Buffalo, NY- In an effort to help seniors, cancer patients and people with disabilities live independently, Touching Hearts at Home has expanded into Erie County. Suzanne Desfosses-Gilliam, Touching Hearts at Home Franchise Owner, is pleased to announce the opening of her Touching Hearts at Home office. Touching Hearts at Home will serve Buffalo, NY and the surrounding areas.
Touching Hearts at Home of Buffalo provides those in need with the opportunity to live dignified lives in their own home, satisfying the area’s need for affordable and accessible home care. From as little as one hour per week to as many as 24-hours a day, including weekends and holidays, Touching Hearts offers a variety of personalized and flexible home care services. Services offered include transportation, companionship, light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders, laundry, and more. To ensure the highest quality standards of care, all caregivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured.
Renae Olafson, Touching Hearts, Inc. Founder and CEO, says “Suzanne has set the foundation for her business’s success by completing our Touching Hearts Training Academy. She is committed to providing the finest non-medical homecare in Western NY using our proven and successful operating system, along with her business acumen and passion for helping others.”
With over 25 years experience in the service industry, Suzanne believes strongly in the value of helping others. Suzanne states, “I look forward to helping those in need experience happy and gratified lives, while experiencing the personal rewards this business brings.”
For information with regard to Touching Hearts at Home services or employment opportunities, call 1-716-898-8566 email our office at buffalo@touchinghearts.com or visit our website at www.touchingheartswny.com. Touching Hearts, Inc. is a national corporation with franchise offices throughout the United States. Corporate headquarters are located in St. Paul, MN.
Health News, Articles and Information. We Welcome Your Comments!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Potential Risk Factors for Painful Jaw Disorders are Identified In the First Large-Scale Clinical Study of Pain
-- UB study finds that people who develop jaw pain disorders exhibit specific characteristics, including more trauma to the jaw, more limitations and noises in the jaw, more headaches
medical status.
-- The findings are being published by UB School of Dental Medicine researchers who are international authorities on aspects of jaw pain disorders and who have developed through international collaborations many of the most commonly used diagnostic tools
Millions of Americans are affected by painful jaw problems known as TMD, temporomandibular disorders, but predicting who is at risk has been extremely difficult.
Now, for the first time, researchers in the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine are publishing a comprehensive set of clinical characteristics that they say will lead to the ability to identify individuals at risk for developing the painful conditions.
Their new clinical assessments will help researchers and clinicians better understand TMD and other pain conditions, so as to find ways to better manage and treat them.
Published in the November issue of the Journal of Pain, the UB research results are part of the Orofacial Pain Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment (OPPERA) study, available at
http://www.jpain.org/issues?issue_key=S1526-5900(11)X0013-5
(http://www.jpain.org/issues?issue_key=S1526-5900(11)X0013-5), which followed 3,200 initially pain-free individuals for three to five years.
It is the largest clinical study of pain conditions and how they develop that has ever been done.
The UB researchers, led by Richard Ohrbach, DDS, PhD, associate professor of oral diagnostic sciences in the UB School of Dental Medicine, have been studying pain and TMD for several decades. Ohrbach
is the lead author on the paper.
"The UB role in the project was to develop well-designed examination procedures to help dentists and other health care providers identify risk factors for TMD," says Ohrbach.
Ohrbach and his co-authors studied 71 different clinical variables in 1,633 controls -- individuals who never had TMD -- and in 185 people with chronic painful TMD.
They assessed the individuals through lengthy questionnaires about health histories and current symptoms and through clinical exams. Participants were from Western New York, Maryland, North Carolina and Florida.
The UB researchers found that a very high rate of the variables they assessed, 59 out of 71, were significantly associated with painful TMD.
"Our results indicate that individuals with TMD differ substantially from the controls across almost all of the variables we assessed," says Ohrbach.
TMD sufferers tended to have significantly higher levels of the following variables: trauma to the jaw, non-pain symptoms in the facial area, jaw locking and noises, and pain during such jaw movements as
chewing, smiling or talking. Ohrbach notes that while the last two findings were clearly expected, very little has been known about the first two findings.
