Tuesday, May 28, 2013

St. George Hospital Establishes Cancer Genomics Program

By Ladd Egan
(KUTV) Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George will be the home to Intermountain Healthcare’s first in-house cancer genomic program, aimed at providing patients with personalized cancer treatments.

Intermountain says the new program will make it one of the first healthcare systems in the country to treat cancer patients using genetic sequencing technologies.

Utah native Dr. Lincoln Nadauld, MD/PhD, has been hired to head the new cancer genomics department. He most recently taught cancer genomics and completed a medical oncology fellowship at Stanford School of Medicine.

“We’re very excited about it,” Nadauld said of the new program at Dixie. “We have a much better chance of giving patients the targeted therapies they could benefit from.”

Nadauld says the techniques he developed at Stanford University help him identify DNA changes in cancer and predict which cancer drugs will be most effective.

“The benefit comes from it being a personalized treatment,” Nadauld said. “So it’s really individualized and tailored to that patient’s specific DNA changes.”

By using targeted cancer treatments, Nadauld says, patients experience fewer side effects. In addition, the genetic sequencing can provide new treatment choices for patients with advanced or hard-to-treat cancers.

“We hope to be able to find more options for those patients, personalized options, for those who otherwise would be running out of hope,” he said.

Just a few years ago, completing genetic sequencing on tumors to guide treatments was too expensive and time consuming for most patients, Nadauld said.

But by integrating the cancer genomics lab within Dixie Regional’s existing cancer center, Nadauld says they will be able to quickly and cost-effectively give doctors valuable treatment guidance.

Because of his extensive training in personalized cancer treatments, combined with his medical and doctoral degrees, Nadauld is among a small group of physicians who specialize in cancer genomic medicine.

“He really comes to us with a new skill set that we’ve not had before,” said Gary Stone, operations officer for Intermountain’s southwest region. “This is cancer care close to home.”

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)

Monday, May 27, 2013

Memorial Day: A Time for Heroes

A teenager learns the importance of war veterans in this inspiring story.

By Nancy Sullivan Geng, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

I leaned against an oak at the side of the road, wishing I were invisible, keeping my distance from my parents on their lawn chairs and my younger siblings scampering about.
I hoped none of my friends saw me there. God forbid they caught me waving one of the small American flags Mom bought at Ben Franklin for a dime. At 16, I was too old and definitely too cool for our small town's Memorial Day parade.
I ought to be at the lake, I brooded. But, no, the all-day festivities were mandatory in my family.

A high school band marched by, the girl in sequins missing her baton as it tumbled from the sky. Firemen blasted sirens in their polished red trucks. The uniforms on the troop of World War II veterans looked too snug on more than one member.
"Here comes Mema," my father shouted.
Five black convertibles lumbered down the boulevard. The mayor was in the first, handing out programs. I didn't need to look at one. I knew my uncle Bud's name was printed on it, as it had been every year since he was killed in Italy. Our family's war hero.
And I knew that perched on the backseat of one of the cars, waving and smiling, was Mema, my grandmother. She had a corsage on her lapel and a sign in gold embossed letters on the car door: "Gold Star Mother."
I hid behind the tree so I wouldn't have to meet her gaze. It wasn't because I didn't love her or appreciate her. She'd taught me how to sew, to call a strike in baseball. She made great cinnamon rolls, which we always ate after the parade.
What embarrassed me was all the attention she got for a son who had died 20 years earlier. With four other children and a dozen grandchildren, why linger over this one long-ago loss?
I peeked out from behind the oak just in time to see Mema wave and blow my family a kiss as the motorcade moved on. The purple ribbon on her hat fluttered in the breeze.
The rest of our Memorial Day ritual was equally scripted. No use trying to get out of it. I followed my family back to Mema's house, where there was the usual baseball game in the backyard and the same old reminiscing about Uncle Bud in the kitchen.

Helping myself to a cinnamon roll, I retreated to the living room and plopped down on an armchair.
There I found myself staring at the Army photo of Bud on the bookcase. The uncle I'd never known. I must have looked at him a thousand times—so proud in his crested cap and knotted tie. His uniform was decorated with military emblems that I could never decode.
Funny, he was starting to look younger to me as I got older. Who were you, Uncle Bud? I nearly asked aloud.
I picked up the photo and turned it over. Yellowing tape held a prayer card that read: "Lloyd 'Bud' Heitzman, 1925-1944. A Great Hero." Nineteen years old when he died, not much older than I was. But a great hero? How could you be a hero at 19?
The floorboards creaked behind me. I turned to see Mema coming in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.
I almost hid the photo because I didn't want to listen to the same stories I'd heard year after year: "Your uncle Bud had this little rat-terrier named Jiggs. Good old Jiggs. How he loved that mutt! He wouldn't go anywhere without Jiggs. He used to put him in the rumble seat of his Chevy coupe and drive all over town.
"Remember how hard Bud worked after we lost the farm? At haying season he worked all day, sunrise to sunset, baling for other farmers. Then he brought me all his wages. He'd say, 'Mama, someday I'm going to buy you a brand-new farm. I promise.' There wasn't a better boy in the world!"

