Someone had once said that, “Our lives of full of new beginnings.”  From the time we are born we experience these new beginnings, when we learn to walk and talk, go to school, get a job, build a career and get married and have children.  We look forward to the day when we can retire. Each new beginning is a chance for lessons to be learned, new adventures to explore and new choices to make.  All of these help us to become the people we are supposed to be.

                For most of my life I have been writing. On napkins, in copybooks, on scraps of paper and in journals.  I never had the confidence to do anything with the articles, stories and poems that I had written until last year. They sat in a desk drawer. Every once in awhile I would take them out read them and then just return them to the drawer.

                Who would have thought that a senior citizen would have the opportunity to start a new career, a new beginning? I had been out of high school for over 30 years when I decided to go to college to get a long desired degree. This magazine (Local Living) asked me to write about the experiences I encountered returning to school. The opportunity was right in front of me – ready for me to reach out and grab onto it. They printed the article and soon I was launched into a new career, a new beginning.  I now have a regular column in the magazine. This one. 

                If this can happen to me it can happen to any one of you too.  Have you ever had a secret wish or strong desire to do something you’ve only allowed yourself to dream about?  Now is the time to stop wishing and dreaming.  It’s never too late to start a new beginning. Your time is now! As Martin Luther King once said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

                Start off by writing down on paper what you want to begin. Sometimes it helps to actually see in print the specifics of what you want your new beginning to be. Maybe you have always wanted to paint.  Pick up a brush and paint! Don’t feel that it has to look like a Monet or Renoir. Paint for you and your own enjoyment. One day you may sell a painting, but if not, think of the fun you’ve had finally fulfilling a dream.

                Maybe you have always wanted to work with children in crisis but don’t feel that you have the necessary credentials. There are many youth organizations that need volunteers of all kinds and some even give any specific training needed, such as Crisis Centers. Only you know what you are looking for the future to hold. Whatever it may be, you may find what you have been dreaming about all your life.  Never let the thought enter your mind that you can’t reach your goal.  Look what happened to me and I wasn’t even looking. 

                Your time is now!  A Chinese philosopher named Lao Tzu once said, “What the caterpillar calls the end the rest of the world calls a butterfly.” It’s time to let your inner butterfly free!  

The New Year rolls up, and each year we say, “Oh I want to get healthy,”or,“I want to lose weight,” and the list gets longer.  Each year-end, though, we find ourselves short of those goals – we were too busy, it was too hard to do, we couldn’t stick to it.  Why? We don’t handle change well if overwhelmed.  Here are a few suggestions to get you closer to “healthy” by adding new foods to your diet.  My challenge to you is to just pick ONE. 

1. Add green or dark green leafy vegetables to lunch and dinner.  Pick a new one each week, month or quarter.  Be seasonal!
2. Try a new non-wheat grain!  These include amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, rice, and teff.  Try one new grain every month or quarter. Try that same grain several different ways.  It can be fun to experiment in the kitchen.
3. Can’t cook??  Learn!  That might be hard, but a ton of fun.  Buy a cookbook (I like Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything). If you need hands-on instruction, try a class.  Invite a chef to come do private lessons with you and your friends.  I do a Girls’ Night Out Class that is always a blast!  
4. Try eating breakfast!. This may be the best way to start your day. Eat a small amount of protein and healthy starch within an hour and your brain and metabolism will thank you.
5. Try organic meats (wild or grass fed are even healthier), chicken, turkey or eggs.  Even better, find a local farm where you can get your real farm raised meats. 
6. Try organic produce – in summer, grow your own or buy them at a local organic farm. Or join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) where you are part of the farm but don’t have to do all the work.  You will be amazed at how fresh produce has so much more flavor.

These are only a few suggestions. Do what you can with only one!  Let me know how you did next December!  Happy New Year!

Joanna K. Chodorowska, BA, NC the founder of Nutrition in Motion specializing in personalized nutrition programs. To get started on a lifelong healthy plan, please visit www.nutrition-in-motion.net. 

With Debbie Cooper, Registered Dietician and Amie Allanson-Dundon, of St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network.

 It’s that time of year again when radio stations start playing holiday music, trees have lost their leaves, and invitations start coming in. You have no idea what gifts to get your loved ones or how you are going to pay for them.

