02-22-2023 Primetime Living - Flipbook - Page 11
A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, February 22, 2023 11
2. One-third of the population has pre-diabetes. There’s a lot you can do to reduce your
risk. Review the recommendations on the
USPSTF website.
3. Take actions and/or appropriate behavior
changes: If indicated, think about using
medications today to prevent heart disease
five to ten years from now, or implementing
behavioral changes like smoking cessation or reducing your alcohol consumption.
These are in your best interest.
“We do not make recommendations if
there isn’t at a minimum a small amount of
benefit to be gained,” says Mangione about
the information the USPSTF provides, “and
we don’t make screening recommendations
if there isn’t a test or tool that has been
shown to be of sufficient accuracy to detect
the condition. If a person tests positive on a
screening test, we always assess whether
there is a beneficial treatment for the condition. For instance, if you are told you have
prediabetes, the Task Force found that lifestyle changes such as modest weight loss
or approximately 30 minutes of brisk walking
each day can decrease the chance of developing diabetes. Often times, these lifestyle
changes are within reach and patients don’t
have to join a gym or do other things that
may not fit into their lifestyle. Our recommendations provide evidence-based actions
patients can apply to improve their lives. And
that’s our goal, to improve lives by helping
people be healthier.”
Screening for the Second Most Common Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute
(www.cancer.gov), part of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), “The most common type of cancer on the list is breast
cancer, with 290,560 new cases expected
in the United States in 2022. The next
most common cancers are prostate cancer
and lung cancer.” The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC, www.cdc.gov)
states, “Lung cancer was the leading cause
of cancer death, accounting for 23% of all
cancer deaths.”
Gavin L. Henry, M.D., Chief of Thoracic
Surgery at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital,
is a staunch advocate for lung cancer screenings. “Lung cancer is the most preventable
of all cancers and it’s the leading cancer
in deaths. The earlier it is discovered, the
better the odds of recovery and cure. Most
hospitals used to have lung cancer screening
programs, but many didn’t have enough staff
during the pandemic to continue. We’re one
of the first.”
According to Medicare.gov, “Medicare
Part B (Medical Insurance) covers lung cancer screenings with low dose computed
tomography once each year if you meet all of
these updated conditions:
• You’re age 50-77.
• You don’t have signs or symptoms of lung
cancer (asymptomatic).
• You’re either a current smoker or have quit
smoking within the last 15 years.
• You have a tobacco smoking history of at
least 20 “pack years” (an average of one
pack (20 cigarettes) per day for 20 years).
• You get an order from your doctor.”
Henry adds, “Even today, despite the
updated guidelines, only 5% of patients
that fit the criteria actually get screened. So,
along with Ascension Saint Agnes, more hospitals are pushing to get screening programs
back in place. Here, we’re also reaching out
to primary clinicians to get the word out and
remind them about the benefit of early detection. After all, they know their patients best.
“Screenings are the best means to catch
a disease early, to make sure the people who
come to us have the best chance to recover,
of living a long life. If you catch it later, it’s a
lot more expensive and the odds of success
decrease.
“Due to COVID, people stopped going
to their doctors to get checkups. Now we’ve
reset. At Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital,
we’ve even gone to churches and clinics,
distributed flyers, and even talk with those
right outside our walls to make them aware
of what we offer. When we receive calls, we
ask qualifying questions. We’ve also made
it affordable. With so many people reeling
from skyrocketing costs for basic items like
food and rent, we want to do our best for
those dealing with the possibility of cancer,”
Henry says.
For additional information on the Lung
Cancer Screening Program at Ascension
Saint Agnes Hospital, call 410-368-2730.
They will do everything they can to help you.
Self-care, continued
on page 27
Independent Living
Assisted Living
Here,
we
grow!
Presbyterian Village embraces and encourages growth at every stage of life and provides
a supportive environment tailored to fit your unique journey. As a resident of a Life Plan
Community you can age in place as your healthcare needs may change over time.
Glen Meadows
Learn more about life at Glen
Meadows by calling 410-319-5320
or email us at gmliving@psl.org.
A Life Plan Community | Glen Arm, MD | www.psl.org/glenmeadows