Second Time’s a Charm
For orthopedic surgery, additional opinions can revise the treatment course Adam Chopp was a freshman athlete, playing football for Olivet College in Michigan, when he tore the labrum in his left hip during a game. He thought surgery would quickly fix the problem, but after four surgeries to the area, he still had pain and […]
Assuring the We in the Health Mastery of Me
Yep, 2020 was a challenging year. It clarified the imperative that the I of the we — the individual in the collective — must actively nourish the sustainability of all: humans and nature. Makes me reconsider the shazam! power of health mastery. Usually, this column addresses the mastering of our individual health. Because of Covid-19, […]
The Support No One Wants (But Everyone Needs)
This morning, I attended a virtual funeral for Brad Rosner. He was 36. Bile duct cancer. Gone just 36 days after he was diagnosed. My family has known Brad his entire life. I was in love with his older sister from age 4 to 8. It was unrequited, but we managed a solid friendship and […]
Screenings Save Lives
Intervening early can halt colorectal cancer In 2003, Bronzeville resident Candace Henley, then 35, was experiencing on-and-off symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and a low blood count throughout the year. Her first two trips to the emergency room (ER) didn’t result in any answers. It wasn’t until after her third trip to the ER — following six […]
Facing Terminal Cancer
Support helps families come to terms with looming loss Last April, Rogers Park resident Aisha Luster got the biggest shock of her life when she learned that her father was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. “He didn’t tell me or my older sister,” says Luster, 37. “We were crushed. We felt left in the dark. It […]
Not Safe at Home
As Covid-19 stress continues, domestic violence escalates in Chicago Life had been dangerous enough for Elise, whose name has been changed for safety. The mother of twins was living with her husband, who was also her abuser. Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and Elise’s husband lost his job in the service industry. The family had to rely […]
A Beginner’s Guide to Running
Start slowly — you have to walk before you can run Evelyn Cato began her journey as a runner by walking. When she was young, her family didn’t emphasize exercise. And Cato, who’s Latina, says she never saw anyone who looked like her go running in her Humboldt Park neighborhood. Then, two decades ago, Cato noticed her […]
Can Food Fight Cancer?
Reduce your risk with these healthy eating practices What we eat, as well as how often we exercise, can affect our risk of cancer. Healthy lifestyle factors — such as a nourishing diet, regular physical activity, and a normal body weight — prevent 30% to 40% of cancers, according to a study in the journal […]
Cancer-Fighting Pantry
Stock these healthy staples in your kitchen Numerous studies show the link between unhealthy eating and cancer. About 18% of cancers and 16% of cancer deaths are due to factors such as poor diet, excess body weight, alcohol intake, and lack of exercise, according to the American Cancer Society. But what should you be eating if […]
Survivor Support
Even though cancer treatment ends, the need for physical and emotional care continues When Marty Hogan found out at age 34 that he had acute lymphocytic leukemia, a rapidly progressing blood cancer, the news devastated him and his pregnant wife, Whitney. It was 2016, and the doctor gave him a low five-year survival prognosis. His […]
The Color of Cancer
Local groups counter sub-par cancer care in underserved Chicago communities At 31, Roshanda Randle of Englewood knew she was younger than most women who develop breast cancer. But it concerned her that three healthcare providers in Chicago told her three different things about the lump in her breast, while saying that she was too young […]
Breast Cancer Breakthroughs
Better surgeries, less radiation, and new drugs are changing treatments and offering hope In 1811, Nabby Adams, daughter of President John Adams and Abigail Adams, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Brave Nabby submitted to a mastectomy without anesthesia in her parents’ home. The doctor successfully removed her tumor, but the cancer reappeared, and she died two […]
Joining a Clinical Trial
Consider the following when deciding whether to join a trial Treatment. Usually, patients get either the medication being studied or a typical treatment for their cancer (called “standard of care”). Cancer patients rarely get placebos (nonactive medication). If placebos are used, it is along with regular medication. Ask your healthcare team how you could potentially benefit […]
