Maryland's Health Matters - St. Joseph - Winter 2013 - (Page 15)

NEWS AND EVENTS requiring a colostomy have dramatically decreased. If the patient has a minimum margin of 1 inch of tissue below the tumor, the chances of avoiding colostomy are very high because the rectum Howard K. Berg, MD can be reconstructed. "Rectal cancer treatment is tailored for each patient," Dr. Berg says. Often, when the rectum cannot be salvaged, a "J-pouch" may be constructed using the colon to make a new storage area for stool. "The patient will have a temporary ileostomy for three months while the J-pouch heals," explains Dr. Berg. An ileostomy is a bag for stool drainage made from the small intestine. Once the new rectum heals, the surgeon reverses the ileostomy. An additional treatment approach for tumors that are large or very close to the anus is to shrink them with radiation and chemotherapy treatments. "By shrinking the tumor, in many cases we create a larger margin of tissue available for reconstruction," Dr. Berg says. ONE PATIENT'S EXPERIENCE Howard Cornblatt is a former rectal cancer patient for whom Dr. Berg created a J-pouch in 1996. "It was very innovative at the time. It was amazing. Everyone had colostomies then," Cornblatt recalls. Cornblatt, who thought he had hemorrhoids, was diagnosed thanks to his son, who urged him to consult a doctor about his symptoms. Since the tumor was at the base of his rectum, he received chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor, followed by a J-pouch and an ileostomy, and then a reversal of the ileostomy. Cornblatt feels ﬁne today and Make a Date for Health! Unless designated otherwise, call 410-337-1479 to register. All events are FREE unless designated otherwise. HEALTH SCREENINGS BONE DENSITY SCREENING For adults who want to know how their lifestyle is affecting their bone density and for those with certain risk factors (family history, small body frame, inactivity, smoking, excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption, low calcium and vitamin D intake). Consists of a quick, painless ultrasound test of the heel bone (not diagnostic). For those who have not had a DEXA scan or ultrasound bone test in the past year. Appointment required. Thursdays, Jan. 23 and Feb. 20, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS To identify your unique body makeup and associated health risks. The Tanita SC-331S professional scale uses bioelectric impedance analysis to determine weight, body fat, body mass index, total body water, muscle mass, metabolic rate, and more. Thursdays, Jan. 16 and Feb. 13, 2 to 4 p.m. AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE Schedule a lifesaving donation. For medical and eligibility questions, call 866-236-3276 before scheduling your appointment. Friday, Jan. 24, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Vascular Surgery Associates now has an office on UM SJMC's campus! 7505 Osler Drive, Suite 302, Towson, 21204 To learn more, call 410-337-1337 or visit stjosephtowson.com/ ﬁndadoctor. volunteers as a patient advocate to support others going through colorectal cancer treatment. NEED MORE INFORMATION? JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY To learn more about Dr. Berg's practice and philosophy of care, visit mdcolonsurgeons.com. We've set up a community just for our readers. At stjosephtowson.com/mhm, ﬁnd polls, videos, recipes, a health tip of the day and more! Search "Colon" under "Healthy Insights." stjosephtowson.com | Winter 2013 15 http://www.stjosephtowson.com/findadoctor http://www.stjosephtowson.com/findadoctor http://www.stjosephtowson.com/mhm http://www.mdcolonsurgeons.com http://www.stjosephtowson.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - St. Joseph - Winter 2013

Maryland's Health Matters - St. Joseph - Winter 2013
Contents
Care After Hours
Getting Back to Life
A Lifesaving Gift
At a Glance
News and Events

Maryland's Health Matters - St. Joseph - Winter 2013