In particular, the UB researchers found that TMD sufferers reported a much higher rate of neural and sensory medical conditions, such as earaches, tinnitus or hearing loss, fainting and dizziness, as well as
seizures due to epilepsy and other conditions.
Ohrbach said that the study also confirmed many findings that long have been associated with TMD but which have not, until now, been proven in a comprehensive, large-scale study.
Among these is the finding that any pain disorder, such as headache, backache and abdominal pain, is more likely to occur in TMD patients than in people who do not have TMD.
"Why are other pain disorders more common in people with TMD?" asks Ohrbach. "Is it because those pain conditions predispose them to develop TMD or do they develop TMD first and does TMD lead them to then develop other pain disorders?"
To answer these and other related questions, Ohrbach says he and his colleagues will next look at comorbidity.
"We'll be tracking these multiple pain disorders over time with particular variables," he says.
Ultimately, the findings of the UB researchers and their colleagues on the OPPERA study will be geared toward a better understanding of pain conditions in general.
"How do we understand the pain? How do we establish a reliable and clinically useful marker of pain so that significant pain can be more readily diagnosed?" asks Ohrbach. "To answer these questions, we need to have a model that puts all of the pieces together, that takes the findings from a clinical exam, puts it into a rigorous framework using the right assessment and diagnosis tools in order to chart the nature
of multiple physical disorders so that we can ultimately understand how the pain is affecting the individual."
The OPPERA study was funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
Co-authors with Ohrbach on the paper are: Yoly Gonzalez of the UB Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences; Roger B. Fillingim, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System; Sharon Gordon, Department of Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery and Brotman Facial Pain Center, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Dental School; Henry Gremillion, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry; Margarete Ribeiro-Dasilva, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, College of Dentistry; Joel D. Greenspan, Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, and Brotman Facial Pain Center; Charles Knott,
Battelle Memorial Institute; and Pei-Feng Lim, William Maixner, Flora Mulkey and Gary Slade, all of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than
28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.
Related story: "UB to Study Causes of Facial, Jaw Pain,"
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/7724 (http://www.buffalo.edu/news/7724)
See this article online at: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/13021
medical status.
-- The findings are being published by UB School of Dental Medicine researchers who are international authorities on aspects of jaw pain disorders and who have developed through international collaborations many of the most commonly used diagnostic tools
Millions of Americans are affected by painful jaw problems known as TMD, temporomandibular disorders, but predicting who is at risk has been extremely difficult.
Now, for the first time, researchers in the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine are publishing a comprehensive set of clinical characteristics that they say will lead to the ability to identify individuals at risk for developing the painful conditions.
Their new clinical assessments will help researchers and clinicians better understand TMD and other pain conditions, so as to find ways to better manage and treat them.
Published in the November issue of the Journal of Pain, the UB research results are part of the Orofacial Pain Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment (OPPERA) study, available at
http://www.jpain.org/issues?issue_key=S1526-5900(11)X0013-5
(http://www.jpain.org/issues?issue_key=S1526-5900(11)X0013-5), which followed 3,200 initially pain-free individuals for three to five years.
It is the largest clinical study of pain conditions and how they develop that has ever been done.
The UB researchers, led by Richard Ohrbach, DDS, PhD, associate professor of oral diagnostic sciences in the UB School of Dental Medicine, have been studying pain and TMD for several decades. Ohrbach
is the lead author on the paper.
"The UB role in the project was to develop well-designed examination procedures to help dentists and other health care providers identify risk factors for TMD," says Ohrbach.
Ohrbach and his co-authors studied 71 different clinical variables in 1,633 controls -- individuals who never had TMD -- and in 185 people with chronic painful TMD.
They assessed the individuals through lengthy questionnaires about health histories and current symptoms and through clinical exams. Participants were from Western New York, Maryland, North Carolina and Florida.
The UB researchers found that a very high rate of the variables they assessed, 59 out of 71, were significantly associated with painful TMD.
"Our results indicate that individuals with TMD differ substantially from the controls across almost all of the variables we assessed," says Ohrbach.
