Page 22 - The Jewish Voice - December '24

Page 22, The Jewish Voice

Lifestyles from page 21 immunotherapy. This makes individualizing treatment options and treating the disease.
for each patient through a multidisciplinary approach critical to Who should be screened for lung cancer? The U.S.
First, you should get a crate for your puppy. A crate is a place achieve the best outcomes for each patient. Preventive Services Task Force recommends yearly lung
where your dog can feel safe and secure. It’s important that they Q: What are the surgical options for treating cervical cancer? cancer screening for people who:
have their own space in which they can go when they need to A: In its earliest stages, cervical cancer is usually curable • Have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history
be alone — it is their den. The crate should be big enough for by removing the cancerous tissue. This may involve undergoing • Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years
them to stand up and lie down comfortably, but small enough a deep resection of the cervix (cold knife cone), a minimally • Are between 50 and 80 years old
so they don’t have room to pee or poop on the floor of the crate. invasive simple hysterectomy, or a radical hysterectomy. Dr. Adam Wellikoff, a Palm Beach County-based
If you’re using a plastic crate, make sure it has ventilation holes A simple hysterectomy involves the removal of the pulmonologist with Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Pulmonary
so your puppy doesn’t get too hot or too cold inside. Do not use uterus but not the tissue next to the uterus. The vagina and Care & Sleep Institute (PCSI), offers a new, minimally invasive
wire cages because they will feel exposed. pelvic lymph nodes are not removed. A radical hysterectomy technology that enables earlier and more accurate diagnosis
When the pup wakes up, take him directly outside to the same removes the uterus, parametrium, cervix, upper vagina, and of lung cancer. The technology is a robotic bronchoscopy that
spot each time and stand there, do not distract him or her. You pelvic lymph nodes. integrates the latest advancements in robotics, software, data
can use the cue word “potty” just once so he or she associates Premenopausal women who wish to preserve the uterus science, and endoscopy (the use of small cameras and tools to
the word with the action. Once he has gone to the bathroom, may be able to choose a fertility-sparing surgery such as cone enter the body through its natural openings). Dr. Wellikoff was
both pee and poop, reward him or her with a treat. If he or she biopsy or trachelectomy. In the former procedure, the surgeon among the first pulmonologists in the United States to utilize
has not done both pee and poop, put him or her back in the crate removes a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix. The latter the technology, which was recently cleared by the U.S. Food
and try again in 15 minutes. Once he or she has done both, then procedure removes only the cervix and upper vagina. and Drug Administration.
you can feed and have a play session. Q: What are the best ways to help prevent cervical cancer? A physician operates the robotic bronchoscopy via a
Keep your eyes on your pup at all times. Watch for signs A: Receiving regular gynecological exams and getting Pap video game-like controller. The bronchoscopy utilizes a
of sniffing the ground, wandering off away from play area. tests are the most important steps to take toward preventing flexible robotic endoscope to navigate through the periphery
If these signs are noticed, then take outside immediately. If cervical cancer. In addition, women should get the HPV vaccine, of the lungs with improved vision, reach, and control. The
less than 12 weeks of age, take him or her outside every 30 if eligible; use condoms or other barrier methods during sex; limit technology allows physicians to reach locations in the lung
minutes until he or she begins going potty outside consistently. sexual partners; and stop smoking or using tobacco products. that are inaccessible by a traditional bronchoscopy, making it
Then extend the time to 1 hour, then 2 hours and so on until To make an appointment with Dr. Suarez Mora or possible to detect and diagnose lung cancer earlier for better
no accidents occur. Always take him or her out about 15-20 another specialist at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, call treatment options and outcomes.
minutes after eating or drinking, waking up from a nap, or 877.463.2010 or visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Access. “If an abnormality appears on a patient’s lung CT scan, the
playing hard then slowing down. Put your pup in the crate for robotic bronchoscopy is used to pinpoint the nodule’s location
naps throughout the day, and go through the same process as and take a biopsy of the tissue,” said Dr. Wellikoff. “The
in the morning each time he or she is taken out. TGH Pulmonologist Uses New technology works in concert with the CT scan, offering us a
This rigid routine can take a few weeks to a couple of months more precise road map to reach problem areas in a patient’s
depending on the breed and consistency of training before he Technology to Diagnose and Treat lung that are hard to access. It’s a real game changer because
or she is officially “potty” trained. Just remember that even the it means we can detect and treat the disease earlier.”
most diligent owner should expect accidents and should not Early-Stage Lung Cancer Dr. Wellikoff is board certified by the American Board of
get upset. If you happen to catch your pup in the act, just say Internal Medicine in the subspecialties of pulmonary diseases
“no potty” to him or her to make them stop and take out right According to the American and critical care medicine. Additionally, he was the first board-
away to allow your pup to finish, and then offer a treat. If you Cancer Society, lung cancer is the certified interventional pulmonologist in Florida.
punish your pup, you could cause them to be scared. This can leading cause of cancer deaths TGH PCSI recently joined Tampa General as part of the
lead to him or her sneaking off to go potty in the house where in the U.S. among both men and hospital’s initiative to serve more patients on Florida’s East
you cannot see them. Just saying “no” will confuse them. “No women. Often asymptomatic, it Coast. Tampa General has been creating a framework of state-
potty” is specific to the situation. can go undiagnosed for an extended of-the-art services for patients in the Palm Beach and Treasure
Having a puppy is fun but is a serious commitment. The potty period. When symptoms do appear, Coast areas, with the expertise and innovation of an academic
training process requires, above all, patience and consistency. It it’s usually because the cancer has health system. TGH PCSI has offices conveniently located in
will be well worth it to have a fully house trained pup! spread, and there’s less chance Atlantis and Wellington.
Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical Center is for survival, which makes early For more information about TGH PCSI, please call (561)
dedicated to providing the best possible care for your pets. With screenings critical to diagnosing Dr. Adam Wellikoff 739-4TGH (4844) or visit TGHPCSI.com.
focuses on compassionate care in surgery, physical therapy and
rehabilitation, preventative medicine, extensive diagnostics, and
emergency service, Palm City Animal Medical Center combines
exceptional medical care with a caring philosophy for pets and
their owners. For more information, call 772-283-0920, visit
www.palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com, or find us on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.

