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The INDEPENDENT, April 7,2005
Health ltrtw__________ _______
Many could benefit from simple
at-home screening test
Colorectal cancer (cancer of
the colon or rectum) is the
number two cancer killer in the
United States. Although March
is Colorectal Cancer Aware
ness month, this killer ravages
lives year-round. Despite the
fact that it is highly preventable,
approximately 145,000 new
cases of colorectal cancer will
be diagnosed in 2005. More
than 56,000 people will die
from the disease.
“Colorectal cancer is one of
our most preventable cancers,”
says Dr. Anthony Simons of
Longview Surgical Group.
“Thousands of people will be
affected by colorectal cancer
this year. Many of those pa
tients could be diagnosed and
cured, often without surgery, if
the cancer is discovered early
using something as simple as a
stool test. There are several
screening options for colorectal
cancer, and all of them can be
successful.”
A fecal occult blood test
(FOBT) - can be used to dis
cover occult (hidden) blood in
feces. Because blood vessels
at the surface of colorectal
polyps or cancers are often
fragile and easily damaged by
the passage of feces, the dam
aged vessels usually release a
small amount of blood into the
feces. With the FOBT, a thin
smear of stool is taken at home
and then examined in a labora
tory for the presence of blood.
Smali specks of blood in the
stool can indicate the presence
of colorectal cancer or pre-can-
cerous polyps. If the FOBT is
positive for blood, further inves
tigation is needed to determine
if the blood is from a polyp or a
cancer.
The FOBT requires the col
lection of three stool samples.
Because colon cancers may
bleed inconsistently, the sam
ples are taken one day apart.
Many doctors recommend an
annual fecal occult blood test
for all adults beginning at age
50. This test should be done
along with a flexible sigmoi
doscopy every 5 years to check
for colorectal polyps or cancer.
“Everyone over age 50
should have a set of stool cards
tested for microscopic blood
every year,” says Gastroen
terologist Dr. Donald Kirk
patrick. “Once that simple test
is being done by a higher per
centage of the population, we
will be able to identify the pa
tients who need further evalua
tion.” Dr. Kirkpatrick suggests
that an innovative and effective
way to impact colon cancer
screening could be as simple
as “Putting stool cards in the
grocery store checkout line.”
“The best test is the one that
is actually done,” says Dr. Si
mons. “For many people, stool
testing is the easiest. Doing
nothing is not a logical option
anymore."
For more information, talk to
your health care professional.
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Should you work out when feeling ill?
When sneezing and sniffles
overtake you, it’s hard to know
if maintaining your regular
workout schedule will hurt you
more than help you. The aver
age adult gets two to four respi
ratory infections each year, with
children getting even more.
The type and severity of the in
fection indicates whether or not
to exercise.
Many people confuse colds
with influenza. Influenza is a
respiratory illness caused by a
specific virus. It is character
ized by fever and cough, often
accompanied by a headache,
congestion,
fatigue,
body
aches or sore throat. Cold
symptoms may include nasal
congestion, sneezing, runny
nose, and scratchy throat, but
fever is experienced only 10
percent of the time.
So, when do you opt to curl
up on the couch rather than
curling up from your exercise
mat? Many health experts ex
hort the neck up rule. If your
symptoms are located from the
neck up - runny nose, conges
tion, headache - go ahead and
exercise. Just take it easy, as
you’re obviously not at your
physical best. If your symptoms
include body aches and fever,
however, stay home and get
some rest!
While you’re recuperating,
drink plenty of fluids, down
some Vitamin C and eat well-
balanced meals. Fluids help
flush toxins from your system.
Although research indicates
that Vitamin C doesn’t do much
to prevent colds and fiu, taking
200 to 500 milligrams per day
does appear to speed recovery,
and healthy meals spur the
body’s virus fighters into action.
Of course, your best de
fense is a good offense. To pre
vent colds and flu be sure to
wash your hands frequently, at
least five times a day, for a min
imum of 15 seconds each time.
Germs are spread most often
when people touch something
infected then touch their own
eyes or nose.
Protect your immune system
as well! Avoid stress and loneli
ness, which deplete your dis-
ease-fighting reserves. Boost
them, instead, by:
• Getting plenty of sleep.
• Eating a well-balanced
diet, low in fat and high in fruits
and vegetables.
• Drinking lots of water.
• Kicking the cigarette habit.
Smokers are twice as likely to
catch respiratory infections and
take longer to recover than
non-smokers.
• Taking time to relax and do
activities that bring you pleas
ure.
• Keeping a positive outlook.
A study at the University of
Pittsburgh Medical Center
found that people who were
negative, moody, nervous or
easily stressed had a weaker
immune response to a hepatitis
vaccination than their more
positive peers.
• Getting a flu shot.
• Exercising! Medical re
search supports the connection
between regular exercise and
improved immunity. One study
found that active people have
25 percent fewer colds than in
active people. Another found
that sedentary women who be
gan taking a brisk 45-minute
walk five days a week cut their
sick days from colds in half.
Annual Walk F.A.R. for NAAR H IV testing is
is benefit for autism research available at Col.
April is National Autism
Awareness Month. The Nation
al Alliance for Autism Research
(NAAR) is participating in the
Annual Walk F.A.R. for NAAR
which takes place June 4 at
Hillsboro Stadium.
The Walk F.A.R. for NAAR is
a national event with walks tak
ing place across the country
and Canada. These walks are
the primary fundraiser for
autism research.
The NAAR is the oldest and
largest non-governmental or
ganization dedicated to funding
autism research.
Autism is a complex brain
disorder that often inhibits a
person’s ability to communi
cate, respond to surroundings
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and form relationships with oth
ers. Most people with autism
require lifelong supervision and
care, the most severely affect
ed will never be able to speak.
Recent studies by the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control &
Prevention suggest that the
prevalence of autism has sig
nificantly increased, from ap
proximately four in 10,000 in
the early 1990s to as many as
one in every 166 births today.
Despite the strikingly high
prevalence, autism research
remains one of the lowest fund
ed areas of medical research.
For more information on the
event, call 206-464-5182 or go
to <www.autismwalk.org>.
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Co. Public Health
Columbia County residents
who are at risk of HIV are en
couraged to be tested at Co
lumbia County Public Health.
Testing takes about 30 min
utes, and results are available
in about a week. Charges are
on a sliding scale. Appoint
ments can be made by calling
503-397-4651.
Those who are HIV positive
are eligible to enroll in the
Case Management Program,
which may also qualify them
for help with housing emergen
cies, gas vouchers, medication
cost reductions, and social
support.
Alice Nemetz, R.N., is Pro
gram Manager for Counseling
and Testing and Case Manage
ment.
Anyone with questions can
call Nemetz at 503-397-4651,
ext. 216.
April Showers
bring
May Flowers