purpose seasoning blend 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp olive oil ½ tsp ground cumin ¼ tsp dried oregano, crumbled ¼ tsp salt ¼ C shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Arrange the tortilla strips in a single layer on the baking sheet. Lightly spray with cooking spray.

2. Bake for 10 minutes, or until crisp.

3. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the remaining ingredients except the cheddar cheese to a simmer over medium-high heat.

Reduce the heat and simmer, covered for about 15 minutes. Just before serving, sprinkle the soup with the tortilla strips and cheddar cheese.

NUTRITION ANALYSIS (PER SERVING) Calories..............................................168 Total Fat............................................4.5 g Saturated Fat................................1.0 g Trans Fat...........................................0 g Polyunsaturated Fat.....................1.0 g Monounsaturated Fat..................2.0 g Cholesterol................................... 38 mg Sodium.......................................288 mg Carbohydrates..................................15 g Fiber....................................................3 g Sugars.................................................5 g Protein..............................................19 g Dietary Exchanges: ½ starch, one vegetable, two lean meat Recipe credit: American Heart Association

LiveWell Fall 2019 | 13

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