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South Carolina Laboratory Capable of Processing a Groundbreaking 620,000 COVID-19 Tests Per Month

May 8 in Uncategorized by Kristina Loughrey | No Comments

~As states open, Premier Medical Laboratory Services provides unprecedented testing capacity for South Carolina~

GREENVILLE, SC May 7, 2020 – Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS), the first commercial laboratory in South Carolina to be validated for COVID-19 testing, has expanded their hours of operation to meet current testing demands. Now capable of processing 20,000 COVID-19 tests per day or up to 620,000 per month, the laboratory has added employee shifts to remain operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Among South Carolina laboratories, this is a groundbreaking amount of test results being processed daily within the state.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, PMLS has progressively increased their testing capacity by adding staff, equipment, and by using cutting edge technology including OnGen, a cloud-based Laboratory Information System (LIS) which allows their testing orders to be entered and communicated directly to laboratory instruments. These measures combined have more than quadrupled the volume of tests that PMLS successfully processes each day.

PMLS’s COVID-19 test is a part of their comprehensive respiratory pathogen test. It is developed to determine the full causation for symptoms that a patient may be experiencing, as COVID-19 can exist as a co-infection. These results deliver vital knowledge – ruling out or detecting multiple causative pathogens and allowing a physician to provide the most suitable care for their patients during this critical time, helping to flatten the curve.

“As everyone prepares for opening up America again, we have adapted quickly so we can be prepared with the level of testing capacity needed for South Carolina,” said Kevin Murdock Founder of Premier Medical Laboratory Services. “We join everyone in wanting this pandemic to be controlled as soon as possible, so we are using the latest in technology and science to meet COVID-19 testing demands as they evolve.”

PMLS is working under FDA regulations to soon provide an antibody test which will indicate a patient that has had COVID-19 in the past and is potentially immune to a reinfection of the virus. As gathering data on COVID-19 to understand its complexities is of utmost importance in overcoming it, PMLS is dedicated to making this antibody test accessible to South Carolina as soon as possible.

As a reminder, Premier Medical Laboratory Services does not conduct specimen collection for their tests. Samples are collected via a specimen collection kit ordered by a healthcare professional and then sent to PMLS for processing. Results of this molecular diagnostic test are provided within 24 – 48 hours upon lab receipt of the testing sample – Lead times subject to extend due to volume.

Hospitals and physicians’ offices can provide COVID-19 testing by clicking on the following link for easy account activation with PMLS: www.premedinc.com/covid-19. For more information, please visit www.PreMedInc.com or call 1.877.335.2455.

South Carolina Laboratory Launching Effort to Supply Free COVID-19 Tests to First Responders

April 3 in 2019 Novel Coronavirus by Kristina Loughrey | No Comments

~First responders can access free COVID-19 tests throughout SC starting next week~

GREENVILLE, SC April 3, 2020  – Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS), an industry leading diagnostic laboratory, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, announced last week their status as the first laboratory in South Carolina validated for COVID-19 testing under CDC guidelines and the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). PMLS plans to provide free COVID-19 testing to first responders throughout the state of South Carolina. The launch of this free testing comes in effort to maintain the strength of South Carolina’s front line of defense during the COVID-19 outbreak and to show appreciation for their dedicated work and sacrifice.

“Since the beginning of our validation process for COVID-19 testing, our primary mission has been to increase access to quality COVID-19 testing for South Carolinians,” Kevin Murdock, founder of Premier Medical Laboratory Services said. “In the same spirit, we want to support our first responders who continue to keep our state safe during this pandemic and incomparable time of uncertainty. We want to sincerely thank them for all they are doing.”

PMLS will begin accepting specimens for free first responder testing by the end of next week.  The test can be ordered by the first responder’s medical provider.  Once collected at these healthcare facilities, the specimens are then sent to PMLS’s 40,000 sqft COLA and CLIA regulated laboratory for molecular diagnostic testing. Results are anticipated to be provided within 24 – 72 hours upon lab receipt of the testing sample. Lead times may extend due to testing volume.