Monday, May 20, 2013

Do You Know What to Do After a Car Accident? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Tuesday, May, 14th, 2013 at 6:00 am

Tags: Auto, Auto Accident, Auto Insurance, Auto Safety, Safety

You’re driving in bumper-to-bumper, stop-and-go traffic during rush hour on a Tuesday evening. Just as you glimpse your long-awaited exit, the car in front of you slams on the brakes. You stop just in time — but then the car behind you slams into your back bumper. Oh no! You’ve been in an accident!
Would you know what to do if this happened to you? There are a lot of things to consider after a wreck on the road, and knowing what steps to take can help ease the stress of an already nerve-wracking situation. Check out the infographic below for some helpful information:

Looking for more information about car accidents and insurance? Check out the Tools and Resources section of Allstate.com.

Contact an Allstate Agent near you to review your auto insurance coverage.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Stay in Ship Shape with These Simple Boating Tips

Wednesday, May, 8th, 2013 at 6:00 am

Tags: Boat, Boat Insurance, Boat Safety, Safety

Recreational boating can be fun, but like any activity involving large machinery or vehicles, it can be dangerous if you’re not prepared. In 2011, the US Coast Guard (USCG) reported 4,588 accidents that resulted in 758 deaths and 3,081 injuries.
While your odds aren’t terrible—one accident per 2,653 of the 12.2 million registered vessels—the injuries and damages from a serious accident could be staggering. Damaged property in 2011 boating accidents was estimated at $52 million (that’s almost $4.2 million per registered boat), according to the Recreational Boating Statistics 2011 report from the USCG. The kicker is, by taking simple steps and planning, as well as exercising safe judgement, accidents can be avoided.

The Importance of Training

Unlike a vehicle license, boat licenses are often given after a written exam only, without an operation test. And in some state, the written exam is not required. Just because you have a license doesn’t mean you know how to operate a boat. Fortunately, that’s an easy fix. Depending on how close you are to water, it may be as simple as going to a boat school. If that’s too much of a hassle, there are online courses, as well. Of course, it’s a good idea to check with you local regulatory agency to ensure you are in compliance with all licensing requirements.
Did you go through a boat safety education program? According to the report, 89 percent of deaths occurred on a boat driven by someone with no instruction. Of the remainder, about five deaths (under 0.01%) happened when the operator had been through a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved course. There is a list of approved courses and organizations here.

Plan: Where Are You Going and When Will You Be Back?

You’ve probably heard of a float plan if you’re a boat owner. If you haven’t, read up. A float plan can expedite rescue in the event that you’re unable to send out a distress signal or if you’re in a small vessel without means of communication. The USCG’s website even has a helpful form you can leave ashore to make sure no detail is forgotten.
And, if you’re thinking a float plan is unnecessary if you’re going on a lake or other enclosed body of water, think again: Forty-eight percent of accidents (and 46 percent of fatalities) happened in lakes, ponds, reservoirs, dams and gravel pits.

Weather

It’s common sense to check the weather conditions before heading out on the water. “Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning,” right?
Contrary to what you might think, more deaths happened in calm and choppy waters (at most, 2-foot waves) than rougher waves. And according to the USCG’s 2011 report, nearly 74 percent of all accidents happened during the day with good visibility; the peak time for accidents is 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Regardless of your plans, keep an eye on wind, water and visibility conditions before casting off.

Situational Awareness is Key

The No. 1 contributor to accidents was a distracted operator, followed by poor lookout. Nearly 24 percent of accidents in 2011 could have been avoided by people paying attention. To give you a little more perspective, 22 percent of accidents were boat collisions. Think there might be a connection there?
So, while you’re enjoying the day on the water, remember that your inattention could ruin someone else’s day—and yours.

