- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAll this month – National Cancer Survivor Month – we are sharing stories from our own cancer survivors. Each cancer journey is unique. At Luminis Health, we want to shine a light on these journeys from the perspective of our own patients. That’s why we’ve started this new series – bringing hope and comfort to those who have been touched by cancer. Jeannie Barzanti’s story I am a registered nurse and started working at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) about 18 months ago, as a clinical supervisor in surgery. The organization’s reputation in health care proceeds them, and I had very intentionally wanted to be a part of it. Everything was going great, but as life would have it, on September 17, 2020, I was diagnosed with breast cancer on a routine mammogram. Then came the ultrasound, and the biopsy, which showed invasive ductal carcinoma. My sister is a 10-year survivor of breast cancer, so I knew something about what the process could be like, and I also knew that it was very possible to survive it. Still, nothing prepares you to hear that you have cancer—it’s terrifying. My eldest daughter had just gotten married, my younger daughter was almost through graduate school, and there was so much going through my mind, about the future and all the unknowns. It was extremely hard to tell my daughters and my husband that I had cancer. But the treatment at Luminis Health is first rate—as an employee I knew that, but I experienced it in a different way as a patient. My case went to the Tumor Board, a multidisciplinary team of nurses, doctors, radiologists, pathologists, genetics counselors, social workers, and nutritionists who review each patient’s diagnosis and design a game plan. They all agreed that I would have chemotherapy first, then surgery, then radiation. Along the way, I had an amazing support system outside the hospital which included my daughters, my husband, my sister and friends in the community. But the support inside the hospital was just as important. I first met with my doctor, Dr. Lorraine Tafra, at the Breast Center to outline my treatment. I then met with Nurse Navigator Alyson Figlioli, who made appointments for me, provided a detailed plan with my specific diagnosis, made sure I saw all the right clinical staff including my medical oncologist, Dr. Young Lee, and radiation oncologist, Dr. Mary Young. Alyson ensured I completed all of the required testing. She really held my hand and led me through the process. She calmed my fears and helped me understand the overwhelming process I was about to undertake. All of the staff made me feel so supported. I found it very comforting to be in my “own house” during this time, to work at the same place where I received treatment. Though I’d take several days off after chemotherapy, I kept working throughout my treatment. I needed a total of six rounds, three weeks apart. I found that toward the end it gets harder to bounce back, and you need more support. In LHAAMC’s infusion center waiting room, there is a bell hanging on the wall to celebrate patients completing chemo. When I finished my last dose of chemo, my husband and daughter joined me for this celebratory “ringing of the bell.” But before I rang this bell, the infusion center staff sang a “no more chemo” song. Such a simple celebration meant the world to me! Tears were streaming down my face as I realized that the worse part was over, and I was going to be OK. After chemo, I had surgery and then radiation, and my incredible care continued. Dr. Tafra and the operating room (OR) staff were amazing and listened to all of my fears. Since I work in the OR, I knew I was in great hands. The radiation staff, which included Dr. Mary Young and technicians Vicki, Leah, and Michelle, were also exceptional. They treated me like I was the only patient they had for the day. They were so very compassionate and efficient. I finished my radiation treatments in the middle of April 2021 and, today, I’m officially cancer-free. When I was first diagnosed, I had told my husband that I didn’t want breast cancer stuff—no pink survivor sweatshirts or ribbons. But then I got knee-deep in chemo, and I started feeling differently. I realized we are all warriors. And the staff at Luminis Health were right there by my side, fighting with me the whole way.0
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLacrosse is an exciting and fast-paced game that is one of the most rapidly growing team sports in the country. But, the combination of quick changes of direction, contact and a hard ball traveling at high speeds provides the perfect environment for injuries. There are many differences between girls’ and boys’ lacrosse. High school female lacrosse players are only required to wear protective eyewear and mouth guards, with headgear and gloves optional. The rules prohibit body contact and limit stick checking. Boys’ lacrosse is a full contact sport with mandatory use of helmets, mouth guards and other protective gear. Body and stick checking is allowed. These differences can explain the number and kinds of injuries sustained in male versus female high school lacrosse players. While boys have a higher overall injury rate than girls, here are a few common injuries in both male and female players: Lower extremity sprains and strains are the most common injury sustained by both male and female lacrosse players. These are usually the result of a noncontact injury while running and cutting. Anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tears are the