PMLS is working with healthcare providers across the state to provide access to additional collection sites and will provide that information as it becomes available.

This testing will be available to first responders, listed below, who believe they have been exposed to the virus, but do not otherwise meet current testing criteria:

  • Law Enforcement Officers
  • Firefighters
  • EMTs/Paramedics

For updates and further information, please visit www.premedinc.com/first-responders

ABOUT PREMIER MEDICAL LABORATORY

Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS) is a CLIA and COLA regulated laboratory based in Greenville, South Carolina focused on providing clinically meaningful results to medical practitioners. Premier Medical Laboratory Services offers a variety of highly specialized tests including: the only Type II Diabetes molecular predisposition test available in the U.S., advanced cardiovascular testing, hereditary cancer screening, carrier screening, women’s health panels, pharmacogenomics, serum allergy testing, blood wellness, Hepatitis C genotyping, respiratory pathogens, gastrointestinal pathogens, and more. In addition to its specialty programs, Premier Medical Laboratory offers a comprehensive testing menu of general chemistry, immunoassay, and hematology tests. The company also is proud to offer a patient friendly billing policy. For more information, please visit www.PreMedInc.com or call 1.877.335.2455.

Media Contact:
Kristina Loughrey
Kristina@klapublicrelations.com

Premier Medical Expands COVID-19 Testing Capacity with Cloud-based LIMS Platform, OnGen

March 31 in 2019 Novel Coronavirus by Kristina Loughrey | No Comments

~OnGen laboratory information management system accelerates lab results to help meet nationwide testing demand during outbreak~

GREENVILLE, SC March 31, 2020  – OnGen, an advanced laboratory information management system (LIMS) is helping laboratories to increase their testing capacity and provide testing results at an unprecedented rate during the COVID-19 outbreak. The OnGen platform enables testing orders to be entered and communicated directly to laboratory instruments for integration between labs, hospitals and physician’s offices. Because this software so effectively streamlines workflow during testing, laboratories like Premier Medical Laboratory Services, (PMLS), the first commercial laboratory to be validated in South Carolina for COVID-19 testing, have reported a drastic expanse in their testing capacity. PMLS has announced that they are increasing their testing capacity from 1,000 tests per day to 28,000 per week with the use of OnGen.

“At a time when every day is progressively changing and unpredictable, we realize the importance of implementing the most advanced technology to provide efficient and accurate results so healthcare providers can rely on us,” Kevin Murdock, Founder of Premier Medical Laboratory said. “OnGen has exponentially aided in our ability to do that.”

With an escalating number of COVID-19 cases in the US, the accessibility to laboratories that can process a high volume of molecular diagnostic testing is paramount. When laboratory personnel enter data manually it’s time consuming and limiting to the amount of tests that can be processed daily. OnGen automates the data entry process, quality control, scheduling, and billing, expediting COVID-19 testing and other laboratory testing processes so that labs like PMLS can manage an unprecedented influx of testing samples. OnGen invites laboratories across the country to increase testing capacity with higher accuracy and reliability using their LIMS to battle this global crisis and meet increasing testing demands.

“Our team developed the OnGen platform with scalability to enhance any laboratory’s testing volume while maintaining FDA and CDC regulations,” said Ryan Piper, President & CIO at OnGen. “The cloud-based technology that the platform employs is a ground-breaking solution to the laboratory infrastructure shortage that our country is facing with COVID-19 testing.”

OnGen integrates seamlessly with any electronic medical record system (EMR) that hospitals and physicians’ offices currently use. Conveying COVID-19 laboratory assays online with modules that provide real-time results, OnGen allows medical professionals to easily and efficiently gather data for a large amount of patients. Laboratories can drastically expand their workflow and bring COVID-19 testing to more of the people that need it in their efforts to help flatten the curve of the pandemic.

