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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 2011)
November 2, 2011 (The $Iortlanò (Dbserorr Page Detecting Breast Cancer Early Dentist to Lead Northwest Program For Your Health I notice the pink touches - the pink bumper sticker on a neighbor’s car, the pink lapel pin on the super market clerk’s vest, or the pink patch on my niece’s backpack. With ev Mammograms - an X-ray picture of ery pink ribbon I see, I’m reminded the breast - can show cancer when that each of those little ribbons could it’s too small for you or your doctor represent one of more than 230,000 to feel. By helping to detect early- women who are diagnosed with stage cancers, mammograms can breast cancer each year - and that identify cancer when it is most treat breast cancer is just as prevalent able. today as ever. According to the Centers for Dis Most people know at least one ease Control and Prevention, women person who has been directly af over 40 should have a screening fected by breast cancer. It is the every one to two years. However, if second most common cancer among you have a family history of breast women in the U.S., and it’s the sec cancer, you may want to talk to your ond leading cause of cancer-related doctor about beginning annual deaths. According to the American screenings earlier. Additionally, Cancer Society, the chance of a African-American women are more woman being diagnosed with breast likely to contract the disease at an cancer at some point in her life is early age - about one-third are un close to 1 in 8. der the age of 50 - making regular, As with a variety of other can and early, mammograms all the more cers, the African-American commu important. nity is disproportionately affected If a friend or loved one is diag by breast cancer. The American nosed with breast cancer, there are Cancer Society reports that, while many ways to provide support. Even the overall incidence rate of breast little things, like showing up with a cancer is 10 percent higher in white homemade meal or accompanying women than African Americans, her to a doctor’s appointment, can women in our community are 37 go a long way toward a patient’s percent more likely to die from the recovery. In fact, studies show that disease - often because they are support from formal and informal less likely to get the care they need sources greatly improves the qual to overcome the condition. ity of life for patients battling the Luckily, early detection can vastly disease. improve a woman’s chances of sur More than ever, medicines also vival, and there are easy steps that have the power to provide hope to can be taken to help catch breast cancer patients. A recent report by cancer early on. the Pharmaceutical Research and While clinical and self-conducted Manufacturers of America revealed breast exams are helpful tools for 900 medicines in development to detection, getting a regular mammo treat cancer, including 91 for breast gram is the best way to catch breast cancer. c a n c e r b efo re it sp read s. Patients who need help afford- H ealth W atch that address breathing techniques, some gentle ancient African yoga O steop orosis S creen in g — An ul poses and mental balancing tech trasound bone density screening niques. People have left these with personalized education; fee $30. classes joyful and with a peaceful To schedule an appointment, call view of their lives. Call Dr. Marceline 503-261-6611. Faillaat503-228-6140. Fam ily C aregiver Support G roup - T enderfoot C are — Treat your feet - This topic-oriented group offers a with a soak, nail trim, buffing and safe place to discuss the stresses, massage from a licensed nurse at challenges and rewards of provid one of six clinics or at your home. ing care to an older relative or friend. Call 503-251 -6303 for more informa Meets the first Thursday of each tion. month at 3 p.m. at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital. C an cer R esource C en ter - Provi dence St. Vincent M edical Center F ree B ody B asics — This physician and the Am erican Red Cross have recommended class is appropriate for all ages and health conditions. joined forces to create the first in- hospital resource center provid Plan to attend this one-session class ing books, printed m aterial, com and learn the simple guidelines for puter access and more for indi safe exercises, including stretching. viduals and fam ilies dealing with Call 503-256-4000 to register. cancer. The center is open M on Em powerm ent through Relaxation day through Thursday, 9 a.m. to - Free informal meditation classes 4p.m . by L arry L ucas ing their prescription medicines for breast cancer and other conditions can turn to the Partnership for Pre scription A ssistance. Since its launch in April 2005, the PPA has helped connect more than 5 million patients in need to programs that provide either free or nearly free medicines. For more information, patients can call 1-888-4PPA-NOW or visit pparx.org. Larry Lucas is a retired vice president fo r the Pharmaceutical Research and M anufacturers o f America. Kaiser Permanente Northwest has announced its hiring of den tist Kenneth R. Wright as the ex ecutive director of dental services. Dr. Wright will lead clinical and financial operations for the Dental Care Program, which serves more than 190,000 members in 17 facili ties. "Kaiser Permanente Northwest has a unique opportunity to inte grate dental care along with medi cal and the other types of spe cialty care it provides members," said Wright. "The evidence is overwhelming that oral health is connected to overall health, so it's natural that dentists play an im portant role in our members' health. I look forward to leading the dental program as we continue on our Kenneth R. Wright mission to fulfill this goal." P rio r to jo in in g K aiser Permanente, Wright served as the chief of dental services for Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Alexan dria, La. He is a board-certified peri odontist. Dr. Billy R. Flowers (above center) and his skilled s ta ff are ready to help those in need ____________ THE____________ SPINA). COLUMN An ongoing series of questions and answers about Americas natural healing profession Part 7. CHILDREN & CHIROPRACTIC: Start off early in life for a lifetime of health : W/ien will my children be old enough to benefit from seeing Chiropractor? : Children of Chiropractors of ten receive their first spinal ad justments the day they are bom. Using special techniques for in fants, Chiropractors are able to correct spinal m isalignm ents caused by the traumatic and turn ing of childbirth. W hat’s more, w e’re frequently able to alleviate infant problems like colic that of ten keeps both babies and parents up all night. Q; / have a frien d who takes her children to a Chiropractor even when they aren 't sick. Why would she do this? : Actually, there are more rea sons for children to see a Chiropractor regularly than there are for adults. First of all, because of their activi ties in school and out, children natu rally take more spills than an aver age adult. This is one of the most common reasons people bring their children to a Chiropractor. But the best reason of all is so that with regular Chiropractic care, ch il dren can develop a nearly per fect spine. Not only to help them do better in school, but to gain increased strength, health and vitality throughout their adult lives. To find out all the ways C hiropractic can help your ch il dren experience a lifetime of good health, please call us at the num ber below. Flowers' Chiropractic Office 2124 NE Hancock, Portland Oregon97212 Phone: (5 0 3 ) 2 8 7 -5 5 0 4 Lf
