- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt’s time to show your heart some love, especially if you are a woman. When most of us think of someone having a heart attack, we picture a man clutching his chest and struggling to breathe. But did you know that, contrary to common belief, heart disease—which is commonly manifested in the form of heart attacks—is just as common in women as it is in men? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the most common cause of death in women in the United States. Approximately one in every five female deaths is attributed to heart disease. Heart attacks in women are common. What Is Heart Disease and How Does It Relate to Heart Attacks? The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease in the United States—and the main cause of heart attacks—is coronary artery disease, which is a buildup of plaque in the walls of arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body. The heart is a muscular pump that sends blood to the entire human body. As with any other muscle, the heart needs a steady supply of blood and oxygen to function properly. When blood flow to the heart is reduced or blocked, the heart muscle is deprived of necessary oxygen, resulting in a heart attack. Do Genetics Play a Role? Although there aren’t specific genes that have been identified as making some women more prone to heart attacks, there are trends that can occur in families. Family history of coronary artery disease, particularly at a younger age (30 to 50) is a strong predictor of increased potential for heart attack, as is race and other inheritable illnesses such as diabetes and high cholesterol. A heart attack can occur at any age, but the average age for women is 70. Heart Attack Symptoms Symptoms of a heart attack are most commonly described as an intense pressure/ache in the chest that may or may not extend to the arms, neck, jaw or stomach. Sometimes, particularly in women, pressure/ache is replaced with more vague symptoms such as: Nausea/vomiting Shortness of breath Pain in both arms Jaw pain Back pain Stomach pain Sweating Lightheadedness Extreme fatigue Risk Factors and Prevention Heart attack risk factors can be grouped into two main categories: modifiable and non-modifiable. Familial history, race and gender are non-modifiable. Modifiable risk factors include other medical diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and tobacco use. Heart attack prevention in women is the same as for men: Properly manage diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol with physician-prescribed medications Make heart-healthy food choices Maintain a normal body mass index Perform regular physical activity Quit smoking — Women who smoke are four times more likely to have heart disease than non-smokers Love Your Heart February is American Heart Month, a time when we can all focus on our cardiovascular health. It’s important because an estimated 80% of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is preventable. To raise and spread awareness, Luminis Health invites you to learn about heart health risks while entering for a chance to win a Lululemon studio mirror (so that you can bring the gym experience to your home). Visit Luminis.Health/MirrorGiveaway for details and to register for a chance to win. Now, that’s something we can all love. Authors Murtaza Dawood, MD, is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Luminis Health. He is recognized for performing operations for complex valve disease and atrial fibrillation. Prior to joining Luminis Health, he was the surgical director for the University of Maryland atrial fibrillation and structural heart programs. Jennifer Brady, MD, is a cardiologist at Luminis Health who is board certified in cardiovascular disease and electrophysiology. She has a special interest in adult echocardiography and heart failure.0
- Uncategorized, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAn unexpected tragedy “It was the worst day of my life.” That’s how Greg Meyer remembers Nov. 23, 2012. The night before his wife Leah had her first contraction. She was pregnant with their first child after two years of trying to have a baby. They were one week away from their due date. With a mix of nerves, excitement and disbelief, Greg and Leah arrived at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) to deliver their son, Talon. Their nurse began performing a final ultrasound before moving them to the labor and delivery unit. After looking at the machine for a few moments, she told Greg and Leah she needed to get the doctor. “It was then that something just didn’t feel right,” says Leah. “When the doctor came in, he told us the most gut-wrenching news we had ever heard: ‘Your baby doesn’t have a heartbeat.’” Leah describes the rest of the day as a blur. “From that moment on, we were physically present, but our minds weren’t fully aware of what was happening.” At 3:05pm that day, Leah delivered their stillborn son, Talon. “He was 5 pounds, .05 ounces and 19 inches long. He had a head full of dark hair like me, and long fingers and toes like his dad. We had no idea what we were doing … never in a million years did we think we would have to welcome our son into the world and say goodbye to him on the same day,” says Leah. The nurses encouraged Greg and Leah