OnGen LIS:

  • Is fully HIPAA compliant
  • Can seamlessly work with any Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system
  • Has a physician outreach portal to ensure doctors can freely access information for their patients
  • Allows administrators to set multiple levels of access so unauthorized access of patient information is blocked
  • Includes modules that automate quality control, scheduling, testing and billing

OnGen is dedicated to supporting the laboratories and healthcare facilities that use OnGen LIMS from onboarding of the program to continuous technical support to ensure that clients can always prioritize patient care and be assured they always have the latest technology to assist in that goal. 

Laboratories looking to increase their testing efficiency and simplify workflow can visit www.ongen.com or call 888-345-7638.

Hospitals and physicians offices can provide COVID-19 testing by clicking on the following link for easy account activation with Premier Medical Laboratory Services: www.premedinc.com/covid-19

ABOUT ONGENOnGen is an advanced Laboratory Information System that automates laboratory processes for higher efficiency, accuracy, and profitability. OnGen is able to interface with the vast majority of laboratory testing equipment.  Since its founding, OnGen has provided a laboratory information system for laboratories that run everything from general chemistry to genomic sequencing tests. OnGen provides modules that include: order processing and resulting, advanced reporting and business intelligence, patient management, quality control, and a full medical billing suite tailored to laboratories.  OnGen also incorporates machine learning to incorporate trending data and analytics to further laboratory efficiencies. For more information, please visit www.ongen.com or call 888-345-7638.

ABOUT PREMIER MEDICAL LABORATORY

Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS) is a CLIA and COLA regulated laboratory based in Greenville, South Carolina focused on providing clinically meaningful results to medical practitioners. Premier Medical Laboratory Services offers a variety of highly specialized tests including: the only Type II Diabetes molecular predisposition test available in the U.S., advanced cardiovascular testing, hereditary cancer screening, carrier screening, women’s health panels, pharmacogenomics, serum allergy testing, blood wellness, Hepatitis C genotyping, respiratory pathogens, gastrointestinal pathogens, and more. In addition to its specialty programs, Premier Medical Laboratory offers a comprehensive testing menu of general chemistry, immunoassay, and hematology tests. The company also is proud to offer a patient friendly billing policy. For more information, please visit www.PreMedInc.com or call 1.877.335.2455.

First Commercial Laboratory in South Carolina Validated for COVID-19 Testing

March 26 in 2019 Novel Coronavirus by Premier Medical Laboratory Services | No Comments

Premier Medical Laboratory Services increases critical access to COVID-19 diagnostics

GREENVILLE, SC March 26, 2020  – Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS), an industry leading diagnostic laboratory, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, is announcing today they are now validated for COVID-19 testing. The laboratory is currently increasing its testing capacity of 1,000 tests per day with plans to reach 28,000 per week in the coming weeks. Now available to hospitals and physicians offices throughout the United States, the test is developed under CDC guidelines for patient testing under the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

Developed at PMLS’s 40,000 sqft COLA and CLIA regulated laboratory, results of this molecular diagnostic test are anticipated to be provided within 24 – 48 hours upon lab receipt of the testing sample. Lead times may extend due to volume. Assisting with PMLS’s testing capacity and quick turn around of results is their use of OnGen, a cloud-based Laboratory Information System (LIS) which allows testing orders to be entered and communicated directly to laboratory instruments. Expedited detection of the virus will enable further efficiency in response time to employ the appropriate courses of action for containment of the virus.

“We are proud of our team for working diligently around the clock so that we could attain validation status and increase access to testing, which is urgent at this time,” Kevin Murdock, Founder of Premier Medical Laboratory Services said. “Our lab is at the forefront of the most advanced technology and science available, providing cutting edge diagnostics to help flatten the curve of this global pandemic.”

