Atrium Health Navicent’s Post

1 in 16 Americans will develop lung cancer. The risk of developing lung cancer in the Siouxland area is higher than the 12-year state average per the Iowa Cancer Registry data and it is one of the top cancer diagnoses in our state. Of the men and women with lung cancer, an estimated 20% were never smokers. Lung cancer usually has no symptoms until the cancer has spread. Watch Gary's story and learn more about how a low-dose CT lung scan found his lung cancer early. Are you a candidate for this screening? Take a quick quiz to know! https://lnkd.in/eS8MbrSA

November is lung cancer awareness month, so I wanted to share a little information about lung cancer screening. Adults over 50 who smoke 20+ packs per year should consider being screened annually with a low dose CT scan for any abnormalities in your lungs. Even if you're a former smoker, it is still important to get screened. I lost my father/best friend a few months ago to lung cancer, so I can say first hand that lung cancer is a familial disease that not only affects the patient, but the entire family. Do it for yourself, do it for your family - Screening helps detect the disease before symptoms occur; unfortunately, the majority of lung cancer cases are only detected once it has metastasized in the body at an advanced stage which is why it is one of the most deadly diseases out there. #cancerawarenessmonth #lungcancerawarenessmonth #november2023 https://lnkd.in/gMKtxFVJ.

My Prostate Cancer Journey Picture from December 2023 - I met Sam during my radiation treatment journey (Prostate Cancer). Officially, I'm Not Cancer Free!! Today was a magnificent day—emotional, stressful, and exciting. Actually, every day is magnificent. This morning, while at the doctor's office, I received some magnificent news. My PSA is 1.3, down from 24. Last year I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and my PSA was 24, very high. Even though my PSA is down, officially I'm not cancer-free. The treatment I chose is a two-year treatment. I'm one year into the two-year treatment. I chose this treatment because it was better for me. Everybody is different and will choose a treatment they feel comfortable with. Respect their decision. So today, I also received my third hormone therapy shot. I have one more shot to take. My last shot is January 2025. After my last and final shot, I have to wait six months to see if I'm officially cancer-free (Summer 2025). The treatments are working. On my prostate cancer journey, so far, Atrium Health has done a remarkable job. No complaints here. My 2-year treatment plan: 4 hormone therapy shots (1 shot every 6 months). Today, I had my 3rd shot. 1 round of radiation (10.5 weeks) – completed in December 2023.

🩸 Blood Cancer Awareness Month: Know the Signs, Save a Life Catching cancer early can make all the difference. But you can only do that if you know what to look for. Fatigue that doesn’t go away, unexplained weight loss, frequent infections, night sweats, and persistent bruising—these subtle symptoms could be early signs of blood cancer. As highlighted by organisations like DKMS UK and Blood Cancer UK , the key to beating cancer lies in catching and treating it early. 'Liquid tumours' like leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma and don't get the media attention of other cancer types - making it particularly important to raise awareness. Be symptom aware. For more information, check out the resources available here: https://loom.ly/7sxhl3E #BloodCancerAwarenessMonth #BloodCancerOvershadowed #EarlyDiagnosis

𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 🌸 It is a critical time to highlight the importance of early detection, and support those who are affected. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀📊 Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women. 🍁 According to the Canadian Cancer Society an estimated “30,500 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer” in 2024. This represents 25% of all new cancer cases in women. and it is estimated that 1 of 8 females will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.[1] “Mortality rate for breast cancer has been on a steady decline from 41.6 deaths per 100,000 in 1990 to 22.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.” Fortunately breast cancer awareness is growing and “This decline has been attributed to factors such as increased mammography screening and improved breast cancer treatment.” [2] 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀🩺 🍁 The most common and reliable way to screen for early stages of breast cancer is through a mammogram, which is a procedure used to x-ray the breasts. According to the Canadian Cancer Society “If you are 40 to 74 years old, have a mammogram every 2 years.”[3] With breast cancer early diagnosis is crucial as those diagnosed in Canada with stage 1 breast cancer have a 5-year net survival rate of 100%; while stage 2 drops to 92%, and stage 3 to 74%[4]. 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀🌎 Although there have been strides made in the mortality rate of breast cancer, and the ability to provide early diagnosis there is still much to improve. 🔎 It starts with the awareness of early screening as “scientific evidence tells us that having regular mammograms lowers the risk of dying from breast cancer.”[5] #EarlyDetection #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, [1]https://lnkd.in/ddE_F83F  [2]https://lnkd.in/eRvXBUsb.  [3]https://lnkd.in/g-vbvaSJ  [4]https://lnkd.in/gWGtYQWQ  [5]https://lnkd.in/e_h8GFe6. 

