?
Achoo or the Flu
KNOWING WHEN TO WAIT OUT THE SNIFFLES AND WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR
Anyone can get the flu but more serious complications usually affect young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic medical condiThough it tends to coincide with many fall tions, and anyone over age 65. Complications resulting from the flu, like pneuand winter holidays, no one looks forward monia, can be very serious and even life-threatento flu season. But how can you tell the dif- ing. Your physician can do a test early on to find out if you have the flu or something less serious. ference between a case of the sniffles and There are three easy ways to stave off the flu this year and every year: something more serious? Get the flu shot. The Centers for Disease Influenza, or “the flu,” and the common Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend cold are both respiratory illnesses and have the flu vaccine for anyone six months of similar symptoms, but are caused by difage and older as soon as possible as the ferent viruses and have a different level of most important preventive measure against severity. The common cold and the flu can the flu, especially for high risk individuals. often look alike, in general having a stuffy It is also particularly important for those nose, sneezing and a sore throat are more who care for or work closely with high risk DR. ROBERT indicative of a cold while symptoms like individuals to be vaccinated to avoid spreadWESTIN fever, headache, body aches, weakness, ing illness, particularly those who work with fatigue and extreme exhaustion are rarely children under six months of age, who are signs of a cold, but are common indicators of the flu. too young to be vaccinated but are at high-risk. Both illnesses can cause chest discomfort and a Though there are several flu viruses, flu vaccines cough — which is usually mild to moderate with a can protect you against several different strains cold but can become quite severe with the flu. Also, which research shows may be the most common with the flu symptoms tend to be worse, come on that season. Getting vaccinated can help cut down on missed work and school, doctor’s visits, hospisuddenly and can last as long as two weeks. By ROBERT WESTIN, M.D. Cuyuna Regional Medical Center
24/7 SURGICAL COVERAGE
DEDICATED CARE TEAM
MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURES
talizations and even flu-related deaths. Keep your hands clean. Always try to avoid close contact with anyone who is sick. You can also help prevent the flu by keeping yourself and your surroundings as germ-free as possible. To do this, wash your hands often with soap and water (or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer), avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes and disinfect any surface that could become contaminated. Stay home. If you do get the flu, make sure to limit close contact with others until your fever has been gone without the aid of a fever-reducing medicine for at least a full day to avoid infecting your family, friends and co-workers. Ask your doctor if he or she recommends that you take an antiviral drug to make the illness shorter and more moderate and help to avoid serious complications. Antivirals come in different forms and are only available by prescription. Though antivirals tend to work best when taken within two days of the onset of symptoms, they can still be helpful later on. Work with your doctor to help your family stay healthy and happy this flu season. Since the flu can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications, seek help immediately if you or someone you love is experiencing severe symptoms.
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Table of Contents Publisher • Tim Bogenschutz Advertising • Susie Alters and Phil Seibel Editor • Sarah Nelson Katzenberger Art Direction/Design • Jan Finger
Achoo or the Flu? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
Know when to see your doctor about respiratory illness . . . . . By Robert Westin, M.D.
Germ Busters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
Essentia Health uses germ-zapping robot . . . . . . . . . By Sarah Nelson Katzenberger
Skin Deep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Local dermatologist explains skin cancer concerns. . . . . By Sarah Nelson Katzenberger Contributing Writers Robert Westin, M.D. • Sarah Nelson Katzenberger • Jenny Holmes
Finding support is key to dealing with cancer . . . . . . . . . . .
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Group at CRMC helps patients and survivors . . . . . . . By Sarah Nelson Katzenberger Health Watch is a quarterly publication of the Brainerd Dispatch. Read Health Watch online at www.brainerd dispatch.com For advertising opportunities call Susie Alters at 218-855-5836. Email your comments to newstips@brainerddispatch.com or write to: Brainerd Dispatch P.O. Box 974 Brainerd, MN 56401
Essentia’s Giant Inflatable Lung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Model helps spread lung cancer screening awareness . . . . . . . . . . . By Jodie Tweed
CrossFit Craze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Comes to lakes area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By Jenny Holmes
Do your best to prevent flu this season. See expert advice on PAGE 2.
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By SARAH NELSON KATZENBERGER Contributing Writer
Germ Busters ESSENTIA HEALTH GOES TURBO-CLEAN WITH HELP FROM GERM-ZAPPING ROBOT
Hospitals are dirty. Since their main purpose is to provide a place for people to get well, it’s no doubt the concentration of germs and disease is higher in hospitals than most places. Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd is working hard to make sure patients that come in sick, go home — and stay home — healthy. “We want to make sure when a new patient comes into a room, that it’s absolutely as clean as possible,” explained Essentia Health infection preventionist Kari Russell. “We’re taking extra steps to make sure that’s the case.”
