IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR HEAVY SMOKERS AND FORMER SMOKERS

Catch the drift!

by William F. Muhr, Jr., M.D., D.A.B.R. CEO, South Jersey Radiology

---

YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR COURSE!

There is now more optimism and hope for heavy smokers and former smokers over the age of 55! Lung cancer, when diagnosed at its earliest stage, can be cured. An annual ultra-low dose, chest CT screening is the only tool ever make an impact on lung cancer mortality.

Today we all know the health hazards of smoking; however, there is a segment of the population that was unaware of the dangers of smoking when they began the habit. Whether you did or didn’t is immaterial, we want to help you today.

There are over 7000 chemicals found in cigarette smoke that not only harm your lungs, but the latest research indicates second-hand smoke may hurt those you love. Read more: http://njquitline.org/pdfs/NJ_7000Chemicals(2).pdf

So how can I change my course?

You can get screened annually with an ultra low dose CT scan here at SJRA. Why? It bears repeating: lung cancer, when diagnosed at its earliest stage, can be cured.  We look for early cancers and potentially pre-cancerous nodules which we can follow to distinguish whether they are benign or early cancers.

Should I get screened for lung cancer?

The American College of Radiology recommends the following: if you are a heavy smoker, were a heavy smoker, are between the ages of 55 and 80, smoked at least one pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years you should get screened.

Review this infographic: https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Lung-Cancer-Screening-Resources/Shared-Decision-Making-Infographic.pdf?la=en

How often?

Annual screenings are recommended for early detection. Early detection is still your best protection.

What can an annual lung screening do for me?

Research shows that annual screening with low-dose CT scans can reduce the risk of death from lung cancer for people in the high risk categories (noted above). These scans have about five times less radiation than conventional CT scans.

Unfortunately, lung cancer is often marginalized and not considered a crisis, but 158,000 people a year die from lung cancer, compared to 64,000 opiate deaths). Here at South Jersey Radiology, we want to help diminish lung cancer fatalities because we know we can and because we care.

Word of Caution

I would be remiss if I didn’t state that lung cancer screening is not a substitute for quitting smoking. Quitting, we know, can be very difficult.  I am providing some FREE resources on quitting smoking:

Pick up the phone and call NJ Quitline (free to the public): NJ Quitline/ 1-866-NJSTOPS (866-657-8677). They have live telephone coaches to help you and it’s free.

More Information

New Jersey State Funded Cessation Services  (Free to the Public)

• Mom’s Quit Connection – 888-545-5191
  Free telephone or face to face cessation counseling for pregnant and parenting women and families.

 Privately Funded Cessation Services Available in NJ:
(Note: the following services may be offered at no, low or regular costs)     

• Atlantic Health
  Call 800-247-9580, or go to the website, click on Classes and Screening and select “Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation” from the drop-down menu.
• American Lung Association
  Quit services offered by the American Lung Association can be found by clicking http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking or by calling 800-586-4872.
• HiTOPS, Inc.
  iQuit! Program for 13 to 27 year olds through counseling and possible Nicotine Replacement Therapy. Ivy Pearlstein 609-683-5155 x212 ivy@hitops.org
• Shore Medical Center (Atlantic County)
  609-653-3440, quitcenter@shorememorial.org
  NOTE: This program services the community. Treatment by appointment.
• Somerset Medical Center (Somerset)
  Dr. Chris Kotsen, 908-685-2442, ckotsen@somerset-healthcare.com
• Tobacco Dependence Program, Rutgers, New Brunswick
  Cancer Institute of NJ, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, School of Public Health
  125 Paterson Street, Suite 2300, New Brunswick, NJ 08903 | 732-235-8222 stopsmoking@rutgers.edu
  Contact Michael Steinberg, MD, 732 235-8222 or 
Donna Richardson, LCSW, LCADC, 732 235-8223

South Jersey Radiology remains the first in the region to provide 3D Mammography and is the ONLY diagnostic imaging firm in the area to receive the American College of Radiology’s Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence Award and the Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence. That means we have over 40 radiologists on our team who are highly specialized in different areas of the body. In addition, we have 12 locations to serve you; we are open seven days a week with early morning hours and late evening hours. #insistonSJRA

The post IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR HEAVY SMOKERS AND FORMER SMOKERS appeared first on SJRA.

An Ounce of Prevention….

By William F. Muhr, Jr., M.D.

---

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I’m a big believer in that old axiom coined by Ben Franklin, although my spin on the quote is this: “Early detection saves lives … and prevents overtreatment.  I see it every day.”

I find – some women are just afraid to get a mammogram and either delay their screening or forego it altogether.  – I know early detection leads to better outcomes for – patients.

I’ve written this blog for those women who get anxious about mammograms.

A new study – confirms that many women with early-stage breast cancer can forego chemotherapy, along with its unpleasant and often detrimental side effects, and still beat the disease.

American Society of Clinical Oncology Study

The study, presented – at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2018 annual meeting, followed more than 10,000 women over ten years to assess whether hormone therapy alone was more or less effective than hormone therapy plus chemotherapy.

