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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to talk about the importance of breast cancer prevention and detection. At Intermountain Health, we’re dedicated to helping you stay ahead of cancer with our High-Risk Cancer Prevention Clinic. Let’s dive into why early detection is crucial and how we can support you.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, but the good news is that early detection can significantly improve outcomes. Regular mammograms are a key part of breast cancer screening because they can detect cancer early when it’s most treatable. However, for those at high risk due to genetic factors, mammograms alone might not be enough.
Maricel Purcell, a Cancer Genetics Nurse Practitioner at our High-Risk Cancer Prevention Clinic, explains, “Regular mammograms are a crucial component of breast cancer screening and can detect cancer early when it’s treatable. However, for individuals at high risk due to genetic factors, mammograms alone may not be sufficient.”
Knowing your genetic risk can help you take proactive steps to protect your health.
“Understanding your genetic risk allows you to take proactive steps to protect your health. Having this information doesn’t mean you will definitely develop cancer. It means you have the opportunity to take preventive measures and make informed decisions about your health,” says Purcell.
If you have a family history of cancer, especially if cancers occurred at a young age or if multiple family members are affected, you should consider seeing a cancer genetics provider. Indicators also include having a known genetic mutation in the family, multiple types of cancer in a single individual, or belonging to certain groups with higher prevalence of specific mutations.
At Intermountain Health, we offer a range of services to help manage and reduce your cancer risk. Our High-Risk Cancer Prevention Clinic provides:
One of the standout features of our High-Risk Cancer Prevention Clinic is the availability of telehealth options. You can have video visits with our specialists without having to leave your house. This makes it easier than ever to get the care you need without the hassle of travel. Whether it’s a genetic counseling session or a follow-up appointment, our telehealth services ensure you stay connected with your healthcare team.
“We’re shifting the focus from treatment to prevention as often as possible. And we do this all from the comfort of your own home,” says Purcell.
Finding out you may be at high risk for cancer can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone. “For those feeling overwhelmed, I offer resources such as counseling and support groups and I ensure they know they are not alone in this journey,” Purcell reassures.
Sabrina Feldman, a vibrant 39-year-old from Denver, Colorado, recently embarked on a life-changing journey at Intermountain Health’s high-risk cancer prevention clinic. With a family history of cancer, Sabrina always had a nagging feeling about her health. “On the back of my mind, I could have a high risk,” she shared. Her grandparents had died of ovarian cancer, but it wasn’t until her cousin tested positive for BRCA 2 about four years ago that Sabrina started to connect the dots.
Despite her sister testing negative for the gene, Sabrina decided to move forward with her own testing in September, assuming she wouldn’t have it. “Sure enough, I did have it,” she said. This revelation set her on a proactive path to ensure her health and safety. “I took all the proactive things. I figured any preventative things I can do to make sure I am healthy and safe and can live a long life without something being invasive.”
Her journey began with genetic counseling and imaging. “As soon as the genetic counselor sent my primary care provider the results, she immediately called for imaging,” Sabrina recalled. The day she went for her mammogram and sonogram was nerve-wracking. “If I thought I didn’t have BRCA 2 and I did, now every result would be the same. I panicked.” Fortunately, the results came back in just five hours, and everything was negative. “We have detected no abnormal cells,” she was told, which brought immense relief.
Sabrina then reached out to a medical oncologist for further options and opportunities. She met Lisa Ahrendt, MD, who was incredibly supportive. “She was very clear, you know you are supposed to get the surgeries right away and your ovaries removed. So I was nervous going into the appointment. She kept saying when or if you decided to move forward. She heard me, she saw me. Nothing was scary.”
Dr. Ahrendt spent an hour discussing the best course of action for Sabrina, making her feel comfortable and understood. “This is something you’ll have to deal with and monitor, it doesn’t mean you have to take action,” Dr. Ahrendt reassured her. Sabrina felt empowered by the knowledge and the support she received. “Knowledge is power. You can’t make any decisions until you have all the answers. Make sure you know that there are options.”
Sabrina’s journey isn’t over yet. She has a couple more screenings lined up and is considering her options carefully.
The clinic has created a supportive community for Sabrina. “This clinic created such a great community. Find a place that you feel comfortable and heard in is so important.” With the help of a social worker and a streamlined team of specialists, Sabrina feels at ease. “It’s now out of my mind. Is this going to be looming over me forever? I felt like everything was there. It makes it so easy and so approachable.”
