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Blogs - All topics Mayo Clinic experts blog about various health topics. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Childhood cancer survivors face unique risks as adults Jun 16th 2012, 05:00 With Mayo Clinic nurse educator Sheryl M. Ness, R.N. read biography Latest entries Childhood cancer survivors face unique risks as adults June 16, 2012 New magazine keeps you up to date on Mayo Clinic Cancer Center June 9, 2012 Yoga helps cancer survivors with overall well-being May 26, 2012 Cancer survivors celebrate special day May 19, 2012 Take time to relax by reading May 12, 2012 Connect with others who've been there. Share stories. Learn. Join Mayo Clinic's online community. Free E-Newsletters Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters Living with cancer blog June 16, 2012 By Sheryl M. Ness, R.N. If you survived a childhood cancer, you may have unique risks now that you're an adult — such as an increased risk of other health conditions or a second cancer. This past week, I was reading about a new study showing that women who were treated as children with radiation to the chest area have an increased risk of developing breast cancer as adults. Radiation treatment was an essential and effective way to treat and cure children with lymphoma, leukemia and other cancers in the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, radiation was given in higher doses and was not as targeted — so the radiation effects on the body were greater. Today, with newer technology and advanced science, radiation is delivered more precisely and in smaller doses. In order to understand your personal risks, take a look back at your cancer treatment with your primary care doctor and map out a plan to address your screening needs and other health concerns. Late effects of cancer treatment will be unique for each person and can vary depending on the type of treatment you received as well as your age when treatment was given. Some of the most common long-term effects include: Heart problems Infertility Lung problems Bone and joint problems Memory and learning disabilities Kidney problems Increased risk of other types of cancer You may need to modify your individual cancer screening plan depending on your personal history. For example, in the case of women who received high doses of radiation to the chest area as children, the medical community is now recommending breast cancer screening starting at age 25 — much earlier than is recommended for other women. Childhood cancer treatments are continually improving and evolving. The medical community is constantly learning more about long-term and late effects. If you're a childhood cancer survivor, be active and ask questions about late effects when you see your health care team. I invite you to share your experiences on the blog. Follow me on Twitter at @SherylNess1. Join the discussion at #livingwithcancer. blog index Testing blood sugar: First or second drop? Jun 15th 2012, 16:31 With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N. read biography Latest entries Testing blood sugar June 15, 2012 Diabetes and family: Share your story May 26, 2012 Diabetes costs May 11, 2012 Type 2 diabetes medications: How to choose May 1, 2012 Insulin and needle length April 5, 2012 Connect with others who've been there. Share stories. Learn. Join Mayo Clinic's online community. Free E-Newsletters Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters Living with diabetes blog June 15, 2012 By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N. When testing your blood sugar, do you use the first drop of blood or the second? We teach patients to wash their hands with soap and water, dry them, and then test their blood glucose using the first drop. We advise that if the person isn't able to wash his or her hands with soap and water, then the second drop may be used. However, I've heard some patients tell me that they were instructed to use the second drop of blood, even after washing hands with soap and water. Monitoring your blood sugar is essential to managing diabetes and helps you to make decisions related to diet, exercise and medication. So, what is the "right way" to test your blood glucose? A February 2011 article in the American Diabetes Association's journal, "Diabetes Care," details a study that investigated whether capillary glucose concentrations, as measured in the first and second drops of blood, differed by 10 percent or more compared with a control capillary glucose concentration in the following situations: Without washing hands After handling fruit After washing the fruit-exposed fingers During the application of different amounts of external pressure around the finger (squeezing). The conclusion of this study, which included 123 participants, is: "The first drop of blood can be used for self-monitored glucose testing, but only after washing hands. If washing hands is not possible and they are not visibly soiled or exposed to a sugar-containing product, it is acceptable to use the second drop of blood after wiping away the first drop." The study also found that external pressure (or squeezing) of the finger can lead to unreliable readings, as well. You can find the article at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2011/02/01/dc10-1694 All in all an interesting study. What are your thoughts? Peggy blog index

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