Holiday stress and nutrition can be overwhelming and take a toll on your relationships, finances and your overall well-being. How you deal with stress can make all the difference.

 What are some techniques I can use when holiday stress is getting the best of me?

Try these five techniques:

 1. Relax – Try to keep your expectations in check. Things usually turn out okay but they won’t always be perfect. Find a quiet spot to relax and try this breathing      exercise:

-         Sit or stand in an upright position

-         Keep your shoulders back

-         Take a deep breath in through your nose and feel your lungs and ribcage expanding

-         Exhale slowly through your mouth to deflate your lungs completely

-         Repeat one to three times as needed

  2. Set Realistic Goals – Pace yourself. Rushing leads to forgetfulness and can put         you in a bad mood. Allocate more time than you think you will need.

 3. Plan – Think through what you will need and want. Pick up things in advance.         Making a list or schedule will help to keep your thoughts organized and checking         things off of your list will give you a sense of accomplishment.

 4. Delegate – Ask for others to help you and then allow them to carry out the plan. Don’t try to do it all by yourself.

 5. Humor – Don’t forget to laugh! 

       If you experience holiday stress that is beyond a manageable level, consider calling St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Counseling Center at 1-866-STLUKES or another provider of mental health services.

 How can I make healthy choices during holiday parties and meals?

1. Don’t go to a holiday event hungry! Eat a wholesome breakfast and lunch on the day of the party. Have a light snack before going to the party. Foods high in protein keep you feeling satisfied longer, so you’ll eat less later. Offer to bring a low calorie healthy appetizer with you to the holiday event.

 2. Plan Ahead: Who will be with you? What foods will be available? What foods are special to you? What foods can you do without? What are your triggers to overeat?

 It is much easier to deal with social eating situations if you have planned for them.

 3. The holiday event should not be an all-you-can-eat buffet. Review your food choices and make a plan. Eat smaller portions if you want to try everything, or choose what you really want the most and have a normal portion size. Physically position yourself away from the buffet table.

 4. Make a choice to limit high fat and high sugar items. If you cannot control the ingredients that go into a dish, simply limit yourself to smaller portions. Drink plenty of water which will fill up your stomach and keep you hydrated. Don’t forget to include some fruit and vegetables. Beware of rich sugary foods because these can make us crave yet more rich and sugary foods.

 Planning healthy meals before and between events can help you keep a balanced diet.

 What are some healthy beverage choices for holiday events?

Remember that alcohol and other beverages have calories too!

Beverage                                  Calories

Lite Beer (12 fl oz)                               100

Alcohol (1.5 fl oz)                                110

Apple cider (8 fl oz)                             120

Wine (6 fl oz)                                      124

Beer (12 fl oz)                                    150

Sparkling apple cider (8 fl oz)                150

Eggnog (8 fl oz)                                  306   (Source: www.calorieking.com)

 How do I lose weight during the holidays?

Maintain perspective. Your focus should be on weight management not weight loss during the holidays. Do not make plans to diet after the New Year, instead be physically active every day. Overeating one meal or one day won’t make or break your eating plan…unless you let it.  Put it behind you and return to your regular eating plan without feeling guilty or disappointed.     

 Any other helpful hints?

Have a mint or piece of gum when you are done eating and get a tall glass of water to sip on. Eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you had eaten.  Slow down your eating and you’ll be able to physically recognize when you have had enough to feel satisfied.

 Remember to enjoy friends and family and focus on conversation instead of food. After all, isn’t that what it is all about?!  Relax and enjoy.

 For more information on nutrition services at St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network, please call 1-866-STLUKES.

 Can we put this in a callout box?

 A Healthy Alternative to Pumpkin Pie

Low Fat Crustless Pumpkin Pie

16 oz canned pumpkin

½ cup Egg Beaters®

12 fl oz canned evaporated skim milk

½ cup sugar

½ tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp ground cloves

4 squares of graham crackers, crushed

 In a medium bowl, mix pumpkin, Egg Beaters®, sugar, and spices. Add evaporated milk and mix well. Pour into 9? pie pan sprayed with nonstick coating. Bake in 350º F oven for approximately 1 hour. Sprinkle graham crackers over cooled pie.

