LUFKIN, TEXAS (September 25, 2017)… Each September, the healthcare industry focuses on prostate health and raising awareness about the second most common cancer in American men. More than 160,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year alone, according to the American Cancer Society. Early screening is proven to save lives, including that of Lufkin urologist Brent Campbell, M.D.

While prostate cancer develops mainly in older men, Dr. Campbell said he was only 49 years old when he received his own diagnosis. At the top of his game, Dr. Campbell was a healthy triathlete with a successful urology practice. Because his father and grandfather had both been diagnosed with prostate cancer, Dr. Campbell said he was well aware of the necessity for regular screening.

“The irony isn’t lost on me – I’m an urologist diagnosed with prostate cancer,” Dr. Campbell said. “But if I hadn’t checked my PSA at age 49, my prognosis may have been much worse.”

A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a simple blood test that measures the amount of protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate. If taken every six months, the results act as data points that indicate whether or not cancer is present, especially when used in conjunction with a digital rectal exam (DRE), which isn’t needed as often.

Age, family history and race are the most common risk factors for prostate cancer, which are all unmodifiable. Researchers continue to look for ways to reduce a man’s risk of developing cancer, and Dr. Campbell said having your PSA tested regularly gives the physician a better idea of your prostate’s overall health.

If diagnosed, the options for a man with prostate cancer include active observation, chemotherapy or radiation, and surgery, and physicians agree treatment is an individualized process. Dr. Campbell chose surgical removal of his prostate, bringing his PSA level to zero.

“One shoe doesn’t fit all feet, and there is not one treatment for everyone,” Dr. Campbell said.

He encourages all men to be in tune with their bodies, eat well, exercise, and have a good relationship with their family doctor.

“Lufkin has a fantastic medical community. It’s important to cultivate a close relationship with your doctor because that’s who is looking out for you,” Dr. Campbell said. “I’m lucky that I’m a doctor and I found my cancer, but anyone else can do the same thing by keeping in contact with their doctor.”

PSA tests can be done at your family doctor or urologist’s office or at CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Express Lab, located directly across from the hospital on Frank Avenue. Express Lab is reliable and confidential with test results being returned to you within 24 hours. There is no need for a doctor’s order or appointment.

About CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial
CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial, part of a national nonprofit health system, provides more than a quarter of a million patient services and millions of dollars in local charity care and community support each year. With hospitals in Lufkin, Livingston, San Augustine and Memorial Specialty – the area’s only long-term acute care hospital – Memorial offers comprehensive, quality health care, including a free-standing emergency center and outpatient facilities and services. To learn more, visit CHIStLukesHealthMemorial.org.

About Memorial Clinics
Memorial Clinics, a division of the CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial system, employs and partners with 40 primary care providers and specialists in 19 locations across East Texas. Memorial Clinics accepts Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance. Visit memorialclinics.com to learn more about our physicians and connect with the personalized patient portal.

LUFKIN, TEXAS (September 26, 2017)… Lufkin cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and the CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial cath lab team are making a new fashion statement this month – all for a very important cause. They are donning a single white sock to remind patients about the dangers of peripheral artery disease (PAD).

PAD is caused by atherosclerosis, or cholesterol buildup in the arteries. Clogged arteries limit blood flow to the legs, and can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or amputation. PAD affects 8 to 12 million Americans, including 1 in 20 people over age 50, according to the National Institutes of Health. September is celebrated as PAD Awareness Month. The White Sock Campaign was started by a Florida physician to bring awareness to the seriousness of the disease, and Lufkin cardiologists agree it is a major issue in East Texas.

“East Texans have a higher risk of developing PAD due to having predominately unhealthy lifestyles, which include lack of exercise, smoking and poor diets,” said Ravinder Bachireddy, M.D., Medical Director of CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Cardiac Rehabilitation and President of the Heart Institute of East Texas. “By participating in the White Sock Campaign, we hope to encourage our patients to be familiar with the risk factors of PAD before it’s too late.”

Not only can PAD result in amputation, but few people realize that the long-term mortality rates after non-traumatic lower-limb amputation are extremely high. A 2016 study published in Prosthetics and Orthotics International found the 3-year rate was 33%, and higher among those who had diabetes. The complications of PAD can be so costly that Medicare now pays for supervised exercise therapy for patients with the condition to keep the disease from progressing.

Smoking increases the risk of PAD 4-fold, according to NIH, so it’s important for at-risk patients to kick the addiction. They also need to make changes in their diet, get more exercise, and follow medication regimens to prevent blood clots.

