E! News host Giuliana Rancic recently revealed she was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Considering she got the news at age 36, it begs the question: should you start your yearly mammograms before age 40?

As you saw in the video, pregnancy hormones can cause cancer to progress quicker in the body. So if you’re looking to have a baby, a mammogram is a must-have.

Most doctors still agree that yearly mammograms should begin at age 40, but it’s important to remember that you’re a unique individual with a unique family history and a unique medical background. Talk to your physician to see when your yearly mammograms should start.

With $100 mammograms and a wide range of resources (such as November 9’s Navigating Breast Cancer lecture), the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health is the perfect place to take care of your annual mammogram.

Patsy Harris mingles with attendees at the annual diabetes fall fest

In honor of Diabetes Awareness month, the Silver Cross Diabetes Center will host its annual Diabetes Fall Fest on Saturday, November 12 from 8 a.m. to Noon.

“Since 1996, we have helped thousands of diabetics and their family members to live with this chronic disease, that if not cared for appropriately, could lead to heart disease, blindness and amputation,” says Patsy Harris, R.N., program director for the Silver Cross Diabetes Center.  “Holding our annual fall event is just one of the ways we are committed to improving the quality of life for our patients and the residents of the southwest suburbs living with diabetes.”

Diabetes information and product booths will open at 8 a.m. and participants can be screened for high blood pressure and cholesterol.  No fasting is required.  Between 8:30-11:30 there will be various physician led programs discussing Diabetes management, foot health, and eye care.  From 10:30 a.m. to Noon, Silver Cross chefs will hold healthy sugar-free cooking demonstrations.  Raffle prizes and refreshments will be available.  Diabetic participants will also receive a gift bag with samples of diabetes-related products. To register to attend, click here or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).

The Will County Union of King’s Daughters and Sons will hold its annual Silver Belles Bazaar Saturday, Nov. 5, from 7:30 am. to 1:30 p.m. in the Silver Cross Hospital Cafeteria, located in the Francis Pavilion, 1200 Maple Rd., Joliet.  Admission is free.  Strollers are welcome. Handmade craft items, homemade baked goods and lunch will be available.

In addition, raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each or six for $5.  Prizes include a laptop computer, $500 cash, and spa, sport, and entertainment gift baskets.  The drawing will be held on Nov. 5 at 1:30 p.m.  Winner need not be present.

The Childerguild Gift Shop and Encore resale shop, located in the hospital, will also be open.

Proceeds from the Silver Belles Bazaar benefit the Silver Cross Renal Centers, the largest provider of dialysis services in Will and Grundy counties.  For more information, call Volunteer Services at Silver Cross Hospital at (815) 300-7117.

The Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health employees and thier families  participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Centennial Park Soccer Field in Orland Park on October 16.

“As breast health clinicians, we felt it was important to support the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk since we interact with many women daily educating them on their breast health and helping those with cancer fight the disease,” said Marci Vasiliades, Manager of the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health. “We also wanted to help raise awareness for women to get their annual mammograms and support finding a cure for breast cancer.”

The 12th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk brings the entire community together to celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate women about the importance of reducing their cancer risk by getting their annual mammograms, and raise funds for lifesaving research and support programs to further fight against breast cancer.

 For the past fiveyears, Orland Park has hosted “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” a 5-kilometer noncompetitive walk, one of 12 held in the state of Illinois.

The Advisory Board of Silver Cross Hospital is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Encore “resale” Shop. Formed in 1891, the Advisory Board is also celebrating 120 years of service to Silver Cross Hospital—a 100 Top Hospital in the nation for the past 7 years.

In 1891, 15 women from Silver Cross Hospital’s founding organization—Will County Union of King’s Daughters and Sons, were chosen by the Silver Cross Hospital Board of Trustees to serve as the Board of Lady Managers. In 1935, they changed their name to the Advisory Board. Their mission was to raise money for construction and advise on the formation of the Joliet hospital, which opened in 1895. 

From the very first meeting on July 6, 1891, members were responsible for the internal management of the 33-bed hospital.  “At that time, the members made decisions on room furnishing, provisions, finance, nursing personnel, and even the doctors,” said Nancy Allen, Advisory Board President.  Whatever the hospital needed—an operating room cart, a washing machine or cash just to pay the bills, our members found the means to provide.”