TMD sufferers tended to have significantly higher levels of the following variables: trauma to the jaw, non-pain symptoms in the facial area, jaw locking and noises, and pain during such jaw movements as
chewing, smiling or talking. Ohrbach notes that while the last two findings were clearly expected, very little has been known about the first two findings.
In particular, the UB researchers found that TMD sufferers reported a much higher rate of neural and sensory medical conditions, such as earaches, tinnitus or hearing loss, fainting and dizziness, as well as
seizures due to epilepsy and other conditions.
Ohrbach said that the study also confirmed many findings that long have been associated with TMD but which have not, until now, been proven in a comprehensive, large-scale study.
Among these is the finding that any pain disorder, such as headache, backache and abdominal pain, is more likely to occur in TMD patients than in people who do not have TMD.
"Why are other pain disorders more common in people with TMD?" asks Ohrbach. "Is it because those pain conditions predispose them to develop TMD or do they develop TMD first and does TMD lead them to then develop other pain disorders?"
To answer these and other related questions, Ohrbach says he and his colleagues will next look at comorbidity.
"We'll be tracking these multiple pain disorders over time with particular variables," he says.
Ultimately, the findings of the UB researchers and their colleagues on the OPPERA study will be geared toward a better understanding of pain conditions in general.
"How do we understand the pain? How do we establish a reliable and clinically useful marker of pain so that significant pain can be more readily diagnosed?" asks Ohrbach. "To answer these questions, we need to have a model that puts all of the pieces together, that takes the findings from a clinical exam, puts it into a rigorous framework using the right assessment and diagnosis tools in order to chart the nature
of multiple physical disorders so that we can ultimately understand how the pain is affecting the individual."
The OPPERA study was funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
Co-authors with Ohrbach on the paper are: Yoly Gonzalez of the UB Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences; Roger B. Fillingim, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System; Sharon Gordon, Department of Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery and Brotman Facial Pain Center, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Dental School; Henry Gremillion, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry; Margarete Ribeiro-Dasilva, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, College of Dentistry; Joel D. Greenspan, Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, and Brotman Facial Pain Center; Charles Knott,
Battelle Memorial Institute; and Pei-Feng Lim, William Maixner, Flora Mulkey and Gary Slade, all of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than
28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.
Related story: "UB to Study Causes of Facial, Jaw Pain,"
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/7724 (http://www.buffalo.edu/news/7724)
See this article online at: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/13021
Three New Technologies Help Pain - And FREE 15-Minute Hydro-Massage
Technology seems to be providing answers for almost everything these days. But have you ever heard about technology that can help increase bone density or alleviate pain? Well, here’s good news for anyone in the Buffalo area who suffers from chronic pain, neuropathy, osteoporosis or other debilitating conditions. Three new FDA approved technologies have arrived and you can find them at the office of Dr. Anthony Bianchi in Cheektowaga.
One of the newest innovations for pain is Disc Rehydration Therapy which is the primary non surgical safe and effective treatment for patients with herniated disc, degenerative joint disease, facet arthritis, sciatica, disc bulge and spinal stenosis.
Another exciting new technology is Whole Body Vibration (WBV) Pain Relief
which was initially used by the Russian aerospace industry. Now it is being used to reduce arthritic pain, increase muscle strength, flexibility, blood circulation, improve walk balance, and increase bone density.
Finally LLLT or Cold Laser Therapy brings the best parts of acupuncture together into an automated and digitized needle-free system. In addition to pain relief,
patients also experience amazing results with allergies, food sensitivities, digestive disorders, eczema, psoriasis and other chronic skin conditions. LLLT is also being used for Smoking Cessation, and Weight Management with significant results.
All three therapies are suited for people of all ages. For more information, call Dr. Bianchi at 685-3871, and mention this article for a free consultation and free 15-minute hydro-massage.
