Archive for the ‘ Dr. Desiree D’Angelo ’ Category
November 25th, which is Thanksgiving Day this year, is also National Family Health History Day. Knowing your family health history is very important and allows you to take the proactive measures needed for your personal health. When it come to breast health, this is especially true when it comes to any genetic mutations. Our surgeons implore you on this day and every day, to become more aware of your family history and educate yourself on preventative measures should you have a family history of breast cancer.
You can help your doctor decide on the best screening and genetic testing protocol by supplying an accurate family health history. Breast Cancer is an example of how this is true. If a woman carries the Breast Cancer gene, not only does she have a markedly increased risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime, but she can pass this gene, with its associated risks to her children.
A woman with a first-degree female relative with breast cancer (Sister, mother, daughter) has double the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. If 2 first-degree relatives have been diagnosed with breast cancer, that woman’s risk is 5 times higher than the average woman. With family health history knowledge, proper screening and testing can be implemented. Cancer prevented is even better than cancer cured!
Family health history can allow other types of cancer and potentially life-threatening diseases to be prevented or detected early and cured. Communicate with your family about your family health history, it is knowledge that is very important to your or your children’s future health.
-Dr. James Frost, MD
Genetics plays a strong role in everything. It can determine everything from hair color to health. As a physician, it is important for my patients to know their family’s health history. It is like a map so we know what you are more prone to and can intervene, so you won’t develop what your family members have. Family history helps us calculate and personalize medicine, treatment, and care. Help us help you by knowing your family’s health history.
-Dr. Ann Chuang, MD
It is very important to know your family health history. In my case, my mother’s mother (maternal grandmother) and my mother’s aunt (maternal great-aunt and sister to my grandmother) both were diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in their late 60s. My maternal great aunt also had a GIST tumor which can also be genetic in transmission. On my father’s side, there is a cousin (my father’s second oldest sister’s daughter) who had breast cancer in her mid-40s. There is no other family history of breast cancer on my father’s side. My father’s eldest sister died of complications from liver cancer- possible Hepatitis from prior blood transfusions in the 1970s.
There is also hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease on my mother’s side of the family (maternal grandmother); there is no other significant family history that I am aware of at this time.
It is so important to know both the mother and the father’s family health history, as both sides play a part in your own health surveillance. The information that I provide to my doctors from the family history helps them guide my care.
-Dr. Anjeanette Brown, MD
Knowing your family history is very important because it can sometimes reveal patterns of diseases that may be putting you at risk for disease. It is important to know not only your family’s cancer history but also other diseases, like heart or lung disease and diabetes. Older generations can sometimes be reluctant to discuss their medical history as they feel it is private information. They should be encouraged to share their history because it may offer the progeny the ability to prevent diseases. When it comes to cancer diagnoses it is important to know at what age your family member was diagnosed. For example, if your mother was diagnosed with breast or colon cancer under the age of 50, it will mean that you need to start getting your screening mammograms or colonoscopies earlier than the general population. Currently we know about many different genes that can lead to cancers, so if you have a pattern of cancer types, or many people in your family with cancer, you may be a candidate for genetic testing. If you feel that you may be a candidate for genetic testing, it is important to discuss that with your doctor or see a genetic counselor who will go through your family tree and recommend appropriate testing, and then go over those results with you to understand your risk.
-Dr. Desiree D’Angelo, DO
To learn more about genetic testing and counseling we offer, please call us at 844-973-0002 or visit: https://www.premiersurgicalnetwork.com/breast-cancer-genetic-testing/
Hernias are extremely common, affecting millions of Americans each year. However, only a portion of those suffering from hernias actually seek treatment. National Hernia Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about hernias and the effective treatment options that are available.
Dr. Desiree D’Angelo and Dr. Ann Chuang, answered some frequently asked questions about hernias and discuss their responses in the below video.
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- What is a hernia?
A hernia is known as “a hole in the wall.” It occurs when there is a defect in the hole in the strength layer of your abdominal wall, which is also known as the “fascia.” A hernia commonly occurs within the torso between the chest and hips. Common sites include the groin and belly button. Sometimes, underlying fat or an internal organ can protrude out through the hole and this results in a bulge.
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- What are some common symptoms of a hernia?
Common symptoms of a hernia include a bulge or pain at the site. In some instances, hernias can cause intestinal obstructions, which becomes a surgical emergency.
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- What are the common types of hernias?
Common types of hernias include umbilical and inguinal. Other types include incisional and femoral hernias.
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- Can a hernia go away on its own?
Most hernias will not go away on their own. Most of them will require surgical intervention. This is because a hernia is a defect in the abdominal wall and the strength layer of the abdominal cavity. There are some exceptions to the rule (e.g. during pregnancy, some women will experience an umbilical hernia). Most times, these will resolve on their own after the delivery of the child. Most other hernias will require surgical intervention.
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- What kind of doctor treats hernias?
Different types of surgeons that repair hernias include general surgeons, some that are specialized in minimally invasive or robotic techniques, or plastic surgeons. Sometimes the plastic surgeon and the general surgeon will repair the hernia together.
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- What can happen if a hernia is left untreated?
If hernias are left untreated, they can sometimes become larger or symptomatic where they are painful, or parts of your small intestine or colon can fall into the hernia and make bowl movements or physical activity difficult. If the contents that are in the hernia start to get squeezed and lose their blood supply, it becomes an emergency where we must go to the operating room immediately to repair it, sometimes having to resect part of your intestine or colon. So, if you have a hernia that requires repair, you should definitely see your doctor sooner rather than later, so we don’t run into that emergency situation.
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- How is a hernia treated?
Hernias are treated with surgical repair, as long as you are able to undergo a surgical procedure. Hernias are usually closed with sutures in some fashion and reinforced with a mesh. The mesh is usually made of a polypropylene or sometimes an absorbable type of material, which are secured in place with either sutures or clips that are also sometimes absorbable. The hernia repair is usually done in an operating room under general anesthesia, sometimes laparoscopically or robotically, or through an open procedure which may be an incision overlying the palpable hernia.
- What is recovery like?Recovery after hernia surgery is usually about one week of being out of work and somewhat sore, followed by six weeks of no heaving lifting, nothing more than 5-10 pounds. A gallon of milk is about 10 pounds, so you won’t be able to lift anything more than that for 6 weeks following surgery. If your job requires you to do heavy lifting, sometimes your employer can offer you a light duty position or we would keep you out of work for those six weeks. After your surgery we would see you in the office and make sure everything is healing well, and once you’ve met that six weeks of no heavy lifting you can slowly resume your regular physical activity including lifting and exercising.
To learn more about hernia repair click here or call our office at 844-973-0002.