When patients enrolled in the trial, a biopsy sample was analyzed to determine a risk score for cancer recurrence. Women in the low-risk range received hormone therapy only; women in the high-risk range were treated with hormone therapy and chemotherapy. w In the intermediate-risk range, half of the women received hormone therapy alone and half received hormone therapy with chemotherapy.

Nine years after treatment, the overall survival rate for both intermediate-risk groups was approximately 94 percent. The rate of survival with no signs of disease recurrence was also similar – 83.3 percent for those who’d undergone hormone therapy alone and 84.3 percent for women who’d had both treatments.   This is not a statistically significant difference.

The results of this study will help patients, and their physicians make more informed treatment decisions. According to estimates, more than 70,000 women diagnosed annually in the U.S. can be treated with surgery and hormone therapy alone. The key, however, is early detection.  Late stage disease is not amenable to these less aggressive options.

Annual Mammogram Screening

Annual mammogram screening, beginning at age 40, is still the best “ounce of prevention” in battling breast cancer. And SJRA is the best place to get your mammogram. We are committed to providing the most advanced technology in the hands of the most experienced women’s imagers. We were first in the region to offer 3D mammography and first to receive the Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence (BICOE) designation from the American College of Radiology (ACR).  And we are still the region’s ONLY ACR-designated Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence. We are the only center to offer evening diagnostic mammography in our area. Excellence. We are the only center to offer evening diagnostic mammography in our region.

 

---

About William F. Muhr, Jr., M.D., D.A.B.R.

Dr. William F. Muhr is President and CEO of South Jersey Radiology Associates (SJRA) in the greater South New Jersey & Philadelphia area. SJRA offers a full spectrum of state-of-the-art imaging technologies. Dr. Muhr, an expert in Diagnostic Radiology/MRI Body, received his undergraduate degree from Lehigh University and his M.D. from Hahnemann University, completing both his internship and residency at Hahnemann University Hospital.

The post An Ounce of Prevention…. appeared first on SJRA.

Rhode Island Medical Imaging Makes Donation to Help Expand Access to Breast Screening and Follow-up Services

On behalf of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH)’s Women’s Cancer Screening Program, Governor Gina M. Raimondo accepted a $10,000 check today from Rhode Island Medical Imaging to expand financial assistance for access to breast screening and follow-up services for low-income women in Rhode Island.

“I want to thank Rhode Island Medical Imaging for their generous donation, and for their decades-long commitment to the health of Rhode Islanders,” said Governor Raimondo. “Financial barriers should never stand between a woman and potentially life-saving cancer care. Rhode Island Medical Imaging’s work to ensure that this is not the case, and their selfless commitment to the well-being of all Rhode Islanders, exemplifies the best of Rhode Island.”

After women receive breast cancer screenings, RIDOH’s Women’s Cancer Screening Program offers financial assistance for follow-up services to insured women whose incomes are not more than four times the federal poverty level. However, many women do not meet this criterion but still struggle to afford follow-up services because of high co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses. The donation will allow the Women’s Cancer Screening Program to help these women who are currently just above the cut off.

RIDOH’s Women’s Cancer Screening Program is a breast and cervical screening program that covers the cost of an office visit, Pap and HPV tests, mammograms, and most follow-up services for people who meet certain eligibility criteria. The program is also able to help some uninsured women enroll in Medicaid to cover the cost of breast and/or cervical treatment. For more information about eligibility criteria and services, call 401-222-4324, or visit www.health.ri.gov/programs/womenscancerscreening
 
“We at Rhode Island Medical Imaging are proud to once again support the Women’s Cancer Screening Program,” said Dr. John Pezzullo, president of Rhode Island Medical Imaging. “As the largest provider of women’s imaging services in the state, we see first-hand how devastating a breast cancer diagnosis can be for patients and their families. At RIMI, we offer cutting-edge technology complimented by a team of radiologists that are at the top of their field. We believe we must do our part to ensure that the underserved population of women in need receive that same level of quality care.”

“Thanks to the success of the Affordable Care Act in Rhode Island, many more women have health insurance to cover breast cancer services. But many women struggle to get recommended follow-up services after an abnormal finding because of financial barriers,” said Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH. “I want to thank Rhode Island Medical Imaging for their donation, and for expanding access to quality health services and care for Rhode Islanders in every zip code throughout the state.”

The Affordable Care Act is working in Rhode Island. Approximately 96% of all Rhode Islanders have health insurance today. Expanded access to Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act has resulted in coverage for approximately 70,000 adults, and more than 30,000 Rhode Islanders are insured through HealthSource RI. HealthSource RI’s open enrollment period has begun. For more information, people should visit www.healthsourceRI or call 1-855-840-4774.

Established in 1943, Rhode Island Medical Imaging operates a network of private facilities that are staffed by board certified radiologists and registered technologists. Rhode Island Medical Imaging radiologists also perform and interpret the full spectrum of imaging examinations at Rhode Island Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital, Miriam Hospital, and Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

Source: Rhode Island Medical Imaging Makes Donation
to Help Expand Access to Breast Screening and Follow-up Services