Michell Shiffman, MD, of the Liver Institute of Virginia

Today, the CDC announced that it is considering recommending Hepatitis C (HCV) testing for everyone born between 1945 and 1965. Currently estimates suggest that upwards of 3.2 million Americans have chronic HCV and more than 75% are not aware of their status due to a lack of symptoms.

Baby boomers represent the majority of cases – more than 75%, and are five times more likely to be infected than other adults.

While many can live with HCV without ever developing symptoms, it’s important to get tested to help prevent complications and control side effects. With antiviral medications, liver specialists can help clear the virus and prevent further help complications, like liver cancer and liver failure. In fact, Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplants in the United States today.

Before the CDC makes their final recommendation later, they are soliciting input from others experts and the public, which will be factored in to their decision.

Finding a Specialist

At the Liver Institute of Virginia, which has two offices on the campus of Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News, Virginia and at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, world-renowned liver disease treatment specialist, Dr. Mitchell Shiffman, and his expert team treat Hampton Roads residents struggling with liver diseases, including hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and liver cancer.

While Dr. Shiffman is currently running numerous clinical trials at his Newport News office, he is excited about the new research and looks forward to the next stage of trials. According to the Oxford team, a U.S. team of researchers is planing to carry out a larger trial of the vaccine in at-risk groups. “We can currently treat hepatitis C sufferers with a variety of methods,” notes Dr. Shiffman, “but the development of a hepatitis C vaccine, to join the hepatitis A and hepatitis b vaccine,  would be crucial in helping at-risk patients avoid the disease in the first place.”

+ Suffering from liver disease? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Shiffman today!
+ Learn more about the Liver Institute of Virginia.

Source: CNN “CDC Considering Recommending Hepatitis C Test for Boomers”

Hear the latest on a variety of health topics from leading women’s health experts on the peninsula! Hormone replacement therapy, minimally invasive options for women’s surgery, teenage issues, and pelvic pain are all topics our seminar speakers will address in Newport News!

Private mini-consults available with women’s rehab specialists to discuss turning back the clock below the belt, building strength for better days and nights. As always, these FREE seminars are accompanied by heart-healthy refreshments and exciting door prizes!

Mini-consults: 6–7:00 pm
Seminar: 7–9:00 pm

Marriott City Center
740 Town Center Drive
Newport News, Virginia
Map and Directions.

Seminar Topics

Elisabeth Curtis, MD
Peninsula Women’s Care
The ABCs of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Naved Jafri, MD
OB/GYN Associates of Hampton
Leak-proof Laughter and Other Great News for Women

Cheri Coyle, MD
Center for Women’s Health
Teenagers and GYN Health

Jeffrey Morrison, DO
TPMG Obstetrics & Gynecology
Minimally Invasive Alternatives to GYN Surgery

Registration

Space is limited, so registration is required to attend. For more information or to register on the phone please call us at 889-CARE (2273) or register online!

Bottles, sippy cups and pacifiers may not seem like safety hazards for children, but a new study found that more than 45,000 children under the age of 3 over a 9-year period were treated in the emergency room for injuries related to these products, according to a news release from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Eighty-six percent of the injuries were related to falling while using a bottle, sippy cup or pacifier.

“Study authors found that two-thirds of injuries occurred among 1-year-olds, an age when children are unsteady on their feet and prone to falls,” the news release states.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents help their children transition to a cup when they are about 1-year-old.

When a person survives a drowning event, or “near-drowning,” is a common but out-of-date phrase for surviving a drowning event. Within 3 minutes underwater, most people lose consciousness. Within 5 minutes underwater, the brain’s oxygen supply begins to drop. A lack of oxygen can cause brain damage.

Drowning survivors can have serious health complications. For instance, right after a drowning, a person may be unconscious, gasp for air, cough up pink froth, vomit, or breathe rapidly. These are all cause for alarm, and 911 or other emergency services should be called immediately if a drowning victim exhibits any of these behaviors or becomes confused or seems to be in an altered mental state.

Even a little water in the lungs can cause serious lung problems in the next hours or days. Emergency medical care is critical after a person survives a drowning.

You should call a doctor now if a recent drowning victim has new breathing problems or signs of a lung infection, such as:

• A cough with or without colored mucus
• Rapid breathing. Breaths may also be shallow.
• Shortness of breath
• A fever
• An unusual level of weakness
• A whistling noise (wheezing) while breathing
• Tightness in the chest

Heading to the beach this year? Make sure you know where the local Emergency Departments are and which numbers to call in the event of an emergency!

A good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, health practitioners often recommend people eat fish for its nutritional benefits.

A new study adds more weight to their recommendation: regularly eating fish was tied to a 12 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the American Journal of Medicine.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 140,000 adults were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2007, federal statistics show.

Identifying the stage and grade of a cancer patient’s tumors can help doctors determine a course of treatment and predict the chance of a cure. For patients and family, keeping up with the cancer diagnosis can be difficult and agonizing.

Something cancer experts encounter in delivering a diagnosis is confusion over cancer staging vs. cancer grading. Staging is a process that doctors use to describe how far cancer has spread. Grading is a process that helps predict how fast the cancer will grow and spread.

