Judy Winkler
Director, Precinct 1
Hondo
Tim Hardt
Vice President
Director, Precinct 2
Castroville
Tony Johnson
Secretary
Director, Precinct 3
D’Hanis
October is
Breast Cancer
AwarenessMonth
Good for you: You’ve decided to schedule amammogram.
e American Cancer Society recommends that women
40 and older get the test every year.
Amammogram, a low-dose x-ray exam of the breasts,
o en nds breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable.
Some suggestions to follow:
Before your appointment.
Find a location that is
certi ed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as
a quality mammography facility, like Medina Regional
Hospital. Choose a date for your appointment that’s about
a week a er your period ends (if you’re still menstruating).
Your breasts will be less swollen and tender at that
time, which will help make the mammogram more
comfortable and the
images clearer.
Exam day.
Wear
pants, shorts or a
skirt so you can
easily remove your
top and bra before
the exam. Don’t use deodorant, antiperspirant, powder,
lotion, ointment or perfume under your arms or on your
breasts that day. ese can create spots and shadows
on the x-rays. During the exam, each breast will be
compressed in the machine for a few seconds while a
series of pictures are taken.
Afterward.
Mammogram results are usually available
within 30 days. Call your doctor if you haven’t heard by
then. Don’t panic if you’re asked to come back for more
x-rays or other tests. It doesn’t mean you have cancer—
the doctor just wants to follow up on something.
Additional sources: American College of Radiology; Of ce on Women’s Health; Radiological
Society of North America
The test
Frequency
How it works
Advantages
Things to keep in mind
Guaiac fecal
occult blood
test (FOBT)
Fecal immuno-
chemical test
Every year
You use a test kit to
take a small stool
sample. Your doctor
sends it to a lab, where
it’s tested for signs of
blood.
It reduces the risk
of death from colorec-
tal cancer.
It detects signs of
cancer early.
You do it yourself,
at home.
You must do it once a
year.
It can give false-positive
results.
If your test is positive,
you’ll need a colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy Usually every
10 years, from
age 50 through 75.
If you have a family
history of colorectal
cancer, you might
need to start screen-
ing at a younger age.
Some people also
need to be screened
more frequently.
While you’re sedated,
your doctor uses a
thin, flexible, lighted
tube with a tiny video
camera to examine
your rectum and your
entire colon for polyps
(abnormal growths) or
cancer.
It reduces the risk
of death from colorec-
tal cancer.
Your doctor can
remove most polyps,
which may become
cancerous, and some
cancers if found dur-
ing the test.
If you work, you’ll prob-
ably have to take some
time off for the test.
You must take laxatives
to clean your colon before
the test.
Some people have pain,
gas or bloating before, dur-
ing or after the test.
There’s a slight risk of
serious complications such
as bleeding.
Flexible
sigmoidoscopy
Every five years,
often with an
annual fecal occult
blood test
Your doctor uses a
thin, flexible, lighted
tube with a tiny video
camera to examine
your rectum and the
lower one-third of your
colon.
It reduces the risk
of death from colorec-
tal cancer.
Laxatives are required
before the test.
If your doctor spots any-
thing abnormal, you’ll
need a colonoscopy.
COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING
Pick a test, any test
e best way to detect colorectal cancer early is by having a screening
test. ere are three main screening tests available—but which one is
best? e answer might surprise you: It’s whichever one you choose.
at’s because the best colorectal cancer screening test is the one that
gets done, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although all three of the tests used most o en to detect colorectal
cancer are e ective, you might prefer one over the others. e chart
below shows what each test involves.
Being over 50 is the main risk factor for colorectal cancer. So talk
to your doctor about screening, pick a test—and get it done. It could
save your life.
Additional sources: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; American College of Gastroenterology
At Medina Regional Hospital, we’re
committed to providing high-quality,
compassionate healthcare. One very
important part of achieving that goal is
our Board of Directors.
“People may not realize that our
directors receive no compensation for
their time spent ensuring our mission
Steve Hackebeil
President
Director at Large
Corky Young, DVM
Director at Large
Bill Bain
Director, Precinct 4
Devine
OUR BOARD OF DI RECTORS
Contributing time and talent
is a reality,” says Janice Simons, CEO of
Medina Healthcare System.
“On behalf of everyone at Medina
Regional Hospital and Clinics, I’d like to
thank our hardworking Board of Directors
for everything they do,” says Simons.
“ ey’re a big part of what makes our
organization special.”
e Board provides governance and
leadership to all of the activities of the
hospital. ese responsibilities include
such things as: oversight of nancial health
and stability; selecting senior leaders;
and providing for the needed personnel,
physicians, equipment and facilities
required for the delivery of safe and high-
quality care. Trustees are responsible for
performing these activities within all
applicable licensure standards, relevant
law and governmental regulations.
“Our directors have donated hundreds
of hours in the past year, making
important decisions that a ect everyone
in the hospital’s service area,” Simons says.
e Medina County Hospital District
Board is composed of seven elected
directors. Four directors are elected by
the voters in the four county precincts,
and three directors are elected at large.
Directors are elected to two-year terms,
with elections held in
conjunction with the
November general
election. e district
owns and manages
the assets of the
Medina Healthcare
S y s t e m , w h i c h
i nc l ud e Me d i na
Regional Hospital
and four clinics.
Zachary Windrow, MD
Director at Large
To schedule a
mammogram,
call 830-426-7722.
COLON CANCER: CATCHING IT EARLY
2
M E D I N A H E A L T H N E W S
F A L L 2 0 1 4
N E W S , V I E W S & T I P S
H E A L T H T A L K
90%
5-YEAR SURVIVAL RATE
IF FOUND AT AN EARLY STAGE
only
40%
DIAGNOSED AT AN EARLY STAGE
PARTLY DUE TO LOW SCREENING RATE