According to recent statements by the FDA, rapid detection of COVID-19 cases in the United States requires wide availability of diagnostic testing to control the emergence of this rapidly spreading, severe illness. The World Health Organization has urged all countries to test every suspected case. “We have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing, isolation and contact tracing, which is the backbone of the response,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Premier Medical Laboratory Services’ COVID-19 test is a part of their comprehensive respiratory pathogen test. It is developed to determine the causation for symptoms that a patient may be experiencing, as COVID-19 can exist as a co-infection with other viruses and bacteria. These results deliver vital knowledge – ruling out and dectecting multiple causative pathogens and allowing a physician to provide the most suitable care for their patients during this critical time.

Hospitals and physicians offices can provide COVID-19 testing by clicking on the following link for easy account activation with PMLS: www.premedinc.com/covid-19

ABOUT PREMIER MEDICAL LABORATORY

Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS) is a CLIA and COLA regulated laboratory based in Greenville, South Carolina focused on providing clinically meaningful results to medical practitioners. Premier Medical Laboratory Services offers a variety of highly specialized tests including: the only Type II Diabetes molecular predisposition test available in the U.S., advanced cardiovascular testing, hereditary cancer screening, carrier screening, women’s health panels, pharmacogenomics, serum allergy testing, blood wellness, Hepatitis C genotyping, respiratory pathogens, gastrointestinal pathogens, and more. In addition to its specialty programs, Premier Medical Laboratory offers a comprehensive testing menu of general chemistry, immunoassay, and hematology tests. The company also is proud to offer a patient friendly billing policy. For more information, please visit www.PreMedInc.com or call 1.877.335.2455.

Media Contact:

Kristina Loughrey

Kristina@klapublicrelations.com

864.360.5848

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South Carolina Medical Manufacturing Firm to Release 54,000 COVID-19 Tests Next Week

March 20 in 2019 Novel Coronavirus by Premier Medical Laboratory Services | No Comments

CPT Medical to increase COVID-19 diagnostics access

GREENVILLE, SC March 20, 2020  – CPT Medical, a surgical pack and kit manufacturing firm based in Greenville, SC, is now shipping COVID-19 testing kits that are available throughout the US. With 54,000 test kits in production for allocation to hospitals, nursing homes, and physician’s offices by the end of next week, CPT Medical is scheduled to release 95,000 test kits for patient testing in approximately three weeks.  

Developed in CPT Medical’s FDA registered facility under CDC guidelines, the tests offered are bulk kits for nursing homes, hospitals, laboratories, and large physician’s offices as well as individual kits for laboratories. Produced in collaboration with Premier Medical Laboratory Services, a COLA and CLIA regulated laboratory, the tests serve as a COVID-19 diagnostic testing and Respiratory Pathogen Profile (RPP) kits.

Currently in development at the CPT Medical facility for telehealth services are home testing kits to be ordered by physicians to their patients. This development will help mitigate transmission of the virus between patients and healthcare providers. Once the development process is completed for the in-home testing kits, they will not be available to the general public directly, but will be accessible by physicians only for their patients.

The World Health Organization has urged all countries to test every suspected case. “We have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing, isolation and contact tracing, which is the backbone of the response,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

“Helping to provide a critical piece in containing the spread of COVID-19 is something we are very proud of,” stated Connie Liesman, CEO of CPT Medical. “The shortage in testing is something that we are on a mission to impact positively in South Carolina and the US at large. For over fifteen years we have manufactured surgical packs and kits for hospitals and surgery centers and our team is practiced in efficiently producing the highest quality tests for current needs.”   

To order COVID-19 test kits or for more information, healthcare providers can call 866-584-3713 or visit www.cptmed.com.

About CPT Medical:

CPT Medical, Inc., has manufactured surgical custom and standard procedure trays, packs, and kits assembled to fit specific needs and requirements for over 15 years. At CPT, a clinical staff is available to assist with clinical product support and surgical tray review and analysis. They specialize in joint relationships with IDN’s to establish a turnkey in-house surgical pack operation. For more information, please call 866-584-3713 or visit www.cptmed.com.