Commonly Asked Questions

About Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the fourth
most common cancer among women
worldwide. With the development
of advanced treatment options, this
cancer has become very treatable.
As with most cancers, early
detection increases the chances of
survivorship. Adria Suarez Mora,
MD, a gynecological oncologist at
Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital,
answers commonly asked questions Dr. Adria Suarez Mora
about cervical cancer.
Q: What are the most common symptoms of cervical cancer?
A: The most common symptoms include vaginal discharge
that may be heavy and can have a foul odor, vaginal bleeding
after intercourse or between menses, and heavy menstrual
periods that last longer than normal. Precancerous changes of
the cervix don’t have symptoms, which is why it’s important to
have routine gynecological exams and Pap tests.
Q: How is cervical cancer treated?
A: At Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, we employ
a multidisciplinary approach to develop an individualized
treatment plan that will provide the best possible outcome for
each of our patients.
Prior to discussing treatment options, we consider many
factors including the stage of the disease, the patient’s age and
general health, and if the patient wishes to have children in the
future. Our team may recommend radiation, chemotherapy,
surgery, targeted therapy, and/or immunotherapy.
In recent years, cisplatin-based chemotherapy given along
with radiation, called chemoradiation, has emerged as the new
standard of care for treating locally advanced or high-risk, early-
stage cervical cancer. This combination has improved response
rates and survival compared to prior therapy with radiation alone.
More recently, new combinations of treatment with chemo-
radiation have been found to improve outcomes for patients with
cervical cancer, including combinations with chemotherapy and