 Serves eight. Per slice: 7 g fat, 25.4 g carbohydrate

Source: www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1737,158167-232204,00.html

 With the holidays rapidly approaching I sat down one day and began to reminisce about the traditions that have been passed down in our family from generation to generation.

        The dictionary defines the word tradition as “a custom, a habit or a ritual.”  Thinking about this definition I realized we had many traditions that we practiced from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

 As a child Thanksgiving was always at our house.  Family gathered together, each one bringing his or her own specialty dish.  Someone always brought the string bean casserole, another would bring sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping, and of course my mother had to make her famous sausage stuffing.  Everyone always ate way too much and after dinner most of the men fell asleep while watching football.  They of course woke up just when the dishes were finished and we were ready for dessert.

       The meal was the same year after year.  “It’s a tradition,” I would hear.  When I married and had my children, the only Thanksgiving tradition that remained was my mother’s special sausage stuffing, except I was making it.  I would try every year to talk the family into a new stuffing recipe but I always heard the same thing: “You have to make it. It’s a tradition.”   Since then, the string bean casserole has been long gone, replaced by a new vegetable each year.  But the stuffing has remained the same. 

 Our Christmas traditions were many.  When my children were little, my parents had what they called “Gram and Pop-Pop’s Christmas party.”   It was especially for the children but we parents were reluctantly allowed to come.  Everything was geared to their size from the bite-sized food to the sippy cups.    As my parent’s oldest child it was my duty to read the story Twas the Night Before Christmas to the young children.  We would sing carols and it was during the singing that Santa arrived with a small gift for each child. Each year the party became bigger and bigger as friends began bringing their children.  They were memorable times my children still talk about.

 When my children were young I started baking a cookie that my mother used to make. 

It was a cream cheese spritz pressed cookie with grape jelly in the center.   The kids loved them so much that they would say that Christmas couldn’t come until I made them.  I can’t tell you how many dozens of those cookies I have made over the years.  The chant for the cream cheese cookies is now a chant taken up by my grandchildren.  My hands are not as nimble as they used to be and so my granddaughter has taken up the duty of helping me to carry on the tradition. She has become a master of the cookie press.

 Another tradition is a cookie exchange we have among the women of the family.  We each make a dozen cookies for each of the girls. We have a nice lunch and then make the exchange.  After that we break into teams and make a few more batches (you know you can never have enough cookies). You can only imagine what it’s like to have 12 women in the kitchen at the same time.  You can hear things being said like, “Where’s the vanilla,” and “Who has the measuring cup?” and so on.  It seems crazy but it’s a lot of fun.

One tradition that remains is the opening of the presents.  Everyone gathers in the family room where the youngest in the family starts the process.  By the time they get to me the room is filled with colorful wrappings and ribbons.

 Memories like these are like scraps of material sewn together to make a quilt, a quilt that makes up a part of our family’s history, one to be passed on to future generations.  Have you made your family’s quilt?

Cancer is something no one wants to think about, but increased awareness and conversation can make a tremendous difference to those diagnosed with it. Each November, the American Lung Association works to increase awareness of lung cancer.

The organization strives to eliminate the stigma that lung cancer is caused solely by smoking. In fact, radon, an invisible gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Lung cancer is a prevalent cause of death in both men and women, but the positive news is that when lung cancer is caught in the early stages, the prognosis is positive.

Today, early-stage lung cancer patients have an additional fighting tool in their arsenal. CyberKnife is a radiosurgery alternative to traditional radiation therapy for the treatment of cancerous and benign tumors. Performed on an outpatient basis, CyberKnife is a non-invasive treatment method that requires fewer radiation treatments than traditional radiation therapy and no incisions.

Prior to the use of CyberKnife, a diagnosis of early-stage lung cancer typically meant removing the lung mass with surgery or subjecting a patient to up to two months of radiation treatments. To begin, a radiation oncologist would first identify the mass on radiograph. Because the mass moves with breathing, the radiation oncologist had to apply a larger target area than the actual tumor in part due to movement of the mass caused by the patient’s breathing. Radiation therapy was then delivered by 2-3 concentrated beams, 5-days a week over a 7-8-week period.

