- Cancer Care, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMany people know that having a family history of cancer can increase your chance of developing cancer. In some cases, it’s possible to inherit a gene mutation that can cause cancer. That’s what happened to Chaplain Edrees Bridges. When he was 33 years old, he experienced gastrointestinal issues that didn’t go away. He mentioned it to his mother, and she suggested he see a doctor because of the family history of cancer. The doctor recommended a colonoscopy. His colonoscopy results showed six non-cancerous polyps. His doctor removed the polyps during the procedure. After that, he continued to have colonoscopies every three years. About six years ago, before one of his colonoscopies, his pre-procedure bloodwork revealed he had Lynch syndrome. “I always had concerns that haunted me, but now that I had a name for my situation, I felt that I could address it and take preventive measures,” Bridges explains. Zoe Bogus, a cancer genetic counselor at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, answers a few questions about Lynch syndrome: What is Lynch syndrome? Lynch syndrome is an inherited cancer predisposition syndrome that happens when someone inherits a mutation in any one of five different genes. The specific cancer risks can vary by individual and family. However, individuals with this condition may have a higher risk of developing a variety of cancers including (but not limited to) colorectal cancer, uterine cancer, stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, urothelial cancers, brain cancer, and pancreatic cancer. How will I know if I have it? Usually, providers use genetic testing to diagnose Lynch syndrome. If you have a family history that includes several relatives who have the cancers listed above, and were diagnosed before the age of 50, it may be time to see a genetic counselor. You can call 443-481-5081 to make an appointment. If I test negative for Lynch syndrome, does that mean I won’t get colorectal cancer? No, everyone has some risk of colorectal cancer over the course of their lifetime. It is important to follow your doctor’s recommendations for colon cancer screening based on your own history and family history. If I test positive for Lynch syndrome, what should my next steps be? Now that you know you have Lynch syndrome, you may want to consider additional cancer screenings. Talk to your doctor about the best preventive steps for you. You may also want to encourage relatives to get the test as well. What are the risk factors for colorectal cancer? Risk factors include: Age (risk increases as age increases) Racial/ethnic background (African Americans and Jews of Eastern European descent) Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, adenomatous polyps or colorectal cancer Family history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps Sedentary lifestyle Being overweight or obese Diet high in red and/or processed meats Smoking Moderate to heavy alcohol use Having Type 2 Diabetes Inherited syndromes – most common are Lynch Syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) Bridges’ diagnosis hasn’t slowed him down. In August 2021, he made history as the Maryland National Guard’s first chaplain whose faith tradition is Islam. He also works as a special agent with the U.S. Capitol Police. His message to others: “A simple blood test can save a life.” To learn more about genetic counseling, please click here.
- Primary Care, Weight Loss, Wellness, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogEvery year, there’s no shortage of stories exploring all the ways you can get healthier. Exercise and weight loss generally top the list of resolutions people set for themselves as the calendar year turns over, but research shows that around 80% of them are dropped by February. Here are five things you can do to increase your chances of setting an attainable health goal this year — and sticking with it. 1. Determine your “why” You may never have heard of a “why” statement, but you’ve probably heard of company mission statements. (Consider JetBlue’s widely cited credo: “To inspire humanity — both in the air and on the ground.”) A personal “why” statement is essentially the same thing. It simply answers the question of why you’re doing whatever it is you’re doing. To make something a habit, you first have to understand why you’re doing it. Why does a certain goal mean something to you? It can’t be something you’re doing just because someone else is doing it or because you think you should. For instance, if a doctor tells you to eat better and lose weight because it’s good for your health, will that compel you to work toward that goal? How about if you know that by eating better and losing weight you’ll be able to run around and play with your grandchildren? Now that’s a great “why.” For every goal you want to accomplish in 2022, make sure you first establish your reason. It’s what inspires you to take action. 2. Be specific When you’re planning healthy changes, it can be hard not to reach for the moon. But generic goals, like “I’m going to exercise more this year” or “I’m going to eat better,” rarely work because they lack focus. Instead, set small, measurable milestones to chart your progress to a larger goal. For instance, you could plan to cook one more meal at home a week than you currently do. That small change could help you eat healthier overall. Not to mention save you money on takeout. If you want to exercise more and think getting into running could be a good way to do it, you could sign up for a 5K race that’s six months away. Suddenly, you have a large goal to reach, but plenty of time to reach it. To get started, you could set small goals to reach the larger goal. First, focus on running a mile, then increase your distance to two miles and, finally, to three. By breaking down a lofty goal into smaller, more manageable chunks, you’re able to see improvement and celebrate accomplishments along the way. 3. Focus on the journey Health is about the journey, not the destination. Just as you shouldn’t focus on vague or overly ambitious goals, you should celebrate small wins. Maybe you went to bed 15 minutes earlier every night this week as a small step toward a long-term goal of getting more sleep. That’s an accomplishment. Health is a lifestyle. It’s not something you achieve and then leave behind. If you’re working toward regularly cutting a certain number of calories from your diet, for example, you wouldn’t abruptly wipe your hands of it the first time you reached your goal. Health is something you continually have to work at to make it a lifestyle. 4. Make movement count Sure, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, but remember, some activity is always better than no activity. Just start with a five-minute walk if you don’t have much time. But look for ways to add movement to your days. Maybe you take the steps instead of the elevator. Maybe you park on the far side of the parking lot when you go to the grocery store. Maybe you skip that after-dinner glass of wine and take the dog for a 20-minute walk instead. If you’re mindful of getting in movement, it will become intentional. Plus, the health benefits of movement are numerous. Physical activity can help: Boost your mood and improve your sleep Lower your risk of heart disease and certain cancers Help manage diabetes and high blood pressure 5. Practice gratitude Be grateful for what you have instead of jealous of what you don’t. Gratitude helps reduce stress, which can lead to chronic inflammation and an increased risk of certain conditions like heart disease and diabetes when long-lasting. Being able to cope with stress to reduce these ill effects is why self-care is so important. Prioritize time for yourself. Take a walk to clear your head or add a lavender-scented candle to your desk. Filling your bucket so you’re mentally and physically strong enough to tackle all those goals you’ve set for yourself is crucial. But be kind to yourself if you fall short of achieving a goal. There aren’t any hard-and-fast deadlines for healthy habits. Be grateful for the opportunity to try, try again. Authors Stefanie Osterloh, CRNP, is a family nurse practitioner with Luminis Health Primary Care in Crofton, Md.
