(Diane Mulligan) - Lung cancer is the deadliest of all major cancers, with Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) patients having a significantly lower survival rate than non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC).

In 2012, the National Cancer Institute identified SCLC as a top priority. More targeted and personalized treatments are expected to be released soon. There are also many clinical trials focusing on SCLC. The new research is leading to new treatments and new hope, which can't come quickly enough for SCLC patients.

SCLC is different from NSCLC, which is the most common form of lung cancer. It is the most aggressive form of lung cancer and the one most closely associated with smokers. The SCLC tumors morph as they try to survive. They change their form, trying to hide from the current treatment.

Lung cancer researchers are now focused on treatments that target specific tumors.

Dr. Triparna Sen, Associate Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Health System says, “Do we have targets? Yes, we do have targets. Do they look promising? Yes, they do look promising. It will not be one size fits all.”

Most SCLC patients are treated with chemotherapy, but there have been recent advances in using immunotherapy along with chemotherapy. Patients who have finished their initial treatment now have new options and should talk to their doctor about new treatments being researched in clinical trials. In most of these trials, one set of patients receives the latest approved treatment while the other set receives the treatment being researched.

According to Lung Cancer Foundation of America Founder Kim Norris, “These clinical trials are where patients are getting the gold standard of care. They may be receiving the treatments of tomorrow, today.”

It was only last year when the first SCLC treatment breakthrough was announced. Then researchers identified a subset of SCLC patients who appear to respond to drugs that are already proven cancer fighters; the proteins in the tumors of these patients make them more receptive to targeted therapies.

The Lung Cancer Foundation of America provides initial funding to young investigators who are studying all types of lung cancer. The group was organized after the co-founder, Kim Norris, realized that although it was the deadliest of all the major cancers, lung cancer received the least amount of federal funding in relation to other major cancers.

Norris says, “It’s that funding that allows the best and brightest young investigators to choose to study lung cancer.”

To find out the latest on lung cancer research and how you can help, you can go to lcfamerica.org.

Above image: Dr. Triparna Sen, Associate Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Health System

(Diane Mulligan) - Lung cancer is the deadliest of all major cancers, with Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) patients having a significantly lower survival rate than non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC).

In 2012, the National Cancer Institute identified SCLC as a top priority. More targeted and personalized treatments are expected to be released soon. There are also many clinical trials focusing on SCLC. The new research is leading to new treatments and new hope, which can't come quickly enough for SCLC patients.

SCLC is different from NSCLC, which is the most common form of lung cancer. It is the most aggressive form of lung cancer and the one most closely associated with smokers. The SCLC tumors morph as they try to survive. They change their form, trying to hide from the current treatment.

Lung cancer researchers are now focused on treatments that target specific tumors.

Dr. Triparna Sen, Associate Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Health System says, “Do we have targets? Yes, we do have targets. Do they look promising? Yes, they do look promising. It will not be one size fits all.”

Most SCLC patients are treated with chemotherapy, but there have been recent advances in using immunotherapy along with chemotherapy. Patients who have finished their initial treatment now have new options and should talk to their doctor about new treatments being researched in clinical trials. In most of these trials, one set of patients receives the latest approved treatment while the other set receives the treatment being researched.

According to Lung Cancer Foundation of America Founder Kim Norris, “These clinical trials are where patients are getting the gold standard of care. They may be receiving the treatments of tomorrow, today.”

It was only last year when the first SCLC treatment breakthrough was announced. Then researchers identified a subset of SCLC patients who appear to respond to drugs that are already proven cancer fighters; the proteins in the tumors of these patients make them more receptive to targeted therapies.

The Lung Cancer Foundation of America provides initial funding to young investigators who are studying all types of lung cancer. The group was organized after the co-founder, Kim Norris, realized that although it was the deadliest of all the major cancers, lung cancer received the least amount of federal funding in relation to other major cancers.

Norris says, “It’s that funding that allows the best and brightest young investigators to choose to study lung cancer.”

To find out the latest on lung cancer research and how you can help, you can go to lcfamerica.org.

Above image: Dr. Triparna Sen, Associate Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Health System

(NewsUSA) - By the time you read this article, three people will have had a stroke and one will die. Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United States, impacting nearly 800,000 people each year, with a quarter experiencing another stroke within five years. Despite the prevalence of stroke, 80% are preventable with a combination of medication and healthy habits.