to take pictures and imprints of Talon’s hands and feet, dress him and cut a lock of his hair to keep in a memory box. After holding him for a few hours, Greg and Leah said a final goodbye to their newborn son. AAMC Labor and Delivery Nurse Tina Raab was one of the nurses who cared for Greg and Leah. “It’s a very humbling experience to be with those patients in the darkest moment in their lives,” says Tina. “Giving them tissues, hugging them, holding the mom’s hand when everyone goes to be with the baby … simple acts like that really go a long way in those situations.” “The little things our nurses did, like giving Leah a hug, meant the most to us,” says Greg. “What was an awful day could have been exponentially worse without their care.” Silence instead of support Greg and Leah aren’t alone. Each year at AAMC, roughly 60 couples experience perinatal loss after their first trimester. Perinatal loss is the non-voluntary loss of a baby from conception to 28 days of life. In the U.S., one in four couples will experience perinatal loss. And each year, 26,000 couples have a stillborn baby, a baby that dies in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy or later. For these couples, sources of support are difficult to find. “Perinatal loss is not a comfortable conversation that people want to have,” says Ann O’Sullivan, AAMC’s perinatal loss program coordinator. When someone dies, their loved ones remember them by telling stories and sharing memories. But when a baby dies, people tend to avoid the subject altogether, Ann explains. “Any family’s biggest fear is that nobody will remember their baby,” says Ann. “Families find different ways to remember their baby: some have birthday parties, some sponsor remembrance events and some plant gardens.” Greg and Leah went beyond that. While they remember Talon each year by lighting a candle, they have extended their efforts to give back to other people. “They took their grief and turned it completely inside out to help others,” says Tina. Choosing hope Left without their son at the beginning of the holiday season, Greg and Leah returned to AAMC weeks later during the holidays to hand out gifts to patients in the pediatric unit. And, for the past two years, they organized a concert to benefit First Candle, a Baltimore-based charity focusing on perinatal loss research. Greg and other local musicians perform, and local sports teams and businesses donate raffle items. The concert, Still Singing, has raised more than $6,000 to date. “We can choose to be permanently bitter or we can choose to try, in some weird way, to create positive change from this and make Talon’s life meaningful,” says Greg. For Greg, that choice inspired a career change. Moved by the compassion and care he and his wife received from their nurses, Greg enrolled in nursing school months after he lost his son. He now works in the heart and kidney unit at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. “Our stories aren’t the same, but I can make a deeper connection to what [my patients] might be going through, and what their families might need, after losing my son,” says Greg. “It does get easier” Nearly three years after losing Talon, Greg and Leah returned to AAMC’s labor and delivery unit. On Oct. 30, 2015, their son Emory was born. “Having Emory in our arms seemed like the fulfillment of a dream many years in the making,” says Greg. “Having a healthy baby is an amazing miracle.” Marcus Penn, MD, OB-GYN at AAMC, delivered Emory and cared for the Meyers throughout their pregnancy. “Dr. Penn is one of the most compassionate, caring and dedicated doctors I have ever met,” says Leah. “Before we had Emory, he was there for us during two miscarriages and encouraged us not to give up hope.” In order to be part of Emory’s delivery, both Tina and Dr. Penn stayed at AAMC well after their shifts had ended. “It meant so much to have them there,” says Greg. “It was kind of like a moment of bringing our miracle full circle.” Tina Raab, RN, (center) receives a DAISY Award for excellence in nursing. Leah and Greg Meyer and their son Emory attend the ceremony. Since Leah’s pregnancy with Emory was considered high-risk, the Meyers also visited a specialist at the Center for Maternal and Fetal Medicine. “Couples who have experienced a loss are often extremely nervous in subsequent pregnancies,” says William Sweeney, MD, director of maternal-fetal medicine at AAMC. “To provide peace of mind and ensure normal fetal health, we schedule frequent visits and fetal tests. We try to respond quickly to any parental concerns to ensure couples are at ease throughout their entire pregnancy.” While Greg and Leah celebrate their healthy pregnancy and newborn son, they will always remember Talon and continue to bring meaning to his life. “He’s our guardian angel now,” says Greg. “We won’t ever forget, but it does get easier.” “There is hope for families that are out there grieving,” says Ann. “We do offer perinatal loss support, and it’s important for people to be aware of that. No one has to go through this alone.” For more information about AAMC’s perinatal loss support services, contact Ann O’Sullivan, perinatal loss program coordinator at 410-570-2164. Visit www.aahs.org/birth for more information about AAMC’s birth and baby services. Read about our perinatal loss program in The Wall Street Journal. Contributors Marcus Penn, MD, is an OB-GYN at AAMC and can be reached at 410-571-9700. William Sweeney, MD, is the director of maternal-fetal medicine at AAMC and can be reached at 410-224-4442.