Overview of Cancer Stages
In general, the stages of most cancers break down this way:

• Stage 0: Cancer hasn’t spread.
• Stages I, II, and III: Cancer has grown or has spread into nearby tissues and perhaps lymph nodes. The higher the stage, the farther the cancer has spread.
• Stage IV: Cancer has spread beyond the lymph nodes into other parts of the body (metastasized).

Although there are several methods of staging, most doctors now use the TNM method. The TNM method is based on the size of the tumor (T), the spread of the cancer into nearby lymph nodes (N), and the spread of the cancer to other body parts (M, for metastasis). Most cancers can be described using the TNM system. But certain cancers—for example, cancers of the blood, bone marrow, or brain—use other staging systems.

Overview of Tumor Grades
A tumor’s grade, from 1 to 4, describes how its cells look under a microscope. The more these cells look like normal cells, the lower the grade and the lower the likelihood that the cancer will spread quickly. Tumor cells that look like normal cells are called grade 1 tumors. They usually grow slowly. A grade 4 tumor, on the other hand, has cells that look very different from normal cells. Grade 4 tumors often grow quickly and spread rapidly.

For certain types of cancer, doctors use other grading methods. For example, in prostate cancer, the doctor gives the cancer a Gleason score. Prostate cancer cells that have a low Gleason score grow more slowly than cells that have a higher score.

Cancer Care in Hampton Roads, Virginia

Each aspect of the Bon Secours interdisciplinary approach to cancer care addresses specific issues related to the prevention of cancer, treatment for cancer, and recovery from cancer. When you hear the words cancer you may not know what to do next, but we do. Our world-class cancer surgeons, cancer treatment centers, nurse navigators and cancer specialists are ready to stand by your side through your cancer fight.

Their state-of-the art facility, the Martha C. Davis Cancer Treatment Center, in Portsmouth, Virginia features the TrueBeam™ linear accelerator system, one of the most advanced radiotherapy treatment options in the nation. This cancer treatment technology combines imaging, beam delivery and sophisticated technology to accurately target tumors with great speed and precision. Real-time imaging allows clinicians to “see” the tumor, while beam delivery is synchronized with the patient’s breathing.

The Virginia Department of Health’s Division of COPN has issued a staff report recommending conditional approval for a certificate of public need (COPN) to relocate Bon Secours’ radiation therapy services currently on the campus of Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center to establish a comprehensive cancer center. The 31,500 square foot, $10 million institute will be home to a radiation therapy center that will include the Varian True Beam linear accelerator and a 16-slice wide-bore CT scanner for simulation treatment planning in conjunction with radiation therapy. In addition to radiation therapy services, the new center will co-locate supportive services, such as a resource center, an appearance center, educational space, and complementary services such as clinics, infusion centers, etc.

Source: Healthwise: Cancer Staging and Grading

A study of an outbreak of the stomach bug norovirus provides a good reminder to disinfect objects and surfaces that can become contaminated and spread infection. Researchers found that airborne norovirus in a hotel bathroom settled onto a grocery bag that contained snacks, according to a news release from The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Seven people became infected by norovirus after handling the bag of snacks that had been in the bathroom.

“While we certainly recommend not storing food in the bathrooms, it is more important to emphasize that areas where [airborne] exposures may have occurred should be thoroughly disinfected,” the researchers said in the news release. “This includes not only exposed surfaces, but also objects in the environment.”

Despite public health campaigns, young adults are still heading into the tanning booth and allowing themselves to get sunburned outside.

Two studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute show that young adults are increasing their risk for developing skin cancer.

One of the studies found that half of people from the ages of 18 to 29 got at least one sunburn in the previous year, according to a CDC news release. Another report revealed that many young adults still use tanning beds. The practice is particularly common with young white women.

“More public health efforts, including providing shade and sunscreen in recreational settings, are needed to raise awareness of the importance of sun protection and sunburn prevention to reduce the burden of skin cancer,” said Dr. Marcus Plescia, director of the CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control in the release. “We must accelerate our efforts to educate young adults about the dangers of indoor tanning to prevent melanoma as this generation ages.”

Studies have shown that indoor tanning before the age of 35 increases a person’s risk of getting melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 75 percent. Exposing your skin to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation or using indoor tanning equipment is “the most important preventable risk factor for skin cancer,” the news release states.

To protect themselves from ultraviolet light exposure, people should follow these federal health guidelines:

• Seek shade, especially during midday hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
• Wear clothing to protect exposed skin.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wear wrap-around sunglasses that block as close to 100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as possible.  Sunglasses safeguard your eyes from UVA and UVB rays, protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure, and reduce the risk of cataracts and ocular melanoma.
• Use sunscreen with sun protective factor 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.
• Avoid indoor tanning.

+ Learn More about Cancer Prevention

+ Read about Cancer Screenings

Menopause is a natural part of growing older, but that doesn’t mean women should have to suffer through the uncomfortable symptoms of “transitioning.” In fact, just living a healthy lifestyle can help women manage or reduce symptoms.

