FOX 34 Your Health

Breast cancer gene data beneficial, controversial

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:04:46 -0500

Earlier this week the media world was atwitter with news of Angelina Jolie's breast cancer gene discovery and double mastectomy.

But you do not have to be rich and famous to find out if you posses the BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 gene mutation. Dr. Candy Arentz, a breast surgical oncologist with Texas Tech Physicians, helped explain the data gathering process.

"You have to meet qualifications for it. So to get insurance to pay for it and to use good judgment and good medicine, you have to meet certain risk factors. If you have a family history, or you yourself were diagnosed before age fifty. If someone has bilateral breast cancer, any male with breast cancer, or if your family has a history of both breast and ovarian cancer in multiple generations," she explained. "Those are people who should be considered for the test."

If patients qualify, a blood or saliva sample is taken at places like Dr. Candy Arentz' breast cancer clinic. They are then sent to Myriad Genetics, a lab in Utah.

"And they are the only ones who can actually do the genetic testing," she said.

This monopoly has led to some controversy. Upon receiving the samples Myriad claims ownership of these crucial breast cancer genes. A lawsuit is currently pending in the Supreme Court over whether having a patent on a human gene should be allowed.

"So it brings to issue, is this right? Since it's your genetic material ... mostly everyone wants the right to know and wants access to that," Dr. Arentz acknowledged.

As far as the at-risk patient is concerned, Dr. Arentz said the data has many benefits.

"And we know with these BRCA 1 and 2 mutations, you have about a forty percent risk of developing breast cancer if you haven't already been diagnosed," she said.

For those already diagnosed, a gene identification can mean an 80 percent risk for having another breast cancer. Having the mutation can also mean a thirty percent increased risk for ovarian cancer which Dr. Arentz says can be especially difficult to catch early.

"So we have several things that we can do. We can follow these ladies in high risk clinics where we do physical exams and MRI's. And we can have chemo prevention. So we have drugs we can offer these women before they develop breast cancer to reduce their risk by about 56 percent of developing it. So that decreases your percent of developing breast cancer in a lifetime," she explained.

The other option for those with a serious family history could be mastectomy. As in Jolie's case, this could lower breast cancer risk down to five percent.

Click here to learn about the UMC Breast Care Center.

Church to host Gentlemen's Ball for prostate cancer

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:00:08 -0500

A group of men in Lubbock have identified a community health problem and are seizing an opportunity to fix it.

Members of the Bethel A M E Church have partnered with the American Cancer Society to spread the word about the dangers of prostate cancer. The main point of focus is to encourage men get regular prostate screenings.

To help get the word out and raise funds for research, the church will be hosting the Sons of Allen Gentlemen's Ball on June 25th.

"We want to be a supporter in having men become more aware of the seriousness of prostate cancer and try to get it out for men to get themselves checked. The men we interviewed earlier have all had themselves checked. So it's not just for men in the black community but for men in general," said Bethel A M E Pastor Eddie Williams.

Tickets for the ball are $40 and sponsor tables are $500. Call 806-744-7552 or 806-535-7444 to purchase tickets.

Health dept. offering vaccination clinics this week

Mon, 13 May 2013 06:25:46 -0500

The City of Lubbock Health Department will hold vaccination clinics for both adults and children at the following locations during the week of May 13, 2013:

Monday at Groves Library, 5520 19th Street 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday at Health Department, 806 18th Street 8:30 a.m. - Noon

Friday Parenting Cottage, 3818 50th Street 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Vaccines will be available for ages 2 months through adulthood. Adult vaccine prices vary. The cost for children's vaccines (age 2 months -18 years) are $10.00 for one dose of vaccine or $15.00 for 2 or more.

All children must meet Texas Department of State Health Services' guidelines to receive state supplied vaccines.

Anyone with questions may contact the City of Lubbock Health Department Immunization clinic at 775-3090.

FOX 34 Your Health: Skin care tips for farmers

Mon, 13 May 2013 05:46:00 -0500

As summer seeps in ag producers across West Texas will be taking advantage of extended sunlight.

With all of that hard work comes endless hours of sun exposure, making farmers especially suseptible to dangerous skin cancers. Some of these are minimal and can be simply snipped off, others can require extensive surgery and treatment and can be deadly.

Dr. Ashley Sturgeon with Texas Tech Physicians-Dermatology knows first hand about this topic. Her own husband is a local farmer.

She says because there is simply no avoiding the sun, being most careful between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. can be helpful in cancer prevention. Most importantly is to wear SPF 30 or more sunscreen and reapply every couple hours.

Click on the attached video to learn more.

TTUHSC celebrates National Nurses' Week

Fri, 10 May 2013 08:18:13 -0500

In honor of National Nurses Week, the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Nursing is celebrating some of its vast accomplishments.

During an interview on Good Day Lubbock, Emily Merrill and Melanie Richburg discussed some of the special programs at the school and some of the improvements in rural health in West Texas.

Click on the attached video to learn more.

Community invited to Hero's Health & Safety Day

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:22:04 -0500

From Texas Tech Health Sciences Center

Community members of all ages are invited to learn how to get fit, prevent disease and become healthier at the Hero's Health and Safety Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 11 at Clapp Park, 46th Street and Avenue U.

The Healthy Lubbock Initiative, a program of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Garrison Institute on Aging, is teaming up with Safety City and the City of Lubbock Parks and Recreation to provide the Lubbock community with fun ways to improve health.

Activities will include a walk through the safety city course, carnival games, 10-and- under tennis, face painting, prizes and more.

Annette Boles, director of community outreach for the Garrison Institute on Aging, said all families are encouraged to discover that having a healthy lifestyle and being active is fun.

"There's something for everyone," Boles said. "Information will be available to learn how to stay active through the summer and make healthy living a lifestyle."

Health screenings provided by community partners will include blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks, body fat percentage, dental screenings, body mass index and child immunizations (must bring immunization records). Vendors will provide information on wellness programs, healthy foods and healthy activities.

The Healthy Lubbock Initiative seeks to make Lubbock and its surrounding communities healthier places to live by supporting and motivating people to become active through increased physical activity and improved nutrition.

For more information, call Boles at (806) 743-7821 or email at annette.boles@ttuhsc.edu.