Not Everyone Is Studied Equally
Historically, medical research has focused on white men rather than women or people of color, says Nicole Woitowich, PhD, research assistant professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. This has changed somewhat in recent years, following a push for greater gender and minority representation in clinical studies, including draft guidance […]
Clinical Trials
Participating in cancer research can give access to life-saving drugs Alexa DiVenere was 16 in 2011, when she heard news that would drastically change her life: She had stage 4 lung cancer, discovered after she felt pressure in her chest while playing soccer. The Chicago teen underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and, at 17, had […]
Empowering Outreach
Organizations offer breast cancer advocacy and support September 27, 2006. No one forgets their date, Sophia Williams says. She was 36 years old and was joking around with a friend after returning from a cruise. During their horseplay, she says, she felt something in her breast. The possibility it was breast cancer never occurred to […]
Prostate Problems
Treatments offer men relief for a common uncomfortable condition About 10 years ago, Steven Prosser, of Libertyville, started beating a path from his bedroom to his bathroom five or six times every night to urinate. His problem got progressively worse until Prosser, who is now 57, was waking up more and more often to go […]
Cancer & Fertility
Options preserve hope for pregnancy after treatment When 31-year-old Amy Glomski was planning her perfect wedding, a pandemic wasn’t part of it. Nor was cancer treatment, and, most certainly, infertility was not part of her plan. Yet, while the Chicago resident was in the midst of planning her June 2021 wedding, she found a lump […]
Connecting Families
Nurse home visits address maternal and infant health disparities Nine-year-old Angela Ellison spent Christmas Eve 1969 sitting in a beauty shop in West Chatham. She was getting ready to visit her mother in the hospital. Ellison’s sister Claudette had been born a month earlier, but then their mother, Willie Mae, returned to the hospital with […]
Home Sweet Sleep
Our overall health and well-being rely on sleep. Yet, for many people, sleep apnea not only prevents a good night’s sleep but also contributes to a range of serious health issues. If left undetected, the condition can put people at risk for everything from stroke to heart attacks. To diagnose sleep apnea, people traditionally need to undergo […]
App Gives Real-Time Updates from the NICU
Long before the Covid-19 pandemic, Craig Garfield, MD, and Young Lee, PhD, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, developed an app to solve a common problem in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU): Parents often can’t be at the hospital 24/7, yet they need to stay up to date on their baby’s care. Merging electronic medical records […]
Liquid Biopsies May Help Identify Lung Cancer
You may be used to hearing about tissue biopsies, in which doctors snip samples of tissue to see if it’s cancerous. For some cancers, liquid biopsies may offer a less invasive approach. In a liquid biopsy, specialists test your blood, plasma, or urine for DNA sequences unique to specific cancers. Scientists from the University of Illinois College of Medicine […]
Expanded Reach for HPV Vaccine
A vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV) can prevent six types of cancer if given at the right time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Updated recommendations in the past few years have expanded the reach of the vaccine, which can prevent cancers of the cervix, anus, penis, vulva, vagina, and throat. […]
Molecular Breast Imaging for Dense Breasts
Dense breast tissue can mask cancers on standard screening mammograms. “As many as 25% of cancers can be missed,” says Barry Rosen, MD, a breast cancer surgeon at Advocate Good Shepherd Breast Care Center in Barrington. “Every woman with dense breasts should have additional screening beyond mammography.” A newer technique, molecular breast imaging (MBI) can help distinguish […]
Using Artificial Intelligence to Assess Breast Cancer
Software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) may help improve breast cancer diagnosis. QuantX, developed in Chicago, uses AI to analyze breast MRIs. Radiologists can use the technology to help assess if breast lesions are cancerous. Research shows the technology led to a 39% reduction in missed cancers, according to a clinical trial. Maryellen Giger, PhD, […]
