Page 11 - Palm City Spotlight - December '23

Palm City Spotlight, Page 11

ClevelaNd CliNiC maRtiN HealtH News

After Beating Cancer, But Stephanie Dr. Castro-Combs said Stephanie’s case was unusual.

Stephanie Tufano Is Racing decided to take her “She was fit and healthy and had no family history of
colon cancer.”
friend’s advice. Her
Toward Optimum Health bloodwork showed she Stephanie was also only 38 years old; 90 percent of
was very anemic, so she colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in individuals 50
Stephanie Tufano will never forget the day she was made an appointment to years of age and older.
diagnosed with Stage 2 colorectal cancer. At the time, she was see Juan Castro-Combs, Once the tumor was removed by a Cleveland Clinic Martin
a certified running coach and health coach and was working M.D., a Cleveland Health surgeon, Stephanie received a clean bill of health. She
towards certification as a personal trainer with the National Clinic Martin Health did not require chemotherapy or any further treatment.
Academy of Sports Medicine. She was also training to run gastroenterologist. “When you catch colon cancer early and treat it early, there
in her second ultramarathon. Aft er having a is a good chance you can cure it,” Dr. Castro-Combs said.
It was during her marathon training that Stephanie started colonoscopy, Stephanie Following her diagnosis and surgery, Stephanie’s life
experiencing “weird” stomach pains, difficulty catching received the shocking returned to normal. “Had I not listened to my body and
her breath, and a rapid heartbeat. When a physician friend news. took the time to get checked out, I might have gone another
recommended Stephanie make an appointment to have “I had a tumor in my six months to a year as the tumor kept growing,” she said.
bloodwork done, she considered putting it off. colon the size of a cue Since her experience with cancer, Stephanie married
“I figured I was healthy, I was an athlete and ate a plant- ball,” she said. “I didn’t her husband, Chris, and gave birth to their son the
based diet,” she said. know what to expect. It was a scary time.” following year.
She is grateful to Dr. Castro-Combs for finding and
curing her cancer. “Dr. Castro was wonderful,” she said.
Stephanie also feels fortunate to have been given the
opportunity to be a wife and mother and to continue to
pursue her passion of running and helping others achieve
a healthy lifestyle.
Cleveland Clinic Martin Health provides patients with
the compassionate, comprehensive care they deserve, close
to home. Visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org to learn more.

Kids

CoRNeR

Stop Yelling At Your Kids

By Jim Forgan, Ph.D.,
School Psychologist
“Here we go again,
mom’s rocket launcher
went off and she’s
yelling at me.” This
statement captures how
kids I work with often
describe how their mom
or dad deals with them
when they are not acting
right. “Yelling is the
only way I can get him to listen and behave,” is a
common parent response. All agree, yelling does not
contribute to a peaceful home.
Yes, at times we parents must raise our voices
and make it stern and serious. But yelling, shouting,
screaming, and threatening is parenting by instilling fear
into your child. Unfortunately, fear and intimidation
don’t produce lasting behavioral changes. Sure, your
child might behave when you’re around but leave them
with relatives or a sitter and prepare yourself for a bad
report. When you yell at your child to get him to do
what you want, he is learning that’s how he should
treat his peers or friends when he encounters someone
who doesn’t do what he wants. You are the example
he looks to for learning how to interact with others.
Do you yell at your child when he asks you to
read an unknown word from his homework? No, you
teach him how to pronounce the word. Try to maintain
this teaching mindset when it comes to his behavior.
Keep teaching him over and over how to behave
appropriately.
Perhaps ask him questions instead of yelling
commands. “Are you being helpful? Is this good for the
family? What will happen if you don’t stop?” People
often tune out yelling, but a question has an implied
response requirement. Being asked a question requires
reflection and thought, and this helps your child’s mind
to shift and transition. Parenting requires us to modify
our behavior just like modifying our child’s behavior
so keep learning and practicing.
Maybe you’ve thought, “Why does he act like
that? Maybe there is something wrong with him. Is
he ADHD or maybe autistic?” Our testing process
provides information to help answer your questions.
Call to discuss your child as we test for autism, dyslexia,
dysgraphia, ADHD, depression, learning disabilities, and
anxiety. Visit JimForgan.com or call (561) 625-4125.

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