This May, during National Stroke Awareness Month, knowing the signs, symptoms and treatment options are key to getting the care needed quickly and potentially preventing another stroke in the future.

Signs & Symptoms

During a stroke, every second counts as 1.9 million brain cells are lost every minute. Receiving treatment quickly can reduce the brain damage caused by stroke. Knowing the signs and symptoms can help you BE-FASTER!

• Balance: Sudden loss of balance
• Eyes: Sudden blurry or loss of vision
• Face: Sudden numbness, one side drooping – can you smile?
• Arms: Sudden weakness in arms - can you raise both arms?
• Speech: Slurred or mumbling speech
• Time: Call 911 immediately
• Emergency Response: Get to the ER by ambulance. They know what to do FASTER!

High blood pressure, heart disease, atrial fibrillation (AFib), diabetes and smoking are all risk factors for stroke.

Preventing a Second Stroke

In the U.S., more than 2,000 people each day have a stroke, and one in four are recurrent strokes. While treatment plans vary, long-term heart monitoring can be a helpful tool in identifying underlying risk factors, such as AFib, which is often asymptomatic and can significantly increase the risk of stroke. In fact, clinical studies have found that, in more than 78% of stroke survivors, AFib would go undetected if monitored for only 30 days.

Yet, findings from a recent sampling of real-world stroke survivors released by the patient advocacy group United Stroke Alliance, with support from Medtronic, found nearly half (43%) of stroke survivors did not receive any form of heart monitoring, potentially leaving them vulnerable to a second stroke.  One-third of stroke survivors received some form of short-term heart monitoring, while only 6% were given an insertable heart monitor for long-term, continuous monitoring.

During National Stroke Awareness Month, visit Unitedstrokealliance.org for more information and resources from the United Stroke Alliance, and to learn more about the connection between AFib and stroke, as well as long-term heart monitoring, visit medtronic.com/StopStroke.

(NewsUSA) - Cardiovascular Disease including stroke remains a leading cause of death in the United States and is the number one cause of death in women, according to the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.

In addition, recent research shows that women suffer more activity limitations, greater depression, and worse health-related quality of life after a stroke compared to men.

Prompt identification and immediate treatment may prevent death from stroke and may minimize the long-term effects and potential for disability. During this month of May, when we recognize Mother’s Day and American Stroke Month, the ASA encourages everyone to know the warning signs of stroke.

The acronym F.A.S.T. makes it easier to spot a stroke quickly.

F-face drooping. If you see someone’s face drooping on one side, or if they say it feels numb, ask them to smile, and notice if the smile is uneven.

A-arm weakness. If someone says their arm is weak or acts as if it is numb, ask them to raise both arms, and take note if one arm drifts downward.

S- speech difficulty. If you notice that someone is slurring their speech, ask them to repeat a simple sentence, such as “the sky is blue.” If they can’t do this, they might be suffering a stroke.

T-time to call 911. If someone shows any of these signs, call 911 right away. Check the time when you call, so you can tell emergency responders when you observed the symptoms.

Other symptoms of stroke include general weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion (such as in understanding what is being said); trouble seeing in one or both eyes, or trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination. A sudden severe headache with no known cause can be a sign of a stroke, too.

Timing matters. Individuals who suffer a stroke and receive prompt medical treatment with a clot-busting drug or clot-retrieval device are more likely to recover with little or no disability than those who don’t receive prompt treatment.  Spot a stroke F.A.S.T and you may save a life.

The F.A.S.T. Experience is a new digital tool launched by the American Stroke Association this month that engages users in a virtual experience educating them on what the warning signs of a stroke look, feel and/or sound like. By helping users to experience the stroke warning signs in a simulated way that is both educational and engaging.

Visit stroke.org/strokemonth for more information on how to identify a stroke, as well as tips for healthy living, blood pressure control, preventing another stroke.

(NewsUSA) - The number of deaths from heart disease in America may be rising due in part to a Medicare coverage technicality. Home-based, virtual cardiac rehabilitation is popular nationwide and has proven to reduce the risk of death. In 2018, the American Heart Association and other professional societies endorsed virtual cardiac rehab as an effective option for patients. In fact, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed a 36% lower risk of death for those adults participated in a home-based, cardiac rehab program versus those who did not.

