- Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThanks to awareness and education campaigns, breast cancer tops the list of well-known cancers. But, unfortunately, millions of women know about breast cancer firsthand — it’s the most common cancer in women. Women diagnosed with breast cancer are typically over the age of 50. But the Centers for Disease Control shares that there isn’t just one face to breast cancer. Breast cancer can and does develop in younger women. When it does, it’s known as early-onset breast cancer. What is early-onset breast cancer? Breast cancer is categorized as early-onset when diagnosed in someone age 45 and younger. And although breast cancer isn’t as common in younger women, one in 10 women diagnosed is under age 45. Black women tend to have a higher rate of early-onset breast cancer than other younger women. A few things set early-onset breast cancer apart from other cancers: It may include worries about body image, fertility, finances and isolation It’s more aggressive and challenging to treat It’s often hereditary (runs in your family) It’s usually at a later stage when found What increases your risk for breast cancer when you’re younger? While anyone with breasts is at risk for breast cancer (yes, even men), different factors increase your risk for breast cancer when you’re younger. If you’re under 45 years old, your risk may be higher if you: Are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, which puts you at a higher risk for changes in genes that fight breast cancer (BRCA1 or BRCA2) Are Black, due to genetics, the biology of the cancer, and/or differences in health care. Are transgender, due to differences in hormones and gender affirmation surgeries. Have a mammogram that reveals you have dense breasts Had other breast health problems, such as lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Had radiation to your breast or chest during early childhood or as a young adult Have changes in the BRCA genes or have close relatives with changes in the BRCA genes Have relatives (parents, siblings, grandparents on both sides) who had breast or ovarian cancer before age 45 What are the symptoms of breast cancer? Breast cancer symptoms can show up differently for everyone. Or you may not have any symptoms at all. In fact, many people don’t know they have breast cancer until it shows up on a mammogram. Some breast cancer warning signs are: A new lump in the breast or the armpit area Any change in the size or shape of the breast Irritation or dimpling of breast skin Nipple discharge (including blood) other than breast milk Nipple pulling in Pain in any area of the breast Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or breast Thickening or swelling of any part of the breast While these symptoms can also be a sign of something other than cancer, it’s crucial to talk with your doctor about these symptoms. How can you reduce your risk of early-onset breast cancer? If you have any risk for early-onset breast cancer, there’s good news. You don’t have to let cancer have the upper hand. You can take action and reduce your risk. Learn about your family’s history of breast and ovarian cancer Your family’s health history is one of those risk factors that’s out of your control. Learn about your family’s history of breast, ovarian and other cancer history (including your immediate family and extended family on both your mom’s and dad’s side). It gives you and your doctor a solid starting point for better understanding your risk for early-onset breast cancer and hereditary cancer. Consider genetic counseling and testing If your family history puts you at greater risk for cancer, your doctor may recommend genetic counseling. You’ll talk with a specialist who can help you and your family decide whether genetic testing for the changes in the BRCA and other inherited genes is right for you. If you have testing and learn you have a mutation (change) in a gene known to cause cancer, you have options that will make it less likely you’ll develop cancer. Those may include having mammograms, clinical breast exams and ovarian cancer screenings at a younger age. Medications to reduce your risk and surgery to remove your breasts, ovaries and fallopian tubes are also options. Focus on a healthy lifestyle Reducing your breast cancer risk is just one of the many benefits of making a healthy lifestyle a priority. Take action and take care of your health. Lower your cancer risks by choosing to: Breastfeed your babies, if possible Exercise regularly Limit or eliminate alcohol Maintain a healthy weight Take charge of your breast health at every age Don’t assume you have to be a certain age to consider your risk for breast cancer. Prevention and early detection save lives. Talk with your primary care provider, or if you need a provider, call Luminis Health at 443-481-5800 to schedule an appointment. This post was originally published on the Enquirer Gazette. Authors Dr. Regina Hampton, Medical Director of the Breast Center at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. She is a breast surgeon with more than 15 years of experience.0
- SpecialtyRegular contact with a primary care provider may help you live a longer, healthier life. We provide care for mental and physical health conditions, plus preventative care, to help you become your best self.0