In September, the hospital added a 28th member to its house cleaning team — Ethel. Ethel is no ordinary staff member. She’s about 3 feet tall, doesn’t say much, and she has one job: protecting patient-killing deadly germs. Ethel is a Xenex germ-zapping robot. Sharing a striking resemblance to Star Wars’ R2D2, she’s the latest in disinfection technology used to eradicate dangerous mutating germs like c. difficile, which can cause problematic diarrhea and create serious complications for already vulnerable patients. “Our goal has always been to prevent germs from transmitting from one patient to another,” Russell said. “This gives us an added level of cleaning and
that’s a really awesome thing.” Russell said she learned about the use of the Xenex robots from other Essentia locations and through literature she received about the new technology. She said the hospital was in the right place to make some capital purchases. “We just thought it would be great to get one of these (robots) to serve our patients here,” she said. “Leadership was very supportive and we were able to make the investment.” Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s environmental service See GERM-ZAPPER, Page 12
Ethel works by casting germdestroying UVC rays throughout the room. The goal of using the robot is to kill germs that could potentially cause complications for the hospital’s most vulnerable patients.
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Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
“I take whatever comes my way, and I stay positive.” – Ramona B., Brainerd Early detection has helped Ramona survive not one, but two cancers. Like most people diagnosed with lung cancer, the tumor in Ramona’s left lung was discovered when she had an X-ray for another condition. Until recently, there was no screening test for lung cancer. Low-dose CT scans are now being offered for people ages 55-77 who are longtime smokers and therefore at high risk for developing lung cancer.
When Whenit’s it’scancer, cancer, we’re we’rehere herewith with you ’s cancer, To schedule a lung cancer screening, you need youevery everyday. day. to first meet with your primary care physician ere with Close Closetotohome. home. to determine if you meet the criteria and to ry day. risks and benefits of a low-dose Essentia Health’s cancer expertsdiscuss are deeplythe committed Essentia Health’s cancer experts are deeply committed From left to right: Missy Laposky, RN, BA, OCN; Laura Joque, MD; RN, Lakes BSN, OCN; to caring for cancer patients inBarb the Morris, Brainerd to caring for cancer patients inZ.the Brainerd Lakes Aby Philip, MBBSto and Area. From participating in community events raise Area. From participating in Jessica community events to raise Nybakken, AOCNP awareness about the importance of cancer screenings
home.
Essentia Health’s cancer experts are here to make sure that the best care is available close to home, family and friends.
Dr. Laura Joque
Dr. Anusha Madadi
Dr. Aby Philip
Jessica Nybakken, AOCNP
Erin Kennedy, RN, Clinical Patient Navigator
Missy Laposky, RN, BA, OCN Clinical Patient Navigator
From left to right: From left toRN, right: Missy Laposky, BA, OCN; Missy Laposky, Laura Joque, MD; RN, BA, OCN; Laura Joque, MD; Barb Morris, RN, BSN, OCN; Morris, RN,and BSN, OCN; Aby Barb Z. Philip, MBBS AbyNybakken, Z. Philip, MBBS and Jessica AOCNP Jessica Nybakken, AOCNP
The Essentia Health Cancer Center team The Essentia Health Cancer Center team
continues to demonstrate a commitment CT scan. To make an appointment with your continuesthe to highest demonstrate a commitment to delivering level of cancer to delivering the families. highest level of cancer care to patients and Our Center primary care provider, callcare 218.828.2880. to patients and families. Our Center
is certified, accredited and recognized by awareness about the importance of cancer screenings to raising money that directly impacts the patients we is certified, accredited and recognized by the following: to raising money that directly impacts the patients we cer experts are deeply committed care for, we are here with you The in every way.Health Cancer Center team the following: Essentia care for, we are here with you in every way. continues to demonstrate a commitment patients in the Brainerd Lakes Our team consists of oncologytoand hematology delivering the highest level of cancer ing in community events to raise ting Our team consists of oncology and hematology care to patients and and families. Our Center EssentiaHealth.org/BrainerdCancerCenter providers, specialized surgeons, radiologists importance of cancer screenings providers, specialized surgeons, radiologists and is certified, accredited and recognized by pathologists, dieticians, specialized nurses and t directly impacts the patients we pathologists, dieticians, specialized nurses and the following: therapists, a nurse navigator, social worker, clinical with you in every way. therapists, a nurse navigator, social worker, clinical research nurse, and so many more. We understand research nurse, and so many more. We understand oncology andthat hematology patients want personalized care and we are here that patients personalized care and we are here d surgeons, radiologists andthatwant to make sure the best care is available close to to make sure that the best care is available close to ns, specializedhome nurses and and close to family and friends. home clinical and close to family and friends. avigator, social worker, o many more.EssentiaHealth.org We understand EssentiaHealth.org ersonalized care and we are here e best care is available close to mily and friends.