Despite these positive results, Medicare coverage of home-based cardiac rehab will end with the May 11, 2023 expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency unless Congress takes action.

During the public health emergency, Medicare allowed home-based, virtual cardiac rehab programs to provide patients with access to heart care when centers were closed. However, virtual cardiac rehab is not technically classified as “telehealth,” so the program was not included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act that Congress passed in 2022, extending telehealth services through the end of 2024. 

Many patients and providers are now skipping these virtual, home-based programs entirely, since the average length of a cardiac rehabilitation program is four-months and Medicare coverage would end in the middle of the program.

Cardiac rehabilitation continues to be the standard of care for many heart conditions and procedures. These programs include lifestyle issues that doctors aren’t able to monitor, including not only exercise and diet, but also depression, stress, tobacco use reduction, and medication adherence. Unfortunately, only 8% of eligible patients complete these programs due to low awareness and distance from cardiac rehab facilities.  Virtual options have helped improve access.

Patients who have gone through home-based, virtual cardiac rehab have reaped clinical and convenience benefits. Georgianna Darmento of Dade City, Florida, started a facility-based cardiac rehab program after several surgeries and multiple health issues, but was frustrated with transportation issues.

After switching to a virtual program by Recora at Tampa General Hospital, she completed the program and has been able to attend her in-person doctor visits more regularly.

While Congress extended telehealth coverage in late 2022, home-based virtual cardiac rehab was not included in these extensions.  The good news is that a bipartisan House bill, H.R. 1406, was recently introduced by Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) to continue Medicare reimbursement for virtual cardiac rehabilitation.  More details about the bill and this critical patient access crisis can be found at The Coalition to Protect Cardiac Rehab Access, www.heartrehabcare.org. 

Hospitals, physicians, and patients have written to Congress to sound the alarm on this issue to keep patients out of the hospital and living longer. The Coalition to Protect Cardiac Rehab urges Congress to act now to prevent Medicare coverage for virtual cardiac rehab from ending; patients’ lives are at risk.

(NewsUSA) - Despite having a standard of living among the highest in the world, the maternal mortality rate in the United States has increased over the past 25 years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers are especially poor for Black women, who are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts, while black infants are more than twice as likely to die as white infants. These disparities persist regardless of level of education.

“Infant and maternity mortality rates are regarded as measures of the health of a society. The racial and ethnic disparities in our current rates reflect longstanding biases that challenge our very basic capacity to offer fair and ethical health care,” said Dr. Lenaye Lawyer, an OB-GYN and medical director for AmeriHealth Caritas, a national leader in Medicaid managed care and other health care solutions for those most in need. “The provider community should be aware of these disparities and recommendations for reducing them.”

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia tops the list as the state with the highest rates of maternal mortality, 46.2 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births for all women. The rate is even higher--66.6 deaths per 100,000 live births--for African American women.

The National Partnership for Women & Families has noted some of the broader problems in the health care system and in the delivery of maternal care that disproportionally affect Black women, including lack of access to care, low income, and being uninsured.

A 2018 article in the journal Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology offered a model to help address these disparities. The model includes:

-Promoting a culture of equity for all women from preconception care through prenatal care and postpartum care.

-Educating doctors and medical staff about health care disparities in Black women during pregnancy and in general.

-Engaging patients in shared decision making.

AmeriHealth Caritas Corporate Chief Medical Officer, Population Health, Dr. Lily Higgins added that, Dr. Lily Higgins, an AmeriHealth Caritas market chief medical officer, added that improving health literacy and self-advocacy skills can also help more black women have healthy pregnancies, deliveries, and babies.

“If the health care system can foster a culture of health equity, literacy, and advocacy, we will take a big step towards eliminating maternal health disparities in this country,” said Dr. Higgins.

AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation’s leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 13 states and the District of Columbia, AmeriHealth Caritas serves approximately 5 million Medicaid, Medicare, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Health Insurance Marketplace® members. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com.

(NewsUSA) -            Fifty thousand people in the U.S. have had their skin cancer cured without going to hospitals or undergoing traditional Mohs surgery, avoiding that treatment’s pain, bleeding, surgical scarring and, often, need for follow-up reconstructive surgery.

          The nation’s 50,000^th case of curing common (nonmelanoma) skin cancer with GentleCure™, the non-surgical treatment using Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy or Image-Guided SRT, occurred at Reading Dermatology, the private Pennsylvania practice of Jason Hendrix, DO.