In contrast, CyberKnife uses tiny gold markers to identify the tumor treatment area. Because CyberKnife can make constant, minute adjustments, the method can zero in on the mass and target it with up to 200 beams of low dose irradiation, effectively “painting” the tumor with a prescribed dose of radiation.

Eric Gressen, MD, a radiation oncologist and CyberKnife treatment specialist at Rothman Specialty Hospital, deals specifically with prostate and lung cancers. Dr. Gressen recently treated Richard D., an 81-year-old Stage I lung cancer patient. Richard found a malignant tumor in the lower lobe of his right lung and contacted the CyberKnife program at Rothman Specialty Hospital after seeing an advertisement in the local newspaper. Richard’s primary oncologist recommended that Richard consider the non-invasive CyberKnife treatment because of his age and lung condition.

Richard consulted with Dr. Gressen about the recommended treatment as well as what he could expect before, during, and after the procedure. Dr. Gressen and Shari Rudoler, MD, another CyberKnife specialist at Rothman Specialty Hospital, prepared Richard for the CyberKnife procedure, treatment and post-treatment effects, and discharge plan. Post-surgery effects can include general fatigue and tiredness and possible changes in skin appearance.

“I left the office after talking with Drs. Gressen and Rudoler feeling completely comfortable,” Richard says. “I put my life in their hands, no problem.”

Richard’s treatment plan included four radiosurgery treatments conducted over a 10-day period. Because of the accuracy and concentration of the radiation delivered by the CyberKnife technology, patients usually only need 3-5 radiation treatments versus 35-40 treatments for traditional radiation therapy.

Citizens of Bucks County and surrounding communities can find a convenient location for CyberKnife at Rothman Specialty Hospital in Bensalem. The hospital’s CyberKnife program features Thomas Jefferson NCI-designated radiation oncologists that specialize in specific cancer care.

“This has been a fantastic experience for me and I have nothing but positive things to say about the team and their operative capabilities,” Richard says. “This is one of the best multi-disciplinary teams I’ve ever seen. They were marvelous.”

CyberKnife at Rothman Specialty Hospital

3300 Tillman Drive

Bensalem, PA 19020

(215) 244-7407

www.rothmancyberknife.com

 Every holiday season, we say to ourselves, “This is the year I won’t gain weight.”  And every year, we get to the holidays and within a single day we are so off of our routine that we revise our plan to:  “Maybe it won’t be as bad as last year?”

 Maybe what we need to do differently this year is to make the plan a little easier.

 First off, follow the 80/20 rule: 80% of the time you are following the plan.  The other20% is wiggle room.  And it should always be like this — holidays or not.  The biggest mistake people make with holidays is that they skip meals to save up for the big dinner.  This actually sets you up for failure before you get to the table!  Your will power will disappear and your stomach will feel like a bottomless pit.  This year try eating smaller meals every three to four hours.  Try a vegetable salad or medley of sorts as an afternoon snack. It will fill you up but won’t add a lot of calories.  Eating regularly will keep you from eating too much at dinner.

 Secondly, choose more veggies (green and leafy greens) and lean proteins over more starches and desserts.  Yes, you can leave room for some dessert (this is that wiggle room), but counterbalance it with veggies and protein at the main meal.  If you are cooking, try altering recipes to use less butter, less cream and less sugar.  Add a new tradition of a new salad or vegetables entree.  If you are going to someone else’s house, offer to bring a grilled vegetable platter for an appetizer or the main meal.  At least you know there will be one healthy option on the menu!

 Enjoy this time of year, and stop worrying about your weight. Start with a fresh outlook – the 80/20 plan.  Eat smaller meals regularly, and focus on vegetables and lean proteins.  And give yourself some room to for those bites of treats — but only if you ate your veggies!  Happy Holidays.

 Joanna K. Chodorowska, BA, NC, is the founder of Nutrition in Motion. To get started on a lifelong healthy plan, please visit www.nutrition-in-motion.net. Joanna also provides Learn 2 Cook cooking classes including Recipe Makeovers.

