- Cancer Care, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLast year, I wrote about the popularity of the Juul device among middle school students, high school students and young adults. Juuls, which look like USB flash drives, are a type of e-cigarette used to inhale flavored “pods” that contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. While nicotine itself does not cause cancer, it is highly addictive and harmful to the developing brain. This puts young people, whose brains continue to develop into their mid 20s, at higher risk of developing mood disorders, issues with memory and learning and poor impulse control. They are also more likely to develop an addiction to other substances later in life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately, many of these devices are also used for substances like marijuana. Over the past year, awareness of the risks associated with juuling has grown, and public health officials have cracked down on e-cigarette manufacturers’ sales to youth. Here are some of the major developments. Take our pledge to love your lungs, and be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card! Nicotine Use on the Rise The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 27 percent of high school teens used tobacco products in 2018, an increase of 38 percent over the past year. More specifically, e-cigarette use, also known as vaping, increased 78 percent among high school students, from almost 12 percent in 2017 to 21 percent in 2018. The use of other tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars did not really change. Therefore, we can reasonably attribute the increased nicotine use to e-cigarettes. READ MORE: Does your child Juul? Combatting Nicotine Use Thankfully, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), called teen vaping an epidemic and announced increasing restrictions for the industry. These measures include targeting retailers of Juuls through multiple undercover sting operations, taking action on flavored products that are appealing to youth, closing online sales to minors and curbing marketing of tobacco products to youth. The FDA also expanded its tobacco prevention campaign, “The Real Cost,” to educate teens on the dangers of e-cigarettes. Last September, the FDA conducted an unannounced inspection of Juul Labs’ headquarters in San Francisco, seizing over 1,000 pages of documents and ordering Juul to develop a youth prevention plan. In response, Juul improved its age verification system for purchases made on its website. Shoppers must now either provide the last four digits of their Social Security number or upload a valid government-issued ID for review. Juul also says it has increased its secret shopper program to verify that retailers are following the standards, while issuing fines for those that do not. Tobacco 21 Most recently, the Maryland General Assembly approved Tobacco 21, a bill that raises the age for purchasing tobacco products as well as e-cigarettes from 18 to 21. That law went into effect Oct. 1. Final Thoughts Learning more about the different types of e-cigarette products, including Juul, is an important first step in addressing youth vaping. It is also important to recognize the signs of e-cigarette use. The flavorings in the Juul and other tobacco products contain chemicals that may be safe to eat, but are not safe to inhale into the lungs. These chemicals can be irritating to the lungs and can cause coughing, wheezing and an increase in asthma symptoms. The secondhand vapor, much like secondhand smoke, contains chemicals and is not harmless water vapor. While I applaud the efforts of local and federal government to curb the use of e-cigarettes by our youth, parents and other influential adults must continue to talk to their children about the dangers of juuling. Author Stephen Cattaneo, MD, is a thoracic surgeon and medical director of Thoracic Oncology at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
- Community, News & Press Releases, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogToday is an important day for our community. We have learned that the appeal against the approval of a cardiac surgery program at Anne Arundel Medical Center will be dropped. This means that after more than two years of being tied up in the court system, we can move forward with our plans to bring this important service to our community. AAMC remains one of the busiest facilities in the state of Maryland for treating life-threatening heart attacks. We are also one of the best in delivering this life-saving care in the shortest amount of time, which is critical to the patient. This cardiac surgery program will allow us to provide the full continuum of cardiac services. In essence, we will no longer have to transfer hundreds of AAMC patients to other programs outside of our region each year. This is a true win for our patients, their families and the community! With the ability to move forward, we are able to begin our recruitment of key staff to lead and develop our program. We anticipate that we will be able to provide patients with cardiac surgery services in spring of 2020. Your unwavering support for this program has helped bring us to where we are today. On behalf of everyone at AAMC, we are grateful. I look forward to keeping you updated on our progress.
- Physical TherapyGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDid you know that April is Occupational Therapy month? As described by the American Occupational Therapy Association, “Occupational therapists help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.” Stroke, brain injury and other neurological conditions can be life changing. Occupational therapists work with individuals of all ages to help them discover the possibilities of a brighter future. Therapists identify how their patients can complete activities in a safe, effective way, which helps them improve their independence. Occupational therapy addresses the actions that occupy your time. For example, returning to work or school, driving, getting dressing, bathing and grooming. Through skilled evaluation, they identify barriers such as sensation, strength, cognition, and visual impairments. Our OT teams help patient’s meet their goals. They provide education on adaptive equipment to improve independence with a task, recommend tools to support and protect and provide strategies for safely getting around your community. Our occupational therapists look at the whole person. They work as part of a neurorehabilitation team that may include physical therapists and speech language pathologists along with your physician. During your first visit with an OT, we collaborate with you and your family members or caregivers, identify your goals, and create a treatment plan to meet your specific goals. For more information on occupational therapy and to request an appointment, visit AAMGPhysicalTherapy.com. Author Kaitlyn Schwartz, MS, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist, specializing in neurorehabilitation, with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Physical Therapy. To reach her office, call 443-481-1140. Originally published April 14, 2017. Last updated April 29, 2021.
- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSome say adversity is life throwing you a curveball to make it better. For every defeat or challenge you face, there’s a seed of growth and improvement planted with it. By his mid-30s, Earl Shellner’s life priorities were launching his own business, making money fast and partying with friends. This included traveling around the country frequently and missing important family events. Things quickly changed when adversity came ‘knocking on his door.’ It turns out, life had a different set of priorities for Earl. In 2013, Earl had a plane ticket bound to San Diego to spend the winter before returning to launch his business back in Maryland. Right before leaving for his trip, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The diagnosis meant 25 sessions of radiation, 12 sessions of chemotherapy and two months of oral chemotherapy at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). His outlook? “Cancer saved my life,” affirms Earl. “It completely changed me. One time, I found out my cousin was taking my mom to the hospital for heart issues while I was at Mardi Gras partying. Another time, I flew all the way to Houston to meet with a friend and didn’t even think of calling my grandparents who live there. When I found out about my cancer, I realized how really great my family is and that I wasn’t paying attention to them. I lived a totally different life but I like the person I became a lot more now.” When Earl completed his treatment, he experienced “chemo brain,” a symptom cancer survivors use to describe thinking and memory problems that can occur after cancer treatment. He couldn’t remember how to spell his name, called people by the wrong name and would have the same conversations repeatedly without noticing. One of the nurses informed him that AAMC had just started a program for cognitive behavioral therapy. “They thought they could maybe help me with my situation,” he says. “I started attending meetings for speech therapy and, after looking at the data, they said I was improving dramatically just from the therapy. I was told there were only four other patients doing this at the hospital and I thought to myself, ‘If it’s working for me so well, it must work well for others too.’” Having experienced what so many had already lived through, he was adamant in using his lessons to help others. Today, working as a patient family advisor (PFA), Earl has a different perspective toward his priorities. “I made it my goal to use the experiences I had lived through to make everything better for our patients,” he says. “I remember one time I was sitting in the infusion center getting my fluids and a woman approached me after she read an article I wrote with information about the cognitive program at AAMC and how to find help. She said she needed to thank me because she had attended one of the behavioral therapy courses and it had helped her dramatically. Knowing that I’m helping others is what brings me the greatest joy.” Earl has been a PFA at AAMC for four years. In April, he won the 2019 Beryl Institute’s Innovative Patient/Family Advisor Innovation Award for leading and inspiring an innovation that has improved the experiences of patients and their families. PRO TIP: “Sit down to think about the pros and cons in your life and find out what’s important to you. Once I realized the partying and the money were all gone, I realized there is so much more out there. Plan for tomorrow, live for today and enjoy life.” If you know a great individual or a fantastic team going above and beyond to make a difference, make sure to let us know! Looking for a career in health care? We invite you to join a diverse and collaborative team of professionals working together to innovate the future of health care for our entire region. Check out our career opportunities. Advisors directly influence our policies, programs and practices. This role allows people just like you to help us deliver the best health care experience possible. If you’re interested, please contact our advisor coordinator at 443-481-6054 or use our online form.
- Cancer Care, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs the weather gets nice and you begin to spend more time outdoors, it’s important to keep the health of your skin in mind. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world today, with more than 3.5 million skin cancer cases diagnosed each year — that’s more than the incidence of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. Skin cancer can affect anyone at any age. Understanding it and what you should watch for is key. Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers These are the most common forms of skin cancer. They generally show up in sun-exposed areas on the body, such as your face, arms and legs. Squamous cell cancers look like a crusty patch that you may think is a scab or a scrape that does not heal. Basal cell cancers look more raised and smooth, and may be pink or pearly white. You may also mistake them for a small injury or abrasion that does not go away. Dermatologists can easily identify these types of cancers. Cell cancers rarely spread anywhere else in the body. Your doctor will typically treat them by either surgically removing the cells or using a topical treatment. Melanoma Melanoma is a relatively rare type of skin cancer, but it is the most dangerous. It has the potential to spread to other parts of the body and can be deadly. This cancer develops when pigment-producing skin cells, called melanocytes, begin to grow and form a tumor, which can eventually spread. Most melanomas develop from a mole or look like a new mole. Exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning beds is a major risk factor for the disease, along with family history. Through treatment, doctors can cure about 80 percent of melanoma skin cancers. Like squamous and basal cell skin cancers, your doctor may remove the spot and then usually check nearby lymph nodes. What Should You Watch For? When it comes to monitoring your moles, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends you know the ABCDE rule: A for Asymmetry — One half of the mole is different from the other half. B for Border Irregularity — The edges are notched, uneven or blurred. C for Color — The color is uneven. Shades of brown, tan and black are present. D for Diameter — The diameter is greater than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser). E for Evolving —There is change in size, color or shape over time, or additional symptoms like itching or bleeding start. Examine your skin every month. Check for moles on every part of your body — from your scalp to the bottoms of your feet and even under your fingernails. If you see any moles that concern you, or if you have a mole that itches, hurts or bleeds, talk with your doctor. Protect Yourself Skin cancers are related to sun exposure. You should remember that it may not be the sunburn from your last vacation, but rather the repeated exposure to sun over the years that can affect your risk of getting skin cancer. It’s important to protect yourself from the sun when you are outdoors. Seek shade from 10 am to 4 pm and wear a wide-brimmed hat, UV-blocking sunglasses and protective clothing. Apply UV-blocking sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to all exposed skin every two hours. Most skin cancers are easily treatable, and highly curable, when caught early. Author Glen R. Gibson, MD, is a surgical oncologist with Anne Arundel Medical Center Surgical Oncology. His office can be reached at 443-481-3717. Originally published May 22, 2017. Last updated April 8, 2019.
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