T.J. Samson | Destination Health | December 2017

Lung cancer Early detection = better quality of life Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women. There are 222,500 estimated cases of lung cancer in the United States in 2017. Small cell lung cancer ac- counts for 10 to 15 percent of those malignancies. Small cell lung carcinoma is staged in two groups. Limited stage refers to cancer that is still contained within the lungs and lymph nodes of the chest. Extensive stage describes cancer that has spread to other organs such as brain, liver and bone. Those with limited stage small cell lung can- cer will have a 50 percent chance of the cancer spreading to the brain after treatment has com- pleted. A blood-brain barrier keeps the chemo- therapy drugs limited to a minimal concentration within the brain, thereby allowing cancers cells to grow, unaffected by their systemic chemotherapy. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) can re- duce the incidence of brain metastasis from 50 to 15 percent.Therefore, PCI should be recom- mended to all patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer who have completed their stan- dard course of radiation and chemotherapy. Craig Tyree, MD, board-certified Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director of Barren River Regional Cancer Center, reviewed the records of those patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer who have been treated at Barren River Regional Cancer Center in Glasgow, Kentucky, between 2012 and 2017. PCI was recommended to 100 percent of patients who completed their stan- dard course of radiation and chemotherapy with no signs of progression or metastasis. All patients who were recommended PCI received it. The incidence of lung cancer in south-central Kentucky is much higher than the national standard due to the region’s high incidence of smoking. Dr. Tyree strongly encourages smoking cessation to prevent the development of primary lung cancers. Early-detection exams, such as an- nual low-dose chest CT scans for patients with a high risk of developing a lung malignancy, are recommended.These early detection exams lead to improved chances of survival. Prevention is al- ways the best option, but early detection dramati- cally improves a patient’s chance of survival—and can mean a better quality of life. The oncology care that is delivered in Glasgow, Kentucky, is top of the line. Oncology care is a multidisciplinary field, which requires close coor- dination of all physicians involved in a patient’s care: the radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, pulmonologist, surgeon, otolaryngologist, urolo- gist, gynecologist and primary care provider. In Glasgow, all of these physicians come together and work as a team to ensure the care provided is second to none. Whether you’re watching It’s a Wonderful Life or enjoying time with family and friends, it’s easy for the holidays to tug at your heartstrings. Unfortunately, it’s also easy for the holidays to have a far less pleasant ef- fect on your heart. Research shows that the risk of having an irregular heartbeat goes up during the winter holidays and that heart-related deaths are high- est around Christmas and New Year’s Day. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians and other experts, possible causes for this danger- ous seasonal surge in heart problems include: ●  ● Holiday-related events that may trigger things like stress, lack of sleep, excessive alcohol or caffeine consump- tion, and dehydration. ●  ● Waiting too long to seek medical help for potential heart trouble out of concern that it may disrupt holiday plans. GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE The take-home message: Pay close at- tention to signals from your heart this holiday season. If you experience an irregular heart- beat that lasts longer than a few hours, call your doctor or go to the emergency department. And, of course, if you suspect a heart attack, call 911 quickly. Fast action can save lives. Most heart attacks cause pain or dis- comfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes and may come and go.The pain may even be mild. Other symptoms include: ●  ● Discomfort in one or both arms or the neck, back, jaw or stomach. ●  ● Sweating, nausea or dizziness. ●  ● Shortness of breath. If there’s a chance you or someone else might be having a serious heart problem, such as prolonged irregular heartbeat or a heart attack, find out for sure.That way, you’re more likely to be around to enjoy next year’s holiday season. Heart heal th Know the risks this season December 2017 3 Craig Tyree, MD Radiation Oncology