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By DR. KRISTINA BRITTON Dermatology Professionals
Skin Deep
DR. KRISTINA BRITTON EXPLAINS WHAT TO WATCH FOR WHEN IT COMES TO SKIN CANCER What is that? Should I be worried? These are the questions Dr. Kristina Britton of Dermatology Professional in Baxter hears everyday. Britton said with the number of melanoma skin cancer diagnoses on the rise, she never minds hearing from a patient who thinks they might have a potential problem area. “You’re never wasting my time,” she said. “Your job is to keep track of anything new or changing in your skin — it’s important to be vigilant.” Melanoma is a malignant (cancerous) tumor of melanocytes — the cells that create pigment in the skin. Melanoma is one of the most common forms of cancer diagnosed in both men and women and is the third most common cancer diagnosed in those between the ages of 15 to 39. Britton said early detection has played a key role in the drop in melanoma mortality rates. Overall, the number of diagnoses, particularly in young people, is on the rise — 1 in 75 people born after the year
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2000 will be diagnosed with skin cancer at some time in their life. “It’s increasing at an alarming rate,” Britton said. Because melanoma staging is determined by how deep into the skin it runs, it’s important to note even small changes in order to increase a patient’s survival. Melanoma caught in Stage I comes with a 95 percent patient survival rate over 10 years as opposed to Stage IV detection that comes with a 19 percent patient survival rate. “The average survival is six months at that stage,” Britton said. “We want to catch it before it ever has a chance to spread that far.” When it comes to early detection, Britton said education is key. Things like family history, pigment tone and hair color all play a role in how susceptible a person is to developing melanoma. “It’s important to know your risk factors, but genetically you can’t change those things,” she explained. “You have to focus on environment.” Individuals who are chronically exposed to the
sun like postal workers, construction workers and fisherman would be at a higher risk because of the amount of time they spend exposed over a long period of time. Individuals who have been exposed to intense sun intermittently, like someone who repeatedly suffers sunburn while on vacation, would also be at increased risk. “You’ll hear people say things like, ‘Well I never burn’ — well that’s not necessarily true. That exposure, chronic or intermittent, is still a risk factor for melanoma,” Britton said. Britton stressed that the use and reapplication of sunscreen is vital to protecting skin from melanoma risk. “The hardest thing is remembering to reapply,” she said. “You don’t always realize when you use sunscreen before getting in the water and toweling off — you just wiped all your sunscreen off. You have to be diligent about applying and reapplying as long as you are exposed.” Britton noted the level of sunscreen used, as well
as its active ingredients, are crucial to providing appropriate levels of protection. Always use sunscreen that is at least 30 SPF and has at least one of the following active ingredients: • Zinc oxide • Titanium Dioxide • Parsol 1789 (avobenzone) • Mexoryl (ecaomusol) In addition to sunscreen, Britton recommends fighting the dangers of sun exposure with sunglasses, wide brimmed hats and sun-protective clothing, but not avoiding the sun completely. “I want you to be outside. I want you to enjoy the sun,” she said. “You just have to be cognizant of how much exposure you’re getting.” In addition to direct sunlight, Britton said many people don’t realize the dangers in using tanning beds and how they increase the risk of melanoma. “Particularly in young women,” she said. “There is a reason laws and regulations are increasing when it comes to using tanning beds — we’re still learning about their long-term effects and that they present a significant danger.” When it comes to determining if an abnormal spot on the skin is something to be concerned about, Britton
said it’s always best to err to the side of caution. She said there are many reasons a new spot or mole might show up on a person’s skin. Age, genetics and sun exposure are major factors, and while not all new spots are dangerous, they can often be signs of increased risk for melanoma. “The most important thing is knowing what to watch for as far as skin changes, and to catch potential problems early,“ she said. Britton said anything new, changing, bleeding or not healing is worth having checked out. Also, new lumps or bumps on the skin or lymph node should be examined. “The biggest risk factor is having a personal history of melanoma,” she said. Someone who has been diagnosed with melanoma once is more likely to have recurrence and potentially a metastatic tumor (cancer in another part of the body) so regular visits with the doctor are key. “Be diligent about checking back (with your doctor),” she said. “It’s always worth taking a look.” Britton pointed out that it is more likely for a patient to notice changes in the skin before their doctor does so regular self-exams are as important as routine
DANGER ZONE
check-ups. A simple rule of thumb when it comes to determining dangers in skin abnormalities: brown is good, red is bad. Britton said she has always known she wanted to be doctor, but her route into medicine was not a traditional one. She married her high school sweetheart, had kids right away and worked at the Potlatch Paper Mill until it closed in 2002.
“If Potlatch hadn’t closed I probably would still be working there,” she said. Britton went back to school and considered being a family practice doctor before realizing she was interested in dermatology. “I really wanted to do surgeries, I liked different age ranges — it was a matter of finding what I really wanted to do with medicine,” she said. “In (dermatology) I can mix all of that. Every day is something different.”