Exenatide (Byetta) Has Rapid, Powerful Anti-inflammatory Effect, UB Study Shows
Anti-inflammatory effect occurs independently of weight loss![[ photograph ]](http://www.buffalo.edu/news/hires/Dandona_Paresh.jpg) UB's Dandona and colleagues now plan to study how exenatide might be used in the ICU and other settings where a rapid anti-inflammatory effect is needed. Release Date: November 2, 2011 BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Exenatide, a drug commonly prescribed to help patients with type 2 diabetes improve blood sugar control, also has a powerful and rapid anti-inflammatory effect, a University at Buffalo study has shown. The study of the drug, marketed under the trade name Byetta, was published recently in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. "Our most important finding was this rapid, anti-inflammatory effect, which may lead to the inhibition of atherosclerosis, the major cause of heart attacks, strokes and gangrene in diabetics," says Paresh Dandona, MD, UB Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicine, UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and senior author. It was especially noteworthy that this anti-inflammatory effect occurred independently of weight loss over the 12-week study period, he adds. "The fact that the drug caused this dramatic and comprehensive anti-inflammatory effect independent of weight loss shows that it is a primary action of the drug and is not dependent upon weight loss," says Ajay Chaudhuri, MD, associate professor of medicine at UB and lead author. He explains that, since obesity is an inflammatory state and adipose tissue contributes to inflammation, weight loss on its own can lead to an anti-inflammatory effect. "Even more importantly, a short-lived anti-inflammatory effect was observed within two hours following a single injection of 5 micrograms of the drug," Chaudhuri continues. "This coincides with the peak concentration of the drug after the injection. Such a rapid and dramatic effect is rare." "Apart from corticosteroids, which are known anti-inflammatory drugs, and insulin, no other drug demonstrates such a powerful and rapid anti-inflammatory effect," adds Dandona. As a result, he and his colleagues at UB plan to study how exenatide might be used in acute inflammatory settings in the intensive care unit or following heart attacks and strokes, where a rapid anti-inflammatory effect is required and such drugs may be of potential use. In addition to the anti-inflammatory effect, participants also exhibited a drop in the measurement of average blood sugar levels over three months, called hemoglobin A1C, from 8.6 percent to 7.4 percent. The study involved 24 obese type 2 diabetics who were already on insulin to control their glucose levels. The current study was undertaken based on previous observations published in 2007 by the UB researchers that exenatide indicated an anti-inflammatory effect, reducing plasma C-reactive protein levels, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure. Co-authors with Chaudhuri and Dandona are Mehul Vora, MD, clinical assistant instructor of medicine; Husam Ghanim, PhD, research assistant professor of medicine; Sandeep Dhindsa, MD, and Antoine Makdissi, MD, both assistant professors of medicine; and Chang Ling Sia and Kelly Korzeniewski, research assistants in the UB Department of Medicine, all of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism of UB and Kaleida Health. The study was supported by a grant from the Amylin Corporation and Eli-Lilly. The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities. |
Monday, November 7, 2011
National Expert To Headline RPCI Seminar On Role Of Research In Nursing
BUFFALO, NY — Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) welcomes the region’s nurses to a free half-day program featuring a keynote address from a national expert. Linda Burnes Bolton, DrPH, RN, FAAN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Cedars-Sinai Health System and Research Institute, will keynote “Nursing Research: Producing Evidence to Advance Health” Wednesday, November 16 from 8 a.m. to noon in the Hohn Auditorium, Research Studies Center, RPCI.
Burnes Bolton, who in April was named to Modern Healthcare Magazine’s Top 25 Women in Healthcare list, is also Vice Chair of the Institute of Medicine Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing. In her address, she will share her vision of a healthcare system that makes quality care accessible to diverse populations, promotes wellness and disease prevention, improves health outcomes and provides compassionate care across a person’s lifespan, detailing the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations on the future of nursing and addressing knowledge gaps in nursing research.
