Houston home journal. (Perry, Ga.) 1999-2006, July 11, 2003, Image 6

Houston home journal., July 11, 2003, Page 6A, Image 6

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Newspaper Page Text6A FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2003 The sun: Friend or foe? Know the signs Special to The HHJ Although a “healthy-looking tan” used to be fashionable, adults now realize that exces sive exposure to the sun may not be so healthy. The risk of skin cancer may increase by as much as 50 percent with just one serious sunburn; however, the more serious consequences of that sunburn may not devel op for several years. A growth or sore that won’t heal; a small, smooth, shiny and waxy looking bump; a red or reddish-brown freckle or a flat red spot that is rough and scaly they may appear harmless, but don’t underestimate their potential. Any of these could be a sign of skin cancer, a disease that one out of every seven Americans will develop some form of during their lifetime. Skin cancers area not only the most common but also the most treatable of cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 700,000 cases of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, the most common skin cancers, are reported each year. Most can be linked directly to the ultravi- olet radiation of the sun. These cancers typical ly occur among peo ple over the age of 55 but increasingly among adults in their 20s and 30s. Both basal Sar and squa- ~<4K mous cell can cers usually develop on the face, neck, hands and arms. Jk | Basal cell cancers B are raised, often translucent, pearly Women’s Health Watch - Focusing on good health for women Women’s bodies are constant ly changing. -From the child bearing years to the golden years, women are affected by a whole range of health issues. Houston Healthcare has launched a new program, Women’s Health Watch, specifi cally designed to increase awareness among women of health issues such as cancer, breast health, heart disease, osteoporosis, menopause, uri nary incontinence as well as prenatal care and childbirth, all with a special emphasis on pre vention, early detection and healthy lifestyle. “We chose ‘HealthWatch’ as the name of this new program because that is exactly what we want women to do - take a close watch of their health,” said Michelle Lee, coordinator of the new program. “Depending on the time of a woman’s life, there are changes that occur, and women need to know when to look for changes, when to have a specific screening such as a mammogram, a bone density scan or a colonoscopy and when to expect certain things to hap pen.” Created by a special task force of medical professionals dedi cated to women’s health, the Women’s Health Watch program will offer educational seminars to the community as well as provide educational materials to women on a variety of topics through distribution in doctor’s offices, health fairs and direct mail. Seminars, taught by reg istered nurses with special training in women’s health, will provide information on an array of topics such as urinary incon tinence, pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding and endometriosis. Drs. T.G. Sekhar, Victoria Shirley and Elisabeth A. Wagner, all obstetrician/gyne cologists, provide physician leadership to the task force. “Our main goals in Women’s Health Watch are to encourage women to get basic health screenings, practice good health and live a healthy lifestyle,” Lee added. “One in 20 women will develop a gynecological cancer, whether it be ovarian, cervical, uterine, vulva or vaginal. While some of these cancers are diffi cult to detect early, getting annual pap smears is a woman’s best chance for early diagnosis and treatment.” Heart disease will be another area of focus for the program. nodules which may crust, ulcer ate and sometimes bleed. Squamous cell cancers usually are raised, pink, opaque nodules or patches which frequently ulcerate in the center. The one type of sink cancer that is life-threatening, malig nant melanoma, is the least common. Melanoma, a disease in which cancer cells are found within melanocytes, the cells that color the skin. Melanoma appears in different shapes and sizes and can be found on differ ent parts of the body. Typically, melanoma is found on the torso of a man, but usually first sight ed on a woman’s legs. Some of the warning signs of melanoma include: change in the size, shape or color of a mole; oozing or bleeding from a mole; or a mole that feels itchy, hard, lumpy, swollen or tender to the touch. Melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole. Treatment for melanoma is likely to include surgical removal of the cancer following biopsy, along with a P or ti° n °f ■gtf the skin wB /\ s u r - “ . * According to Lee, the majority of women perceive cancer to be their greatest health threat, when in fact one in two women will die of heart disease or stroke, compared with one in 27 who will die of breast cancer. “We as health care professionals have done a relatively good job overall in educating women about cancer, especially breast cancer, and the importance of early