- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThis year, National Cancer Survivors Day is celebrated on June 2. This is a day that recognizes cancer survivors and their loved ones. A day in which people share their journeys and experiences with others to give hope and inspire. But most importantly, it’s a day that raises awareness of a disease that has a major impact on society in the United States and across the world. A person is considered a cancer survivor from the day of diagnosis throughout the rest of their life. Cancer survivors face challenges during and after treatment. As a nurse navigator for cancer patients who has been working in the field for over 15 years, I am sure most of you know someone touched by the diagnosis of cancer. READ MORE: Conquering cancer: What’s next? Throughout my career, I’ve seen many people desperately wanting to help when a loved one is touched by cancer. It’s a challenging time. Drawing from my experiences, here are a few tips to keep in mind along the journey of cancer: Treat your friend or family member the same as you would normally. They are the same person they have always been. Try not to let the new diagnosis alter your relationship. Try to explore your own feelings and emotions ahead of time. It is very difficult to hear that a loved one has cancer. By processing your own feelings, you can better focus on your friend or family member. Listen to their thoughts and concerns. A cancer diagnosis is life changing. Your loved one will be trying to establish a “new normal”. Educate yourself. Take time to learn about and prepare for the cancer type that your friend or family member has experienced. Side effects and treatment results vary. Cancer treatments are not all the same. For example, a person treated for breast or prostate cancer will experience completely different side effects than someone with head and neck cancer. Learn about the diagnosis. What is predicted to be a significant side effect of the cancer or treatment? Head and neck cancer treatments result in significant swallowing difficulties and severe dry mouth. It can take quite some time for a person treated for head and neck cancer to complete a meal, if they are able to eat at all. Consider other ways of support rather than bringing them food, like spending time with them or helping with chores. Do not be afraid to ask how you can help them. Be patient. Keep in mind that long after treatment is complete, side effects can continue. Head and neck cancer can cause some patients to dread going out to dinner or participating in a shared meal. Often their tastes have changed and they no longer enjoy the foods they used to. Or as mentioned, a meal can take a long time to get through and friends and family have completed their meal long before they have. Sharing a meal is such a big part of our culture. Consider alternative ways to bond and connect. Be supportive. Often, the most difficult time for some survivors is after treatment is over. The routine of actively treating the cancer is complete. Waiting for the tests and imaging to determine if the cancer is gone is quite scary. When treatment is completed, survivors are no longer surrounded by their treatment team and can sometimes feel abandoned. There is often a perception from friends and family that treatment is over and life should go back to normal. Recovery from treatment can take up to a year or more. It is at this time when patients feel like “nothing is being done” that they may need you the most. READ MORE: Patient advisor helps fellow cancer survivors and patients Life does go on and survivors have the beautiful gift of being here to live it – probably with more intensity and appreciation for the little things in life. If you’re a survivor, be kind to yourself and give yourself, your family, and those around you time. Facing your feelings and learning how to cope with them is important. It took time to adjust to cancer, you should also give yourself time to adjust to life after cancer. But don’t forget, you’re a survivor and are now stronger than you were before. You will get through this. Author Jacqueline Shanahan is a nurse navigator at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute at Anne Arundel Medical Center. She can be reached at 443-481-5801. Originally published June 4, 2018. Last updated May 22, 2019.
- Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf it’s summer, chances are you and your food will be spending a lot of time outside. Picnic and barbecue season offers lots of opportunities for outdoor fun with family and friends. These warm weather events also present opportunities for foodborne bacteria to thrive. As food heats up in summer temperatures, bacteria multiply fast. Foodborne illness is a serious public health threat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates approximately one in six Americans suffer from foodborne illness each year, resulting in roughly 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. We want all of your outdoor eating this summer to be fun and safe. To protect yourself, your family and friends from food safety pitfalls that can ruin the fun, take some precautions. Preparation Wash all fruits and vegetables well before cutting. Some produce, such as melons, harbor bacteria on the rinds therefore they need to be washed well and promptly refrigerated. Keep Cold Food Cold Transport picnic foods in the passenger seat as your trunk can reach temperatures of 150 degrees. Cold food should be stored at 40 degrees or below to prevent bacteria growth. One tip is to pack meat, poultry and seafood frozen so they stay cold longer. Once you serve the food it should not sit out for longer than two hours, or one hour if the outdoor temperature is above 90 degrees. If it stays out longer, then discard. Foods like meat salad, and side dishes can be served in shallow dishes and set in a deep pan filled with ice. Or consider bringing nonperishable picnic alternatives. Try choosing vinegar-based salads and dips without dairy that don’t spoil as easily. Stick to simple desserts like cookies and brownies that do not need to be kept cold. Keep Hot Food Hot Hot food should be kept hot, at or above 140 degrees. It should be wrapped in an insulated container until serving. Similar to cold foods these foods should not be kept out longer than one to two hours depending on the outside temperature. A food thermometer is a must to confirm temperatures of foods. Also, consider staggering the times you put out different platters. Avoid Cross Contamination If you are grilling always be sure to keep all of your raw meats separate from your cooked foods. Do not reuse plates, utensils or marinades. Plus, pack plenty of moist towelettes or hand sanitizers, in case you are not near hand-washing facilities and clean hands frequently to avoid touching raw meat and then serving the salad. Also, bring bottled water. To learn more about nutrition services at Anne Arundel Medical Center, visit AskAAMC.org/nutrition. Author Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them call 443-481-5555. Originally published July 24, 2015. Last updated May 21, 2019.
- Senior CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNo one wants to think about getting sick or hurt on vacation. But if this does happen, being prepared can make the experience much better—and safer. Here’s a safety checklist for your pre-trip planning. If you’re older or have chronic health issues, see your doctor four to six weeks before your trip to make sure it’s safe for you to travel. Tell your doctor where you’re traveling, for how long and what activities you might do. Check to make sure your vaccinations are current, including a flu shot. Make a list of your current medications and allergies and take the list with you on your trip. Include the names and phone numbers of your doctors and your pharmacy. If you have a history of heart disease, ask your cardiologist to give you a wallet-sized version of your latest electrocardiogram (EKG). This will give emergency department (ED) doctors something to compare if you have heart troubles while away. It’s also a good idea to bring over-the-counter medicines: Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Benadryl and a thermometer should be part of your travel health kit. Remember to bring a note on your doctor’s letterhead if you are taking controlled substances or injectable medications. For older travelers with health conditions, be careful about your amount of activity —going to graduations, weddings, reunions and other parties on top of sightseeing can be stressful and make health issues worse. Try to build in rest time so you stay safe and healthy. What to expect in the ED If you do end up in the ED, a nurse will assess your symptoms, measure your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and oxygen level), and gauge any pain you may be having. This process helps define how severe your condition is, so that the most urgent patients are seen first. The ED has an expert team led by emergency physicians to assess and treat problems. Other team members may include registered nurses, physician assistants, registered nurse practitioners, ED technicians, respiratory therapists, care managers and social workers. Most EDs, like ours, have specialists such as orthopedists, cardiologists and surgeons on call 24/7. We can call them in to provide care when needed. After your care team reviews all necessary treatments and procedures, your provider will determine whether you can leave the hospital, or if it’s necessary to stay. If you require follow up while you’re still in town, a doctor will refer you to a local primary care provider or specialist. In some instances you may need to return to the ED for a final checkup. While you may not be able to prevent an illness or injury while traveling, planning ahead can make it easier to deal with. Author Mike Remoll, MD, is the medical director of the Emergency Department at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published June 29, 2016. Last updated May 21, 2019.