When an Accident Happens, Safety First

We get it. Everyone looks a little ridiculous in a life jacket. Put one on anyway. In 2011, 54.7 percent of people who died drowned without a lifejacket, compared to just 11 percent who drowned with a lifejacket.
“But I’m a strong swimmer,” you may say. Well, strong swimmer, if you’re a mile from shore, you would have to swim the equivalent distance of nearly 53 lengths in a 25-meter pool…with a current and waves. “Impossible,” you say. “I’ll wait it out.” You may have to stay afloat for hours until rescue teams arrive. Swallow your pride and pop on a life jacket.
The key to your safety on the water is how much effort you put into it. Take a class and get informed. Make a plan and leave a copy with a family member, friend or neighbor. Exercise common sense. Drinking and operating a boat? Bad idea. Speeding? Bad idea. Having a good time while being safe? Great idea.

Stay safe on the water and protect your watercraft with Allstate Boat Insurance.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Making a blended family work

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SALT LAKE CITY — Life is a complicated and messy endeavor. Life Coach Kim Giles is here to help you with simple, principle-based solutions to the challenges you face. Coach Kim will empower you to get along with others and become the best you. Question:
My husband and I both have kids from previous marriages, and blending our families has been hard. We fight all the time, usually about his kids not getting along with my kids, his kids wrecking things, me not treating his kids good enough, or him spending too much time with his ex and her family. (I think he spends an abnormal amount of time with them.) I don’t know how to handle any of these issues, and they are tearing us apart. Can you offer some advice?
Answer:
Blending families is a really difficult endeavor and not for the faint of heart. I know — I am in a second marriage situation with kids myself, so I speak from experience.
There is a reason that 70 percent of second marriages fail, and the odds are even worse when children are involved. Making a step-family work is a huge challenge, but you can significantly improve your odds of making it if you get some help, plan ahead, and get educated so your expectations are realistic.

Studies have shown that 80 percent of couples entering a second marriage do nothing up front to prepare themselves for the complexities of the challenge. They think their love should be enough to get them through the difficulties.

Let me set the record straight right now: It isn’t.
You must get educated about step-families if you are going to make it. I highly recommend getting some books about step-families, attending seminars and classes, or getting some professional help to work through the challenging issues. Things will go much smoother when you know what you are doing and have a plan to deal with the challenges.
Here are some other tips that may help:
Improve your communication skills. This is the most important thing you must do. You must learn to have mutually validating conversations with your spouse and have them often. Couples who know how to communicate with respect, in a loving way, can solve almost any problem.
If you are unhappy with how much time your husband spends with his ex and her family, you need to talk about it and figure out what amount of time you would feel comfortable with. If you still can’t reach a compromise on this issue (and the many other issues that cause the fighting), you may need some professional help with your relationship skills.
Make the house rules, as a couple, ahead of time. You must be a united front and decide on rules, consequences, job sharing, conflict resolution and responsibilities ahead of time. Successful step-parents are always united on decisions and discuss their disagreements in private. They are a cohesive team in front of the children, so it is clear they cannot be played off each other.

Ask Coach Kim

Do you have a question for Coach Kim, or maybe a topic you'd like her to address?
Email her at kim@lifeadviceradio.com.

Couples should decide on the rules together, but the natural parent should be the one to dish out the discipline to their child. If the natural parent isn’t present, the step-parent can remind the child of the house rules and the consequences in a very loving and calm manner. If you can't speak to your step-children with kindness and respect, you need to get some help to change this.

Children deserve respect, understanding and kindness even when they mis-behave. If you treat children this way, they will respect you back. If you behave immaturely, lose control, yell and berate children, they will lose respect for you.
Give everyone some time to learn how to handle this complex situation. Your spouse has never been a step-parent before and neither have you, so you both need some time to figure this out. You must be patient and not expect your spouse to have all the answers and do everything right, right away.
Don’t rush the process of blending. Everyone needs time to get used to this new way of life. You must let each child set the pace for how close they want to be to the new step-parent and when. Don’t worry if they pull back at times; they are fighting a battle of loyalties that often confuses them. Don’t take their moving slow personally. It takes years to build strong relationships of trust.
Make sure you treat all the children the same. Feeling cheated, short-changed or left out is a common problem in step-families. Make things fair and the same, as much as possible.
Insist on mutual respect for everyone. Not everyone has to like each other, but they do have to respect each other. If you are going to make your step-family work, children must respect the adults in the home, and the adults must respect the children. This means listening to their thoughts and feelings and respecting their right to feel the way they do. Respect must happen in every interaction.
This will not be an easy road. It will test your love and patience on a daily basis, but you can do it, if you are both committed and open to getting some help.

About the Author: Kimberly Giles

Kimberly Giles gives her advice in the "LIFEadvice" series every Monday on ksl.com. She is the president of Claritypoint Life Coaching and a sought-after life coach and popular speaker who specializes in repairing self-esteem. Listen to her Self Esteem CPR Workshop at www.claritypointcoaching.com.