most common reason for loss of playing time, with girls having higher rates of knee injuries than boys. Concussions are the second most common injury. They occur equally among male and female lacrosse players. Male concussions are usually due to direct body contact, while female concussions are usually due to accidental stick or ball-to-head contact. Because girls are not required to wear helmets, they have a much higher rate of head and facial trauma. Hand and wrist fractures are common for both boys and girls from direct contact and stick checks. Females have slightly higher fracture rates due to their lack of padding. Gloves are optional and, if worn, are only lightly padded. Lacrosse Injury Prevention Injury prevention starts with strict rule enforcement, but here are a few things players can do to protect themselves: Limit head-to-head contact to decrease the risk of concussion. Players, coaches and parents need to learn the symptoms of a concussion. If a player shows signs of a concussion, it’s critical they are removed from the game and evaluated by a certified athletic trainer or medical provider. Wear well-fitting protective equipment. Girls should consider wearing helmets to reduce the risk of head and facial trauma. Girls should also consider wearing gloves to reduce the risk of hand and wrist trauma. Be proactive in preseason conditioning. This is important for all athletes. You need to warm up and stretch properly and drink appropriate amounts of water, especially during summer months. Athletes should also get plenty of rest after practice and games. If you experience a lacrosse-related injury, a sports medicine specialist helps speed your recovery and get you back on the lacrosse field as quickly and safely as possible. Author Daniel Redziniak, MD is a board-certified sports medicine orthopedic surgeon with AAMC Orthopedics. He specializes in arthroscopic surgery of the knees and shoulders. He is the team physician for several high school, college and professional teams, including the Chesapeake Bayhawks lacrosse team. Originally published Feb. 11, 2018. Last updated April 5, 2019.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCostumes, candy, spooky stories – whether you are young, or just young at heart, Halloween is a holiday many of us love to celebrate every year. But the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed everything these last few months. Including our favorite holiday traditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines that recommend against trick-or-treating this year, along with other high-risk activities, such as attending Halloween parties inside someone’s house, visiting indoor haunted houses or attending other large, crowded events. We may not be bobbing for apples together. But there are still things you can do to celebrate safely at home with your immediate family. Here are some ideas, courtesy of the CDC. Carve pumpkins with your family. Gather everyone who lives in your home together and have fun carving your spookiest jack-o-lanterns. Take pictures and share them on social media. You could even host an online photo contest and see which ones gets the most likes. Or, you and your neighbors could have a socially distant carving party and carve pumpkins on your front porches. Organize a virtual costume party. Thanks to Zoom and other technology platforms, you can still get together with your friends from the safety of your own home. Log onto your computer, dress up in your best Halloween costume, and let the celebration begin. Hold a Halloween scavenger hunt. Buy some Halloween treats and toys and hide them all around your home or yard for your kids to find. Have a movie night. Halloween is the best time to binge watch scary movies. Cuddle up on the couch and put on your favorite flick. You could even host a group virtual watch party. You could use Zoom and share your screen with your friends. Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime also have remote streaming capabilities. Outside is safer than inside Outdoor activities are safer than indoor ones, as long as you are following COVID-19 safety guidelines. That includes wearing masks, washing hands often and staying at least six feet apart from those who aren’t in your household. The CDC classifies several Halloween activities as moderate risk, such as going to a pumpkin patch or an apple orchard, visiting an open-air haunted forest or having a costume party outside. If you are going to be screaming, stay more than six feet apart. Setting up a table with individually wrapped treats at the end of your driveway or yard for children to take is also a less risky way to participate in Halloween. Make sure you wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after you put together any goodie bags. Remember that a Halloween mask isn’t the same as wearing a cloth mask. Your mask should have two or more layers of breathable fabric, and cover your mouth and nose. It should not leave gaps around your face. Do not wear a costume mask over your cloth mask, as it may make it difficult to breathe and is a safety hazard. Most importantly, if anyone in your family is sick with COVID-19 symptoms—stay home. From all of us at Luminis Health, we wish you a healthy and safe Halloween with more treats than tricks. Author Jean Murray is the director of Infection Control at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLast updated Jan. 27, 2020. For more recent updates on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, see our list of FAQs. If you’ve been reading or watching the news