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMay is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, making it a good time to brush up on skin cancer facts. So, before you put dibs on your lounge chair for the pool season, learn more about how to spot — and prevent — skin cancer, using these tips from Dr. Walid El Ayass, medical oncologist at the Luminis Health Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. After months of doing more hiding than shining, the sun’s finally coming out to play. Sunshine in the right doses is good for us—it increases serotonin, the brain’s mood-boosting hormone that helps us feel calm and focused. It also boosts vitamin D, which helps keep bones strong. But heavy doses of sunshine? It turns out that “too much of a good thing” can cause skin cancer. What are the Types of Skin Cancer? There are several types of skin cancer. The most common ones are melanoma and basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, known as nonmelanoma skin cancer. These cancers develop in the top layer of skin (the epidermis), in areas that get the most sun exposure, like the face, ears, neck, arms and hands. Basal Cell Carcinoma About 80% of skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas. They start in the deeper part of the epidermis in those sun-exposed areas. They’re usually raised, pearly bumps that grow slowly. They rarely spread to other parts of the body, but without treatment, basal cell carcinoma can spread deeper into the skin to the bone. Squamous Cell Carcinoma These cancers start in the upper layer of the epidermis. Along with sun-exposed areas, squamous cell cancers can develop in scars or chronic skin sores. They often look like a rough, scaly, reddish patch. They’re more likely to grow faster and spread than basal cell cancer but can usually be removed or treated and cured. Melanoma Melanoma is less common than other cancers, and it’s more dangerous. If not caught early and treated, it’s more likely to spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma starts in the cells that give skin its tan or brown color, so time in the sun plays a big role. What Are the Risks of Developing Skin Cancer? Most people don’t realize that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the time they’re 70. Anyone can get skin cancer, but some factors put you at greater risk: A family history of melanoma A history of blistering sunburns as a child or teen Blond or red hair Blue or green eyes Certain types of moles Exposure to UV rays from sunlight or indoor tanning over a long period A light complexion What are the Signs of Skin Cancer? Skin cancer is the only type of cancer you can see. That means you can and should be on the lookout for it. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends doing head-to-toe self-exams every month. When it comes to looking for skin cancer, remember these three words as your guide: New: Look for new growths, moles or blemishes (especially if you’re over age 21). Changing: Check if growths are changing in size, color, shape or texture. Unusual: Keep an eye out for growths or moles with an unusual outline that itch, hurt, crust or bleed for more than three weeks. If you see something, do something – talk with your primary care provider. Remember, skin cancer is curable if found early. How can I Reduce my Risk of Skin Cancer? It’s no secret sun that exposure is the main culprit when it comes to pegging a cause of skin cancer. About 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 86% of melanomas are linked to UV light exposure from the sun. The good news? Reducing your risk of skin cancer doesn’t mean giving up the great outdoors. You can reduce your risk with some simple habits: Don’t use tanning beds, booths or sunlamps. Enjoy the sun from under an umbrella, especially between 10:00 am – 2 pm when the sun is strongest. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher every day. (You get damaging UV rays even on cloudy days.) When you’re in the sun or water, reapply it every two hours. Wear sun-protective clothing, UVA- and UVB-blocking sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats. Authors Dr. Walid El Ayass is a medical oncologist at the Luminis Health Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. He specializes in treating breast and gastrointestinal malignancies. To make an appointment with Dr. El Ayass, please call 443-481-4884.0
- ServiceConditions/Services/Treatments PageWouldn’t it be great if you had a nutrition plan tailored to your individual needs and goals? Our registered dietitians will give you just that through a one-on-one counseling session. With ongoing sessions, they’ll help you follow through with your plan.Whether or not you’re a patient, you can choose to meet with our dietitians for nutrition counseling. Although we don’t accept insurance, most flexible spending plans cover our services.For more specific nutrition needs, we also offer services through our Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Center, DeCesaris Cancer Institute and Diabetes Center.0