Sabrina’s story is a testament to the power of knowledge and the importance of a supportive healthcare community. Her proactive approach and the care she received have empowered her to take control of her health and her future.
At Intermountain Health, we’re here to support you with personalized care and comprehensive services. If you think you might be at high risk, don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule an appointment.
Dignity Care is a homegrown business in Boulder.In the 1990s, Mary Kirk, a registered dietitian, began caregiving for family and relatives. Her husband, Ged, offered a companion travel service for the elderly and disabled. Together they established Dignity Care, LLC in 1997 as a home care business with just two caregivers and a home office.As demand for home care service increased, Mary recruited additional caregivers, but always with an emphasis on the compassionate, respectful, personalized care that was Dignity Cares trademark. Mary created her own approach to senior home care, unique in this area.With this dedication and passion to provide the best caregivers in the Boulder County region, Dignity Care has continued to grow and in 2009 became licensed as a Class A home care provider. We specialize in using Certified Nursing Assistants on our teams so we can bring you the skill and experience you deserve, if you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
Too many seniors grapple with isolation and depression, but these are not a normal part of growing older. They are treatable medical illnesses, much like heart disease or diabetes. Depression is a serious illness affecting approximately 15 out of every 100 adults over age 65 in the United States.Seniors experiencing feelings of depression and isolation have a higher risk of hospital admissions, as well as a higher risk for being scammed. Not to mention it makes for a miserable life.So, what can you do? Helping seniors stay healthy means more than ensuring they get good physical care. Individuals living alone miss out on the stimulation of interactions with others on a regular basis. Our caregivers serve that dual purpose of providing physical care and social connection. We enjoy our clients, building a relationship with them, and sharing the highs and lows of their days. Caregivers can laugh with their clients and be an empathetic ear. We make sure our clients are getting out of the house and attending events and activities that interest them.Hiring a caregiver to help out, even for a couple of hours each week, brings conversation and spark along with the physical help. Caregivers are a good antidote for depression. If you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
Hot summer days are a good time for everyone to think about staying hydrated. For older adults the topic of hydration is a year-round discussion that never goes away. Its a serious issue for most seniors but doesnt get resolved because it needs to be addressed every day and cant be solved with a pill.Seniors have a very high risk for dehydration, which is one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization after the age of 65. They have a greater risk of dehydration for many reasons, including the fact that as we age, our kidneys become less efficient at conserving fluids, our sense of thirst weakens, and we are less able to adjust to changes in temperature. Some medications like diuretics, sedatives, and laxatives can also cause increased fluid loss.Dehydration can cause temporary symptoms that mimic symptoms of Alzheimers. If dementia-like symptoms seem to appear suddenly, it could be dehydration which is easily curable.Symptoms of dehydration range from minor to severe and include persistent fatigue, muscle weakness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, forgetfulness, confusion, lethargy, increased heart rate, sunken eyes, dry mouth, dark colored urine. Urine should be clear to pale yellow. I tell my clients that if their urine is darker than pale yellow, they should head straight to the kitchen from the bathroom and drink a full glass of water. Keeping a glass of water beside you all day to sip on rarely results in someone drinking enough fluids. Its more effective to drink the entire glass, even if its a small glass. Seniors cant rely on their sense of thirst to tell them when to drink water. Scheduling a glass at each meal and/or after a bathroom visit, making sure to drink the full glass, is the best way to make sure youve gotten your full daily amount.If you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital is a community-based, acute-care hospital in Lafayette, Colorado. Intermountain Health is a nonprofit faith-based health system with hospitals in two states. At Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital, we are happy to tell you about us: our compassionate caregivers, our clinical excellence, our award-winning care and even our beautiful campus. But its really all about you. Our patients and families are the center of every thought, communication and action that takes place in this healing space.
Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital senior E.R. is Colorado's first E.R. facility constructed with seniors needs in mind. By implementing a philosophy of care for the geriatric patient and implementing a variety of screenings designed for the senior population, physicians hope that their senior E.R. will help lower readmission rates and reduce the risk of harmful drug interactions. In order to give excellent emergency care to seniors in our community including specialized screening and care, physicians and nurses have taken workshops in sensory appreciation and ageism to learn how to better communicate with older adults and their caregivers. The Senior ER provides a less chaotic and stressful environment for senior patients while optimizing their discharge to the most appropriate and safe environment.