Media Contact:

Kristina Loughrey

Kristina@klapublicrelations.com 864.360.5848

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Proper Hand Washing

November 7 in Health by admin | No Comments

hands2

Proper hand washing is one of the critical steps we undertake to avoid falling ill and spreading germs to others. Many conditions and diseases can be spread through poor hand hygiene, and therefore it’s essential to wash your hands using clean running water and soap. If running water is inaccessible, you can use the available clean water and soap. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can substitute soap and water if the two are unavailable. It’s important to note that regular soaps are as effective as antibacterial soaps. In any case, prolonged use of the antibacterial soaps might lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to its antimicrobial agents.

How to wash hands properly

Hand washing can be referred to as a DIY (do-it-yourself) vaccine that you can take to stay healthy and keep respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases at bay. Regular hand washing before and after particular activities has proven to be effective to remove and prevent the spread of germs to others. Hand washing is simple and quick and most importantly prevents diseases. Proper hand washing involves five simple steps namely; Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, and Dry.

  • First, you will use clean water running from the tap to wet your hands then apply soap after turning off the tap
  • You will then use soap to lather your hands (front and back, under the nails, in between your fingers) by rubbing them with soap.
  • Scrub your hands carefully for about twenty to thirty seconds.
  • Open the tap to rinse your hands with clean water running from the tap.
  • Use a clean towel to dry your hands or simply air dry them

What to do if Soap and Clean Running Water are Unavailable

Washing your hands with water and soap is the best way to eliminate germs on most occasions. However, if soap and water are not accessible, you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizers as mentioned earlier. Although these sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on your hands, they do not eradicate all types of bacteria and might not eliminate harmful chemicals. Hand sanitizers might not also be as effective when your hands are excessively dirty or greasy.

How to use Hand Sanitizers

Hand sanitizers are usually very simple to use. You should read the label for instructions and the correct amount to use for efficacy. Start by applying the sanitizer to the palm of one hand. You will then rub your hands together and apply it over all surfaces, i.e. in between your fingers and the back of your hands until they’re dry.

When to Wash Your Hands

Physicians recommend that you wash your hands especially after these activities that are mostly associated with dangerous germs that cause diseases;

  • Before eating food
  • After using the toilet
  • After handling pet treats or pet food
  • After cleaning up a child who has used the toilet or changing diapers
  • Before, during, and after preparing food
  • After blowing your nose or sneezing
  • Before and after caring for a sick individual
  • After touching garbage
  • Before and after treating a cut or wound
  • After touching an animal, animal waste, or animal feed

Proper hand washing saves lives. Proper hand hygiene can protect you, your family, and many others whether you’re at work, at home, traveling, or even when you’re already sick. It’s crucial to help your children stay healthy by teaching them to wash their hands properly and frequently. You can show your kids how to do it properly by washing your hands with them. Proper hand washing can simply be put as a win for everyone except for the germs.

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Signs of Diabetes

October 10 in Health by admin | No Comments

Premier-banner-understanding-type2-diabetes

Diabetes is divided into two main categories, type 1 and type 2. They are both chronic diseases that develop when the body is unable to regulate blood sugar, also known as glucose. Individuals diagnosed with diabetes lack the ability to use or store sugar from their food, which is vital for producing energy to live. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, delivers glucose into the bloodstream, resulting in sugar distribution to the muscles, liver, fat, and other cells in the body. Insulin levels control sugar levels by indicating to the organs when the body needs fuel, and when insulin needs to be stored in the liver for future energy use. Almost all cells in the body require the presence of insulin to procure glucose from the blood. Diabetes results in protracted high blood sugar levels, which heighten the risk of complications. Following are recognizable signs of diabetes displayed by the two types of diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Individuals who have type 1 diabetes are unable to produce insulin. The cause for this type of diabetes is still under investigation, however researcher do know that in type 1 diabetic individuals, the body’s immune system is flawed, mistaking healthy body cells for foreign invaders. In responding to the “attack”, the immune system eradicates the beta cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin. The complete lack of insulin production causes diabetic symptoms to rapidly develop, in just a matter of weeks. Symptoms are typically severe and include:

  • Extreme thirst and increased urination
  • Intense hunger, even after eating
  • Headache
  • Unexplained, rapid weight loss
  • Sores or cuts that don’t heal appropriately
  • Weakness and exhaustion
  • Visible emotional or behavior changes
  • Distorted vision
  • Fruity-smelling breath

Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in childhood, or adolescence, and is often referred to as juvenile diabetes. Insulin must be systematically injected, or pumped, into the body to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes cannot yet be prevented, and there is no cure. Healthy living requires consistent blood sugar testing.

Type 2 Diabetes

The signs of type 2 diabetes often develop very gradually, and may not be apparent to the individual. According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately one-third of all people that have this type of diabetes, do not know they have it. With this type of diabetes, insulin is being produced by the individual, but their body is not able to effectively use the insulin produced. Type 1 and 2 diabetes, share many warning signs, but individuals with type 2 diabetes may experience additional symptoms, because of the delay of onset. For example, pre-diabetes, a condition that occurs when glucose levels are higher than normal, may not produce any systems, and can often, only be determined by a blood test. If the pre-diabetes is not addressed by lifestyle or diet changes, it typically develops into type 2 diabetes within a matter of five years, or less. Along with the symptoms listed above for type 1 diabetes, type 2 sufferers may experience:

  • Red, swollen, tender gums
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
  • Dry, itchy skin, particularly around the groin or vaginal area
  • Recent weight increase
  • Numerous yeast infections
  • Darkened skin changes of the groin, armpit, and neck regions
  • Impotency,
  • Decreased vision

A glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test, is the primary method of establishing a diagnosis of diabetes, as it analyzes blood sugar levels for the prior two to three-month period. See your physician if you are experiencing any of the signs of diabetes, or have any concerns.

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What is Colon Cancer?

October 8 in Cancer, Health by admin | No Comments

Colon_Cancer_infograph_3

Colon cancer is the accumulation of cancer cells in the lower part of the large intestine. These tumors typically begin as small benign growths referred to as polyps that turn into malignant tumors over time.

Stages of Colon Cancer

When a patient is diagnosed with colon cancer, they will be diagnosed with a stage of the disease, depending on it advancement. Colon Cancer is broken up into stages Tis to T4b.

  • Tis -In this stage, cancer cells are only found in the top layers on lining in the colon.
  • T1 –At this stage, the cancer cells have begun to spread to the tissue below the lining of the colon.
  • T2 – During stage T2, the cancer cells have developed into the deeper tissue that is involved in pushing along waste during the digestive process.
  • T3 – At T3 the cancer has spread to the connective tissue that connects the colon to other parts of the body, as well as permeating into some of the other surrounding tissues.
  • T4a – At this point the cancer cells have grown throughout all parts of the colon.
  • T4b – At this final stage the cancer cells have spread past the colon into other parts of the body.

What are the Symptoms of Colon Cancer?

Symptoms of colon cancer can come on suddenly or develop gradually over time. Often times symptoms of colon cancer are mistaken for gastrointestinal issues or discomfort. Some symptoms of colon cancer include,

  • Blood in the stool
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Abnormal changes in your bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea that lasts for more than a month
  • Abdominal pain or discomfort
  • Fullness in bowel even after going to the bathroom.

Risks for Colon Cancer

While there is no specific cause for every case of colon cancer there are risks that may make you more likely to develop colon cancer.

History of Polyps

While many times polyps are found and easily removed, repeated development of polyps is linked to an increase in colon cancer.