Risk factors for melanoma GENETIC
• Family history of cutaneous melanoma • Lightly pigmented skin • Tendency to burn, inability to tan • Red hair color • DNA repairs defects
ENVIRONMENTAL
• Intense intermittent sun exposure • Chronic sun exposure • Proximity in residence to equatorial latitudes • PUVA exposure (ultraviolet therapy used to treat skin disorders like eczema and acne) • Tanning bed use, particularly in people under 35 years of age • Iatrogenic or acquired immunosuppression
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By SARAH NELSON KATZENBERGER Contributing Writer
Finding support is KEY FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS Cuyuna Regional Medical Center
Oct. 18 is a date that will remain with Mary
Oncology care coordinator Christine
Oliphant for as long as she lives. The date
Roy (left) meets Peggy Judnitch, Donna
brings both pain and a feeling of resilience
Weidholz and Megan Schreimann at
for the 74-year-old Deerwood resident. On
the Crosby Medical Center campus as
Oct. 18, 2014, following a routine mammo-
the trio drop off care bags for breast
gram, Oliphant was diagnosed with breast
cancer patients at CRMC. Roy facilitates the care for cancer patients including a support group offered to women who are current patients or cancer survivors.
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cancer. “I didn’t know what to think,” Oliphant said. “I went in just to get a mammogram and next thing I know, I’m going back for a follow-up and an ultrasound and then a biopsy.”
A week later Oliphant underwent surgery to remove the tumor and soon started her chemotherapy treatment. “I thought I was going to die because I was in such pain,” she said. “It really couldn’t have come at a worse time — I was just beside myself,” Oliphant recalled. Her husband had just undergone surgery and suffered some serious complications. “He’s just recovering and here I am being diagnosed with cancer,” Oliphant said. “It was a tough blow all at once.” A year later, Oliphant carries herself like someone who has conquered cancer. Her silver hair is coming back after losing it to chemo and she said she “feels really good.”
Oliphant credits her path back to wellness in part to a cancer support group for other women like her. The group, facilitated by Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby, meets once a month. A dozen or so women attend faithfully and discuss everything from their treatment struggles, which oncologists are their favorite, their recovery, their families and everything in between. At the group’s most recent meeting, Oliphant couldn’t wait to share with the group that she was about to celebrate a year since her diagnosis and the fact that she was OK. “We need to celebrate those milestones,” said Lisa Slepica. Slepica, a clinical nurse educator at CRMC, facilitates the group with Oncology Care Coordinator Christine Roy. Prior to running the group, Slepica attended as a member. Eleven years ago, Slepica was diagnosed with breast cancer making her one of eight women in her family to receive the diagnosis of the disease. Her mother, Sunny Johnson is also a member of the group, having survived a battle with breast cancer more than three decades ago. “Lisa is my rock,” Johnson told the group, adding that her daughter calls every day just to see how she’s doing. The two said the support group is vital for many who find themselves facing a diagnosis. “We all want to be healthy survivors, we all want to thrive,” Slepica said. “Our paths all look different — it can feel lonely.” The group is made up of women of all ages and stages in treatment. Some like Johnson have been cancer-free for a long time, others are still in the trenches of treatment. They discuss their doctor visits, their frustrations with insurance, compare symptoms, invite special speakers and Slepica said at some meetings they just do activities together — like planting herbs to promote healthy diet choices. “It’s different every time,” she said. While every patient’s experience with treatment and recovery is a little different, the group finds solace in their shared journey. Some are the first in their families to ever be diagnosed with cancer. Others, like Slepica, knew their diagnosis would eventually come — it was just a matter of time. “For me it was just dumb luck,” one woman said. As the group went around the table sharing updates on their lives, their families and their cancer, Pat Rinde awaited her turn to share. When Slepica asked Rinde how she was feeling, Rinde said she was halfway through her treatment and “feeling fine.” “You’ve been so brave,” Slepica said to Rinde. Wearing a pink hooded sweatshirt with “Fighter” emblazed across the front, Rinde nodded her head.
