Events in Health Care ...

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Information presented here is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice for specific situations. See your doctor regularly.

Events in Health Care:
(Source: Missouri Hospital Association's 2000 Promotional Calendar)

December 1-31, Colorectal Cancer Education and Awareness Month. This month is held to educate consumers, patients and professionals regarding the need for early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer.

December 1-31, Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis. Communities nationwide celebrate this festive event to help the Arthritis Foundation support research and improve the quality of life for people affected by the more than 100 forms of arthritis. The events feature a variety of running and walking competitions. Participants dress in holiday costumes and decorate their shoes with jingle bells. www.arthritis.org.

December 1-31, Safe Toys and Gifts Month. What are the most dangerous toys to children’s eyesight? Tips on how to choose age-appropriate toys will be distributed. www.preventblindness.org.

December 1, World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day, originated by the World Health Organization, is part of the continuing effort to meet the challenge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is a day for increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS as a global concern and creating the global solidarity necessary in the fight against HIV/AIDS. www.aawhworldhealth.org.

December 1-7, National Aplastic Anemia/ Myelodysplastic Awareness Week. The Aplastic Anemia Foundation of America (AAFA) serves as a resource for patient assistance and emotional support and provides educational materials and updated medical information on aplastic anemia and other forms of bone-marrow failure such as myelodysplastic syndrome. The AAFA also financially supports research to find effective prevention and treatment. www.aplastic.org.

Arthritis Update

December is the month for the national Jingle Bell Run For Arthritis. Funds raised go to support research and the improvement of life for people affected by more than 100 forms of arthritis.

Arthritis is the leading chronic condition for older adults and the leading cause of disability in the U.S.

Promoting healthy lifestyle changes for these people is critical in attaining and maintaining quality of life.According to the Dec. 2000 issue of Journal of Holistic Nursing, "Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although less common than osteoarthritis,is an autoimmune disease, usually has an earlier onset and the potential for progressive destruction, deformity, and disability to joints over a longer period of time.RA is the more severe and systemic form of arthritis. RA affects 1 percent of the population and increases with age. The prevalence among women is two to three times higher than among men."

Dr. John True, orthopedic surgeon at Kneibert Clinic, said "Cox II anti-inflamatory inhibitors that came out in early 1999 are much better for the treatment of arthritis." These medications are specific to the treated area and don't affect the stomach.

"We don't see near the side effects we used to," Dr. True said.

The most common form of arthritis in the Southeast Missouri area is now osteoarthritis which affects joints in the knees, hips and shoulders.

"The most common used to be rheumatoid," Dr. True said. "Now we do more surgeries for osteoarthritis. Surgery is quite successful for total joint work and is 95 percent successful."

"They get to the point, they can't do the activities of daily living," he said.

True said some early symptoms of arthritis include increased pain in the joint and decreased movement.

-Lonnie Thiele

Related Links:

Arthritis Foundation - The Arthritis Foundation is the nonprofit organization leading the way to improve the lives of people with arthritis and to find a cure for more than 100 forms of arthritis through research, education, programs and services. Helpful document - Speaking of Pain: How to Talk to Your Doctor About Pain

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health

December 2000 HealthWeb - Colorectal Cancer, Arthritis Update

November 2000 HealthWeb - Information and links on Diabetes, Alzheimer's Disease and Lung Cancer

October 2000 HealthWeb - Mammography Day, Flu Vaccines, Save Your Back

September 2000 HealthWeb - Healthy Aging, Sickle Cell Disease, Eeek! Head Off Head Lice

Colorectal Cancer

Early Diagnosis Is Key
To Long-Term Survival

December is Colorectal Cancer Education Month, which focuses on the need for early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer.Colorectal cancer kills more than 50,000 people every year in the U.S. Of the cancers, only lung cancer kills more people.

According to researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., colonoscopy screening for people over 50 years old, done once every 10 years, could cut colorectal cancer deaths by half.

According to the Nov. 11, 2000, issue of Science News, colonoscopies are effective: "Of all the malignancies,colon cancer seems the most avoidable. By inserting a flexible scope into a person's colon via the rectum, a physician can detect precancerous growths called polyps. A device attached to the scope can snip them off during the same outpatient visit."

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

"Family history of colon cancer, any unexplained weight loss, blood loss in stools, unexplained abdominal pains, history of colonic polyps -- all of these are risk factors."

"Early diagnosis means better prognosis," Dr. Hall said. "The earlier the stage the better the prognosis and patients are more likely to be cured."

All of the screening and surgeries are available at Kneibert Clinic.

-Lonnie Thiele

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