• Choose Nutrition – Women going through menopause should make a special effort to eat well. A heart-healthy diet that is low in saturated fat can ensure you are getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D to help your bones stay strong.
• Exercise Regularly – Regular exercise can help you manage your weight, keep your heart and bones strong, and release endorphins to lift your mood. If you’re having trouble getting active on your own you may want to consider finding a work-out buddy to keep you company on long walks or in the gym. First time exercisers can also find personal trainers to help them develop a gym routine. Breathing exercises and yoga may also help relieve discomfort.
• Cut Out Bad Habits – Smoking, caffeine, and alcohol can exacerbate and worsen symptoms of menopause. Quitting smoking can actually reduce a woman’s hot flashes and long-term health risks.

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to relieve your symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss prescription medicines. Low-dose hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause, antidepressants, and clonidine (a medication usually used to treat high blood pressure) are options available to you that may help you manage symptoms.  Of course, you should talk to talk to your doctor about your possible health risks before you start a treatment for menopause symptoms.

What Women Put Up With: A Free Women’s Seminar Series

If you or a loved one have questions about coping with menopause, including treatment options for menopause symptoms with hormone replacement therapy, you can register for a free seminar and hear the answers from the local health experts. Bon Secours for Women is holding a “What Women Put Up With” seminar for women to learn about the newest options available for treating this and other women’s health issues. The seminars are going to be held in Virginia Beach, Suffolk, and Newport News from May 15th-May 23rd. Visit our women’s events webpage to see a full list of speakers and topics and register for the event nearest to you!

Finding the right nursing home can be a stressful and overwhelming decision. There’s a lot to consider – costs, location, reputation, and personal comfort and fit. If you are currently faced with the daunting prospect of choosing a nursing home here’s a list of suggestions and recommendations that can help you start your search on the right foot.

Getting Started
If you’re looking for your own nursing home, you should start by making a list of homes you would be interested in exploring. To get your list started, our experts recommend asking around (family, friends, doctors) for recommendations. Sometimes, a loved one isn’t capable of selecting their own nursing home. If this is the case, the process of choosing can be quite delicate. We suggest including the patient as much as possible in the process and listening to their feedback or taking their needs into consideration as much as possible.

Schedule a Visit
Visiting the nursing home is the best way to determine if it’s a good fit for you or your loved one. Make an appointment for a tour, talk to the residents, ask the staff questions and really look around. Take a pen and paper with you and keep written notes about each nursing home. This will help you make your decision later on. If possible, try to visit each location more than once to get a good sense of the facility on a normal day.

Investigate the Facility
As you look at each nursing home, keep in mind that there are no federal requirements for how many employees a nursing home has to have. Ask questions to make sure that there are enough nurses and other staff to give you or your loved one the care you need. While you’re visiting the facility, ask for a copy of the most recent inspection report. Is the nursing home clean and odor-free? Are there smoke detectors and sprinklers? Are there handrails where you would need them? Do the residents seem clean and comfortable? Is the staff responsive and friendly to them?

Ask Questions
As you look at the choices, pay special attention to the cost of each nursing home, how each one feels to you, where it’s located, and the levels of nursing care it provides. Some questions you may want to ask yourself include: Does the nursing home provide enough help with daily tasks? Is 24-hour nursing care available? Does the nursing home have a social director who plans events for the residents? Are religious services held? Is a hairdresser or barber available? Can the nursing home provide the kind of care you need? Will your doctor be able to direct your care? If not, find out how often the nursing home’s medical director personally visits each resident.

Explore Costs
Prices of nursing homes can change depending on the nursing home and the type of care offered. Talk with your family, social workers, or eldercare agencies in your community about your payment options. If you have concerns about how you’ll pay for a nursing home, talk to representatives from Medicare and/or Medicaid. Many people pay for nursing home services with their own money, but Medicaid and Medicare offer resources for people who qualify.

If you can, it’s good to plan ahead for these situations so you have time to learn all you can about the nursing homes you’re interested in. If you need to make a decision quickly, try to visit the nursing homes on your list at least once before you choose. Make sure you understand the cost and payment options for each nursing home.

Skilled Nursing Care Facilities in Hampton Roads, Virginia

Sometimes, older adults with chronic illnesses who can no longer remain at home. When these life situations arise, many families in Hampton Roads have discovered that they can trust Bon Secours’ skilled nursing facilities, the St. Francis Nursing Center in Newport News and the Bon Secours Maryview Nursing Care Center in Portsmouth, to care for their loved ones. Our high quality skilled nursing and long-term care facilities provide compassionate skilled nursing care in a homelike environment that contributes to our residents’ physical, psychological and spiritual well-being.

The Maryview Nursing Care Center has achieved the prestigious five-star rating with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This rating, acknowledging that Maryview Nursing Care Center provides above-quality care, is only held by a few nursing homes throughout the country. Ratings are based on health inspections, staffing and 10 different quality measures. Bon Secours Maryview Nursing Care Center has also received a high ranking of five stars overall in U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 Best Nursing Homes for the second consecutive year. Facilities that ranked highest in Best Nursing Homes 2012 earned overall five-star ratings. Only about one home in eight met this standard.

+ Find a qualified nursing home near you in Hampton Roads, Virginia.