recently, you have learned that a newly identified coronavirus strain has been spreading in China and has made its way to several other countries through travelers. As a result, this has prompted the U.S. to quarantine travelers returning from the epidemic zones in China to reduce the risk of further transmission in the country. The Wuhan coronavirus, or coronavirus (COVID-19), was named after Wuhan City, China, where this strain originated. This is the newest example of an emerging infectious disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), coronaviruses can be as mild as the common cold or can be as deadly as the SARS coronavirus strain. If you were not in China during the initial outbreak period or you have not had close exposure to someone who has been infected with the new virus, be assured that you are highly unlikely to have this particular strain of coronavirus. At this point, there has been no sustained human-to-human secondary transmission in the U.S. Other coronavirus strains occur in the U.S. year-round. Most people will get infected with one or more of the common human coronaviruses in their lifetime. There is no FDA-approved drug treatment for this virus. What are the symptoms? Most people with a coronavirus infection do not become seriously ill. The coronavirus is a kind of common virus that causes mild to moderate upper-respiratory infections. Like other respiratory viruses, strains of coronavirus increase transmission during the winter season. Similar to the common cold, coronaviruses last for a short period and symptoms are typically not severe but include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever and malaise. Those at highest risk of complications are children, the elderly, those with significant cardiac or pulmonary disease and those with a compromised immune system. How does it spread? Because the coronavirus is a respiratory virus, the most common method of transmission is through respiratory droplets and contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus. Contagion happens from person-to-person through coughing, sneezing, close personal contact or through touching contaminated surfaces. How can I protect myself? Although there are currently no vaccines available against the coronavirus infection, an important preventative step is to always get your annual flu vaccine. It’s not too late to get the flu vaccine given that the flu season typically extends into April or May each year in this area. It’s helpful when we can prevent other known viruses (like the flu) that can present symptoms similar to coronavirus strains. There is no commercially available test for the Wuhan strain of coronavirus at this time. Testing of hospitalized patients at highest risk is done through the state lab and CDC. According to CDC recommendations, you may be able to reduce your risk of infection by avoiding unnecessary travel; washing your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds or using a hand sanitizer; avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth; and avoiding contact with people who are ill. If your symptoms are similar to those of the cold, you can reduce the chance of spread to others by staying home during the duration of your symptoms, avoiding close contact with others, covering your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing and frequently disinfecting nearby objects and surfaces. Both the CDC and WHO recommend against non-essential travel to China at this time. A 14-day mandatory quarantine for travelers returning from China to the U.S. was imposed on February 3. According to the CDC, the immediate health risk from Wuhan coronavirus to the general American public is considered very low at this time. Visit the CDC website for up-to-date information on the Wuhan coronavirus.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNothing can keep Rosa and Wayne Elliott separated – not even the COVID-19 pandemic. The Edgewater couple was treated for the virus at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center this month. Rosa, 90, was admitted on Jan. 11. Wayne, 89, was admitted four days later. But that didn’t stop date night for the Elliotts, who have been married for 71 years. They were on the same unit, so LHAAMC staff brought them together for each meal so they could still spend time together, hand in hand. “Although bringing someone down the hall for meals seems simple, the impact it made for not just the patients, but the staff who care for them was uplifting,” says Justin Bowser, clinical nursing director of LHAAMC’s medical surgical unit, neurological care unit and inpatient wound/ostomy department. Together, the Elliotts have lived an exciting life. Wayne served in the U.S. Navy, where he lost an eye. But that hasn’t kept him from winning several awards for competitive shooting. The retired employee of the state prison system is a master carpenter and lover of woodworking, and he fixes up and shoots muzzleloaders in his spare time. Rosa was the one who asked Wayne out for their first date all those years ago. A retired bank employee, she traveled all over the world with her husband when they were younger. “We have seen a great deal of sadness, grief, loss during this pandemic. What we try to remember most are the positive memories, the memories where we make an impact on someone’s life,” Justin says. “This love story is a prime example of a positive memory we can cherish.” The Elliotts were discharged from LHAAMC last week and are now recovering at home.0
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