- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogGetting breast implants after a mastectomy is an emotional process. Preparing your body for the implants can also be an arduous task. It can involve weekly doctor’s visits, needles, saline and an often uncomfortable process. However, new technology has changed the landscape for many women. There’s now an option that eases the stress for breast cancer survivors and gives them the opportunity to play an active role in the healing process. With the AeroForm tissue expander system, patients use a remote-control device that communicates with expanders in their body through Bluetooth-like technology. This gives the patient the choice to expand their breast tissue anytime and anywhere with up to three puffs of air a day with a few hours in between. With one press of a remote control, the patient releases a dose of 10cc of carbon dioxide. This gradually expands the breasts over time. READ MORE: Tips on supporting a loved one through cancer This new technology is an alternative to the traditional method of tissue expansion still used at most hospitals, with patients having to visit their doctor frequently to have 50cc or more of saline injected. And, although the upfront cost is higher for this technology, in the end, we think that this novel technology lowers costs since there will be less visits to the doctor. The reward for patients is incalculable. Here are the top benefits of the expander system: It is patient-controlled. Patients are in control and decide how often to dose and when to stop expanding their breasts. You can do it anywhere. Patients can release the puffs of air anywhere and anytime they want without having to schedule a doctor’s visit, take off from work or even worry about daycare. There are no needles involved. Therefore, there is no need to feel anxious! By using the remote-control device, patients can press a button to release a dose of air that expands their breasts steadily. Each small dose can barely be felt. Less risky. No needles also means there is less risk for infection or rupture, which can happen occasionally with saline-filled expanders. It’s more empowering. With an AeroForm expander, the patient has full control and releases her own doses instead of having to come in every one to two weeks to have a doctor inject fluid into the breast. Patients enjoy playing an active role in their own recoveries. AeroForm is a game-changing technology that allows patients to be fully involved in the process — it decreases pain and complications and literally hands them control. Author Tripp Holton, MD, is a plastic surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Plastic Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction, including microvascular surgery as well as cosmetic surgery of the face and body at Anne Arundel Medical Center. You can reach his office at 443-481-3400 or AAMGPlasticSurgery.com.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center has entered into a partnership with CipherHealth, a health care technology company committed to improving patient outcomes and experiences through enhanced communication and care team coordination. The partnership centers on supporting patients in their transition home. AAMC chose to adopt CipherHealth’s Voice Patient Communication Platform with the objective to effectively engage patients and their families. Following up with patients after discharge is a proven method to increase compliance, outcomes and satisfaction. AAMC’s project team worked closely with the CipherHealth team to ensure that the program addresses the following: Communication with patients in their preferred language Utilization of the right mode of engagement – call or text Personalization based on the patient’s condition and care needs If a patient indicates they need assistance when they receive a Voice call or text, an alert is automatically routed to the appropriate hospital staff, who is then able to call the patient back and address their concern. “AAMC has always invested considerable effort in effectively engaging patients. We believe that most often, it comes down to communicating with patients the right way and at the right time,” said Sarah Haas, manager of health care payment redesign programs at AAMC. “We are thrilled to work with AAMC on this exciting initiative to engage patients in the critical time following a procedure,” said Katie Mills, client success manager for CipherHealth. “AAMC’s dedication to their community by ensuring patient needs are addressed quickly, is exactly what our products aim to achieve.”0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOn Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday, President and nurse Sherry Perkins praises today’s nurses for the incredible work they are doing. Today is the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday and the end of Nurses Week. The World Health Organization (WHO) named 2020 the Year of the Nurse in recognition of Nightingale – the founder of modern nursing. The WHO could not have predicted what nurses and their teammates would see this year with COVID-19, nor the new definitions of health care heroism. In a recent interview with the media about our nurses and the AAMC team, I was proud to tell our community, “They aren’t just heroes; they’re superheroes.” I am often asked to describe patient care; how to do that? In contemplating Nurses Week, I can think about important life events: emergency room visits, a parent in an ICU, the birth of a baby – a nurse is there with a team. A nurse is there knowing and caring, linking tenderness and mastery. Nurses know what it means for humans to be old, sick, weak, complex, and vulnerable. Nurses know how to prevent and treat infections, manage pain, teach, rescue, heal, console, and see problems before they occur. Nightingale was quoted as saying, “Live life when you have it. Life is a splendid gift – there is nothing small about it.” On my first day of work less than four months ago, I described the AAMC team this way – “the unique mixture of science and caring…progressive expertise of our physicians, the dedication of our nurses, the excellence of our interprofessional clinical support partners, the acumen of our leadership and administrative team, the compassion of our auxilians and volunteers, the devotion of our patient and family advisors, and the governance of our board.” Each of you makes AAMC a unique place for our patients and our community. Even more I am awed by what a team you are. Florence Nightingale would be proud. I know I am. Thank you for what you do for each other and for our patients and families.0
