Special Supplement to Scottsdale Progress
HEALTH Winter 2021
WELLNESS Your Local Guide to Better Living
COVID-19 clouds extent of cancer death decline Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert. According to Lilenbaum, drugs that target specific molecules involved in cancer new study from the American Can- growth, combined with immunotherapies cer Society finds that the U.S. mor- that help activate the immune system, tality rate for cancer – the second have been “nothing short of revolutionleading cause of death in Arizona – has ary” in combating cancer. been declining for nearly three decades, “Many of these patients who used to with record-breaking declines in the most have a median survival of less than a year recent two reported years. will be alive and free of disease,” LilenThe study found a 31 baum said. “So, it’s really percent decline in the canremarkable how much imcer death rate nationwide munotherapy has impactfrom 1991 to 2018, with a ed the treatment of cancer.” record single-year decline The report said a reducof 2.4 percent from 2017 to tion in smoking is thought 2018, topping the previous to have led to a decline years’ record 2.2 percent in lung cancer – a driving decline in cancer deaths. force behind the falling The decline is a testacancer mortality rate. ment to a widespread Despite the downward reduction in smoking, adtrend, however, lung canvances in early detection cer accounts for more canand new therapy options cer deaths in Arizona than available for some forms of ROGERIO LILENBAUM colorectal, pancreas, proscancer. However, the report tate and breast cancer. said it’s unclear how COVID-19 will affect Treatment of lung cancer is most effecthe longstanding decline. tive in early stages of the disease before it “We’ve come a long way just in the past has time to spread. decade or so in terms of novel treatments, However, signs of lung cancer often sureven when [patients] present with an ad- face at an advanced stage of the disease, vanced stage of the disease,” said Dr. Rog- leading to delays in detection and removerio Lilenbaum, director of the Banner MD ing the option of early intervention.
BY KEVIN PIREHPOUR Progress Contributor
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Banner MD Andersomn Cancer Center in Gilbert is one of several major providers of healthcare to cancer victims in the Valley. (Progress file photo)
“We have not at a national level adopted lung cancer screening as widely as I think health experts and policy experts would hope,” Lilenbaum said. “My sense is that it’s even lower in the state of Arizona.” Arizona ranks 47th in the nation for cancer-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In recent years, low-dose computed tomography scans, or CT scans, have been shown to improve early detection of lung cancer in high-risk patients, such as smok-
ers, lowering the risk of dying from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Lilenbaum said if patients “undergo a low-dose CT and are identified as having silent lung cancer, they will live longer than patients that are diagnosed by the time they develop symptoms.” Beyond advanced screening techniques, systemic racial inequities in our health-
agement, living life with chronic pain and diabetes self-management. This February and March, the agency will virtually offer the Aging Mastery Program. Developed by the National Council on Aging, The Aging Mastery Program is a 10-week course that
explores topics like fall prevention, nutrition, exercise, medication management, financial management, emotional health and life care planning. The class is taught by subject-matter
see CANCER page 6
Taking small steps for lifelong rewards BY MELISSA ELLIOTT, MSW Guest Writer
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taying engaged, socially connected and finding meaningful programs to participate in over the last year has been challenging for
everyone—but especially for seniors who can be vulnerable and isolated. The Area Agency on Aging has adapted to offer virtual versions of its Health Living classes, including Geri-Fit exercise classes and other behavior change courses like chronic disease self-man-
see AGING page 2