A panel discussion will follow, led by several regional and state nursing leaders:
- Maureen Kelly, RN, MS, OCN, NEA-BC CNO, Chief Nursing Officer at RPCI
- Barbara Zittel, RN, PhD, Nursing Consultant
- Mary Lou Rusin, RN, EdD, ANEF, Nursing Department Chairperson, Daemen College
- Frances Crosby, RN, EdD, MS, BS, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Nursing, Niagara University
- Mary Beth Campo, RN, MS, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Executive, Kaleida Health
- Davina Porock, RN, PhD, Interim Dean, Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship, University at Buffalo School of Nursing
The seminar will begin with a poster session and continental breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Burnes Bolton’s keynote address will begin at 10 a.m., with the panel discussion following from 11 a.m. to noon. Attendees can earn one continuing nursing education credit through the Oncology Nursing Society.
Free parking is available at First Niagara Center, Washington Street at Perry Street. Free shuttle service will be provided for attendees from 7:30-9:30 a.m. and noon-1:00 pm. (The RPCI parking ramp is reserved for patients.)
To reserve a seat, call 716-845-3436 or send an e-mail to wendy.raber@roswellpark.org by November 9.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
BiPolar Disorder and Teens: Local Research Study
DIG-FAST: Bipolar
Disorder in Teens
Participate
in a Local Research Study
Recent events in our community and nationally remind
us that adolescents can be especially vulnerable to effects of depression,
anxiety, and other mood disorders that can tragically result in suicide or
suicide attempts. Parents can often struggle with where to even begin to look
for answers to the changes they are seeing in their teens.
According to KidsHealth.org, the reasons behind a
teen’s suicide or attempted suicide can be complex. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), reports suicide ranks third behind accidents and
homicides as a cause of death for 15-24-year-olds. Suicide rates also differ
between boys and girls. While girls think about it twice as much, boys die by
suicide four times as often, perhaps attributable to the use of more lethal
methods.
One serious brain illness called bipolar disorder or manic depression has been known to cause young people to hurt
themselves. Horacio Capote, M.D., a psychiatrist at the DENT Neurological
Institute explains, “Children with bipolar disorder experience unusual mood
changes. Sometimes they are very happy or appear more active than usual. This
is called mania. Other times, they
feel very sad and are much less active than usual. This can be termed
depression.”
Dr. Capote tells the adults in children’s lives to
be aware of behaviors he calls DIG-FAST, characterized by Distractibility,
Insomnia or Irritability, Grandiosity, Flight of Ideas
(racing thoughts), involvement in many Activities at once, Speech
that is loud and rapid, and Thoughtlessness (i.e. an impulsive decision
to take a road trip).
“Anyone can develop bipolar disorder – children or
adults,” says Dr. Capote. “However, in the case of children, it is called
early-onset bipolar disorder, and moods are usually more frequent and extreme.
And while a definite cause hasn’t been identified, several factors may be
responsible, including genetics, abnormal brain structure or function, and
anxiety. What’s most important is that young people with bipolar disorder can
receive the treatment they need to lead successful lives.”
If there is someone you know between the ages of 12
and 17 who is experiencing DIG-FAST symptoms, you may want to tell them about a
clinical study in which they can participate. Lead DENT Institute researcher,
Michelle Rainka, Pharm.D., CCRP says this is a wonderful opportunity because
participants will:
· Be
able to choose times in their schedule that are most convenient for them.
· Undergo
in depth interviews and exams by two independent psychiatrists, who will be
able to make a definitive diagnosis regarding the disorder.
· Have
the option of receiving free medication and medical supervision for 26 weeks
following the first three weeks of the study.
· Receive
compensation for their time and travel.
Dr. Rainka
anticipates many people will want to take advantage of this opportunity, and
urges anyone who is interested to call her directly at 716-250-2038.
Open House at GCC November 11 - Learn About Polysomnographic Sleep Technology
Polysomnographic Sleep
Technologists are in Demand and GCC is the Only Program in the State That Has This Program
Come to an Open House at GCC in Batavia on Friday, November 11 at 9am and Learn About a Hot Career Opportunity in The Study of Sleep Disorders - CALL 1-888-CALL-GCC
From sleep apnea to narcolepsy and
insomnia—there are 84 different classifications of sleep disorders, and more
than 70 million Americans suffer from some aspect of them. In fact, sleep
disorders have become one of the fastest growing health concerns today,
particularly with its connection to obesity, which is another significant
health problem facing our nation.