In these times of uncertainly in so many areas of our lives, our dental health is something we can control! Start now to begin a year toward achieving the healthy smile you want, the one that you’ll keep for a lifetime!  You don’t need a dental insurance plan to get this going. All you need is dedication to your own wellness and experts that will coach you while monitoring your progress. We see you through the bumps and beyond, getting you to the reality of a healthy smile, and a healthy you!    

Our philosophy begins with a focus on a comprehensive assessment.  This includes a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, jawbone, jaw joint and occlusion. Next, we provide an exam of the head and neck, and an oral cancer exam. We then conduct a review of your medications and your vitals (Blood Pressure/Pulse) along with a discussion of your aesthetic aspirations and concerns. We take all of these aspects into consideration and discover a way to bring them all into harmony with lasting results. 

Are you the kind of person who runs in for a whitening treatment after being away for a long period, forgetting about the decay and broken teeth that existing further back in your smile, where it “doesn’t show”?  Without proper assessment, the whitening procedure can actually aggravate existing problem areas, setting the stage for an unpleasant experience. So while whitening is great and certainly makes a difference in one’s confidence, it’s important to take care of first things first! 

The foundation of your smile is key… it must be healthy! Everyone is unique, so your action plan will be unique.  For some, the focus may be on improving the way the teeth occlude (come together) because this can often be the cause of periodontal (bone/gum foundation) concerns.  For others, early periodontal disease (infection in the gums and underlying bone) will need to be addressed. Decay and broken down, old restorations also need to be addressed. For many, a healthy hygiene visit may be all they need.  Whatever your scenario, a good start will put you well on your way toward achieving maximum oral health and overall wellness.

A quick fix may not always be the right answer.  If your teeth are in good condition generally, although crooked, an instant cosmetic smile with crowns and veneers may not do you justice over the long haul. You may want to consider Invisalign®. Within a short period of time, wearing invisible aligners can help you achieve the perfect smile with your natural teeth!  Less cost, and less overall lifetime maintenance! Consider it.

Learning good dental health at an early age is vital! A fun experience is only part of the whole picture. Learning about good homecare is what leads to a lifetime of healthy smiles! In our family practice, periodic dental health visits help record and track baselines. Homecare instructions provide the coaching you need to establish a good preventive routine. It’s more than just a “cleaning”.

Picture yourself this holiday and imagine the possibilities.  Send us a photo of your smile or come in for a courtesy “smile evaluation”.  Comprehensive doesn’t mean it’ll take a long time!  In reality, with the modern dental technologies we make available to you, your healthy smile can emerge sooner than you’d think, and some major changes can occur in the course of a single visit!

Happy Holidays from your friends at 11 Friends Lane, Suite 100!

 Dr. Robert Lantzy is a comprehensive family dentist in Newtown, Bucks County. He and his caring staff of professionals provide a range of services in a state-of- the-art facility where the focus is on individualized attention and lasting patient-doctor relationships. You may reach the office at (215) 860-5901 or by visiting www.buckscountydental.com.

By Stephanie Berardi

Our thoughts, emotions, relationships, nutrition and the environment have a direct effect on our daily lives. The way we move is the way we think. The intelligent movement of Budokon improves our mind, body, and spirit in a challenging and empowering way. The practice began in 2000 by founder Kancho Cameron Shayne. Bu-do-kon translates in Japanese as (Bu) Warrior (Do) Way (Kon) Spirit, or Way of the Spiritual Warrior.

Budokon is a living art that blends the movement of traditional Asana Yoga with martial arts. It’s a holistic approach to physical and mental fitness that teaches us to connect our mind to our movement in a contra-lateral way using power, agility and control. Budokon builds upon the base of traditional Hatha Yoga challenging them to push past conventional practices. If you love Tai-Chi, Pilates, Power or Vinyasa Yoga and want to see their evolutionary potential, experience Budokon.

 The Budokon practice draws upon ancient and modern yogic and martial arts styles.   

Yogic: Focuses on precision, power, and control through yogic Vinyasas similar to traditional yoga static postures, but with variations.

Budo: Focuses on power, agility and control through dynamic movement series, animal movements, and martial arts practice.

 Anyone can take this class and different belts can be earned through the commitment of its practice. The hardest part is learning how to demonstrate control of your movements. Introduction to Budokon will be held at the Central Bucks Family YMCA in January.

