Brooke Burke announces she has thyroid cancer

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Dr. Yael Varnado

Brooke Burke recently announced she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer and will be undergoing surgery. First, I would like to say that I wish Brooke all the best as she undergoes surgery and recovery from her procedure and cancer treatment. I applaud Brooke for opening up about her diagnosis. The glimpse into her private life and personal journey with thyroid cancer serves as a teachable moment. It helps educate others about the importance of listening to your body, and your doctor!

I am saddened by the barrage of folks who insinuated that Brooke is vain for commenting on the scar she’ll have. Frankly Brooke is a beautiful woman who lives and works in an industry where appearance matters. Brooke isn’t vain, she’s like any other woman who wants to take care of her body and look her best. Scars are a constant reminder of what we have been through in life. Even when I get a mosquito bite I pray it doesn’t leave a scar. I guess I’m vain too. Tips for surgical scars: take care of the incision site and follow your doctor’s care. When the incision has healed consider using cocoa butter, silicone or arnica to help it fade.

Since her public announcement many folks have emailed and asked me, “What is thyroid cancer?” Here are a few facts:

Thyroid cancer is cancer of the small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck around the Adam’s apple called the thyroid. It’s not one of the most common cancers but it has increased in incidence through the years. The American Cancer Society reports in the U.S. in 2012 there will be about 56,000 new cases of thyroid cancer and about 43,000 of those diagnosed will be women. Ladies before you get worried 80%-90% of the cases of thyroid cancer are 100% successfully treated!

Most thyroid nodules are not cancer. Actually only about 1 in 20 thyroid nodules is cancerous. Most people who have thyroid cancer don’t even know they have it; a doctor frequently finds it during a routine physical exam. As in Brooke’s case, and similar to many other people, she had a nodule or a lump that she felt in her neck. And the nodule isn’t usually painful. We have all seen pictures of a person with a huge lump in their neck called a goiter. Even a grapefruit sized lump doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer. But what a goiter or even a thyroid cancer can cause is changes in your voice like hoarseness; difficulty swallowing or breathing; lymph nodes that are constantly swollen; or pain in the throat or neck. If you have any of those symptoms get checked-out by a doctor. Your doctor may then recommend you go for further evaluation that may include an ultrasound, blood tests or a consultation with a specialist.

The majority of thyroid cancers are called papillary and follicular. If found early these are usually 100% treatable with partial or full removal of the thyroid gland called a thyroidectomy. This is the type of surgery that Brooke will have. There are other types of thyroid cancer, some that have genetic associations, and others that are more aggressive. Therefore, some people need surgery and other treatments including radioactive iodine, chemotherapy and radiation.

Once treated for thyroid cancer surgically or by radiation it is necessary to replace the body’s thyroid hormone with medication. Therefore it is important to have regular follow-ups with a doctor and monitor thyroid hormone levels including TSH, T4, and Thyroglobulin.

I commend Brooke for coming forward and sharing her story. She stated she ignored her own doctor’s recommendation to get a thyroid ultrasound after she found a lump in her neck, saying she “felt great, and didn’t feel sick.” It wasn’t until a friend shared her own story with thyroid cancer that Brooke went for follow-up. Ladies, be an advocate for yourself and your friends … Brooke we wish you a speedy recovery!

Do you know what your sugar is .. blood sugar that is

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Dr. Yael Varnado

Diabetes, it’s commonly known as “the suga” but is anything but sweet. Almost 26 million Americans have Diabetes and 7 million don’t even know they have it. Even scarier 79 million Americans are pre-diabetic, meaning they are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Testing for diabetes is especially important because early in the disease diabetes may have no symptoms.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, so get your blood glucose level tested! Early testing helps health care providers not only find and treat diabetes before complications occur but also finds and treats prediabetes – which can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from developing. The bests test for diagnosis and control of diabetes are the blood glucose test, and the Hemoglobin A1C blood test. If you have diabetes keep your blood glucose controlled because, if blood glucose levels go uncontrolled, it can lead to complications that affect every part of the body from the brain to the toes. So stay healthy and keep your sugar in check!

Did you know?

Exercise can actually increase your blood sugar? Check your sugar 30min before and immediately after workouts.

Drinking alcohol even 2oz can cause dangerously low blood glucose levels in a diabetic person.

High glucose levels can prevent you from “getting it up” in the bedroom.

Obesity is the #1 risk factor for diabetes.

79 million people in the US have prediabetes and are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

Having a family member with Type 2 diabetes increases YOUR risk of diabetes.

Infected gums can lead to bacteria in the bloodstream and can damage your heart. Visit your dentist every 6 months.

Numbers don’t lie (although you may tell your doctor differently) HgbA1c levels reflect blood glucose control over the past 3 months. If you have diabetes aim to keep your HbgA1c < 7.

Live Right at Night

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Dr. Yael Varnado

There are a lot of “night time” activities and stressors that affect your life. Simply getting on a soap box and telling you to stop smoking, “hooking up” on the weekends with people, or drinking energy drinks to get through your long nights is not what you need to hear to help you live healthy.

The medical community talks a lot about ways to keep you healthy in your middle and later years, but what about how to stay healthy while in your 20s-30s? It’s time we focus on YOU. That’s why I created the Live Right At Night campaign. It’s designed to give you real information on real issues that affect you! The Live Right At Night campaign delivers non-biased, NON JUDGMENTAL information allowing you to make your own determination of how to live your life the happiest and healthiest.

You’re on the go and have a busy life. I want to ensure happy and healthy living is easy and accessible for you. Follow the #LiveRightAtNight Twitter campaign and enjoy tools at your fingertips that will help you Live Right At Night tonight and every night.

Wishing you great health,

Dr. V

Should I get a Flu shot?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Dr. Yael Varnado

Hi Dr. V,

My job is offering free flu shots and I’m not sure I should get one. My boyfriend never gets one and says I shouldn’t either because it will give me the flu. What do you think?

Sarah

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for your question. It’s ultimately your decision whether you should get the flu shot or not, but let me give you the facts to help your decision. The flu shot is a vaccination made from samples of the flu virus that are NOT alive (killed), therefore you cannot get the flu from the flushot. There is also a nasal spray for the flu vaccination. The nasal spray is made from samples of the virus that are ALIVE, but weaker than the regular flu. This means that the nasal spray cannot give a healthy person the flu. Getting a flu shot is not just to protect YOU but also your LOVED ones from getting sick. Every year more than 60 million people get the flu, and some people will die from the flu. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone who is 6months and older may be able to get a flu shot. It is especially important to get a flu shot if you have loved ones in your household who:

are young children or elderly
have medical problems
are immunocompromised (their immune system doesn’t function as well or as strong as it should)
are a health-care provider
live in close quarters with other people e.g.. like a college student

Side effects of the flu shot usually occur 1-2 days after you get the vaccination, and include soreness, redness or pain at the injection site, low grade fever, and body aches. Side effects of the nasal spray vaccine include a runny nose, headache, cough, nausea and vomiting, fever, and muscle aches. I got my flu shot a few weeks ago and didn’t have any side effects or flu symptoms, but everyone is different. Talk to your doctor TODAY to see if you should get the flu shot because flu season is here! For more information visit: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/.