Health news 3/1/07

Briefly

Hospital offers new breast cancer radiation therapy

Women with early-stage breast cancer receiving radiation therapy at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Regional Cancer Center have a new treatment option -- the MammoSite Radiation Therapy System. The Regional Cancer Center is the only hospital in southern Missouri and one of a few across the nation to offer the therapy, which may be an option for women with small Stage I or Stage II tumors. Dr. Joseph P. Miller, medical director of radiation oncology at Southeast, said the MammoSite therapy can reduce radiation treatment times from a standard 33 treatments over six-and-a-half weeks to 10 treatments over the course of five days, beginning two days to six weeks postoperatively. The radiation is directed only to the area of the breast where the cancer is most likely to occur, Miller said. "The high doses of radiation emitted into tissue around the tumor bed kill any remaining cancerous cells," he said. "Radiation to healthy tissue is minimized, reducing the potential for side effects."

Calendar

Today

Cholesterol and glucose screenings for seniors, provided by Southeast Missouri Hospital, at the Cape Senior Center, 8 to 10:30 a.m. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 651-5825.

Chest pain in women program at Southeast Missouri Hospital, 6:30 to 8 p.m. The free program will feature Linda Brown, director of emergency services at the hospital. For more information or to register, call 651-5825.

Walk 'n Be Fit mall walking program at the West Park Mall, 8 a.m.

Heart Smart screenings at HealthPoint Fitness Center in Cape Girardeau, 8 to 10 a.m.

Ask Your Doctor, local health-care providers discuss medical issues and welcome questions from viewers who can call the show live at 334-3095, 8 to 9 p.m., cable Channel 5. This week's featured speaker will be diabetes educators Janet Stewart and Mary Etta Dunaway.

Arthritis self-help at Saint Francis Medical Center's Health and Wellness Center, 1 to 3:30 p.m. For more information or to register, call 216-3293.

Friday

Heart Smart screenings at HealthPoint Fitness Center in Jackson, 8 to 10 a.m.

Sunday

American Red Cross blood drive at Southeast Missouri State University Center, One University Plaza, 2 to 8 p.m.

Monday

Blood pressure screenings at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Generations Family Resource Center, 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.

Brain injury resource group at HealthPoint Plaza, 6:30 p.m.

American Red Cross blood drive at the American Legion Hall in Jackson, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.

American Red Cross blood drive at Southeast Missouri State University Center, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday

Heart Smart screenings at HealthPoint Fitness Center in Cape Girardeau, 8 to 10 a.m.

Breast-feeding class at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Generations Family Resource Center, 3 to 5 p.m. To register, call 651-5825.

Mended Hearts meeting for heart patients and their families at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Generations Center, 6 p.m.

Wednesday

Community outreach clinic with the Scott County Health Department at the Oran, Mo., Jaycee building, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cholesterol and glucose screenings for seniors provided by Southeast Missouri Hospital at the Jackson Senior Center, 8 to 10:30 a.m. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 651-5825.

Heart and health screenings at Saint Francis Medical Center's Health and Wellness Center, 7 to 10 a.m. For more information, call 331-5970.

Heart Smart screenings at HealthPoint Fitness Center in Jackson, 8 to 10 a.m.

Bosom Buddies support group for woman with breast cancer at HealthPoint Plaza, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Explorer Post 4077 for young people interested in careers in the health field at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Generations Center, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Preparation for childbirth class at Saint Francis Medical Center, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. To register, call (877) 231-2229.

American Red Cross blood drive at Southeast Missouri State University Center, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

-- From staff reports