The CRMC women’s cancer support group meets monthly to talk about everything from treatment and symptoms to ways of coping and celebrating posttreatment milestones. Lisa Slepica (standing) helps facilitate the group and is a breast cancer survivor. Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
Rinde’s battle with cancer started five years ago. The Ironton resident, a mother and grandmother, Rinde has been diagnosed with cancer three times since 2010. She said she visited the doctor for a routine physical when she discovered something wasn’t right. “Everything checked out fine,” she said. “It wasn’t until later that they found it on the mammogram.” Rinde said she had a mastectomy shortly after her diagnosis. She started almost seven months worth chemotherapy a couple months later. Rinde said she wasn’t scared in the process of coming to grips with the face that she had cancer. “I guess I kind of felt like God wanted me in the club,” she said. “I just thought, ‘OK I have to go through this.’” Rinde has no history of cancer in her family. “I guess that part was kind of a surprise,” she said. Rinde’s cancer was diagnosed as triple negative, meaning radiation wouldn’t do any good. “That makes it a lot harder,” she said. After completing her first round of treatment, Rinde said she noticed a rash where her mastectomy was and brought it up at a routine follow-up with her doctor. “I asked, ‘Can a rash be cancer,’” she said. “It turns out it can. I had no idea — you just never know.” A positron emission tomography (PET) scan revealed a lump hidden under Rinde’s arm. “It’s so deep I would have never found it,” she said. Rinde went through another round of chemotherapy along with a round a radiation. After the second round Rinde said her attitude toward her cancer shifted, “I just thought, ‘OK, what do I need to do?’” “I had this rash, I had no idea — how many other people would know a rash means cancer?” Rinde said if she’d known, she would have seen her doctor sooner. In July, Rinde received news, for the third time, that her fight against cancer would continue. “You just go — what’s going on,” she said. “That’s kind of the stage I’m in right now.” Rinde is in the middle of her treatment cycle. Her treatment has not gone as planned as her body struggles with the chemo. “It will be back someplace else,”
she said. “It’s a matter of finding it as fast as you can and getting rid of it.” Rinde has been part of the women’s support group since her initial diagnosis five years ago. “It really helps,” she said. She has seen people come and go and has experienced highs and lows with other members. She said the shared information, experiences, setbacks and victories have been crucial to her own journey. Rinde is hopeful that this round of treatment is her last, but she’s bracing herself for the future. “We can all hope that this is it,” she said. “But they said it can really go any place. I’ve been fortunate so far.” Rinde is also part of an alternative group for cancer patients. “I now know I have to do something (in addition to treatment),” she said. “I don’t want this to be my life.” The alternative group provides natural
and holistic options for patients like using spices, knowing what foods to avoid — like sugar, and exercising and meditation to help balance treatment. “I find a safe place — for me it’s a mountain top,” she said. “I ask God to take my cancer away.” Christine Roy said when a patient like Rinde receives their initial pathology report diagnosing their cancer, they are provided as many resources as are available, including access to the support groups. Roy acts as a kind of liaison, advocating for patient care, helping patients navigate their surgical procedures, treatment follow-up care and, equally as important, coping with their diagnosis. Roy continues to follow patients through their entire process — even when it involves years of treatment. “They’re not alone,” Roy said. “Our goal is to make sure they really know that.”
By JODIE TWEED Contributing Writer
Giant, inflatable lung HELPS SPREAD LUNG CANCER SCREENING AWARENESS Lung
cancer
screenings
save
lives. This is a difficult statement to ignore when you’re standing beneath a 12-foot tall, 15-feet wide massive pair of inflatable lungs. And that’s precisely why community members may be seeing the large pair of inflatable lungs at a local community event or in the lobby at Essentia HealthSt. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd or one of Essentia’s clinics. The mega lungs will be on display at the Essentia Health Brainerd Clinic open house on Oct. 29. Essentia Health purchased the inflatable lungs to make patients, particularly older smokers who are at high risk for lung cancer, aware of the importance and availability of lung cancer screenings. Dr. Greg Davis, pulmonologist at Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center, said that as of January, private insurance companies were mandated to cover lung cancer screenings for at-risk patients. The screenings have been covered for Medicare patients since July. Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center recently purchased an additional CT scanning machine because, in
Volunteer Arlene Fitzpatrick explores the inflatable lung in the lobby of Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center lobby recently. Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
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Should YOU be screened for lung cancer?
I
f you have all three of the following risk factors, you should consider being screened and discuss this with your primary care physician:
• You are 55 to 77 years old. • You are a current smoker or a former smoker who quit
less than 15 years ago. • You have a smoking history of at least 30 pack-years. (This
means one pack a day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years, etc.) The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the higher your risk for lung cancer. Information provided by Essentia Health.
