- Patient Stories, Plastic Surgery & Skin CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter a lifetime of feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, Giovanni Rozier made the decision to receive gender affirmation surgery on his chest (commonly known as top surgery). He explored surgical programs in Maryland and was pleased and surprised to learn he could receive surgery at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC). “I love that hospital. All the babies in my family were born there…I would rather use LHAAMC than any other place.” “We are proud to help patients achieve their gender affirmation goals,” says Derek L. Masden, MD, chief of plastic surgery. “This procedure involves removal of breast tissue to create a flat and masculine chest.” Top surgery is widely recognized for improving the quality of life in those experiencing gender dysphoria, which is a sense of unease that a person feels when the gender they were assigned at birth does not match with their gender identity. Since transitioning, Giovanni says his life has changed for the better. “Now I don’t have to worry when I use men’s bathrooms and locker rooms. I know I am supposed to be there and I look like I’m supposed to be there. There’s no denying it.” “Gender affirmation can be life-changing,” says Lauren Eisenbeis, physician assistant. “Patients can finally be their authentic selves without having to hide or feel disconnects between their external appearance and internal selves.” Giovanni’s advice for others considering surgery is: “do what makes you happy.” He adds, “Nobody else has to live in your skin. Nobody else has to be you every day. I want trans people to love what they see in the mirror.” To learn if gender affirmation surgery at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center is for you, please reach out to our plastic surgery team at 443-481-3400 to schedule a consultation, or visit our Plastic Surgery page on Luminishealth.org.
- Quit SmokingGeneral Page Tier 3BlogTobacco usage is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 34 million adults currently smoke cigarettes, while an estimated 2.5 million middle and high school students use at least one tobacco product, including e-cigarettes and vapes. Beyond being harmful to users, tobacco products can also be fatal. According to The World Health Organization (WHO), the tobacco industry is responsible for the death of 8 million people worldwide each year, as well as widespread deforestation and overall environmental destruction. Steps to reduce tobacco usage in the U.S.: In recent years, there have been ongoing steps by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDC and White House to curb tobacco usage, which accounts for $225 billion spent annually on medical care to treat smoking-related illness and disease in adults. Recently, the Biden administration announced it will be developing a rule that would set a maximum nicotine level in cigarettes and other tobacco products to help lower nicotine content so that people are more successful in their cessation efforts. Also, the FDA moved to ban the sale of Juul electronic vaping devices in the U.S., though the ban is temporarily on hold while it is reviewed by an appeals court. In addition to these efforts, work is underway to further reduce tobacco usage, including increasing the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21, as well as a proposed rule by the FDA to ban the manufacturing and sale of menthol-flavored cigarettes and ban all flavored cigars. These initiatives are focused on continuing to reduce the number of people who use tobacco products, as well as support those who want to quit. The risk of smoking and using tobacco products Smoking and tobacco use harms every organ of the body, causing many diseases and reducing the health of smokers. There is no safe form of tobacco, including electronic cigarettes. The risks of smoking and tobacco usage include: Shortness of breath Increased risk of heart attacks and strokes Lung and other cancers (larynx, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, breast, cervix) Chronic pulmonary diseases (chronic bronchitis and emphysema) Long-term disability All cigarettes are harmful, and any exposure to tobacco smoke can cause both immediate and long-term damage to the body. Scientists have identified more than 7,000 chemicals and chemical compounds in tobacco smoke. At least 70 of them are known to cause cancer. The benefits of quitting For people who quit smoking, there are immediate and long-term benefits in doing so. Within 20 minutes of quitting, the body begins to repair itself and some of the damage caused by smoking: Carbon monoxide levels in your blood drops back to normal Improved circulation Walking becomes easier Decrease in coughing, shortness of breath and infections Reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer Support to help you quit Quitting tobacco will increase both longevity and quality of life. Quitting smoking is an important health decision, but how someone quits is also important. There are many safe, FDA-approved medications and strategies that can help people to quit. Consult your healthcare provider, a tobacco treatment specialist or contact the Maryland Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW for additional support. If you are ready to give up cigarettes and other tobacco products, Luminis Health is here to help you. There are a number of resources to help you successfully quit, including: Tobacco Treatment Specialists Individual or group counseling sessions Attend a “Be Free From Nicotine” Workshop For more information on our smoking cessation and nicotine dependence program, call 443-481-5366 or 443-481-5367. This article was originally published in the Enquirer Gazette. Authors Stephen M. Cattaneo, MD, is the Medical Director of Thoracic Oncology and the Division Director of Thoracic Surgery at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC). Cherise Easton, BS, NCTTS, Health Educator & Nationally Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist.
- News & Press Releases, Stroke CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability. Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times. Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is a national program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. “LHAAMC is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Minas Gebru, MD, the medical director for the LHAAMC stroke program. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. We use the data from GWTG every day to drive and guide our program decisions. The end goal is to ensure more people can experience longer, healthier lives.” Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home. LHAAMC also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Gilchrist Lifecare Institute will enhance elder care services in Anne Arundel County Gilchrist, Maryland’s largest nonprofit leader in serious illness and end-of-life care, today announced a joint venture with Luminis Health to form Luminis Health Gilchrist Lifecare Institute. The joint venture will enhance comprehensive geriatric care services in Anne Arundel County. The Luminis Health Gilchrist Lifecare Institute will provide an integrative continuum of care for the elderly across multiple settings, including hospitals, doctors’ offices, long-term care facilities and at home. These services will help address the complex medical, emotional and social needs specific to the elderly. The joint venture expands on Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center and Gilchrist’s existing partnership for hospital-based palliative care services. In-hospital hospice care will also be available at Anne Arundel Medical Center. The Luminis Health Gilchrist Lifecare Institute will provide services in Anne Arundel County, with plans to expand to Prince George’s County through Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center in the future. “Gilchrist is pleased to partner with a nationally recognized regional health system to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care to those with serious illness, whenever and wherever they need it,” said Catherine Y. Hamel, president of Gilchrist. “Luminis Health shares our commitment to serving patients throughout all stages of life.” “Our partnership with Gilchrist is a natural evolution of our nationally recognized Institute for Healthy Aging to provide expansive care and services to our older adult population and their families,” said Mitch Schwartz, president of Luminis Health Clinical Enterprise. “It’s about providing the right care, at the right time and the right place, and this new partnership will ensure that elderly health care is seamless. We are pleased to have the expertise of Gilchrist in hospital-based palliative care and, now, geriatric care and hospice services beyond our hospital walls into the communities and homes of the people we serve.” By 2034, older adults (65 and over) are expected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. Maryland will experience a projected 136 percent increase of individuals aged 80 to 84, between 2005 and 2040. Sixty-three percent of individuals 60 and over live in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. The Luminis Health Gilchrist Lifecare Institute aims to better meet the needs of this elderly population and improve their quality of life while reducing costly, unnecessary hospitalizations.
- 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.
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