Why Covid-19 Affects Kids’ Mental Health — and How You Can Help
While adults have been the hardest hit by Covid-19 infections, children of all ages remain vulnerable to the pandemic’s many social consequences. In Illinois, the recent uptick in newly diagnosed cases has families buckling down for a long winter without outdoor activities and traditional holiday gatherings, leaving children particularly at risk to the adverse effects […]
Community Helpers
Providing food, hope, and care during Covid-19 The fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic has created profound economic and health uncertainties for individuals across the Chicago area. It also painfully brought to light just how much inequity and food insecurity exists here. In response, community groups sprang into action, stepping up to help people in their […]
Covid-19’s Toll on Mental Health
The coronavirus pandemic, with all of its stressors, has triggered anxiety, depression, and other disorders When Covid-19 caused businesses to send employees home to work remotely, Ashima Bhayana was relieved. The 32-year-old customer success specialist at a Chicago health tech company had struggled at times to “be around colleagues, to put on a brave face” […]
Vulnerable Adults
These 4 risk factors make older people more prone to Covid-19 complications Shortly after a visit to New York in April, John Troy was diagnosed with Covid-19. Troy, 71, of Skokie, was hospitalized for 12 days due to the illness. “Before they even got the results from my Covid-19 test, they hospitalized me,” he says. […]
Pregnancy in a Pandemic
What to expect when you’re expecting during the coronavirus outbreak Melanie Chervinko was nearing the end of her pregnancy in mid-March, when Covid-19 began escalating in the Chicago area. Soon, she found her plans for labor and delivery upended. “We ended up on lockdown about a week before we went to the hospital,” says the […]
Chicago’s Healthcare Heroes
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] A salute to the inspiring individuals who’ve made a difference during the Covid-19 pandemic Covid-19 may have initially shut down Chicago, but healthcare heroes quickly rose up and sprang into action. They’ve been hard at work ever since. Despite hardships and health risks, they’ve aided patients, guided healthcare teams, researched new therapies, and shown […]
Briefs: Book Beat
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] We asked local physicians for their health-related book recommendations. Here’s what they said. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”17209″ img_size=”medium” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.amazon.com/Curious-Incident-Dog-Night-Time/dp/1400032717″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text] The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon “Both heartbreaking and warming, it’s about a boy with a mind differently functioning than most (likely related to the autism spectrum but […]
Briefs: Healing Through a Sri Lankan Feast
When Oak Park resident Mary Anne Mohanraj was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, she felt the urge to tell her children everything she feared she wouldn’t get the chance to, including information about their Sri Lankan heritage. “My husband is white, we live in America, and I worried that unless I made a real […]
Disrupted Progress
When Covid-19 shuttered schools and services, children with special needs were left behind With interruptions to school and socialization, the Covid-19 pandemic has hit millions of American children hard. But for children with special needs, the impact of the pandemic has been especially disruptive. Nearly 20% of children under age 18 in the U.S. have […]
Briefs: Prescription Video Game for ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects about 4 million children ages 6 to 11, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first prescription iPhone and iPad video game for kids ages 8 to 12 with ADHD. The FDA authorized doctors to prescribe Akili Interactive’s EndeavorRX, […]
Briefs: Mushrooms with Benefits
Traditionally used in a side dish or in sauces, mushrooms are due for a promotion to main course. High in protein, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, mushrooms are in many ways a superfood, says Guy Furman, owner and founder of Windy City Mushroom. “Mushrooms are a great supplement, multivitamin-wise, [and come] from an actual food […]
Briefs: Does Vitamin D Impact Covid-19 Death Rates?