Low Fiber Diet 

Low fiber and high fat diets have been linked to an increased chance for developing polyps and colon cancer.

Obesity 

Those with a BMI in the obesity level have an increased risk of getting colon cancer as well as an increased risk of suffering more complications from it.

Inflammatory Gastrointestinal Problems

Chronic disease of the gastrointestinal track, including colitis and Crohns disease, can increase the risk of development of colon cancer.

Age

Most colon cancer patients are 50 years of age or older.

Genetics

A family history of colon cancer increases your chance of developing the disease as well. There are also genetically passed conditions that can greatly increase your risk for colon cancer including,

  • Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, otherwise known as lynch syndrome
  • Familial adenomatous polyposis, which leads to an increase of the development of polyps in the colon.

Diagnosing Colon Cancer

Diagnosis of colon cancer is either done through routine screenings that are part of annual physicals or testing when gastrointestinal problems are present. To diagnose colon cancer patients will,

  • Receive blood tests to check for cancer markers
  • Undergo a colonoscopy which involves a camera scope of the patient’s rectum, colon and intestinal track.

Treatment Options

Treatment options for colon cancer are typically determined based on the stage of cancer the patient is in. Treatment options can include,

  • Polyp removal during colonoscopy
  • Partial colectomy
  • Removal of lymph nodes
  • Colon resection
  • Targeted drug therapies
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation treatment

When it comes to treating colon cancer, routine wellness screenings are important as early diagnosis will lead to the best prognosis.

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Types and Causes of Kidney Failure

October 3 in Health, MD GeneticPro by admin | No Comments

dt_160111_kidneys_800x600

Your kidneys are one of the most significant organs in the body. They are a pair of organs located towards your lower back and serve the purpose of filtering your blood to remove toxic and waste substances from the body. The toxic substances can be detrimental to your health if they are not removed out of the body.

What is a kidney failure?

Kidney failure is the condition where both of your kidneys or just one of them cannot serve their function to the required level of performance. This can be brought about by a myriad of factors that may interfere with the health and proper function of your kidney. Some of them include:

  • Kidney trauma
  • Some acute and chronic diseases
  • Toxic exposure to environmental pollutants
  • Severe dehydration

When your system is burdened with toxins and dangerous wastes resulting from a kidney failure, what follows are life threatening conditions that can be dangerous to your health. This is the reason why you should always seek the services of a doctor the moment you realize you have a kidney problem.

What causes kidney failure?

The following factors could predispose you to kidney failure

  • Loss of blood flow to the kidney

Kidney failure is often prompted by a sudden loss of blood flow to the kidneys. Some of the diseases and conditions that may lead to loss of blood flow to the kidneys include:

  • Heart attack
  • Severe burn
  • Dehydration
  • Liver failure
  • Allergic reactions
  • Urine elimination problem

When your body finds it difficult to eliminate urine from the system, there is a consequent build up and overloading of the kidneys. Certain cancers can lead to blockage of urine passageways. Such cancers include prostate cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, and bladder cancer. Other conditions which that can interfere with urination include

  • Trauma on the nerves controlling urination
  • Blood clots within the urinary tract
  • Kidney stones
  • Enlarged prostate

Other causes

Certain diseases and conditions can lead to kidney failure. They include:

  • A clot of blood in the kidney
  • Drug and alcohol
  • Dyes used in certain imaging tests
  • Chemotherapy drugs (medications that treat autoimmune diseases and cancer)
  • Overload of toxins from heavy metals
  • Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. (A disorder that causes blood clot in tiny vessels)

Types of kidney failure

Below are the types of kidney failure

Acute Prerenal kidney failure

Without enough flow of blood into the kidneys, the kidneys find it difficult to filter out the toxic wastes hence the occurrence of acute perennial kidney failure. This problem is usually solved once the problem leading to the low supply of blood has been determined.