It’s essential that patients with risk factors learn the signs of PAD, so they can be treated right away and avoid amputation. Lower-leg pain shouldn’t be dismissed or put off to the next appointment. Risk factors include:
· Diabetes
· Age 50 or older
· Smoking or being a former smoker
· High cholesterol
· A personal history of vascular disease
· African American heritage

Knowing the symptoms of PAD is also important:
· Claudication: fatigue, heaviness, cramping in the legs, thighs, buttocks, or calves; pain goes away once activity stops, but activity is necessary to prevent long-term issues
· Leg pain that disturbs sleep
· Sores or wounds on legs, toes or feet that will not heal
· Color changes in the skin on the feet
· Lower temperature in one leg than the other
· Poor nail growth or decreased hair growth on the toes and legs

Patients experiencing any of these symptoms should contact their physician as soon as possible.

LUFKIN, TEXAS (September 26, 2017)… Lufkin cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and the CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial cath lab team are making a new fashion statement this month – all for a very important cause. They are donning a single white sock to remind patients about the dangers of peripheral artery disease (PAD).

PAD is caused by atherosclerosis, or cholesterol buildup in the arteries. Clogged arteries limit blood flow to the legs, and can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or amputation. PAD affects 8 to 12 million Americans, including 1 in 20 people over age 50, according to the National Institutes of Health. September is celebrated as PAD Awareness Month. The White Sock Campaign was started by a Florida physician to bring awareness to the seriousness of the disease, and Lufkin cardiologists agree it is a major issue in East Texas.

“East Texans have a higher risk of developing PAD due to having predominately unhealthy lifestyles, which include lack of exercise, smoking and poor diets,” said Ravinder Bachireddy, M.D., Medical Director of CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Cardiac Rehabilitation and President of the Heart Institute of East Texas. “By participating in the White Sock Campaign, we hope to encourage our patients to be familiar with the risk factors of PAD before it’s too late.”

Not only can PAD result in amputation, but few people realize that the long-term mortality rates after non-traumatic lower-limb amputation are extremely high. A 2016 study published in Prosthetics and Orthotics International found the 3-year rate was 33%, and higher among those who had diabetes. The complications of PAD can be so costly that Medicare now pays for supervised exercise therapy for patients with the condition to keep the disease from progressing.

Smoking increases the risk of PAD 4-fold, according to NIH, so it’s important for at-risk patients to kick the addiction. They also need to make changes in their diet, get more exercise, and follow medication regimens to prevent blood clots.

It’s essential that patients with risk factors learn the signs of PAD, so they can be treated right away and avoid amputation. Lower-leg pain shouldn’t be dismissed or put off to the next appointment. Risk factors include:
· Diabetes
· Age 50 or older
· Smoking or being a former smoker
· High cholesterol
· A personal history of vascular disease
· African American heritage

Knowing the symptoms of PAD is also important:
· Claudication: fatigue, heaviness, cramping in the legs, thighs, buttocks, or calves; pain goes away once activity stops, but activity is necessary to prevent long-term issues
· Leg pain that disturbs sleep
· Sores or wounds on legs, toes or feet that will not heal
· Color changes in the skin on the feet
· Lower temperature in one leg than the other
· Poor nail growth or decreased hair growth on the toes and legs

Patients experiencing any of these symptoms should contact their physician as soon as possible.

LUFKIN, TEXAS (September 22, 2017)… As members of the operating room team, the role of a surgical technologist is very complex and necessary for a successful surgery. CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin acknowledges and honors the hard work and dedication of these professionals who greatly contribute to the safety and success of thousands of surgeries performed in Lufkin each year.

A surgical technologist’s job begins before surgery with preparation of the operating room and the patient, setting up surgical instruments, equipment and supplies, creating and maintaining a sterile environment, and ensuring all equipment operates effectively.

During the surgery, the technologist must remain alert, anticipating the needs of the surgeon. The job includes passing instruments and providing needed supplies, providing solutions and medications to the surgeon, receiving tissue specimens and ensuring there are no breaks in sterile technique in order to prevent infection. The technologist must have outstanding communication skills.

Surgical technologists are an important asset to the CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin surgery team. According to the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST), “a single surgery may require more than 600 instruments. With the seemingly infinite types of surgical equipment in use – lasers, robots, neurosurgery devices, retractors, scissors, clamps and fluids – having a competent, educated surgical technologist on the team is vital.”