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt all started when I tripped and fell while I was at work. I couldn’t get back up. While I didn’t feel any pain, my left leg was lying off to the side and I had no control over it. So I went to Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), where I was able to see Orthopedic Surgeon James MacDonald, MD, with AAMC Orthopedics. It felt like an answer to my prayers. It turns out my leg had broken in one place and bone had started to disintegrate in another place. Dr. MacDonald put a rod in my leg and I was able to go home the next day and start physical therapy. Several months later, I went to see Christina Morganti, MD, to begin treatment for osteoporosis, a disease I never knew I had until my fall. Osteoporosis is a disease that happens when your body loses too much bone, makes too little bone or both, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. This leads to weaker bones that can easily break when you fall. If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self several things so that I could prevent osteoporosis in my future. Here are a few pieces of advice: Pay attention to your body. I don’t know if I’d even heard the word osteoporosis when I was younger. It never, ever crossed my mind. But I had broken many bones over the years, including my leg, my pinky finger and my wrist. I’d also broken my ankle three times. Bones break, but you go on. It wasn’t something I ever thought about. I believe my doctor did ask me if I wanted to see a nutritionist, and I probably told him no. Looking back, I should have paid more attention to those breaks. Be more intentional about exercising. Don’t become so sedentary. When I started seeing Dr. Morganti, she encouraged me to start exercising. I joined a local gym and my daughter-in-law gave me a FitBit, which is a good reminder to get up and move! My goal is 10,000 steps per day, and if it’s near the end of the day and I’m a few hundred steps away from my goal, I just get up and walk around my living room. Walking is one of the best things you can do. Taking care of your body is no different than taking care of your teeth or taking care of your skin. I also recommend having a workout buddy who will hold you accountable. Put down the technology. This one is actually for today’s kids. I think we were far more active by nature when I was younger. We walked to school and played outside, and we never really thought of it as exercise. We went bowling. We went dancing. Now, everyone just goes out to eat and they’re on their phones all the time. My advice is to put down the electronics and become more active before it is too late. I’ve lost about 30 pounds since my fall. I still walk with a limp and I wear lifts in my shoes. I have no desire to go back in for surgery! Dr. Morganti continues to treat me for my osteoporosis. I receive an injection of Prolia every six months and bone scans every two years. I also take vitamin D tablets twice a day to support bone health, though I feel best when I can get out in the sun. My levels of calcium—also necessary for bone health – seem to be fine. I’m also going to start lifting weights three times a week to help strengthen my bones. It can be hard when you are young to think about the future but I highly encourage you to do so, especially when it comes to your bones.
- Pediatrics, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSchool is out for summer. Excitement in the air! But soon, the sudden shift in routine causes kids and parents alike to wonder, “What are we going to do now?” With homework finally over for the time being and energy abundant, how can you as a parent channel your child’s energy into something positive and productive? Two words: summer camp. There is nothing like the experience of going to summer camp. Whether it’s a day camp environment or an overnight camp, there are many options available in our area to fit any child’s interests and developmental stage. There are camps that focus on sports, arts, science, computers, faith and religion, and much more. No matter what type of camp you are considering, children will be stimulated emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Summer camp can be a great way to facilitate, encourage and support your child’s growth: Self-esteem and confidence: Allowing children to engage in a safe environment that fosters the exploration of various activities and relationships without the pressure of academics. Spark new interest: Depending on the type of camp, most are likely to introduce something new to your child such as a game, craft or idea. Encourage new relationships: Introducing and encouraging children to engage in new friendships that can become life-long. In addition, building relationships with counselors can be a healthy way for your child to develop communication skills with adults. Independence: Regardless if a day camp or overnight camp is right for your child, giving them an opportunity to explore these avenues can be essential to their development. Resilience: Children learn decision-making skills, conflict management and stress relief techniques through experience in their daily interactions. So many kids are sucked into their electronic devices these days. Camp is a great way to get them outside and socializing with other kids—without parents around. When choosing a summer camp, here are some things to consider: What is my child currently interested in? In what activities or environments does my child thrive? Do I want a traditional camp that offers a variety of experiences or a specialty camp that focuses on a particular skill or activity? Would my child do better in a highly structured, scheduled environment, or one that allows him/her to choose activities? Would my child do best at a day camp, week-long overnight camp, or a summer-long camp? If this is your child’s first camp experience, you might start with a day camp in order to get them used to the idea of being temporarily separated from their family. If your child is older (about 12 is when most children are ready), an overnight camp might be right. How will I communicate with my child while at camp? Will I be allowed to visit, email, write? Does my child have special needs (physical, dietary) that need to be considered? What is my budget? Is the camp and staff properly accredited, certified and trained? Of course, be sure to include your child in the camp-choosing discussion. If you’re considering an overnight camp, talk to your child about it and get their thoughts and feelings so they don’t feel forced into a situation. With that said, it may take a little nudging from you. Summertime should be a mental break from the pressures of academics. Play is an important part of childhood that provides vital learning. As Mr. Rogers once said, “Play is the work of childhood.” Author Meghan Siegel is a child life specialist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published March 19, 2015. Last updated May 20, 2019.
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