Each year, thousands of Canadians are diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC, stage 4), and in 2022, I became one of them. At 33, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), HER2+, and my life was forever changed. By the time the signs were visible, the cancer had already spread to my lymph nodes, liver, and bones. IBC is an especially aggressive form of breast cancer, often affecting younger people. Within two weeks of receiving my biopsy results, I started my first round of chemotherapy, alongside Herceptin and Perjeta. After 12 rounds and 1 year later, the cancer in my breast, lymph nodes and bones became undetectable, but that doesn’t mean it’s gone. Every three weeks, I return to the hospital for Herceptin and Perjeta injections to prevent further growth. While I manage the daily side effects of both the cancer and the treatment, it’s an ongoing battle but won't hold me back! Thanks to advancements in research, clinical trials, and data collection, chemotherapy side effects have improved, and new treatments for HER2+ breast cancer have given people like me a chance to lead a normal life. These drugs enable me to wake up each day and live with purpose and travel! Though I still live with lasting side effects they are manageable. However, my treatment plan could change at any moment if the cancer progresses. Everyone’s diagnosis and treatment experience is unique, which is why ongoing research, clinical trials, and data collection are essential. Cancer treatment is not a one-size-fits-all solution. As someone living with an incurable disease at a young age, the programs and support offered by the Canadian Cancer Society are vital to my healing and help me and others navigate life with cancer. Please consider donating today and stay hydrated, always! https://lnkd.in/dXHGPCEZ

March is prostate cancer awareness month. It is really important to know your risk, be aware of the symptoms of prostate cancer, and get checked out by a doctor if you have any concerns. There is lots of useful information available, including a simple risk checker, at https://hubs.ly/Q02mP-zY0 The following information is taken from the NHS website - https://hubs.ly/Q02mPV730 Prostate Cancer does not usually cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the tube that carries urine from the bladder (urethra). Symptoms of prostate cancer can include: - needing to pee more frequently, often during the night - needing to rush to the toilet - difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy) - straining or taking a long time while peeing - weak flow - feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully - blood in urine or blood in semen These symptoms do not always mean you have prostate cancer. Many men's prostates get larger as they get older because of a non-cancerous condition called benign prostate enlargement. Signs that the cancer may have spread include bone and back pain, a loss of appetite, pain in the testicles and unintentional weight loss.

Every January marks Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, a period of time when Sheba redoubles its efforts of raising awareness of the second most prevalent cancer in women. Knowing the risk factors and early symptoms is crucial, as this cancer is fully preventable and treatable if detected early. Learn more about cervical cancer and Sheba’s personalized treatment plans here: https://lnkd.in/dYnckDgP 

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month🩸 Blood cancer awareness hits particularly close to home for me. As a Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor, I understand firsthand the challenges that come with this diagnosis, which continue well after treatment is complete. I remember being told that if I had to get cancer, this was the best one to have. Really??😖😕 I get really annoyed when comments like that are made. Let's be real, there is NO best or good cancer! ALL forms of cancer are complete hell that turns your life every which way. Blood cancer is a term used for a group of cancers that originate in the blood-forming tissues of the body. There are many different types, each with its own characteristics. Some common blood cancers include: 🩸Leukemia: This affects the white blood cells. 🩸Lymphoma: This attacks the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune system. (Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of lymphoma.) 🩸Myeloma: This cancer originates in the plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell. 🩸Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): This a group of diseases that all affect the production of normal blood cells in the bone marrow. 🩸Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs): This is a group of diseases in which the bone marrow makes too many cells (either red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets). **According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, an estimated 1,698,339 million people in the US are living with or in remission from blood cancer. Listen to Navigating Cancer TOGETHER to learn more about Rick Czaplewski's journey with Hodgkin's lymphoma and how he found triumph. 🎧https://lnkd.in/d2VjXm89 Together, let's raise awareness for blood cancer and find a cure! **Source: https://lnkd.in/ds4K46Ky #BloodCancerAwarenessMonth #HodgkinsLymphomaSurvivor #CancerSurvivor #NavigatingCancerTOGETHER

Children with difficult-to-treat cancers respond better when precision treatments are selected on the basis of how well they kill the child’s cancer cells in a petri dish than when the clinician makes a blind choice. According to a recent study, five out of six children treated using this approach saw their cancers stabilise or shrink. This group had greater progression-free survival and response rates than the eight children given non-guided therapy. “There is no question that patients treated according to drug-sensitivity testing did significantly better than those who didn’t,” says cancer researcher and oncologist Anthony Letai. “The time is now to investigate this seriously… no cancer patient should depart this Earth due to cancer without one of these tests done.” This breakthrough research highlights the importance of individualized treatment for pediatric cancer patients. By selecting precision treatments based on how well they kill cancer cells in a petri dish, doctors can increase the chances of success for their patients. Let's work towards making this testing more widely available so that no child has to suffer unnecessarily. #PrecisionMedicine #PediatricCancer #IndividualizedTreatment #MedicalResearch