Wichita Eagle: Healthy Living

Preventive mastectomy simply a matter of life and death

Anna Gorman — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:12 CDT

Fear of cancer is a horrible thing. It stays with you all day long, and it wakes you up at night.

I didn’t want to live with that, especially when I knew I could do something about it.

Like Angelina Jolie, I have a genetic mutation that increased my odds of getting breast cancer to nearly 90 percent. Also like Jolie, I chose to get my healthy breasts removed to reduce that risk to less than 5 percent.

Drs. Oz and Roizen: Exploring nonmedical pain relief for endometriosis

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:11 CDT

Padma Lakshmi (“Top Chef”), Susan Sarandon (“The Big Wedding”), Whoopi Goldberg (“The View”) and another 100 million women worldwide contend with endometriosis, in which endometrial cells that line the uterus grow outside the uterus, causing adhesions, scarring, severe pain and a 30 to 40 percent risk of infertility.

Even though 10 percent of all women develop endometriosis, we’re just beginning to understand the causes: possibly a combination of immune-system misfires, exposure to environmental toxins (such as hormone disrupters in plastics), plus a genetic predisposition. Effective nonmedical treatments are emerging, but until recently, only hormone therapy, pain pills and surgery were offered, at a cost of $22 billion a year.

Our suggestions:

HPV-related throat cancers multiplying; vaccine can help prevent them

Andrea K. Walker — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:09 CDT

It is well known that HPV (human papillomavirus) can lead to deadly cervical cancer in women, but the virus is causing cancer in men as well. Throat cancers caused by HPV are showing up typically in men with little or no history of smoking, said Kevin Cullen, an oncologist who specializes in treating head and neck cancers. Cullen, the director of the University of Maryland’s Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, talks about the growing cases of HPV-related throat cancers.

Q: Why are we seeing an increase in head and neck cancers related to HPV?

A: The reasons aren’t entirely clear but may be related to changes in sexual practices over time. What is clear is that head and neck cancers due to HPV are rapidly becoming more common than cervical cancer in the U.S. In less than 20 years, there will be four times as much head and neck cancer in men due to HPV than there will be cervical cancer in women.

Doc Talk: There are a variety of ways to manage labor pains

Hilary Rainbolt — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:08 CDT

Many women have fears about pain during childbirth. It is important for a woman to discuss her concerns with her obstetrician during pregnancy. There are several different options for managing and controlling pain. These options include both nonmedical interventions as well as medications. Often, a combination of pain control strategies is used.

Nonmedical ways to manage pain during labor include walking and changing position, breathing techniques, showering or bathing, using massage, applying hot or cold packs to the lower back and distractions such as listening to music. Many patients use a combination of these methods during early labor. Childbirth preparation classes, such as those offered at Wesley Medical Center, teach methods including breathing techniques.

There are many different pain medicines and ways these medicines can be administered to manage pain. Methods commonly used in our community include intravenous or intramuscular pain medicines and epidural or spinal pain medicines.

Eye exams can reveal diseases

Leslie Barker — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:07 CDT

An eye exam, at its most basic, determines how well these miraculous little spheres look out on the world. It can also spot medical issues going on inside the body.

“People need to realize that looking into your eyes is more than checking your vision,” says genetics counselor Linda Robinson of the University of Texas Southwestern Simmons Cancer Center. “Your eyes can tell us so much more than if you need glasses.”

Most notably, they can show signs of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular problems. An eye exam can also reveal lupus and multiple sclerosis as well as various kinds of cancer.

Healthy barbecue, all summer long

Mike Lee — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:06 CDT

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial kickoff to summer and with that, barbecue season. It can be tempting to load up on all your favorite calorie-laden barbecue staples – cheeseburgers, chips, dips, potato salad, pies and cakes – but there are ways to indulge while also keeping your calorie count in check. After all, with summer also comes swimsuit season.

You can enjoy yourself at every food-filled barbecue this summer without sacrificing flavor or fun. Here are some tips for satisfying food swaps, alternative ingredients and easy, refreshing seasonal recipes.

• Get creative with the grill: Instead of the predictable burger or ballpark hotdog, try marinating chicken breasts in a homemade dressing and toss those on the grill instead. Or try grilling portobello mushrooms, sliced zucchini and even eggplant for any vegetarians.