detection. However, we have not been as strong in edu cating women about their risk of heart disease and helping them become knowledgeable about the symptoms and warn ing signs of heart attack and stroke,” Lee added. Living a healthy lifestyle will also be a strong focus for Women’s Health Watch. “Many diseases are preventable. We can change our lifestyle and reduce our risk if we stop smok ing, exercise, eat nutritious foods, maintain a healthy weight and control our blood pressure, cholesterol and glu cose,” Lee added. “The only risk factor we cannot control is our age, but we can make sure to have the appropriate health screenings and exams at certain times in our lives whether it’s a breast self-exam monthly, a pap smear annually or a baseline mammogram at 40.” In addition to Women’s Health Watch, Houston Healthcare is a partner with 13 WMAZ-TV in the Friend for Life campaign, encouraging women and their friends and neighbors to practice good breast health. Houston Healthcare is a satellite site through Emory University for the national Women’s Health Initiative study by the National Institute of Health, focusing on strategies for preventing mqjor diseases unique to women. Upcoming Women’s Health Watch Seminars Wednesday, Aug. 13 10 am Perry Hospital Medical Library Tuesday, Sept. 9 10 am The Women’s Center at Houston Medical For more information on the Women’s Health Watch or other educational programs, call Houston Health Source at (478) 923-9771 or visit www.hhc.org. HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH rounding the tumor. In some cases, lymph nodes near the tumor may be removed even if no cancer is found because melanoma often spreads to the lymph nodes. Unfortunately, the effects of skin cancer cannot be reversed; however, nearly all cases of skin cancers are curable when detected and treated at an early Houston Medical Center Auxiliary donates to nursing administration j-fvjr fH ir Up* i fepv jpn y• * '• ■ B iyJof. Jj I ” eHB tji The Auxiliary members of Houston Medical Center recently donated $9,800 to Nursing Administration to purchase new wheel chairs for the hospital. These chairs meet new ergonomic requirements and will be used to transport patients within the hos pital. The money will also be used to purchase clamps, so IV poles will be easier to transport with the patient. Pictured left to right: Virginia Wetherington, Houston Healthcare Director of Volunteer Services; Karen Simmons, Nursing Administration Secretary; Cassie Ferguson, RN, Resource Nurse; Todd Edenfield, RN, HMC Assistant Director of Nursing, Raymond Crowder, Auxiliary President; Jerry Cochran, President Elect; Rose Kosater, Gift Shop Manager; and Mary Gainous, Auxiliary Treasurer. How Far Would You Go To Get Diagnostic Technology This Advanced? How About Your Own Backyard? The latest diagnostic technology usually found only at major academic medical centers is now right here at Houston Healthcare. It starts with a new digital imaging system called PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System). PACS replaces film with clear, high resolution images transmitted directly to computer screens. Doctors who need to review images can now access them in seconds from their offices, homes or while making rounds in the hospital. The result: faster, more accurate diagnosis. And that’s just the beginning. Houston Healthcare has new CT multi-slice scanners at Houston Medical Center, Perry Hospital and the Pavilion Diagnostic Center that increase both testing quality and speed. Our new MRI suite at Houston Medical Center features a wide open field magnet to reduce stage. Dermatologists recom mend that any new or unusual skin growth or mole be exam ined by a physician as soon as possible. The American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommend the following guidelines for pre vening sun damage: * Minimize exposure to the fjmPi 't Jr the feeling of claustrophobia. Perry Hospital also offers high-field, high quality MRI services. Our new 3D Vitrea system lets doctors view problem areas from different angles. With all this advanced technology right in your Houston Healthcare Houston Medical Center • Ferry Hospital www.hhc.org sun at midday - between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. * Apply sunscreen with a s.p.f. of at a least 15 or higher to all areas of the body * Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days * Wear clothing that covers the body and shades the face * Avoid exposure to UV radia tion from sunlamps and tanning beds THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL * Keep children from sun exposure when the sun is strongest and apply sunscreen frequently to children six months of age and older. Strongly limit sun exposure to infants. For more information on skin cancer or for a referral to a der matologist, call Houston Health Source at 923-9771 or visit www.hhc.org. own backyard, there's no reason to travel far from home for timely, accurate radiology testing. Talk to your doctor about Houston's new imaging capabilities. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 322-5175.