Rapper Lil Wayne was recently admitted again to the hospital with seizures. Back in March he was hospitalized for 6 days and at one point he was gravely ill and intubated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Lil Wayne has made it public that he has suffered from seizures since childhood and has epilepsy. I commend him for coming out and sharing such a personal issue. He and about 2.2 million people in the US have epilepsy as a result of a number of causes. Sadly in 7 out of 10 people there is no identifiable cause.  Among the rest, the cause of epilepsy could be anything ranging from head trauma, to a brain tumor, lead poisoning or even infections of the brain called meningitis. For many epileptics stress, failure to take their medication, alterations in sleep and hormone levels can cause seizures where they once may have been well controlled. Wishing Lil Wayne a speedy recovery and some well-deserved rest and relaxation in order to get his epilepsy under control and get back to feeling 100%.

Do you know someone in your life that has epilepsy? Here’s a few tips to keep someone you know and love healthy who suffers from seizures:

1)  New onset seizures in an adult are never normal. If you are an adult and don’t have epilepsy and now you are having seizures see a doctor immediately.

2)   Sometimes a very high fever can cause a child to have a seizure. This does not mean he/she has epilepsy or will have seizures for the rest of his/her life.

3)   DO NOT DRIVE if you have epilepsy, which is not well controlled. You could have a seizure while driving and harm yourself or someone else.

4)   Don’t put a stick in someone’s mouth that has epilepsy – that’s an old wives’ tale. To prevent someone from hurting him or herself who is having a seizure lower him/her to the ground and turn him/her on his/her side. Turning him/her on their side helps to keep his/her mouth (also known as airway) open and drains any saliva.

5)   You can’t stop a seizure once it starts. But it’s important to clear the area of any items that could cause harm, and also record how long the seizure lasts. Let the person seize and monitor them to ensure they are safe.

6)   Not all seizures are grand mal – “drop to the floor and lose consciousness seizures” some seizures can be as simple as someone staring off and becoming disconnected for a moment – called an Absence seizure. Regardless of the kind of seizure make sure you see and are followed by a neurologist.

7)   Stay away from drugs and alcohol- these medications can interact with your anti-seizure medication and increase the chances you will have another seizure.

8)   If someone has a seizure keep calm so you can help him or her. Having a seizure can be a frightening and an emotional experience. If the person assisting remains calm, the person having the seizure will be reassured when he or she regains consciousness.

9)   If seizures become more frequent, or last longer than a minute see a doctor.

10)  If someone has a seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes or back to back seizures call 911 immediately and get help.

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!

Most of us have lost someone important to us in our lives. Death is inevitable; however, no parent ever expects to lay his or her child to rest.