MEDICAL NEWS

High-quality cancer care

April is Cancer Awareness Month, and we fight the disease every day at the UAB MedicineRussell Medical Cancer Center, located on U.S. route 280 in Alexander City. Thanks to our innovative relationship with the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, we’re able to provide world class cancer care right here in our corner of the world.

Approximately 2,500 members of our community will be diagnosed with cancer in 2021. To put that number in perspective, in every group of 10 people, three will be diagnosed with this disease.

The most prevalent cancers in our community are skin, breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancer. The good news is that we have made so much progress in the last two decades in detecting and treating cancer that nearly twothirds of cancer patients survive more than five years.

Perhaps the most progress we’ve made recently is in lung cancer, where five-year survival rates have climbed from about 12 percent to 18 percent in recent years. Thanks in part to lung cancer screening with computed tomography, approved in 2015, which has increased the number of lung cancer cases diagnosed at earlier stages. The five-year survival rate is now 56 percent. New molecular-based treatments for advanced lung cancer have also extended survival – sometimes by several years – for patients who have incurable cancer.

While we still have a way to go, we’ve made significant progress in turning cancer from a fatal disease to a chronic illness, like diabetes or heart disease.

The good news is that no one has to drive to Birmingham or Montgomery to get high-quality cancer care. Nationally recognized physicians, like breast surgeon Dr. Helen Krontiras and colorectal surgeon Dr. Gregory Kennedy, commute to Russell Medical every week to take care of our neighbors.

Radiation oncologists on the forefront of research – including proton therapy specialists Drs. Michael Soike and Adam Kole – staff our radiation therapy center every day. Dr. Hunter Boggs utilizes innovative treatment methods (SBRT, proton therapy) to reduce the amount of radiation that breast cancer patients are exposed to while still receiving curative doses. Dr. Rojymon Jacob, an expert in treating gastrointestinal cancers, sits on editorial boards deciding which research studies to publish.

Our medical oncologists, Dr. Mary Emily Sheffield and Dr. Alex Minter, could have worked at any cancer center in the country but chose to come to the Lake Martin community because they grew up in small towns and know how important, and yet how rare, it is for rural communities to have access to excellent cancer care.

We screen people for cancer to detect the disease early while it’s still curable. I inform patients about recommended cancer screenings for the five most prevalent cancers, beginning with skin cancer.

Next month, we celebrate “Melanoma Monday,” where we will be providing skin cancer screening at our rural health centers in Dadeville, New Site and at the Cancer Center in Alexander City. Follow our Russell Medical Facebook page or local newspapers for screening information.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. There is a difference of opinions among the professional societies regarding prostate screening, but the American Urological Association recommends screening beginning

from age 55 until 70. The patient and doctor should decide upon a schedule together. This recommendation is for men with an average risk for prostate cancer. Medical News the minimum age and reducing the length of smoking history, which will nearly double the number of people who qualify for lung screening. Those who are eligible for low dose

But we know that African American CT screening are between the ages of 50 and men are at a greater risk for the disease than 80 and have smoked at least 20 pack-years or Caucasian men, as are men with a family anyone who is a current smoker or has quit history of prostate cancer. In these cases, within the last 15 years. talk with a physician about when to start A pack-year is calculated as the number of screening, typically earlier than 55. packs of cigarettes you smoked per day, times

Historically, physicians have screened the number of years you smoked. If someone for prostate cancer with a blood test called smoked a pack a day for 20 years, they have a 20 prostate-specific antigen and a digital rectal pack-year smoking history. Similarly, someone examination; however, the U.S. Preventive who smoked two packs a day for 10 years would Services Task Force no longer recommends DRE due to lack of data proving a George Miranda have a 20 pack-year smoking history, as well. Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT benefit. On the other hand, there is no is available at Russell Medical. The doctor will data against DRE. prescribe the screening once a shared decision-

October, as everyone knows, is Breast Cancer making consultation with the physician has taken place. Awareness month, but women should not wait until In the consultation, the following would be discussed: then to have their screening mammogram. The baseline the risks and benefits of screening; the importance of mammogram should be performed at 40 for women at following through with screening every year; and (if you’re average risk for breast cancer and every year after that. still smoking) the importance of quitting. Women who have a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed Cancer treatment, at Russell Medical, is managed by with breast cancer, or who have other risk factors, like a team of physicians that regularly consult on the best fibrocystic breast disease should perhaps begin screening treatment plans for their patients. This team typically at an earlier age and/or screening twice a year – once with consists of a surgeon, a radiation oncologist and a medical mammogram and once with magnetic resonance imaging oncologist. Because these doctors are up-to-date with the or an MRI. Talk to a doctor about risk factors to make an best medical evidence, they can offer the best cancer care informed decision about breast cancer screening. available. In addition, we have a cancer rehab program

The Women’s Center at Russell Medical is equipped that is available from start to finish, including a postwith state-of-the-art 3-D mammography, which provides treatment exercise program designed to return the patient higher sensitivity than traditional mammography in to wholeness. detecting breast lesions. If a lesion is detected, we can Patients with nutritional concerns can meet with the perform an ultrasound-guided biopsy or a biopsy under dietician, who offers nutrition plans designed to help MRI, if appropriate. We are in the process of adding patients be their best selves while under treatment. And stereotactic biopsy equipment in our breast center, which our patient navigator assists with the financial challenges more accurately locates a breast lesion for biopsy. that often come with cancer treatment.

The gold standard for colorectal cancer prevention and Our relationship with the University of Alabama in detection is colonoscopy. Russell Medical has an excellent Birmingham O’Neal Cancer Center brings many of endoscopy lab manned by Dr. Derek Holcombe. In fact, the benefits of a world-class NCI-designated cancer I’m having my colonoscopy there this month. While hospital to the forefront. Consultations with highly preparing for the procedure is admittedly not the most specialized experts in cancer care are available via our new memorable evening you’ll ever spend, the procedure itself telemedicine program, as is access to a plethora of clinical is painless and quick. trials open at UAB.

Patients at average risk should have their first Those who are candidates for proton therapy, a colonoscopy at 50 years of age. Once again, African relatively new and highly accurate form of radiation Americans are at higher risk for colon cancer, and treatment, could meet with one of two proton therapy therefore, should begin surveillance at 45 years of age; specialists who regularly see patients at our Alexander however, the insurance company might balk at covering City campus. the procedure at that age. Those who have family history Our goal is to provide the highest quality cancer of colon cancer or personal histories of colon polyps or care available right here at home and refer patients to benign intestinal diseases like Crohn’s or diverticulitis Birmingham for only the most specialized treatment are also at higher risk. Once again, in these cases, have unavailable here or at any other community hospital. a conversation with a physician about an appropriate screening protocol. The good news is that those at average ~George Miranda is the Director of the UAB Medicine – risk and who have had clean colonoscopies would not Russell Medical Cancer Center. have to repeat the procedure for another 10 years.

Just last month, the USPSTF expanded eligibility for lung cancer screening with low-dose CT, dropping