part, they are anticipating an influx of patients who will come in for these non-invasive screenings. The screenings involve a low-dose CT scan. Davis said lung cancer is the most deadly type of all cancers, but if discovered early enough, then preventive screenings can reduce mortality rates by an estimated 20 percent. Until recently, there weren’t any effective screenings for lung cancer. “We’re hoping to ultimately cut down on lung cancer deaths. That’s our goal,” Davis said. “But to do that, we need to get people screened.” Davis said when patients are typically diagnosed in the early stages of lung cancer, it’s usually discovered by accident. People who have lung cancer typically are asymptomatic until they are in the advanced stages of the disease. This makes it more difficult to treat. Miranda Anderson, Essentia Health marketing and community relations manager, said Essentia Health purchased a large inflatable colon used to promote colorectal cancer screenings two years ago that is used throughout the regional healthcare system. The inflatable colon and public awareness campaign have contributed to a 10 percent increase in the number of people choosing to undergo colonoscopies, a preventive colon cancer screening. “They’re great tools, and it really helps to engage people in conversations,” Anderson said, of the inflatable teaching tools. The mega lungs point out the physical effects of several health conditions to people who step inside
them, including pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis. Davis said the lung cancer screenings are pain-free and simple. Patients need to meet specific at-risk criteria (see sidebar) and be referred to radiology from their primary care provider. The screening involves holding your breath for less than 10 seconds while undergoing a low-dose CT scan. The scan will detect health conditions other than the early stages of lung cancer. The exam will detect chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, an inflammatory lung disease that causes an obstructed airflow from the lungs. COPD can be treated and managed. Davis said the scan will also indicate noncancerous nodules unrelated to lung cancer, including pulmonary fibrosis. One out of four screenings will find something within the lungs that may require more tests. Most of the time these are nodules; which are common. Patients who meet the criteria for the lung cancer screenings will need to undergo the screening each year until they reach age 77 or until they have not smoked for 15 years. To learn more about whether a lung cancer screening may be something you should consider, discuss this option with your primary care provider. To find out if you are at high risk for lung cancer, visit LungCancerScreeningSavesLives.org. JODIE TWEED is a former Brainerd Dispatch reporter who now works as a freelance writer and editor. She and her husband, Nels, a photographer, live in Pequot Lakes with their three daughters.
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Bacteria has no defense against it. When germs are exposed to UVC light, it kills them. KIM HENSON, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE MANAGER
Photos by Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
Essential Health infection preventionist Kari Russell (left) and Brenda Waytashek discuss the benefits of adding Ethel’s germ-zapping power to the standard cleaning routine at Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd housekeeping aid Brenda Waytashek (right) and environmental service manager, Kim Henson prepare “Ethel,” to clean an Intensive Care Unit suite. Ethel is a Xenex germ-zapping robot, the newest technology in hospital-grade sanitation.
GERM-ZAPPER, From Page 4
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manager Kim Henson explained that Ethel’s technology is used in high vulnerability areas like the emergency department and Intensive Care Unit where the worst germs lie in wait. “This technology doesn’t replace cleaning,” Henson noted. “It really provides an extra level of safety for patients.” Ethel’s secret weapon comes from nature. While the sun’s UVA and UVB light cause suntan and sunburn, there is another natural form of light called UVC that acts as a powerful disinfectant. “Bacteria has no defense against it,” Henson said. “When germs are exposed to UVC light, it kills them.” Henson said her 27-member cleaning team underwent a three day training seminar to become certified Xenex users — something Essentia housekeeping aid Brenda Waytashek said she didn’t mind. “It’s fun,” Waytashek said. “It really adds to what we are already doing to make sure rooms are as clean as possible.” Waytashek said Ethel — who was named by the staff after the character from “I Love Lucy”— is set up once a room has already undergone the routine cleaning and inspection from the human team members. Waytashek noted the rooms must be staged in order to make sure the UVC light hits as many surfaces as possible. “If the light isn’t reaching the surface it’s not possible for it to disinfect it,” she said. Once the room is properly staged, the door is closed and Ethel is left to do
her job. The head of the robot rises in order to release a wall of UVC waves and cover the room’s entire surface area. She takes about 15 total minutes to completely disinfect the room, with two cycles run once on each side of the room and one cycle in the bathroom. The light does not penetrate walls or windows, but Ethel will stop working if a door is opened in order to protect users from direct exposure to the radiation. Ethel has only been in action at Essentia Health in Brainerd for about a month, and Russell said so far the hospital is pleased with the results. “Kim (Henson’s) staff has done a great job working this into their process,” Russell said. “If we could have this thing running 24 hours a day that would be fabulous. We’d love to see it hitting every room in the hospital.” In the early weeks of use, Ethel has been able to clean about three to five rooms each day, a number that Henson said will increase as staff members get used to working with Ethel. Russell said there are no plans to purchase an additional robot at this time, but other Essentia locations have invested in multiple robots: Essentia Health in Duluth has three robots, while the Fargo campus has two. “It’s a huge investment in patient safety, so we’re going to utilize that to the best of our abilities and take it from there,” she said. “Nothing has changed in the way we clean, but we are able to see a noted difference in how effective we can be in eradicating dangerous germs.”