- Cancer Care, Women's Health, Uncategorized, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“As far as I know, there is no breast cancer in my family history,” says Annapolis resident Aileen Carlucci. But in the summer of 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 49 after a routine mammogram. Aileen’s early-stage cancer was treated successfully with surgery and radiation at The Breast Center at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. She completed her final radiation treatment on November 1st, 2008—the 18th birthday of her daughter, Christina—and has been cancer-free for more than five years, which means she is at low risk for her cancer to return. “Fast-forward a few years, and you begin to forget,” says Aileen. “One day you wake up, and it’s not the first thing you think about, that, my God, I had breast cancer.” But earlier this year, her friend Cynthia lost a battle with stage IV breast cancer. Before she passed away, Cynthia talked to Aileen about genetic testing. “She made me promise that I would inquire about genetic testing at my next oncology appointment.” Uncovering Hidden Risk In March, Aileen met with Ashley Allenby, a certified genetic counselor at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute. “We met in a comfortable room and sat on the couch,” says Aileen. “Ashley and I went through my family history, and I was surprised to learn that I did have risk factors for breast cancer.” “People are referred for genetic counseling if they have certain red flags that mean they could have a genetic mutation that predisposes them to developing cancer,” says Ashley. “In Aileen’s case, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer before 50, which is one of the clues that we look for. She also reported Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry on her father’s side.” About 1 in 500 people have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene that is mutated. This frequency is even higher in individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish (Central or Eastern European) ancestry, with 1 in 40 people carrying a mutation. People with a BRCA mutation have a higher risk for breast, ovarian and other cancers. Experts estimate women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a 45 to 84 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. In the general U.S. population, 12 percent of women develop breast cancer over their lifetimes. Moreover, women with either of these mutations have up to a 44 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer, compared to the general population’s risk of around 1.5 percent. Questions to ask your blood relatives • Who has had cancer in our family? • What types of cancer? • At what ages were they diagnosed? • What ethnicity are my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents? • Has anybody in our family had genetic testing, and what were the results? Empowering Information “Ashley gave me an enormous amount of information,” says Aileen. She learned what the results of a genetic test would mean for her risk for other cancers, as well as the implications for her siblings and her children. After the counseling session, she had her blood drawn. Four weeks later, Ashley called with the results: Aileen carries a BRCA2 mutation. “In a way I felt vindicated,” says Aileen. “Now I know why I got breast cancer, and it was nothing that I did. It’s a family heritage. My biggest concern is my children.” Her daughter and son each have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the BRCA2 mutation from her. This is of special concern for Christina, who is now 24, as experts recommend that women with a BRCA mutation begin enhanced breast cancer screening around age 25. These women may also want to consider preventive surgery or other methods to reduce their cancer risk. Aileen accompanied Christina to her own genetic counseling and testing session in July. Christina was relieved to find out she does not carry the BRAC2 mutation. “The goal, if we find a genetic mutation, is to reduce the risk for cancer or aid in early detection,” says Ashley. “I think it’s powerful information to have these genetic test results to be able to be informed and make proactive decisions.” Four Ways to Help a Friend with Breast Cancer You may wonder what the right things to do for a friend with breast cancer are. Read more to find out a few tips. Giving Back Even before she was diagnosed, Aileen and her husband, Bob, were involved with Bosom Buddies Charities, which raises money to support early detection and treatment of breast cancer in Queen Anne’s County. On January 9, she will be the honoree at the 2016 Bosom Buddies Ball at the Westin Hotel in Annapolis. Since 2007, the charity has donated more than $900,000 to support breast cancer care and treatment at AAMC. “When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was in such a great place,” says Aileen. “It was because of the hospital and the encouragement they gave me, my friends in Bosom Buddies, and my family. I know how lucky I am. And I think early detection truly saves lives.” Contributor Ashley Allenby is a certified genetic counselor at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute. Make an appointment for genetic counseling at 443-481-5864.0
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