Acute intrinsic kidney failure

Direct trauma causes this kind of kidney failure to either one of the kidneys or both of them. An accident or physical impact can lead to the trauma. Its causes are ischemia and toxic overload making it difficult for the kidney to perform its function in the right manner. Ischemia may be caused by

  • Obstruction of renal blood vessel
  • Shock
  • Severe bleeding
  • Glomerulonephritis

Chronic Prerenal kidney failure

This is the condition where the kidney begins to shrink thus losing its function. The primary cause of this is insufficient blood flowing into the kidneys.

Chronic intrinsic kidney failure

This usually occurs when there is a long-term damage to the kidneys as a result of intrinsic kidney diseases. Direct trauma causes these intrinsic kidney diseases to the kidneys like severe bleeding or insufficient oxygen.

Chronic post renal kidney failure

This is caused by a long-term blockage of the urinary tract thus hindering urination. The consequent is pressure which in turn cause kidney failure.

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Think Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 1 in Cancer, Health by admin | No Comments

The Pink Ribbon

Conquering Cancer

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is between October 1st and 31st this year. This tragic condition affects approximately 1 in 8 women throughout their lives. That’s 12.5 percent of the total population, according to those numbers. If the world has a population of seven billion, that means a whopping 875,000,000 women will eventually encounter breast cancer at some point in their lives.

Now, the funny thing about statistics is that they’re prospective, not necessarily representative. While they can be used to identify a trend, and help prevent against that trend, they aren’t ironclad numbers representing the history of that trend’s ultimate impact. For example, statistically, it may be unlikely for a person to make a living as, say, an entertainer. Artists who paint, act, tell jokes, or make music represent a minority of the population; though they do ultimately have a big impact. But just because it’s statistically unlikely to be a successful artist doesn’t mean you can’t be a successful artist. It just means getting there is more difficult.

Likewise, with breast cancer, just because statistically 1 in 8 women come down with this condition over the course of their lifetime doesn’t mean that out of eight women you know, one of them will find a malignancy in her breast. According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that 2017 will see 252,710 invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed in women (because, though a minority of the population, men can also get breast cancer), and it’s predicted that 40,610 will die from this condition. You’ll notice that this represents a fraction of the 12.5% supposed by the earlier statistic. Though it is still a debilitating condition, in some countries it is being successfully contended with.

That said, these numbers also don’t take into account the many women who get breast cancer but go without diagnosis until it is too late, and they’re already terminal.

Surprising Causes

What is known is that there are certain causes for breast cancer which are often ignored by mainstream media outlets for reasons of economy. For example, certain compounds in beauty products are often toxic. Have you ever used deodorant and found yourself breaking out where you applied it? This is because the deodorant blocks your pores. Now according to the ACA

, only a few studies have ever indicated a correlation between antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer; but there have been studies that have found a link.

It’s just possible that part of breast cancer’s cause stems from social norms which are unhealthy. Without raising awareness for this reality, the scourge of preventable cancer will not be lessened. But that scourge is lessening, and part of that has to do with the pink ribbon army sweeping our nation.

Get Your Pink Ribbon

You’ve seen the ribbons on license plates, bicycles, instrument cases, bumpers, back windows, bulletin boards and more. The pink ribbon represents breast cancer, and raising awareness for the condition. This coming October, you may feel compelled to do your part to combat breast cancer. Some suggestions involve:

  • Buying And Decorating Visibly With Pink Ribbons
  • Raising Awareness On Social Media
  • Doing Your Own Research To Better Understand The Condition
  • Reaching Out To Friends And Loved Ones Living With This Cancer
  • Helping To Educate Women On Possibly Dangerous Activities

The best way to fight cancer is with proper diet, proper exercise, healthy supplementation, and the avoidance of known unhealthy activities. Don’t spend too much time in the sun, don’t use substances which are known to be toxic, and avoid questionable beauty products. The more aware people are, the better this cancer can be fought.

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