A Legacy of Giving
In the early years, the Advisory Board begged cash everywhere they went:  at the steel mills, quarries, stores, offices, all through the county and even the penitentiary.  After many fund raising events, which included trolley donations, cake walks and even selling a donated horse, the Advisory Board opened a resale shop in 1961.  Called the Encore Shop, the thrift store was located in a two-story house on Walnut Street across from the current Joliet Emergency Department. Today, the Shop is still located on Walnut Street and just north of the Silver Cross Hospital’s Emergency Department.  The Shop is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Since opening the Encore Shop doors on Nov. 1, 1961, the Advisory Board has donated over $1 million to Silver Cross Hospital for state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.  The members recently completed a $75,000 pledge to fund the water feature in the Serenity Garden at the replacement hospital opening on February 26. 2012. 

“We like to think that our shop helps many people,” says Allen.  “The hospital coffers of course, those who buy our merchandise, those who have been hospitalized and because of accident or fire have lost their clothes, and those who are in the process of clearing their closet shelves.” 

Friends, family, hospital employees and the community keep the Encore Shop in business through contributions of clothing, household items, antiques and collectibles.
Fifty members volunteer their time to sell donated items. The current Advisory Board Officers are Nancy Allen, President; Kay Hegarty, Vice President; Roberta Rand, Second Vice President; Marilynn Plese, Recording Secretary;  Annie Cardwell, Corresponding Secretary;  Elaine Boros, Treasurer; and Kay Collins, Encore Shop Treasurer.
 
Celebration Planned
To celebrate the momentous occasion, members will gather for a luncheon on Nov 10 at Silver Cross Hospital. Past presidents will be honored and a $5,000 gift will be presented to Silver Cross.  In addition, special sales will be featured in the Encore Shop Nov. 1, 2, 4 and 5.  For more information, call contact Volunteers Services at Silver Cross Hospital at (815) 300-7117.

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Silver Cross Hospital has been re-certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) for the next three years. This certification recognizes those programs rigorously reviewed by a national board and found to meet strict requirements for standards of care. 

The goals of Silver Cross’ Cardiac Rehabilitation Program are to limit the physiological and psychological effects of cardiac disease; control cardiac symptoms; reduce the risk for sudden death or relapse; stabilize and/or enhance the patient’s condition; and improve the patient’s quality of life. Another significant aspect of this program teaches lifestyle modifications so heart patients can stop or at least slow the disease process.

“This certification tells our patients that we have all the components in place to provide excellent cardiac rehabilitation care,” said Brendan Casey, Manager of Cardiovascular Services at Silver Cross.

To achieve program certification, the hospital provided documentation on how patients are assessed, diet, risk factor assessment, and how to set up a plan of care. In addition, the AACVPR evaluated the hospital’s compliance with emergency procedures and preparedness, staff qualifications, patient education, and even the way cardiac monitoring equipment is maintained.  In addition, the AACVPR evaluated the hospital’s compliance with emergency procedures and preparedness, staff qualifications, patient education, and even the way cardiac monitoring equipment is maintained.

“The AACVPR was extremely thorough in their review of our program and we are thrilled to receive such an honor recognizing the high standard of care we provide to our patients,” said Casey.

Silver Cross’ experienced rehabilitation team is dedicated to helping patients regain their independence and reclaim a healthy, active lifestyle following a cardiac event. During phase 1 of the rehabilitation process, specialized nurses and exercise physiologists assist hospitalized patients with active and passive exercise programs and provide education on risk factor modification as an adjunct to the education provided by the staff nurses who care for them on the floor. In phase 2, patients go to the LaVerne and Dorothy Brown Cardiovascular Institute after discharge and participate in a closely supervised, 36-session workout program that involves cardiac exercise, strength training and stretching. In phase 3, patients begin an ongoing exercise program to maintain and improve their quality of life. Participation in Phase 2 & 3 requires a physician order.  For more information, call (815) 300-7053.

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Every day, women are living in shame and fear of their next urge because they don’t understand why this is happening. There is no need for embarrassment, urinary incontinence is common, in fact over 15 million American women deal with this condition every day.

“Urinary incontinence isn’t a disease, it’s a symptom,” says Dr. Dexter Arrington, obstetrics and gynecology physician on staff at Silver Cross Hospital. “It can be produced by everyday habits, underlying medical conditions or physical problems.”

Join Dr. Dexter Arrington, obstetrician/gynecologist, and Valerie Paluszak, pelvic therapy specialist, for a free women’s only program, Urinary Incontinence: It’s Not Normal At Any Age, on Tuesday, November 8 from 6:30 to7:30 p.m., to learn about the various treatment methods currently available for  urinary incontinence. This program will be held at the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health, 1870 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox.  To register, click here or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).