 Your Senseis Maggie Haflett, Director, and Eric Haflet of Budokon in Bucks County, PA have over 10 years of experience.  They trained with renowned world practitioners including Budokon’s founder. Maggie is a world certified Budokon purple belt teacher while Eric holds a Red Belt.  

 Budokon classes held:

Mondays @ 6:30 Level II with Maggie

Wednesdays @ 6:45 All Levels with Eric

At Central Bucks Family YMCA

 For more information visit www.budokonbuckscounty.com.

For a better understanding of the anatomy of a healthy tooth, see the chart below. It shows the different layers of the tooth. From Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, Tooth Enamel is defined, along with dentin, cementum, and dental pulp, as one of the four major tissues that make up the tooth in vertebrates. It is the hardest and most highly mineralized substance in the human body.

Once you know how precious the anatomy of the healthy tooth is, understanding that the enamel insulates the crown of the tooth and the gum is insulation for the root of the tooth, then you understand how pain can arise. The loss of enamel and/or the loss of gum attachment will cause a domino effect leading to sensitivity. Sensations like cold or hot reach the heart of the tooth, the dental pulp, where nerve sensations register. So then, sensitivity occurs when tooth structure is compromised.

These are just some reasons why tooth structure can become compromised and lead to sensitivity.
Improper brushing or flossing technique. Using toothbrush bristles that are too hard. Recession (gum pulling away from the tooth). Tooth decay near the gum line. Gum disease: inflamed and sore gums will also lead to loss of supportive bone structure and tooth loss. A cracked tooth. Teeth grinding. Tooth whitening products used over extended periods. Some mouthwashes. Acidic foods and drinks (even wines), and acid reflux problems.

Reactions to sensitivity vary from person to person.  Since each of us is unique, it is important to understand that your solution to sensitivity may be unique too! Fortunately, there are a number of dental products and procedures to help someone with sensitivity. Products that help sensitivity fall into several categories: topical numbing agents, agents that rebuild the enamel, and agents applied as a tooth is restored. See the before and after photos below to see how restoring can result in a healthy new look.
  
It’s important to have a comprehensive exam and periodic reviews to monitor your entire dental health.  This is the best way to take preventive action toward your overall health!
 

Q & A

With Dr. Joseph Russo
Section Chief, Women’s Imaging
St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network

One in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer sometime during their lifetime. It is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, and the most feared. A screening mammogram still remains one of the best things you can do to protect your health. An early diagnosis offers the best chance for successful treatment.   Dr. Joseph Russo tells us about the absolute benefits of screening mammography and advanced breast care for patients with specific breast health concerns.

Read on—you’ll find that this coordinated and compassionate breast care is close to home in Quakertown, Upper Perkiomen and Center Valley.

Q. When should screening mammography begin?

A. St. Luke’s follows the American Cancer Society’s recommendation that states, “Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.”We continue to support this good advice, knowing that it saves lives.”

A screening mammogram still remains one of the best things you can do to protect your health. That’s because the goal of a screening mammogram is to find a breast cancer early before it starts to produce symptoms or spreads to areas outside the breast. Breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be small and offer the best chance for successful treatment or even a cure.
 
St. Luke’s Quakertown Women’s Imaging Center, located on the hospital campus, offers all-digital screening mammography, with same-day or next-day appointments and evening and weekend hours.  Patients benefit from the highest overall image quality available and a shorter, more comfortable exam.

Q. What happens if more tests are required or there is an abnormal finding?

A.  Some patients will require a diagnostic mammogram, including those who have a family history of breast cancer or other breast issues that need closer scrutiny and monitoring. Patients who require additional testing have access to St. Luke’s Regional Breast Center in Center Valley. This Center provides compassionate care and assurance to patients concerned about breast cancer, offering diagnostic and higher level breast imaging exclusively in a serene, nurturing environment. The Center also provides a gateway to leading breast cancer experts close to home if needed. 

Patients benefit from GE digital technology that features the most advanced computer-aided software to help in the diagnosis of breast anomalies. The Center also offers private, spacious changing rooms and Internet access.

Q: What makes the Center different, unique, better?

