Dr. Michael Stevenson

New Physician at Kneibert Offers Manipulative Therapy

Dr. Michael Stevenson, D.O., joined Kneibert Clinic on Feb. 5 as a family practice physician.

Dr. Stevenson is board certified in Family Practice and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.If you have a persistent back pain, Dr. Stevenson can help.

"I do osteopathic manipulative therapy for people with back pain," Dr. Stevenson said. "I'm getting quite a few people on referrals. It's starting to pick up."

Dr. Stevenson also provides obstetrics and gynecology services and performs colonoscopies. "We can look at the entire length of the colon during an colonoscopy," he said.

Another test done by Dr. Stevenson at his practice is an EGD, which views the stomach for ailments.

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National Kidney Month

Cancer, Kidney Stones, Infections Comprise Most Area Cases

Annually, more than 23,000 Americans are diagnosed with kidney cancer.

Three common kidney problems in the Poplar Bluff area are: kidney cancer, kidney stones and kidney infections.

The kidneys are part of the urinary tract. They remove waste products from the blood and produce urine.

"If you have blood in the urine, it needs to be checked immediately," said Dr. S.D. Madduri, urologist at Kneibert Clinic. "Most of the time CAT scans will tell you if you have kidney cancer."

Other symptoms include a lump or mass that can be felt in the kidney area. The tumor may cause a dull ache or pain in the back or the side of the affected kidney.

Other tests for kidney cancer include IVP, a test that lets doctors view the kidneys on x-rays and ultrasound, a test that creates a sonogram or picture of the kidneys using high-frequency sound waves.

"Kidney stones are very common in this area," Dr. Madduri said. "We are in a kidney stone belt, which is the middle to the south portion of the country where days get hot and people dehydrate easily and can form kidney stones."

"The common symptom for kidney stones is pain on the outside of the back that radiates to the front."

Dr. Madduri said an x-ray may be required to diagnose kidney stones.

"Treatment used to involve surgery for kidney stones," he said. "Treatment now is less invasive using a surgical technique called lithotripsy, which breaks the stones with shock waves down to the size of sand and gravel which can easily be passed through urine."

Dr. Madduri said kidney infections are also common in the area and that women are more likely to develop an infection.

"Females are more likely to develop kidney infection because the urethea in females is short and an infection in the vaginal area can easily spread into the bladder," he said.

The commom symptom of kidney infection is burning while urinating. Kidney infections are easily treated with antibiotics.

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Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Colorectal Cancer kills more than 50,000 people every year in the U.S. alone.

"Early diagnosis is the key to long term survival of colorectal cancer," said Dr. R.L. Hall, a surgeon at Kneibert Clinic.

Risk indicators include unexplained weight loss, family history of colon cancer, blood loss in stools, abdominal pains, and a history of polyps in the colon.

Colon cancer is easily detected by a procedure called "colonoscopy" where a flexible scope is inserted in a person's colon via the rectum and a physician can detect polyps and cancerous growths.

A recent Associated Press news release stated fewer than half of Americans age 50 and older are receiving proper screening for colorectal cancer.

Who Should Get Screenings:

Generally, for those at average risk, screenings should begin at age 50. For more info, see charts at: American Cancer Society :: Colon and Rectum Cancer - Detection on Symptoms. Also available: colon cancer risk assessment, treatments, colon cancer check tool.

Other Related Links:

National Colorector Cancer Research Alliance - The NCCRA is dedicated to the eradication of colon cancer by harnessing the power of celebrity to promote education, fundraising, research and early medical screening. The National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA) was co-founded by NBC TODAY show co-anchor Katie Couric, nationally-known cancer fund raiser Lilly Tartikoff, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a California-based 501 (c ) 3 non-profit organization.

Colon Cancer Alliance - Voice of the Survivors - The Colon Cancer Alliance brings the voice of survivors to battle colorectal cancer through patient support, education, research and advocacy. Helpful document: Screening Fact Sheet

Association of Cancer Online Resources - on online lifeline for those affected by cancer offers access to website and email discussion groups.

Colon and Rectal Cancer - Overview, statistics, treatments, clinical trials, misc. information from CancerNet (National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health).

OncoLink - University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center.

American Cancer Society's Colon and Rectum Cancer Resource Center