Watch Diane Jacoboski, Ultrasound Technician at the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health, as she discusses the patient experience when recieving a digital mammogram at the Center. 

We all hear about breast cancer, but what is one to do once diagnosed with the disease? It seems wherever you turn you are flooded with opinions and treatment plans that can be confusing and can make the process daunting.

 “Women can feel overwhelmed and confused by so many different opinions” says Dr. Patricia Clark, board certified general surgery physician on staff at Silver Cross. “Patients will feel more at ease if they understand how and why their physician makes certain decisions.”

 Join Dr. Patricia Clark for a free women’s only program, Navigating Breast Cancer, on Wednesday, November 9 from 6:30 to7:30 p.m., to learn about common fears and confusions about breast cancer treatments. She will discuss current screening and treatment guidelines and tips on using the internet to find accurate and helpful information. The free program will be held at the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health, 1870 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox.  To register, click here or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).

Cancer care is a team effort. Your primary physician will refer you to other specialists, surgeons and radiologists, but it is so important for the patient to make sure they are part of the team too. “I often refer my patients to view the patient guide at the The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)web site,” says Dr. Patricia Clark. The NCCN websitedes patients with information and resources based on guidelines derived from clinical trials, patient experience, and physician expertise. These guidelines are also closely followed by oncology physicians, making this a wonderful resource to begin navigating the course of treatment for breast cancer. The website provides step-by-step detail in the causes, treatments options, and processes to help clarify any confusion for both the cancer patient and their caregiver.

When we think of Halloween, we picture children laughing in colorful costumes, jack-o’-lanterns glowing in house windows, and buckets brimming with candy and treats. Experts warn, however, that this fun-filled night can pose safety hazards. Keep these ten reminders in mind to make sure that your kids have a safe Halloween.

1. Make sure your child’s costume is flame-resistant and manageable. Avoid top heavy costumes that could topple him, or flowing costumes that could get wound around her feet and cause her to fall.  Avoid using anything around the neck that may pose a strangulation hazard, and skip the high heeled shoes. “The last thing any child or parent wants is to end up in the emergency room hurt and unable to celebrate Halloween,” says Daniel Checco, D.O., Emergency Medicine physician at the Silver Cross Free-Standing Emergency Care Center located at 143rd St. and Bell Rd in Homer Glen.
2. For the littlest trick-or-treaters, you may want to avoid masks all together. They may be frightening to the wearer, impede vision, make it difficult to breathe, and increase the risk that your child may fall. “Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have a child wear a loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision,” says Dr. Checco. “If a mask is used, however, make sure it fits securely and has  large enough to allow full vision to avoid trips and falls.
3. Remind kids not to eat or drink anything that is given to them until a parent looks it over first. This includes not only Halloween treats, but any potions or weird substances that might be part of a haunted house or Halloween decorations. Make sure kids know that even though things may look like food, they might not be.
4. Make sure that your child’s judgment, maturity, and safety awareness are well-developed before allowing him to trick-or-treat without a parent. If they do venture out alone or with mom and dad, make sure you are equipped with a cell phone in case of an emergency. Silver Cross Hospital has just launched a smartphone application that could save you or a family member’s life in an emergency. The ICE (In Case of Emergency) application creates one central location to conveniently store information about your health conditions and current medications along with emergency contacts. Silver Cross Hospital’s ICE application is free and now available for download at the iTunes App Store.
5. Young children may feel safer trick-or-treating before it gets too dark. The intensity of the evening, coupled with the “scary” themes, may be overwhelming for some little ones.
6. Go only to homes you know. Make sure houses are well-lit, indicating that they are welcoming trick-or-treaters as well as providing a safe walking space for your little ones.
7. Avoid using real candles in pumpkins on doorsteps, and remove obstacles kids could trip over from lawns and walking paths.  Keep an eye out for the same at homes you visit.
8. If your kids will be trick-or-treating in the dark, make sure they have flashlights and remind them to stay on the alert for traffic. Consider attaching reflective tape to their costumes so they are more easily seen by motorists.
9. When checking kids’ loot, be on the lookout for food your child may be allergic to, as well as any recalled foods or items that may pose a choking hazard for kids under 5.
10. Be super careful with knives when carving pumpkins.