COLON CANCER
CHILDBIRTH
MINISTROKE
Q
I’ve been experiencing
cramping in my lower
abdomen lately. Could it be
colon cancer?
A
Abdominal cramping can
be caused by a number of
conditions, from diarrhea and
constipation to colon cancer. If you
have had this pain for more than two
weeks, you should see your doctor
right away for an exam and to begin
a treatment plan.
Despite its high incidence, colon
cancer is one of the most detectable
and treatable forms of cancer when
found early. Most cases of colon
cancer begin with precancerous
polyps located in the colon or
rectum. They are usually diagnosed
and treated at the same time—
during a colonoscopy.
According to the Colon Cancer
Alliance, more than 90 percent
of all cases of colon cancer can
be prevented with recommended
screenings. For people who have no
previous symptoms, personal history,
or family history of colorectal
cancer, it is recommended to have
an initial colonoscopy at age 50 and
then another every 10 years after, as
long as you remain symptom-free.
If you are 50 or older and haven’t
had a colonoscopy, call your doctor
and schedule one. The sooner you
get it the sooner it’s done!
Q
I am pregnant with my
second child. My first
was delivered by C-section.
I’d like to have a vaginal
delivery with this child. Is
that possible?
A
Good news. Most women
who have given birth
via cesarean section are good
candidates for a vaginal birth
after cesarean, or VBAC. The
most successful candidates are
women who have already delivered
vaginally in the past.
There are risks to VBAC that
you should be aware of as you plan
your delivery. The greatest concern
to mothers planning a VBAC is
uterine rupture, where the uterus
tears along incision lines from the
previous delivery. This problem
is rare, but it can be serious for
the mother and baby.
Some problems during labor can
result in a cesarean delivery. The risk
of infection for mothers having a
C-section after labor begins is greater
than for mothers who have a vaginal
delivery or a planned C-section.
As a mother already, you know
that each pregnancy and birth is
different. No matter what type of
delivery you plan, work closely
with your doctor to be clear about
the risks involved and with your
birth center about your options for
labor and delivery.
Q
How long after
someone has a
ministroke can it be
detected? I think my
mother may have had one
last week.
A
Often called a ministroke,
a transient ischemic attack
(TIA) should more accurately
be called a warning stroke.
Symptoms of TIA are similar to
stroke symptoms—sudden onset
of weakness or numbness (often
on one side of the body) or loss
of vision, balance, or speech.
These ministrokes usually resolve
quickly, lasting several minutes
to less than one hour, and cause
no permanent damage.
People who experience TIA are
at increased risk for a major stroke
within the next 2 to 90 days. About
a third of the people who experience
TIA will have a major stroke within a
year. For that reason, it is important
to use the warning stroke as an
opportunity to receive treatment as
soon as possible to prevent future
neurological episodes.
Stroke and TIA are medical
emergencies and should be treated
as such. If you or someone you
love shows symptoms of stroke,
call 911 immediately.
Michael Farber, MD
Obstetrics/Gynecology
PeaceHealth OB/GYN
505 NE 87th Ave, Suite 160
Vancouver, WA 98664
360-514-1060
Anne Hamburg, MD
Neurology
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Neurology
505 NE 87th Ave., Suite 460
Vancouver, WA 98664
360-514-7771
Andrea Lange, MD
Surgery
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Surgery
505 NE 87th Ave, Suite 301
(Building B)
Vancouver, WA 98664
360-514-7374
Family 101
Sibling
Preparation
When
:
Saturday, Feb. 15,
11 a.m. to noon
Where
:
Family Birth Center
Info
:
$20 per family
Screen Your
Teen
PeaceHealth Southwest partners with
the Quinn Driscoll Foundation to
offer Young Champions, an advanced
screening program designed to
spot common causes of sudden
cardiac arrest in teen athletes. Any
Clark County middle or high school
athlete, band member or cheerleader
from 12 to 18 years old is eligible for
a Young Champions screening.
When:
Saturday, Feb. 22
Where:
PeaceHealth Southwest’s
Heart & Vascular Center
Fee:
Suggested $25 donation to the
Quinn Driscoll Foundation
Info:
Register online at
.
Weekly screenings are also offered
at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical
Center for a $50 fee, half of which
is donated to the Quinn Driscoll
Foundation.
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