By SHEILA HELMBERGER Contributing Writer
Some worry, a wedding a wonderful ending This past June was a busy one for Amber Smith. She finalized her wedding plans and had her dream wedding. She took a trip with her new husband to Alaska for their honeymoon. And she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. Two weeks before her wedding Smith, 29, went to a routine gynecologist appointment. As part of the appointment the physician typically checks the patient’s neck for any thyroid abnormalities. Sue Hadland, CNP at the Essentia Clinic in Baxter told Smith she felt a lump on the right side that made her suspicious. Blood work was taken to check her thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and an ultrasound was scheduled a week later. The ultrasound report suggested high amounts of calcifications and a biopsy was recommended to rule out malignancy. During this time, Smith and her fiance, Tyler, made the decision to go ahead with their wedding plans and to go on their honeymoon. “I didn’t want to know the results before our trip,” she said. The biopsy was scheduled for when they returned. The couple returned from Alaska on June 22 and a biopsy was performed four days later. “Those routine exams are so important,” said Smith, “Even for young people my age. I didn’t go into the doctor for anything regarding my thyroid or even because I thought something was wrong. I had no idea. It was just time for a checkup.” The timing might have been good, Amber decided in retrospect. “I was really worried,” she said about knowing what would have to be done when she returned home from her trip. “But with everything else going on, the wedding and packing and other things to do, I was distracted, too.”
The biopsy on Smith’s thyroid was done in radiology at the hospital in Brainerd. “They put numbing cream on my neck and an ultrasound-guided aspiration was performed. The aspirated tissue was put on 10 slides for the laboratory to test for malignancy. I didn’t have to wait long. They told me it could take up to three days but they did the biopsy on Friday and called me Monday morning. “I instantly cried,” Smith said. “What else do you do? You hear the C word. I thought I was going to die. I didn’t know anything about it but (Sue) Hadland reassured me. She was great. She said I needed to meet with a surgeon and that I should have my thyroid removed. Nobody wants to hear that news — at 29 I had thyroid cancer.” “Being a nurse helped. I knew what to expect, I knew the team working on me. I had some comfort from that,” Smith said. The surgery took three hours. They separated Smith’s vocal cords from her thyroid. “It’s a small, intricate area, and the airway is right there too,” she said. “But everything went according to plan. They were able to save my vocal cord and my parathyroid tissue. I had to spend the night in the hospital so they could watch my airway for swelling but I went home the next day and was off work a little less than three weeks is all.” Four lymph nodes were also checked as part of the procedure and all came back negative for cancer. Smith said the
tumor was a little over two centimeters, almost an inch, and was a Grade 2. Smith said the fact that she was young and healthy were both positives in her favor. The likelihood of it recurring is slim. She will always be on levothyroxine, a drug that replaces the hormone normally produced by the thyroid gland and regulates the energy and metabolism levels. Six months from the surgery she will have a checkup to make sure there is no regrowth. After that, if things are clear, she will need to be checked annually. “Within a month I was married, I went to Alaska and I had the cancer surgery.” Smith said, adding that she knows she is is fortunate. “My thyroid cancer is not genetic. You
could have had six family members with it but my chances of getting it wouldn’t be any different than anyone else’s would be. They told me up front typically this kind of cancer doesn’t metastasize elsewhere and move to other areas in the body. That was important to know. And to know I wouldn’t have to have chemotherapy or radiation afterwards made me feel better, too.” “Having cancer was a real shock to me. Even now talking about it, it still hasn’t sunk in. I have been telling all of my friends ‘get your check-ups.’ The week I had surgery I put it on Facebook. So many people skip them because of financial reasons or their insurance doesn’t cover it. Make sure you go.”
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By JENNY HOLMES Contributing Writer
CrossFit Craze comes to lakes area Strong is the new sexy. Throughout the world, more women are getting turned on to the growing trend of CrossFit. While many correlate the regimen to meatheads and ESPN competitions, the reality is it’s truly an exercise for either gender, a wide range of ages and ability levels. Brittina Seaborg was one of the first clients at CrossFit Grow in rural Brainerd when Todd Halls opened its doors in early 2013. Seaborg said she had initially been a runner, doing half-marathons. Not satisfied with her time spent pounding the pavement, Seaborg said it was about four years ago when she checked out the CrossFit gym in St. Cloud. “There was endurance, lifting, short bursts of high intensity workouts and my body really liked it,” she recalled. “It fit my body well. I had a baseline fitness level already, but I quickly found CrossFit made me stronger than I ever was.” By definition, CrossFit is a fitness regimen of constantly varied functional movements performed at relatively high intensity. Workouts are typically in a small group setting with a trainer at the helm; and include a warm up, strength training and conditioning. A gym is typically held in an open space with mats, squat racks, barbells and weights, a pull up rig, dumbbells, kettle
bells, boxes for box jumps and sandbags. CrossFit has quickly gained a reputation for being a community of like-minded individuals. One of Seaborg’s favorite aspects of CrossFit is the camaraderie that comes along with being a part of the movement. “The community aspect, as well as the support and social and family aspect, is huge,” she noted. “I’m sure that appeals to both sexes, but it’s likely a big draw for women. Coaches teach all clients to feel comfortable. They’ll hold your hand as much as they should, but they also teach you to be confident lifting weights or doing any other activity on your own.” In 2007, Todd Halls marked his 18th year as a smoker. Working full-time in the concrete construction industry, he began facing serious health issues and knew something had to give. “Traditional exercises just weren’t working for me,” he said. “I saw a blurb about CrossFit on the news one night. A lady had been training for an IRONMAN competition. I Googled it and found crossfit.com. A few days later, I did my first workout.” Halls took workouts updated daily on the CrossFit website and worked out alone in his garage for about a year. “It was very difficult, but I stuck with it. And, within weeks, I noticed a difference.”