A: St. Luke’s Regional Breast Center is truly the culmination of years of careful planning and attention to patient needs. By having all of our dedicated breast specialists under one roof, we have streamlined the process, making it easier and less stressful for anxious patients while delivering the highest quality of care.

The breast imaging services at St. Luke’s Regional Breast Center are fully accredited in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. St. Luke’s Regional Breast Center has achieved high practice standards in imaging quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs. In fact, St. Luke’s Regional Breast Center is designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). 

I am very proud to have been involved in the development of St. Luke’s Regional Breast Center and to offer this service in our area.

Q: Is it easy to make an appointment?

A: We do make it easy and convenient for patients to get an appointment and receive timely results. Patients who require diagnostic follow-up care at St. Luke’s Regional Breast Center are contacted by a breast health specialist who helps patients navigate through the process. Patients are usually offered an appointment at St. Luke’s Regional Breast Center the same day with  potential for same-day biopsy if needed.

Side Bar: Facility shots with location info underneath:
St. Luke’s Quakertown Women’s Imaging Center
121 South 11th Street, Quakertown, PA 18951
Call (215) 538-4575

St. Luke’s Upper Perkiomen Outpatient Center
2783 Geryville Pike, Pennsburg, PA 18073
Call (215) 538-4575

St. Luke’s Regional Breast Center
5848 Old Bethlehem Pike, 2nd Floor
Center Valley, PA 18034
Call (484) 526-1000 or St. Luke’s Central Scheduling at (1-800) 801-7745.

Q&A with the experts –
When it’s breast cancer

SPREAD SHOULD INCLUDE PORTRAITS OF DRS. ALI AND DESAI; ENVIRONMENTAL SHOT(S) INSIDE THE INFUSION CENTER AND THE OR DURING A SURGERY.
With cancer experts Drs. Asim Ali and Darius Desai
of St. Luke’s Cancer Care Associates

No one ever wants to hear the words, “I am very sorry, but you have breast cancer.” Emotions run high, and fear of the unknown often leads to anxiety and uncertainty about where to turn and what to do next.

Healing begins at St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital, where patients diagnosed with breast cancer find access to high-level cancer care and an award-winning network of cancer experts, technologies, services and programs.  Fellowship-trained breast cancer specialists include medical oncologist Dr. Asim Ali and surgical oncologist Dr. Darius Desai who provide leading-edge cancer care at St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital.

Q. The diagnosis is breast cancer. What comes next?

A. The first step is to help the patient understand there are many different types of breast cancer, and that the treatment is not one size fits all.  Patients coming to St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital for breast cancer care are treated with compassion and dignity and receive a thorough education about their particular type of breast cancer from a dedicated cancer team. This coordinated care continues throughout the cancer journey.

Q. Who makes up St. Luke’s breast cancer team?

A. Patients benefit from the expertise of many cancer experts across the disciplines. Care is provided by surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, reconstructive surgeons, oncology nurses and oncology nurse practitioners, a genetic counselor and breast health specialists. Breast health specialists play a pivotal role, serving as navigators on the cancer journey. They provide assistance and support from the start, through diagnosis and treatment and into survivorship.

 
Q. Does treatment usually start with surgery?

A. Breast cancer surgery is usually the first treatment a breast cancer patient receives. There are different types of breast cancer surgery, and the type of surgery performed depends on the nature of the breast cancer and a discussion between surgeon and patient. The surgery may be a mastectomy, which is the surgical removal of the entire breast (there are several different types of mastectomy), or breast-conserving surgery, which is a lumpectomy to surgically remove the tumor and a margin of normal tissue.

There is also a second critical step which involves removing lymph nodes. Ideally, this is done at the time of surgery and is necessary to find out whether the tumor has spread and what is needed next. Breast cancer surgery may be followed by radiation therapy, chemotherapy or both.

Q. Gene expression profile testing for breast cancer has been in the news. What is it?

A. Breast cancers are different and technology is available to evaluate the genetic profile of individual tumors. St. Luke’s uses these genetic profiles of an individual’s breast cancer to help determine if chemotherapy should be given as an adjuvant therapy. There are two main tests used today—OncotypeDX® and MammaPrint®. OncotypeDX® uses 21 genes to estimate the risk of a tumor recurrence. MammaPrint®, an FDA-cleared gene expression profile test, provides information based on 70 genes about tumor biology and actively identifies a woman’s risk for recurrence.

