Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Oct. 10, 1996, edition 1 / Page 25
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s^dWtL A publication of ? . - M a Bowman Crav/Baotist HosDital voi.i, no.* nan Cray/Baptist Hospital Medical center ' * Research for You Does cancer run in my family? For a woman who has seen her grandmother, 'mother and then sister diagnosed with breast cancer, knowing the answer could be lifesaving. Advances in gene research mean women no longer have to wonder; a blood test can reveal if an ? abnormal cancer-causing gene has been inherited. "When people know they have an increased risk of cancer, they have a better chance of pre venting the disease or detecting it early, when the chance of cure is higher," said W. Abe Andes, M.D., professor of internal medicine (hematology/oncology).. . Andes directs the Family Cancer Screening and Counseling Program, offered by the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University. The program assesses a person's risk of developing cancers with a genetic link: breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancer. "If several members in a family develop cancer, it could be simply by chance," Andes said. "Or they could have forms of hereditary cancer. About 5 to 1 5 percent of cancer cases are linked to defective genes that can be passed from one generation to the next." ? The program'is open to anyone concerned they may have a family history of cancer. The staff uses a family's medical histories to develop a family tree, or pedigree. This helps show whether there is a family pattern of cancer and helps estimate the risk to family members. For some types of cancer, including breast cancer, a blood test can tell whether someone has inherited an abnormal gene that may lead to cancer. Since this genetic information could affect employment, insurance coverage, or lead to other concerns, the program offers clients education and counseling about the benefits and possible-H&ksof* testing* Test results are kept strictly confidential. The results of the pedigree and blood testing are carefully explained in counseling sessions. If clients are found to have an increased chance of developing cancer, they are told what to do to reduce the risk. This might include lifestyle changes, more frequent screening tests or other measures. Hereditary Cancer? The following guidelines can, but don't always, indicate hereditary cancer: ? Cancer that occurs in more than one qeneration. ? Cancer that occurs in several close relatives. ? Cancer that occurs years earlier than average. ? A close relative who has more than one type of cancer. Community Health ' Calendar ."A-A October National Breast Cancer Month Thursday, October 10, 12 noon & 5 p.m. Free Depression Screening kitt\ Hawk Room, Piedmont P!a/a I Ik>20 West 1 *irM Street Saturday, October 12, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. How to Throw a Block Partv: Replacing Violence with Sports, Recreation & Fun Free total HloltMerol, Mood pitsanv and glucose m reenings provided In Target I lea 1th YWCA Week WitM >ut \ iolotn i YWC A-1201 ' ,iad ? stn-et October 9, 14, 22, 29, November 6, 13, Weight Management Program Orientation Classes I heCenter tor I lealth Promotion One Piedmont Pla/a, !l,20 V\ ? :r-t s'iviI (Call tor tinios and reel -hath ?;. inlrrmatian i Health Qn-Call I pi t'itcr?hitip>; <?: \\ :'?> .yn. ? - <!:?: . an n;K>'-niii!!on pi .'a ??. t ' . 1 ' a "? a Pit 11 7 l(t-22"?>, or toll-tit (? S00 I Ui-22 11 htlp w a. bvym rd a Breast cancer: Early detection can save your life ? i $. sfe? i'H Jtt m i -4. % Why is there such a large disparity in the mortality rates of these women? Gretchen Kimmick, M.D., of the Comprehensive .Cancer Center explains that recent research suggests it's more than just a socioeconomic issue. African-American women are less likelv to ' seek regular screening. In addition, the cancer that affects them grows at a faster rate than breast cancer found in white.patients. These two factors are a deadly combination.*"'" I Regular Screening is Essential No matter what the race of the victim, the best prognosis stems from early detection. Regular self examinations and mammograms are essential in detecting breast cancer before it's too late. Bv catching cancer in the early stages, doctors have a better chance of remov With promising signs of recovery, Edwma Thompson and Gretchen Kimmick, M.D., have much to smile about. the tumor Completely and preventing the n the midst of a stressful move from Winston-Salem to c,,Ak t ^ from spreading. ? ? . . r, . . ... . , Such was the case with Thompson. Thanks to regular Raleigh, Edwina Thompson discovered a sore spot on e uu. .. j o c , " . ./ . . ?? i i , ? . self examinations, she was abte to detect the tast-growing her breast during a self examination. Probably lust a ^ m . a . ? . .. . ./_i , cancer at an early stage. Now, with aggressive treatment, bruise from carrying the boxes, she first thought. But as Ti _ v.. 00 . ? -, . i-ii , .r , I nompson is approaching the one-vear anniversary ot her she examined it further, she found that the painful area -1 , . . . w 1 1 . . diagnosis and is showing promising signs ot recovery. was a large lump. After a sleepless night, Ihompson ^ u , !, , , , h ^ ^ 1 hompson realizes how important the earlv detection contacted her gynecologist to set up some tests. Iwo "v., u 11 4 ' 4 u , , .r r was to her prognosis. 