Skin Cancer Screening Clinic

Livingston County Health Center will be the site of a free Skin Cancer Screening Clinic on Friday, April 11th by appointment only.   

The clinic is being held as part of Public Health Week to raise awareness about Health Center services and offerings.    Cleaver Dermatology of Kirksville will be providing the screenings at no charge, as part of their outreach to our area.

You must have an appointment to attend this screening.  Appointments are limited, call early to reserve yours. If you receive an appointment and later need to cancel, please let us know, so we can fill your slot.   

 It’s important to remember that skin cancer can happen at any age, it doesn’t just affect seniors after years of damage.  Skin cancers like melanoma are deadly, and need to be treated sooner rather than later.  If you have never been checked for skin cancer, or have some spots, moles or other areas on your skin that concern you, come to this free clinic.

To make your appointment for April 11th Skin Cancer Screening Clinic, call the health center at 646-5506. 

Public Health Month

For nearly two decades, public health professionals have united communities nationwide each April to celebrate National Public Health Week. Every year, NPHW uses a unique theme to explore and share public health with our communities. While the theme may change from year to year, our core commitment to public health and prevention has remained unchanged.

This year, NPHW 2014 will take place from April 7–13 and focus on guiding communities through the evolving public health system with the theme “Public Health: Start Here.”

The public health system that keeps our communities healthy and safe is changing as technologies advance, public attitudes toward health shift and more health and safety options become available through policy changes such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Public health professionals are the guides of this system, helping our communities navigate the many choices along the way.

National Public Health Week 2014 provides the perfect opportunity to show communities how to take the first steps toward achieving good personal health and learning how public health affects their lives. Most people don’t realize the connection between personal and public health, and through NPHW 2014 activities, public health professionals are given the chance to engage with the community to explain how personal and public health are connected.

This event aims to highlight public health achievements and also improve the general health of the American people, by educating the public about various health issues and how they can live longer lives.

Around 2.5 billion work days are lost due to illness every year, with an estimated fall in productivity of $1 trillion. By improving the health of the nation, people’s lives will improve and the country will continue to prosper.

Through health education, health awareness campaigns can reduce the effects and consequences of many health conditions and diseases by preventing their onset or tackling any symptoms or issues early on.  Good personal health is connected to good public health. Each individual has an impact on the health of the nation. The public health system that keeps our communities healthy and safe is not only expansive, it is also evolving.

With more choices available than ever before, our communities have more opportunities to achieve and maintain good health. But this wide variety of health choices can also be overwhelming. More than ever, public health and clinical health professionals must join forces to help communities navigate the changing system and it begins by showing them where to start.

Public health professionals and organizations are the key to empowering people to participate in this exciting evolution of the public health system to improve the health and wellness of the whole community.

NPHW 2014 breaks down these changes into daily themes to make the transition easy to understand and navigate.

Monday, April 7: Be healthy from the start. From maternal health and school nutrition to emergency preparedness, public health starts at home. Let us show you around.

Tuesday, April 8: Don’t panic. Disaster preparedness starts with community-wide commitment and action. We’re here to help you weather the unexpected.

Wednesday, April 9: Get out ahead. Prevention is now a nationwide priority. Let us show you where you fit in.

Thursday, April 10: Eat well. The system that keeps our nation’s food safe and healthy is complex. We can guide you through the choices.

Friday, April 11: Be the healthiest nation in one generation. Best practices for community health come from around the globe. We have a world of public health to show you.

Source: National Public Health Week Toolkit

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. When cancer starts in the colon or rectum, it is called colorectal cancer. Sometimes it is called colon cancer, for short.

In the United States, it is the third most common cancer for men and women.  People over age 50 have the highest risk of colorectal cancer. You may also be at higher risk if you are African American, smoke, or have a family history of colorectal cancer.

Of cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, but it doesn't have to be. Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. Screening can find precancerous polyps—abnormal growths in the colon or rectum—so that they can be removed before turning into cancer. Screening also helps find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment often leads to a cure. About nine out of every 10 people whose colorectal cancers are found early and treated appropriately are still alive five years later.

Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don't always cause symptoms, especially at first. Someone could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so important.

If you have symptoms, they may include:

    Blood in or on your stool (bowel movement).

    Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that don't go away.

    Losing weight and you don't know why.

If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. They may be caused by something other than cancer. The only way to know what is causing them is to see your doctor.  Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don't always cause symptoms, especially at first. Someone could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so important.

The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get screened regularly starting at age 50. There are often no signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer – that’s why it’s so important to get screened.

Everyone can take these healthy steps to help prevent colorectal cancer:

    Get screened starting at age 50.

    Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.

    Get active and eat healthy.

While screening rates have increased in the U.S., not enough people are getting screened for colorectal cancer—  As of 2008, 62.9% of adults aged 50–75 years were screened as recommended. In 2002, only 51.9% of Americans were screened as recommended.

While screening rates continue to rise in the U.S., 22 million people are still not up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening.

If your doctor has recommended colon cancer screening, you might be able to choose from various colon cancer screening tests. If you're reluctant to make a decision, remember that any discomfort or embarrassment from colon cancer screening is temporary — and detecting problems early could save your life.

If you are aged 50 or older, get screened now. If you think you may be at higher than average risk for colorectal cancer, speak with your doctor about getting screened early.

The health center has Fecal Immunoglobulin test kits available at our office for the cost of $35.  This test screens for digestive tract bleeding, which may be an indicator of colon cancer.  The recommendation is to have this test beginning at age 50 as part of a routine examination to screen for colon cancer or as directed by your doctor based on family medical history. The procedure requires taking home a test kit and collecting fecal samples, which are then submitted to our lab.  The test must be paid for in advance. 

Source: CDC

March Mom of the Month - Kenda Oster

My name is Kenda Oster. I am the mother of 4 month old Daniel. I regularly go to the breastfeeding support group once a month. I enjoy going there. It gives me an opportunity to talk to other breastfeeding mothers. It also helps answer any questions I may have. Plus it’s also nice to see all the babies and see how much they have grown each month.

One of the most important things I have learned is if an infant doesn’t latch on when you try to feed or falls asleep there is still hope. Even though I consider myself a breastfeeding mother, I am actually a pumping mom. I didn't think there was any hope until I talked to Rachel and Anita. They made me realize you can still pump and make sure your child gets the nutrition of breast milk.

Along with the ladies at group meeting, I also have my boyfriend Tim. He is a breastfeeding father. His main job is to encourage me and be there for support. He also liked the job of waking me up every two hours to make sure I pumped and fed my son right after he was born.

In the beginning there were many times that I just wanted to give up and quit. I never thought I was making enough milk for my son. That's when I learned you have to take it one day at a time and don't give up so easy.

The thing I love the most about being a pumping mother is watching my son grow up happy and healthy. It is the strongest bond any mother can make with their child. It makes me sad that one day I will be weaning my son. Right at this moment, I don't even want to think about it.