- Cancer Care, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“What next?” I hear that question often from cancer survivors when they finish their last treatment. From diagnosis to the end of treatment, most cancer patients are on autopilot. They focus on doctor visits, test results, chemotherapy or radiation, and perhaps surgery recovery. It’s a whirlwind of events –until it’s over. Whether a patient is deemed cancer-free or in remission after treatment, the cancer journey comes to an abrupt stop and a new journey begins: cancer survivorship. What should be a joyous, hopeful and celebratory time often leaves patients feeling lonely and afraid. Care and support for cancer survivors doesn’t have to end when treatment does. For example, our Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute offers programs and support to help survivors manage their unique needs and challenges after cancer treatment. The goal is to help all survivors thrive beyond their cancer diagnosis and enjoy a high quality of life. A survivorship program should include: A survivorship visit. Each patient should receive an individually tailored document with a summary of their diagnosis, test results, specific information about their treatments and the possible late and long-term effects of treatment. A care plan. Also tailored for each survivor, the care plan guides patients to live healthier which empowers them to self-manage their quality of life. Counseling. Based on each person’s own needs, there are many counseling options available including nutrition counseling, psychosocial support/counseling, spiritual counseling, financial counseling, genetic counseling, sexuality counseling and smoking cessation. Lifestyle recommendations to thrive. Survivors should be encouraged to adjust their eating habits to more plant-based food choices, rather than meat. Dietary changes, along with regular activity, exercise and healthy weight management, may reduce risk of the same cancer returning, or a new cancer developing. READ MORE: How to navigate cancer survivorship In addition to a comprehensive survivorship program, there are other steps cancer survivors can take after treatment ends. If you’re a cancer survivor, here are five ways you can thrive. Share your story. Whether you do this by talking in casual conversations, writing your story on a blog or even speaking at an event, sharing your story can help you reflect on your cancer journey and help you see how far you’ve come. It can also inspire others and give them hope. Get involved. Join the community of people who are working to conquer cancer. There are plenty of walks, runs and other events that support the fight against cancer. Be active. Studies show that exercise helps improve many different bodily functions, and can even decrease your risk of certain cancers. Make it fun! Ask your friends to join you on a walk, try a yoga class or even take simple stretching breaks during the day. Try a new hobby. You’ve likely been spending most of your time and energy on completing cancer treatment. Now that you’ve conquered cancer, you can take on anything! Add a furry friend to your family. If you’ve been thinking about getting a pet, now’s the time. There’s nothing like the healing power and companionship of a dog or cat. Author Madelaine Binner is an oncology nurse practitioner at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published May 31, 2016. Last updated May 7, 2019.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAccording to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men, with about one in eight men diagnosed with it in his lifetime. It may be time to schedule a prostate cancer screening if you: Are 50 years old or older Are 45 years old or older, African-American, or have a family history of prostate cancer Screening may involve a blood test called a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) and a digital rectal exam to feel the prostate for abnormalities. You and your health care provider should decide together if prostate screening is right for you. If you have received a prostate cancer diagnosis, the good news is that, now more than ever, there are multiple treatment approaches for prostate cancer. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends a number of treatment approaches. These range from active surveillance for lower-risk prostate cancer, to a combination of surgery and/or radiation therapy and/or systemic therapy for higher risk prostate cancer. Large studies have shown equal cure rates between these different options, depending on the situation. Your prostate cancer providers will talk to you about the risks and benefits of each option. Here are some basics about the major approaches. Active Surveillance Active surveillance (AS) means getting PSA testing and physical exams with your urologist. It is a way of keeping a close eye on your prostate cancer without actually treating it. This can be an excellent option, especially for men with lower-risk prostate cancer. About half-of men who choose this option are able to avoid treatment down the line. Ask your prostate cancer providers if AS is a good option for you. Surgery Surgery is done by your urologist, and is an excellent option especially in younger, healthy men. It typically involves removing the entire prostate, and is the only way to see what the true extent of cancer is inside the prostate. Today, the robotic assisted prostatectomy allows surgeons enhanced vision, control and precision and translates to less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery. Speak to your urologist about the possible side effects of surgery and recovery. Radiation Therapy Radiation therapy (RT) is another excellent treatment option. It is non-invasive, and typically uses high-energy X-rays targeting the prostate, and sometimes additional areas around it. It is typically given daily, Monday through Friday. There are many different RT regimens, ranging from just five treatments to 44 treatments, for a wide variety of different clinical situations. You meet with your doctor every week while you are on treatment to review any side effects and to help manage them. RT is extremely well-tolerated in the vast majority of men, and serious long term complications are rare. Speak to your radiation oncologist about the possible side effects of RT and recovery. Systemic Therapy Systemic therapy is treatment that goes throughout the whole body, and can be important to reduce the chances of prostate cancer spreading outside of the prostate, especially to the bones. It is often an option in men with higher risk prostate cancer. It is typically given in the form of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), sometimes called “hormonal therapy”. This therapy comes in different forms, and decreases your testosterone levels, which actually helps prevent the prostate cancer from spreading. In recent years, certain types of ADT have shown newly-discovered benefits, especially in men with high-risk prostate cancer. It can be given over a period of 4 months, up to even three years, depending on the clinical situation. Ask your prostate cancer providers if ADT can benefit you. Making your decision So, what treatment might be the best for you? It can be a complicated decision. Your doctors will help you weigh the risks and benefits of these different approaches to prostate cancer to help you decide which is best for you. If you or a loved one have received a prostate cancer diagnosis, the cancer specialists at Luminis Health are available to meet with you to discuss treatment options. Call us at 443-481-5800 to schedule a consult. Authors Antony Koroulakis, MD, is a board-certified radiation oncologist at Luminis Health.0
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