          The patient was Jeffrey Keating, D.P.M., a 74-year-old retired podiatrist from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, whose lifelong habits of golfing, sailing and driving in his top-down convertible likely contributed to his history of skin cancer.

          “I had Mohs surgery years earlier for a lesion on my calf,” Keating said, “but this time, with three lesions on my face, my doctor and I chose non-surgical GentleCure and the results were outstanding.”

          With GentleCure, doctors treat nonmelanoma skin cancer (basal and squamous cell carcinomas) using ultrasound imaging to direct low-level X-ray energy to targeted areas of the skin, killing cancer cells without surgery. Research shows that the technology produces a 99.3 percent cure rate for early stage nonmelanoma skin cancer, making it just as effective as Mohs surgery, and treatments are covered by Medicare and most insurance plans.

          Dr. Hendrix noted, "More than three million Americans are diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer each year, making it the most common form of cancer. Sun exposure is the primary cause and year-round sun effects are cumulative over one's lifetime, so those who spend a lot of time outdoors plus seniors, those with light skin, users of tanning beds and people with family histories of skin cancer are especially susceptible. With all its advantages, GentleCure is the new non-invasive standard of care."

           Patient Keating added, “As a physician myself, I know that it’s critically important for patients to understand all their treatment options. Having experienced Mohs surgery, the idea of no pain or scarring with GentleCure was very attractive. Actually seeing the cancer shrink and disappear on the ultrasound imaging screen was so reassuring. I have a friend who had Mohs surgery on a facial lesion, and he had a flap of skin cut from his scalp and stretched over the site of his excised lesion; that was not something I wanted to experience. Today, I am fully cured and could not be happier with the GentleCure process and results.”

           For more information and to learn where Image-Guided SRT is available, visit GentleCure.com.

(NewsUSA) -  

The ever-changing landscape of self-care offers consumers an array of choices that can sometimes feel overwhelming. To help navigate through the sea of health information, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to make smart self-care decisions, has launched a new website, HealthInHand.org.

The website, formerly KnowYourOTCs.org, provides information not only about over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, but also dietary supplements and consumer medical devices. Through a modern, user-friendly design, the site features a robust search function, an extensive library of self-care resources written by healthcare professionals, a simplified symptom relief section, a catalogue of common self-care products, and an active ingredient glossary.

“This redesign is more than just a fresh coat of paint,” says Anita Brikman, Executive Director of CHPA’s Educational Foundation. “Health In Hand is the result of many months of hard work, thoughtful design, targeted testing, and innovative development,” she explains. “We’re decoding dosing, explaining ingredients, simplifying safety, and helping visitors choose the types of products they need to make the most of their health. Health In Hand is tested, trusted, and clear – a genuine reflection of our Foundation’s mission to continually help people understand how to safely choose and use self-care products.”

The website includes two new sections. “My Self-Care” tailors content to different life stages and age-specific categories, while “Healthy Living” focuses on health maintenance routines and daily self-care needs, such as choosing vitamins and supplements, staying safe in the sun, and maintaining healthy sleep habits.

Specific to dietary supplements, Health In Hand provides curated content with the facts people need to safely choose and use these products. The site also breaks down dietary supplement information for certain groups who may need higher levels of specific nutrients based on their diet or stage of life, including information for children, teens, and adults aged 65 and older.

The site also provides critical health information to women of all ages, including advice from experts on feminine hygiene and supplement information tailored to women who are currently pregnant, looking to conceive, or breastfeeding.  

“We’re simplifying self-care,” said Mary Leonard, Vice President of CHPA’s Educational Foundation. “Our newly updated mobile-friendly website means people will always have expert advice and dynamic content right at their fingertips, so they feel empowered to take self-care decisions into their own hands whether in the pharmacy aisle, on-the-go, or at their child’s bedside.”

Visit HealthInHand.org for more information.

(NewsUSA) - La enfermedad cardíaca es la principal causa de muerte en los Estados Unidos. Una de cada cinco muertes se debe a una enfermedad cardíaca, a pesar de que la enfermedad se puede prevenir en gran medida.

Mantener su corazón saludable comienza con llevar un estilo de vida saludable para el corazón. Pero primero, debe ser inteligente con su corazón. Saber qué causa la enfermedad cardíaca, qué le pone en riesgo, y cómo puede reducir esos riesgos puede ayudarle a tomar decisiones informadas para proteger su corazón y mantenerlo fuerte.

