February 4 is World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. Detecting cancer early is one of the most powerful ways we can help save lives. With so many different types of cancer, the symptoms are varied. Yet, there are some signs and symptoms to look for.

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Christie Finnegan
February is Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancer Awareness Month

The gallbladder is just above the liver in the upper abdomen. It stores bile, which is made by the liver to digest fat. Food is broken down in the stomach and intestines and the gallbladder releases bile through a tube called the common bile duct.

Gallbladder cancer is difficult to detect and diagnose. Only about 1 of 5 gallbladder cancers is found early.

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Christie Finnegan
Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) For Liver Cancer Now Available In Siouxland

Until recently, Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) was not a local option for cancer patients. SIRT, a type of internal radiotherapy also known as radioembolization, is primarily used to treat inoperable primary or metastatic liver tumors but there is a lot of research happening to determine how additionally can be used. The benefit of SIRT is that the treatment minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue and minimizes systemic side effects because the treatment is localized and targeted to the tumor.

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Christie Finnegan
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

The American Cancer Society says about 13,800 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed this year. About 4,290 women will die from cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44 with the average age at diagnosis being 50. The cervical cancer death rate dropped significantly with the increased use of routine pap tests.

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Christie Finnegan
Patient Testimonial - "You Always Have Choices"

OCTOBER 2020: Julio Davila is just starting to get comfortable with who he sees in the mirror again. While he still has “chemo brain,” a ringing in his ears, a numb tingly feeling in his arm and hand, and tires easily as after effects to his cancer treatment, he is just about back to his normal weight and his hair has grown back – he just doesn’t have as much.

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Christie Finnegan
Now Offering New PET/CT Scan with Detectnet™ for Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors

Detectnet™ is a radioactive diagnostic agent used with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging specifically used for detecting, staging, and restaging somatostatin receptor positive neuroendocrine tumors. Detectnet replaces the octreotide scan with better imaging and quicker scan times. It is a newer diagnostic test and not every cancer center can do these scans, but it is now available the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.

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Christie Finnegan
Patient Testimonial - "Looking Through Cancer To Find The Positives"

SEPTEMBER 2020: Mary Lou Fennell was looking forward to the next chapter of her life when she retired in April 2020. She enjoyed her new-found freedom right after retiring by spending two weeks with one of her daughters and her family. The day she was to return to her own home in Sioux City, she had a sharp pain in her abdomen. By the next morning the pain was so unbearable, she went to the emergency department.

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Christie Finnegan
Patient Testimonial - "A Story of Hope and Healing"

JULY 2020: Akossiwa Anani-Mekle came to Sioux City from her home country Togo, Africa in 2019 for work. Her 18-year-old daughter lives with her in Sioux City but the rest of her family still resides in Africa. Akossiwa was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer after she woke up one day and her right breast was itchy. She showed her daughter, who had just learned about breast cancer in school and she said they needed to go to the hospital right away.

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Christie Finnegan
Patient Testimonial - "What Having Cancer Has Taught Me"

APRIL 2020: Attacking challenges head on is nothing new to 51-year old Delaine Krager of Paullina, Iowa. Delaine had been managing having Graves’ disease as well as a blood disorder for years and controlling aspects of her life that could impact these health factors. Delaine found a lump in her left breast but watched it for a while as lumps throughout her body was a symptom of her Graves’ disease. “But this one kept growing and didn’t seem right,” she said.

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Christie Finnegan
Patient Testimonial - "I Have Realized the Importance of the 3 F's"

NOVEMBER 2019: Francis, “Fran,” Palmersheim has been fortunate to do a lot in his life. “I’ve used my knowledge and abilities to help people,” says the 74-year old Sioux City man who started two local businesses and until recently, served on the Sioux City Parks and Recreational Board. “This keeps me sharp and I’ve gotten to know a lot of people.” Fran has not let pancreatic cancer stop him.

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Christie Finnegan
Patient Testimonial - "How One Small 'Spot' Has Had Such A Huge Impact"

NOVEMBER 2019: This Thanksgiving Lynette Kron is extra grateful. The 58-year old from Fonda, Iowa just finished her last chemotherapy treatment. While she rang the bell in the June E. Nylen Cancer Center (JENCC) lobby, she and husband of 33 years, Michael, say they are really going to celebrate this New Year’s Eve. They are going to applaud this year coming to an end and it being another new year – a cancer free year.

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Christie Finnegan
Patient Testimonial - "I'm Not Strong, I'm Just Not Good At Losing"

NOVEMBER 2019: Rita DeJong, now age 66, has always been good about getting her annual health checks, including being diligent with her yearly routine mammogram screening for more than 15 years. So, it was a surprise when she received a call the afternoon after her last mammogram telling her based on the results, they need to check out more. Rita had a breast biopsy and was told it “was worrisome.” In December 2018 Rita was diagnosed with Triple Positive Breast Ductal Cancer.

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Christie Finnegan
Siouxland Big Give Funds Infrared Vein Finder

Thank you to the supporters of the Siouxland Big Give that helped us fund the purchase of an infrared vein finder that both our staff and patients think makes a significant difference when starting IVs. This piece of equipment helps our clinicians find and access the best veins and provides vein mapping without any radiation.

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Christie Finnegan