- Why Choose Luminis Health Imaging for Screening Mammography?At Luminis Health Imaging, we know how important mammography is for your health. We also know that you have a lot going on. That's why we offer:An easy-to-use online system for booking or rebooking your mammography exam.Reminders when it's that time of year to book your mammography.Convenient hours, including weekend and evening appointments.Experts who take the time to respond to your questions or concerns.3D mammography at all our locations: Our diagnostic imaging center offers 3D mammography to all our patients. What's so special about 3D mammography? In short, it gives a better picture of the breast tissue. This means fewer "false positives." For you, this means you're less likely to have to deal with the anxiety and hassle of having to book extra breast imaging tests.Trusted expertise: Our radiologists are fellowship-trained in mammography. This means they've achieved the highest level of training in their field. And we bring this expertise to you. You can feel confident your radiology team will pick up on any concerning breast tissue changes. We read tens of thousands of mammography images a year, giving us the experience you need.ScreeningConditions/Services/Treatments PageLet's be real: Mammograms can be uncomfortable. But at Luminis Health Imaging, we make the process as smooth and painless as possible. That's because we want you to keep up with your routine mammograms. It's an important test. It lets us find breast cancer early, so we can stop it in its tracks.If you're aged 40 or older, we recommend a mammogram every year. Once you're 55, you can switch to mammograms every other year. This is because menopause causes changes in breast tissue that makes breast cancer easier to find with imaging.A family history of breast cancer is one reason why you may want to start breast cancer screening earlier. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you.What is Mammography?Mammography is a breast imaging test. Mammography uses low-dose x-rays to take pictures of your breast tissue. This allows radiologists to see lumps or abnormal tissue.You may think, "Can't I just feel my breasts for lumps?" Self-exams are important, but you still need a mammogram. Your mammogram can find lumps that are too small to feel through the skin.If the radiology team sees something in the mammography images that doesn't quite look right, we'll recommend more tests. These can include other breast imaging tests or a biopsy. It's natural to worry if your mammogram comes back abnormal. But keep in mind that an abnormal mammogram finding often ends up being no big deal, like a cyst.Sometimes a screening mammography finds cancer. Routine mammograms let us find cancer earlier, when treatments have a higher rate of success. And when we catch cancers early, we have the best chance to use medications with fewer side effects.0
- PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that, for most people, isn’t too different than having a mild cold. But for babies and toddlers, RSV can lead to longer-lasting complications and hospital stays. After a historic dip in cases last year, there’s now a surge in RSV bringing young children to the hospital. Here’s what to watch for if you have a little one. What is RSV and Why is it Surging Now? RSV usually peaks in the winter. It’s contagious and spreads like a cold between people and on surfaces. It’s possible that last year — when lots of us stayed home, wore masks, kept our distance from each other and sanitized all hard surfaces — the virus didn’t have much of a chance to get passed around. However, it became widespread extra early this year as we eased up safety measures over the summer. If you get the cold- and flu-like symptoms of RSV, you’ll usually feel better on your own in a week or two. But it can be worse in very young children and older adults, whose symptoms can become severe and make it hard to breathe. Every year, nearly 60,000 children younger than five are hospitalized for RSV. Signs to Look for (and How to Tell It’s Not COVID) Adults can get RSV and not show any symptoms, but infants and young kids almost always do. Common RSV symptoms can include: Cough Congestion Fever (100.4 or higher) Fussiness Irritability Poor feeding Runny nose Sneezing Most kids feel symptoms for five to seven days, and almost all will clear up on their own at home. However, it’s important to be aware that a diagnosis of RSV can develop into bronchiolitis or pneumonia — and these two conditions can seriously affect the lungs. Watch carefully for signs and call your doctor right away if you see: Belly breathing or tugging between ribs or at lower neck Fast breathing or trouble breathing Flaring of nostrils Head bobbing with breathing Wheezing If you think your child has RSV, it’s a good idea to check in with your pediatrician. You should also call right away if they get dehydrated (with fewer than one wet diaper every eight hours), have a greyish or bluish color to their tongue, lips or skin, or become much less alert or less active. Since RSV shares many of the same possible symptoms of COVID-19, the only way to know for sure what your child is dealing with is to get them tested. How to Treat RSV Symptoms Antibiotics don’t work against RSV. To help ease their symptoms, give your child some extra comfort and care for them like you would if they had a cold, while keeping an eye out to make sure they don’t get worse. You can: Help them stay hydrated. It’s essential your child gets enough fluid, even if they don’t feel like drinking or feeding. Nasal saline or gentle suctioning can make it easier for them to breathe and stay