The American Board of Sleep
Medicine wants people to know there is an increased need for trained sleep
technologists. To meet the demand, Genesee Community College (GCC) developed a
Polysomnographic Technology curriculum for the evaluation and diagnosis of
sleep disorders. It is the only such program in the state, and with more than
60 registered sleep clinics in New York alone, polysomnographic technology is
becoming an attractive career.
Polysomnographic technologists
work closely with physicians to assist in the diagnosis of sleep-related
problems and provide support services to patients. Typically, they work in
sleep laboratories or clinics where patients can be observed closely.
Technologists monitor patients’ breathing, blood oxygen levels, brain waves,
and other clinical variables using a variety of specialized equipment to assist
in diagnosis. They also counsel patients in the use of respiratory and sleep
devices that aid in sleep hygiene.
To become a credentialed polysomnographic
technologist, students must complete a 66-credit program in four semesters.
Courses include Anatomy and Physiology, Sleep Medicine, Sleep Study
Instrumentation, Sleep Disorders, Psychology, and more. Two clinical practice
courses allow students to apply newly learned skills in a local sleep clinic.
Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the national
Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) examination.
Marshann Thomas, Director of
the GCC program confirms the shortage of technologists, and confides, “Last
semester we lost half our class before they could complete the program because
prospective employers hired them prior to graduation.” She says, “Employers tell
us GCC students with just one year of training make better employees than those
who haven’t had any training at all.” But Thomas predicts that will change in
January 2012 when New York State is expected to require licensing of all polysomnographic
technologists.
Thomas encourages prospective
students to enter this exciting field, and responds to some of their concerns,
particularly with respect to pursuing a career working evenings. Thomas says
this is changing because many sleep labs conduct studies during the day for shift
workers or those who have neurological conditions such as narcolepsy or
epilepsy. She adds that many in the career can work extended evening hours in
order to have several days off in a row. “Like anything else,” she says, “it’s
important to realize there is a career ladder, and those starting out need to
gain experience in a lab during evening hours to gain credentials before
advancing to the day shift.”
Marshann Thomas,
EdM, RPSGT, RRT is the Director of the first and only Polysomnographic
Technology Program in New York State. She has extensive teaching and clinical
experience in sleep technology and respiratory therapy. Contact her at 585-343-0055 x6188 or at mythomas@genesee.edu
and visit www.genesee.edu. Additional
information about polysomnographic technologists is available at www.aastweb.org.
Monday, October 31, 2011
ROSWELL PARK MARKS LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH WITH SERIES OF EVENTS
Events highlight need for greater awareness, early detection for those at high risk
BUFFALO, NY — A jarring fact underscores the events and activities that Roswell Park Cancer Institute(RPCI) has coordinated as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month this November: 1,500 people die every year in Erie County because of this disease, which is the biggest cancer killer in the United States. Lung cancer kills more men than prostate cancer and more women than breast cancer.
“By getting these cancers detected early when they’re small and more easily treated, we can cut that statistic down dramatically,” said Mary Reid, PhD, Director of Collaborative Research and Associate Professor of Oncology in the Department of Medicine at RPCI. “So many people in the Buffalo area have had their lives devastated by lung cancer — smokers as well as people who never smoked a cigarette in their life, so we’re really hoping to get the word out about risk factors and early detection.”
RPCI will hold two events to share information about lung cancer this November:
- Breath of Life: A Celebration for Lung Cancer Patients and Survivors — Saturday, November 5, 9 a.m. to noon, Research Studies Center, Carlton Street at Elm Street, RPCI. Hosted by the Roswell Park Thoracic Cancer Team, this event will feature personal testimonials from lung cancer survivors and offers patients — regardless of where they are being treated — an opportunity to gather information about new approaches to lung cancer surveillance, treatment, research and survivorship. Refreshments will be served. Attendees should register by November 2 by calling 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724).
- Lung Cancer Expo — Saturday, November 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Boulevard Mall by Sears, 730 Alberta Drive, Amherst, NY. Information will be available on risk factors, detection, treatment options, smoking cessation and more. Roswell Park’s lung cancer experts will be on hand until noon to answer questions, and representatives will be available to do initial risk evaluations throughout the event for anyone who would like to learn more about their possible eligibility for the Roswell Park High Risk/Early Detection Lung Cancer Program. Details atRoswellPark.org/Expo.