- Cancer Care, Primary CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen cancer prevention comes up, often we think of healthy habits such as eating fruits and vegetables and staying active. But don’t forget the HPV vaccine! The HPV vaccine is the world’s first cancer vaccine and it can prevent six types of cancer. Nicholas C. Lambrou, MD, chief of gynecologic oncology at Luminis Health, answers several common questions about the HPV vaccine below. At what age should people receive the HPV vaccine? Children should receive the HPV vaccine along with their other routine pediatric vaccines between ages 9 to 12 years old. Which cancers does the HPV vaccine protect against? The HPV vaccine protects against cervical cancer, cervical precancer, oropharyngeal cancer, anal cancer, vulvar and vagina cancer and penile cancer. What are the risks? Providers have safely administered the HPV vaccine since 2009. Talk to your doctor about any specific concerns for you or your child. How can I get the vaccine? Many providers are able to administer the vaccine, including pediatricians, primary care physicians and gynecologists. If you need to find a provider, please call 443-481-1000. Authors Nicholas C. Lambrou, MD, FACOG, FACS, is the chief of gynecologic oncology at Luminis Health. Dr. Lambrou’s areas of interest include the treatment of women with gynecologic cancer, cancer prevention strategies and advanced gynecologic surgery.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center is pleased to name Dawn Ridley as the new vice president, development. Ridley has more than 25 years’ experience in program development, fundraising, marketing, business development and new product development. She most recently served as Assistant Vice President of Institutional Giving at Howard University. “It is clear Dawn has the experience and expertise to lead our Foundation to great heights, including our current 2-year $2.5M comprehensive campaign,” said Deneen Richmond, president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. “Since the mission of Luminis Health is to enhance the health of the people and communities we serve, Dawn will play a pivotal role in making sure we continue to provide quality healthcare services for our family, friends, and neighbors.” “I am honored to live in Prince George’s County and now work for the premiere hospital in the region,” said Dawn Ridley. “For more than thirty years, the Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center Foundation has raised funds to support hospital programs and services. With the new behavioral health pavilion being built on campus, this is an exciting time to make a positive impact in this community.” Ridley shares a passion for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) initiatives. With its Health Equity and Anti-Racism Task (HEART) Force, Luminis Health has become a national model for eradicating inequities in health care. “I am proud to further the work of the HEART Force and I’m excited about the opportunity to increase health equity for our Prince George’s community,” said Ridley. Ridley is on the faculty at Georgetown University and Howard University. She has held leadership roles with AARP, D.C. United, National Geographic Society, NFL Players Association, Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, and the Atlanta Braves baseball club. In addition, Ridley served as the chair of the AARP Black Caucus Employee Resource Group.
- Behavioral Health, Digestive CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and anxiety may not seem like they’d have anything to do with each other. After all, one affects the gut while the other influences the mind. But new research has found that not only is there a connection, it’s written in our genes. What is the relationship between IBS and anxiety? Researchers have long known that the brain sends signals to the gut. Until recently, though, most scientists flat-out rejected the possibility that it could be a two-way street. Studies in the past decade, however, have shed new light on evidence that the communication does go both ways. And interest in the brain-gut connection is now gaining ground. A study published in late 2021 by the journal Nature Genetics sought to identify genetic risk factors for IBS. What researchers found was proof that IBS and anxiety share certain genetic pathways. That means that the genetic changes that put someone at an increased risk for IBS also put them at an increased risk for certain mental health conditions, like depression, insomnia and anxiety. The findings don’t just highlight the close ties between IBS and anxiety. They also set the stage for the development of new treatments. Taking a closer look at IBS and anxiety IBS is a common condition that affects one in 10 people worldwide. It causes symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating and bowel issues. Factors like diet, stress and behavior can increase a person’s risk. So can difficult early-life events, like physical or sexual abuse and certain mental health disorders. Anxiety may be a normal reaction to stress. It can also develop into a disorder when feelings of dread and unease don’t go away and worsen over time. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, anxiety affects more than 40 million adults in the United States. Symptoms can include a pounding heartbeat, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms can interfere with a person’s daily life. What this news means for you The newfound genetic link between IBS and anxiety shows that anxiety aggravates IBS symptoms. And IBS, in turn, aggravates anxiety symptoms. But one disorder doesn’t cause the other. They simply share a common origin: the same mutated genes that lead to brain or nerve cell changes and symptoms in both the brain and gut. It’s already common practice for doctors to treat a person’s anxiety when working to manage their IBS symptoms. They’ve found success through treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medical hypnotherapy and progressive muscle relaxation, as well as antidepressants. CBT, for example, helps raise awareness of negative thinking so people can respond to challenging situations in a more effective way. In the future, scientists may be able to tailor treatments for IBS and anxiety based on these shared genetic differences. As with everything, though, therapies should be personalized to the individual. If you have IBS, talk to your doctor to see if mental health therapies might help you better manage your symptoms. Authors Showkat Bashir, MD, specializes in gastroenterology at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.
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