hydrated. Turn on a humidifier. A cool-mist humidifier can also help clear up congestion to help with breathing. Reduce their fever. If your child is older than six months and has a low-grade fever, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help keep it down. Ask your doctor if you need help with the correct dose. At the hospital, children with RSV sometimes need extra oxygen, medicine to open their airways or other treatments to help their breathing. Most get better and can go home in a few days. When to Take Extra Care If your child was born prematurely, has chronic lung or heart disease or a weakened immune system, you can take extra steps to protect them from RSV. It’s likely what you’re probably already doing during COVID: Avoid contact with people who are sick Cover coughs and sneezes, and throw away used tissues Regularly clean commonly touched surfaces and toys Wash your hands regularly If your child is at high risk of RSV or you live in an area with lots of cases, your doctor might also recommend palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody used to prevent RSV infection. The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) recommended giving out doses early this year in some areas. Remember that RSV is common — most children will get it by the time they’re two. Kids and adults can also get it more than once, even in the same year. This year, we can all do our part to stay (and keep one another) healthy by taking a few simple steps: Stay home when you’re sick and avoid sharing germs with babies, small kiddos and older adults. And if you need help along the way, we’ll be here to support you. Author Lauren Fitzpatrick, MD, is the medical director of the Pediatric Emergency Department and Inpatient Unit at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center0
- Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThere’s a lot of discussion about the importance of probiotics, “good” bacteria and the role they play in aiding digestion and balancing out the bad bugs in your gut. Research is hinting that probiotics may help treat diarrhea, boost your immune system for fighting colds and flu, help prevent allergy symptoms, treat irritable bowel syndrome and prevent and treat yeast and urinary tract infections, among other things. However, effects can vary from person to person. These active cultures seem to pack a powerful punch, but there are things you should know before you invest in probiotics. Let Food Be Your Source Just like your vitamins, the best source for probiotics is through their natural occurrence in whole foods, not supplements. Not only are supplements costly and unregulated by the FDA, there are questions surrounding the amount of probiotics your body can absorb through supplements. Dairy items with live and active cultures are rich in probiotics, as are pickled or fermented foods. Probiotic-rich foods include: Yogurt with live cultures Kefir (a cultured dairy drink) Pickles Sauerkraut Kimchi (a fermented Korean side dish) Tempeh (a fermented Indonesian vegetarian patty) Pickled vegetables Live cultured salsa Aged cheese, like cheddar, gouda, parmesan and swiss Assorted beverages such as kombucha tea A wide assortment of probiotic-enriched foods have jumped into the market—like juices, cereals and snack bars—but you should use caution with these as the organisms may be decayed and of little health value. Keep Them Alive The benefits of probiotics come from live organisms, so proper storage and shelf life are key to gaining their maximum benefit. Make sure you follow instructions for refrigeration, as well as use items before their expiration date in order to maintain potency. The probiotics won’t work if they’re dead when you use them. Pair Them With Prebiotics Did you know probiotics like food, too? Prebiotics are the food of choice for probiotics. They are dietary fiber that’s nondigestible and able to pass on to the gut to help good bacteria flourish. Prebiotics can be found in foods like: Whole grains Bananas Jerusalem artichokes Asparagus Onions Leeks Garlic Honey Chicory root Unfortunately you won’t find prebiotic fiber listed on labels for products with whole grains, so it’s easiest to focus on boosting your overall fiber intake. Also, prebiotics do not have to be eaten at the same time as probiotics, but there are some great combinations you can put together, like sliced bananas added to your yogurt. Fresh asparagus pairs nicely with tempeh or kimchi. Is There Too Much of a Good Thing? Still considering taking a probiotic supplement? Probiotics aren’t necessarily needed every day like a multi-vitamin, and there are some people, like those who are immunosuppressed, who may need to be careful about how much they take. If you’re considering a probiotic supplement in addition to or instead of adding probiotic-rich foods to your diet, check in with your doctor. There may be specific strains that would benefit you more and guidelines for how much and how often you should take the supplement. Also, since the FDA does not regulate probiotic supplements, your doctor or registered dietitian can steer you toward a reputable product. Ever consider nutritional counseling? Learn more about this service from Anne Arundel Medical Center. Author By Ann Caldwell, nutritionist and registered dietitian at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach her call 443-481-5555. Originally published April 28, 2015. Last updated July 23, 2018.0
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