The 70-gene genomic profile can provide prognostic information in both ER-positive and ER-negative early-stage, node-negative breast cancer. However, this test requires that the tissue be appropriately preserved at the biopsy procedure or at the time of surgery. St. Luke’s Regional Breast Center has become a national leader in preserving the original biopsy material in the manner needed. Lee B. Riley, MD, PhD, FACS, Medical Director, Oncology Services, St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network and David W. Anderson, MD, Chief of Pathology, St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network, recently reported the benefits of the St. Luke’s practice model to an expert group of surgeons, medical oncologists and pathologists in New York City.

Having this test done should be discussed with the surgeon prior to surgery.

Q. What does chemotherapy do and when is it needed?

A. Chemotherapy works by weakening and destroying cancer cells at the original site of the cancer and throughout the body. There are many types of chemotherapy treatments, and usually more than one is used to treat breast cancer.

Chemotherapy can be used to treat early-stage invasive breast cancer that has not yet spread in order to eliminate any cancer cells that may be left behind and improve the chance of the cancer not coming back. It is also used if the breast cancer is systemic and has spread to other parts of the body. In some cases, chemotherapy may be recommended before surgery to shrink the tumor.

While breast cancer is a complex disease, earlier diagnosis and advancements in treatment have improved survivorship. In recent years, many life-saving treatments have been made available and many clinical trials are underway that offer promise and hope for breast cancer patients.

Q. Where is chemotherapy treatment given?

A. Patients can receive this care close to home. St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital has a completely renovated, comfortable Infusion Therapy Suite for the delivery of chemotherapy treatments. Located on the Third Floor in the West Wing of the hospital, the suite offers patients reclining chemotherapy chairs and iPads during treatment. It is staffed by compassionate and highly-skilled certified oncology nurses and patient care assistants. A support person is welcome to join the patient during treatment.

Q. When is radiation therapy recommended? And where is it given?

A. Radiation therapy has an important role in treating breast cancer. It is a highly targeted way to destroy cancer cells that may remain after cancer surgery. Breast cancer patients may be candidates from External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT), also known as whole breast irradiation. EBRT delivers a beam of high-energy X-rays to the tumor site to destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding normal tissues. EBRT is administered daily for five to seven weeks. Partial breast irradiation may also be recommended for select breast cancer patients. This cuts the length of the radiation therapy needed from seven weeks to just one week.

St. Luke’s provides radiation therapy at three locations in the network. It is offered at St. Luke’s Cancer Center in Bethlehem, at the St. Lukes’ Cancer Center in Allentown and at the new St. Lukes’ Cancer Center – Riverside in Bethlehem Township.

St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital is located at 1021 Park Avenue in Quakertown.

For more information about St. Luke’s Cancer Center, call (1-866) STLUKES (785-8537) or visit www.slhn.org.  

SMART TAGS SHOULD GO TO ST. LUKE’S CANCER CENTER AND WOMEN’S IMAGING SECTIONS OF THE WEB SITE.

SIDE BAR ON BREAST RECONSTRUCTION/include portrait:

Dr. W. Michael Morrissey, Jr.
Section Chief, Plastic Surgery,
St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network

Q. What are the choices for breast reconstruction?

A. There are many ways to restore your appearance and renew self confidence following breast surgery. The decisions you make are very personal. Breast reconstructive surgery can restore the natural appearance of the breast, and is frequently performed after partial or total mastectomy. There are two main types of surgical breast reconstruction—implants and tissue transfer. The first uses an artificial implant that is placed under the chest muscle to recreate a breast. The second procedure, called tissue transfer, involves moving tissue and muscle from another area of the body to the chest wall. Patients treated with a lumpectomy procedure frequently do not require reconstruction.

Q. When should it be performed?

A. Some patients may choose not to have immediate reconstruction of the breast, but prefer to have reconstruction at a later date. Consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, experienced in breast reconstruction is warranted in all of these instances.

For an appointment with Dr. Morrissey at St. Luke’s Professional Center in Quakertown, call (610) 838-7638.