A third event hosted by Susan and Steven Roney, part of RPCI’s Team Cure initiative, will raise funds for lung cancer research at Roswell Park:
- Taste for Life Wine Tasting — Wednesday, November 16, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., The Saturn Club, 977 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Tickets for this event, an evening of wine, hors d’oeuvres and jazz, cost $50. To register, send an email to tasteforlife2011@aol.com or call 716-867-0333.
Community Health & Wellness Fair
Come to the Community Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, November 5, 2011, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas and DeGraff Memorial Hospital!
Workshops Include:
- Alzheimer's and related concerns
- Medication Management with "Ask the Pharmacist"
- Vascular Leg Health, Nutrition with cooking demo
- Stress Management and relaxing techniques
Free Health Screenings: Bone Density, Carbon Monoxide Levels, Glucose, Blood Pressure & Cholesterol
Representatives on hand from all areas of health and wellness, UNYTS Blood Drive
***FREE ADMISSION *** FREE PARKING***
Sponsored by Walgreens, Health System Services, Elderwood, Univera Healthcare, Liazon Benefit Solutions,
Niagara's Choice Federal Credit Union, Pioneer Printers and Keybank h/c access,
Student Alumni Center, 405 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda 14120, www.the-tonawandas.com, 716-692-5120.
UNYTS Blood Drive
Sponsored by Walgreens, Health System Services, Elderwood, Univera Healthcare, Liazon Benefit Solutions, Niagara's Choice Federal Credit Union, Pioneer Printers and Keybank
Sponsored by Walgreens, Health System Services, Elderwood, Univera Healthcare, Liazon Benefit Solutions, Niagara's Choice Federal Credit Union, Pioneer Printers and Keybank
State Health Commissioner Leads by Example in Getting Flu Shot
All New Yorkers Urged To Get
Vaccinated As Soon As Possible
ALBANY, N.Y. (October 25, 2011) – New York State Health Commissioner
Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H., visited the Whitney M. Young Jr. Albany Health
Center today to demonstrate how easy it is to protect yourself against the flu.
As he received his annual flu shot, Dr. Shah urged all New Yorkers to get
vaccinated as soon as possible.
"About five minutes is all it takes to protect yourself from a
dangerous virus," Commissioner Shah said. "Flu vaccinations are
available at a variety of locations, including health centers, physician
offices, and many local pharmacies, and are often covered by insurance plans.
There's simply no reason not to be vaccinated."
Over the past 50 years, the flu vaccine has proven to be safe. The
federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) work with state and local health departments and
health care providers to monitor the safety of the vaccine and ensure it meets
the highest safety standards.
Flu season typically runs from October through May. To date, there
have been fewer than 20 reported cases in New York. During the 2010-11 flu
season, there were more than 4,200 flu-associated hospitalizations in the State
and seven pediatric deaths. Over the past four years, 50 children in New York
have died from the flu.
Dr. Shah noted that the State Health Department and CDC recommend that
anyone six months of age or older receive a flu vaccination. Children under six
months of age are also at risk from flu, but cannot receive a flu vaccination.
The best protection for these young children is to ensure all family members
and caregivers are up-to-date with flu vaccinations.
The flu vaccine stimulates the body's immune system to protect the
body from the flu virus. This year's vaccine includes the three most common
seasonal flu viruses, including H1N1.
Most people who contract the flu will likely recover without
complications, but individuals under two years of age or older than 50,
pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical
conditions are at greater risk for serious illness or flu-related
complications.
The State Health Department is also recommending that all health care
workers get vaccinated to protect themselves from the influenza virus, and also
avoid putting patients and their families at risk.
Individuals who lack health insurance or do not have access to the
vaccine are advised to contact their local health department. Many counties
hold free flu vaccination clinics that are open to local residents.
For additional information, visit the State Department of Health web
site at: http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/seasonal/.
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