1 ve been very blessed... and mavbe ultrasounds and one biopsy later, her fears were for a re ? ^ said ?Mavbo jfs to , more u omcn ? confirmed: she had breast cancer. to really pay attention to this and diligentlv schedule Like many women, Thompson had postponed getting * ' ' . u ^ ^ ^ ? 1 L v ' . r r r t> b mammograms. Breast cancer can happen to anvow. iou a mammogram. For, year's she busied herself bv serving ? ^ 1" 1, _ c_ ,~n . , \ ?. 1 ,? ' u- - . ,4). h ? . - . . . 7 . o need to look out tor yourself and take care of vourselt. the Winston-Salem community ? chairing committees tor the CI A A basketball tournament, the Arts Council and many others. Thompson was so busy that she left little time to care for herself. "It can't happen to me," she thought. Thompson Was intky. 9he checked herself Breast Screening Center at Ardmore Plaza recommends regularly and detected the tumor in its early stages. American Cancer Society guidelines, which are as follows. ' Breast Cancer Awareness Month Breast Seif Examination October is breast cancer awareness month, and doctors Age 20 and over: Monthly at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University are hoping that.stories like Thompson's will ? Cunical Breast Examination encourage other women to seek regular check-ups and A9e 20-39: Every 3 years mammograms. Age 40 and over: Yearly The American Cancer Society projects that 184,300 Mammography women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the A .n c , , ? , ^ 1 ? / .??. kt- . 1 ^ i- . Age 40-49: Every 1-2 years United States during 1996 (4,800 in North Carolina). A CA . v . . . , , T- , -ii j. .1 Age 50 and over: Yearly Almost one-tourth of these women will die from the cancer. The statistics for African-American women alone are even more troubling: nearly a third of those diagnosed will die from breast cancer. Screening Recommendations Minimizing hand disability iviwuu i.\ ncn grimaceu anu maue a looseiv leam Approach closed list That fist is nothing short of remark- By using a team approach, the 1 land able, considering less than tour months ago, Center offers its patients a wide range of spe 1 ynch's left hand was sliced to the bone by a cialists in one program, which means added machine used to cut mattress quilting. The convenience and comprehensive care. Staff blades sheared through muscle, arteries and includes orthopedic and plastic surgeons with the tendons ot his three main fingers. Lynch, . added qualifications in hand surgery, physical a 27-vear-old technician ^m, , , , . and occupational therapists with spe trom Lexington, spent cialized certification in treatment of five days in the hospital, K| the hand, and the support of neurolo where he had surgery to gists, rheumatologists, radiologists, reconnect the tendons rehabilitation nurses and medical and graft a vein to psychologists. replace the artery. The team approach helped save 1 .vnch was making bench's hand. "Scar tissue on his ten tor physical thera- dons wasprexenting him pist Ann Lucadoat ^full range of said Lucado. the Hand Center of - ~1 "After a certain point, his progress hit CompRehab, the com- a** jj| plateau." I .vnch returned to surgery U prehensive outpatient T have the scar tissue removed. His tean rehabilitation center worked together to rehabilitate his ot the Bowman Gray/ "'hand after the second surgerv That's Baptist 1 lospital when his therapy reallv took off. Medical Center, where Ronald Lynch has teamed up vtfth Lsing exercises in physical therap\ , i * u-r experts like Ann Lucado at the Hara . . t . ,. 4 t, lynch came tor rehabi.li- center to restore function to h,s once a Pa>slV0 '?,nt motlon sPhnt that tation of his hand. mangled palm and fingers stretches the taut tendons while I he 1 land Center 1 vnch sleeps, wound truitment and i pro\ ides diagnosis and treatment to patients holistic approach to healing the hand, therapist with hand problems like bench's (post-trau- like Lucado gave 1 vnch the tools to reclaim matic injury) and also problems caused b\ his functionalitx degenerative disease such as rheumatoid l vnch said he !?> optimistic about the futun arthritis, chronic pain due to repetitive stress or Although I vnch has done much of the work overuse, paiimnd cold intolerance related to himself, he also credits the start with his success blood vessel disease, and congenital problems. "They realh know their stuff he said, then i : < ? ? Mluphi rn ^ ? 11 L ' ? X' *gt^\4fc| _ . , .? & 1? ?? ?' ! HKm? ' * ? * 111*11 r ? t i i ru) J ?i^7n77fi^^^?7i B&SR? added that the -tat! make--a point to know him. too. "The\ know me w hen ! eome in ' he -aid. "Thex a-k tor m\ input en "mx treatment plan ? 1'hov are real pood to me CompRehab Ptaza \\ hen the 1 land Center nan e- \ ? :J\ ? i w CompRohah Pi a/a -an Mnier ^'tve* later !w- U\\ patient- like 1 xmb w;',' lvor?n Tom :\?\ meat! outpatient tlvrapx w .-??? "f "We'll have iot- ot i \pi :!> -aid k aria Blue auiavtor.tl :.a'T.a,>; md founding member et ta.e : urv ^ em.i : mean- better proee?* - "t r 'aw .. a ;v.:e: eare tor our patuv.: One thine won t dimmte tor Blue th? . and that - the tmav.-hm- -S m.ake- a.knm the wax "It - when a patient \on naxen ' - two \ ear-eome-back to-new xou ;,? domp. Blue -aid 1 hat - the real ri w ard working w ith the patient
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Oct. 10, 1996, edition 1
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