¿Quiere poner a prueba su conocimiento? Responda a este breve cuestionario sobre el corazón:

Cuestionario sobre el corazón

1. ¿Verdadero o Falso? La presión arterial alta también se conoce como hipertensión y ocurre cuando su presión arterial es constantemente de 130/80 mm Hg o superior.
2. ¿Verdadero o Falso? Su índice de masa corporal, o IMC, muestra si su peso está en un rango saludable para su altura y es una medida de su riesgo futuro de enfermedad cardíaca.
3. ¿Verdadero o Falso? El colesterol ayuda a producir hormonas, vitamina D, y sustancias que ayudan a digerir los alimentos. Su cuerpo lo necesita para una buena salud, pero en las cantidades adecuadas.
4. ¿Verdadero o Falso? Comer muchas verduras, frutas, y granos integrales, consumir productos lácteos sin grasa o bajos en grasa, y limitar los alimentos con alto contenido de grasas saturadas o bebidas azucaradas son parte de una dieta saludable para el corazón.
5. ¿Verdadero o Falso? No dormir lo suficiente o tener un sueño de mala calidad de manera regular aumenta el riesgo de tener presión arterial alta, enfermedad cardíaca, y otras afecciones médicas.
6. ¿Verdadero o Falso? Para fortalecer su corazón, los adultos deben aspirar a realizar al menos 150 minutos de actividad aeróbica de intensidad moderada, como caminar a paso ligero, cada semana.

Clave de respuestas: todas las respuestas son Verdaderas.

¿Como le fue en el cuestionario? Conocer sus propios factores de riesgo de enfermedad cardíaca puede ayudarle a guiar sus elecciones de estilo de vida, así que hable con su proveedor de atención médica para asegurarse de que está bien de salud. Igual de importante: conozca sus números. Su peso, el tamaño de su cintura, su presión arterial, su colesterol, y sus niveles de azúcar en la sangre afectan su corazón. Si no están donde deberían estar, comprométase a comenzar a mejorarlos.

Agregar más actividad física a su día, comer una dieta saludable para el corazón, controlar el estrés, dormir lo suficiente, y no fumar puede ponerle en el camino hacia una mejor salud del corazón.

Obtenga más información sobre la prevención de la enfermedad cardíaca de The Heart Truth® en www.hearttruth.gov (en inglés) y descargue la hoja informativa Heart Smart Basics para mejorar su conocimiento sobre la salud del corazón.

(NewsUSA) - Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One in five deaths is due to heart disease, even though the disease is largely preventable.

Keeping your heart healthy starts with living a heart-healthy lifestyle. But first, you need to get smart about your heart. Knowing what causes heart disease, what puts you at risk for it, and how you can reduce those risks can help you make informed decisions to protect your heart and keep it strong.

Want to test your knowledge? Take this short Heart Smart Quiz:

Heart Smart Quiz

1. True or False? High blood pressure is also known as hypertension and occurs when your blood pressure is consistently 130/80 mm Hg or higher.

2. True or False? Your body mass index, or BMI, shows if your weight is in a healthy range for your height and is one measure of your future risk for heart disease.

3. True or False? Cholesterol helps make hormones, vitamin D, and substances to help you digest foods. Your body needs it for good health, but in the right amounts.

4. True or False? Eating lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, using fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and limiting foods high in saturated fat or sugar-sweetened beverages are all part of a heart-healthy diet.

5. True or False? Not getting enough sleep or getting poor quality sleep on a regular basis increases the risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease, and other medical conditions.

6. True or False? To strengthen their heart, adults should aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as brisk walking each week.

Answer Key: All answers are True.

How did you do? Knowing your own risk factors for heart disease can help guide your lifestyle choices, so talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you’re clear. Just as important: know your numbers. Your weight, waist size, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels all affect your heart. If they aren’t where they should be, make a pledge to begin improving them.

Adding more physical activity to your day, eating a heart-healthy diet, managing stress, getting enough quality sleep, and not smoking can put you on the path to better heart health.

Learn more about heart disease prevention from The Heart Truth® at www.hearttruth.gov and download the Heart Smart Basics fact sheet to improve your knowledge about heart health.