The difference was so much so that he decided to earn a Level 1 CrossFit training certificate. “All of a sudden, I was almost 40 years old and I could now do things I couldn’t do when I was 20. I realized, why shouldn’t everyone be afforded that opportunity.” In 2012, Halls and wife Nina moved from southern Minnesota to the Brainerd lakes area. With certification in hand, Halls was determined to open a CrossFit gym in the area. In November of that same year, he signed a lease for his current location off Highway 371 North near Brainerd International Raceway. Within months, Seaborg found him and signed on as one of Halls’ first clients. “When I first started CrossFit,” Halls noted, “there were maybe a half-dozen gyms in the state. Since then, it has grown exponentially.” Today, CrossFit spans a worldwide network of more than 11,000 affiliated gyms and more than 100,000 accredited CrossFit Level 1 trainers. “Because it works,” Halls says. “That’s the short answer. For whatever reason, it’s not that CrossFit itself works; it’s the people that take a genuine interest in seeing and helping their clients. It’s all community-based, whether it’s my gym or CrossFit Santa Cruz. It’s something you just don’t find anywhere else.”
CrossFit Nisswa members participate in a group session in Nisswa.
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CrossFit has group workouts for men and women of all ages. • Jenny Holmes photo
Currently, Halls has roughly 75 clients at his CrossFit Grow location and has had clients ranging in age from 15 to 72. Of those individuals, Halls said approximately 60 percent are female. “I think females need to be as physically strong as men do,” Hall said. “Our needs, physically, we all do the same things. We all have to pick up our kids. We squat, bend, push, pull, whether we’re male or female. And as we age, if we don’t use those muscles, we lose them.” Halls and Seaborg both believe CrossFit has helped to break down stereotypical barriers of what constitutes exercise for men versus that for women. “There’s a misconception about CrossFit that there’s a barrier to entry,” Halls noted. “If you Google CrossFit, you may end up watching clips of CrossFit Games with top level athletes. That can be intimidating. But, like anything, that’s only one side of CrossFit. That’s not what you see everyday at the gym. There are moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, doctors, nurses, firefighters, pastors, garbage men, white-collar people. It’s for everybody. You have the ability to scale it to wherever you’re at on your physical journey. We meet them there and help them get to where they want to be.” Since opening his gym, Halls has added on four additional coaches, including Seaborg. Classes are offered six days a week at various times of the day to meet clients varying schedules. Workouts last approximately one hour. In addition to varying daily workouts, CrossFit is also a strong proponent of Hero Workouts.
Star Medal and the Purple Heart. The “Murph” workout consists of a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 pushups, 300 air squats, capped off with another one-mile run. Workouts like this allow CrossFit athletes to stretch and grow, as well as pay Local artist Mary tribute to individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of others — a Toumi squat lifts at band of brothers and sisters, if you will. CrossFit in Nisswa. “We can all be at different levels of fitness,” Halls said, “but we’re all train• Jenny Holmes photo ing together, doing the same movements. You know how hard it is for the person next to you and you know that a little bit Since the beginning of CrossFit, there’s always been of encouragement is going to go a long way. Whether a relationship with emergency service personnel and someone has been training in the same class for a year our military, Hall said, in large part because they have or is visiting from Oklahoma; you get the same support taken to CrossFit as their training morality. “If, in a situ- from the group. No one is left out, excluded or treated ation where my life depended on the physical fitness of like a visitor. We’re all part of the gym.” another, this would be the workout they should adhere While Seaborg readily admits she doesn’t like peoto,” Halls explained. ple watching her workout, she said the opportunity has In honor of these everyday heroes, CrossFit, nation- been life-changing and has further motivated her to earn ally, hosts special Hero Workouts on holidays including her CrossFit trainer certificate. She has also participated Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and Labor Day. in five CrossFit competitions both as an individual and The “Murph” workout is named for fallen Navy Seal as part of a team. Michael Murphy and is practiced by CrossFit organiza“There’s that old school belief in fitness, especially tions nationwide each Memorial Day. for women, that running or aerobics will get you to Navy Lieutenant Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., was the fitness level you want to be,” Seaborg said. “But, killed in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005, and was post- oftentimes, it still leaves you kind of flabby. You don’t humously awarded the United States military’s highest get the tone or tightness you want or need. But adding decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during weight to the bar is where you get the physique that is the war in Afghanistan. He was also the first member of becoming more popular and idolized. It’s a look that’s the U.S. Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam a little more coveted in the social sense. Strong is the War. His other posthumous awards include the Silver new sexy.”
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