Patients from countries with high Covid-19 death rates have lower levels of vitamin D compared to patients in lower-risk countries, according to research from Vadim Backman, professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern University. In Covid-19 patients, low vitamin D levels also corresponded with an overreactive immune response known as a cytokine storm. “You don’t die […]
Briefs: Circles of Peace During Covid-19
After Covid-19 hit Chicago, the staff at the Union League Boys & Girls Club saw youth mourning life as they knew it. So they created Virtual Peace Circles, an online space to meet with teens and support their mental health. The program brings high schoolers together to reflect on a topic introduced by a facilitator, […]
Gasping for Air
With a cascade of effects, Covid-19 can cause lasting lung damage The phone call came Monday morning, but by then, Kevin Keane already knew what he was about to hear. The 67-year-old Northbrook resident barely slept the night before, his sleep constantly disrupted as he struggled to take a deep breath without coughing. His body […]
Cancer and Covid-19
While individuals are at greater risk, treatment and screening must continue Robyn Hawkins is not an anxious person. “But this is a whole different level of worry than I’ve ever had,” she says. For the 38-year-old Arlington Heights resident, “this” refers to undergoing treatment for stage 4 pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer during the coronavirus outbreak, e-schooling two […]
The Great Unequalizer
Chicago faced severe health inequities long before Covid-19. Whose job is it to solve the problem? It was probably the flu, but Jontay Darko’s grandmother wasn’t going to take risks. She rushed Darko to Mercy Hospital & Medical Center on the Near South Side and pleaded for a doctor to see her. This was the […]
Chaplain Hero: Rev. René Brandt
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital To be in the presence of Rev. René Brandt is to find calm in a storm. A chaplain at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, she counsels patients and teaches student chaplains to provide care for those coping with a life-altering diagnosis or traumatic injury. She claims she’s an introvert, […]
Mental Health Hero: Kim Nowak
Rogers Behavioral Health After experiencing postpartum anxiety following the birth of her second child, Kim Nowak pursued a career in counseling. Now, as lead therapist at Rogers Behavioral Health, she has called upon that understanding of anxiety to help others cope with the trauma and uncertainties of Covid-19. Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and depression have […]
Skilled Nursing Hero: Apsara Rosario
Alden Terrace of McHenry Apsara Rosario, assistant director of nursing at Alden Terrace of McHenry, which provides short-term rehab and skilled nursing services, was 13 when she immigrated to the U.S. from Haiti. After high school, she found herself living in San Diego, a military wife and mother of three. When her family returned to Chicago, […]
Patient Hero: Paul Richard
Advocate Trinity Hospital Paul Richard had such a hard time breathing in April that he felt like he had an elephant sitting on his chest. At the emergency department at Advocate Trinity Hospital in Chicago’s Calumet Heights neighborhood, he tested positive for Covid-19. The Chicago-resident, 69 at the time, vividly remembers the visions he experienced while […]
Emergency Room Hero: Scott Samlan, MD
Mount Sinai Hospital “I deal with gunshots every day, trauma, and crazy stuff, and this is the only thing that scares me,” says Scott Samlan, MD, an emergency room physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, describing the toll that Covid-19 had taken on patients and medical providers. Samlan’s impassioned description of conditions in the […]
Research Hero: Richard Novak, MD
University of Illinois at Chicago Covid-19 is not the first pandemic go-around for Richard Novak, MD. For more than 30 years, he has worked closely with HIV-positive patients. Today, as head of infectious diseases at the University of Illinois at Chicago, he has been running several research studies trying to find a drug to treat […]
Nurse Heroes: Linda Michna, RN, and the Old Dolls
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Three decades ago, a group of nurses at Northwestern Memorial Hospital became known as the Old Dolls, even though they were only in their 30s. One of them, critical care nurse Linda Michna, RN, says a male nurse gave them the patronizing moniker when he told new nurses in their early 20s […]
Testing Hero: Greg Bowman, RN
Rush University Medical Center In the early days of the pandemic, Covid-19 testing was sparse in Chicago. When Rush University Medical Center set up its drive-thru testing clinic in mid-March, Greg Bowman, RN, a registered nurse in the neurosurgery department, jumped into action. For four weeks, the Indiana native swabbed hundreds of patients in a […]
Mask Hero: Evelyn Figueroa, MD
Figueroa Wu Family Foundation The day Illinois’ stay-at-home order was announced, Evelyn Figueroa, MD, a family physician and professor of clinical family medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), made a beeline to the craft store. “I ran to Joann [Fabrics], and I basically bought any fabric I thought would be good,” she says. […]
