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Talia's Story Update 
Five years ago on Valentine’s Day doctors diagnosed Talia Castellano with a form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. Talia recalls, “You don’t think like oh my God I’m going to die. It’s more like, I’m going lose my hair, I’m going be skinny, I’m going to not be able to eat….I’m going to be in the hospital. I can’t go to school. I can’t see my friends. “ Unfortunately, cancer has been a cruel component of this vivacious little girl’s childhood ever since that fateful day. She’s relapsed three times since February 14, 2007. While most children are busy with school and playing with their friends, Talia’s life consists of hospital stays, chemotherapy, surgeries and countless blood and platelet transfusions. Talia got to personally thank the donors that literally gave her the gift of life during a multi-gallon donor appreciation event in 2010. At the time she was in remission and she’s relapsed twice since then. Talia is now a part of a clinical trial in which she takes a time-released chemotherapy capsule every three weeks. Each time she gets treatment she needs platelets from donors. “It’s really, really incredible to think about your life depending on someone just going and donating blood. It’s scary in a way and thankful, you just feel mixed emotions when you really do think about that and how it’s really up to you on whether or not you want to go and donate blood.” Talia’s not letting cancer get her down. She’s become an internet sensation and more than one million people across the globe have seen her online. Talia began uploading YouTube makeup tutorials and they’ve turned into videos of hope and inspiration. She said, “That’s what I wanted to do was to make other young girls and adults, anyone feel beautiful by using make-up and that’s my slogan that I use- makeup is my wig because I don’t like wigs, they’re so….I don’t know, when I have on a wig I feel so, not fake, but just not me and so when I put on my makeup I feel like I can embrace those features that I really like about myself and if someone’s looking at me they’re looking at my makeup not looking at my bald head.” Talia even teamed up with MAC Cosmetics and BASE Camp to host the “Glam Wars”, a day of beauty make-overs for seven young girls battling cancer. “What I felt lying in bed that night was…I don’t know…passionate, grateful and accomplished. I felt good. I felt good to know that I made seven other young girls going through what I was going through feel amazing.” Talia still has two spots on her lungs. Her mother, Desiree Castellano says, “The spots are getting smaller and that’s a good thing. Whether or not, they’ll always be there? We don’t know…it’s a quality of life and the chemo that she’s having is working and it’s a great quality of life, so that’s what we want and we’re just going to hope for the best.” Medical Minute May 17, 2012 
If you wake up with a cup of joe you may be doing more than
getting an energy rush….raising HDL cholesterol levels may not
lower your risk of heart attack ….and more teens are choosing not
to light up.
A cup of coffee a day may keep diseases at bay. A new study of
nearly half a million people finds coffee drinkers has a 10% lower
risk of death from heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke,
accidents and injuries, diabetes and infections than non-coffee
drinkers. However, the risk of cancer remained the same.
Raising HDL or “good cholesterol” levels may not be doing much
when it comes to lowering risk of heart attack. That’s according to
a study from Harvard Medical School. Researchers say they found no
evidence that higher HDL levels reduce the risk of attack, but
lower your LDL, or bad cholesterol levels has significant impact on
heart attack risk. A good way to learn your total cholesterol level
is to donate blood.
A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration shows that the number of teens who smoke is
steadily declining. Researchers believe anti-smoking campaigns, tax
increases, higher cigarette prices and new smoking laws have led to
the decline. However, smoking remains the number one cause of
preventable death in the United States.
Cardiovascular Benefits of Donating Blood 
Did you know that you can reduce your risk of heart disease and save a life at the same time? That’s right! According to studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, blood donors are 88% less likely to suffer a heart attack and 33% less likely to suffer any type of cardiovascular event. Why is that? Well, researchers aren’t 100% sure, but believe it may be due to either one of two things. The first theory is that blood donors must be considered “healthy” before they roll up their sleeve, so they are less likely to suffer heart disease because they are already in good health and probably have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels that non-blood donors. The second theory is that iron has a significant impact on atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. When you give blood you are removing 225 to 250 milligrams of iron from your system, thus cutting your risk of heart disease. Pre-menopausal women tend to have half of the amount of iron as men because they lose iron every month through menstruation. Coincidentally, they also suffer half as many heart attacks. However, once a woman goes through menopause her risk of heart attack increases, but donating blood can reduce that risk. In addition to depleting iron levels, when you donate blood we give you a free mini-physical and let you know your blood pressure as well as you cholesterol levels-two major risk factors when it comes to heart disease. While scientists are researching why donating blood reduces the risk of heart attack, one thing is clear-donating blood has many benefits to the donor as well as the recipient. So, if you want to pick up a healthy habit, head over to your local blood center and give the gift of life. Medical Minute May 9, 2012 
Simulating human blood is paving the way for personalized medicine….living too close to a highway may increase death risk for heart attack survivors and if you drive more than 15 miles to work you may be more likely to become obese. A team of biomedical engineers and hematologists at the University of Pennsylvania created a program that simulates patient-specific blood function. Their work, which was published in the journal Blood, shows how clots form in different patients. Clots normally prevent bleeding, but they can also cause heart attacks when they form in plaque-laden coronary arteries. Because platelets differ from person to person this development will help determine which drugs will be the most effective for different individuals. According to a new study published in the journal Circulation, heart attack survivors living less than 100 meters from a roadway have a 27 percent higher risk of dying within ten years than their counterparts who live at least 1,000 meters from the street. Researchers believe exposure to ambient fine particle matter, air pollution and even noise from traffic could be to blame. And a recent study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found people who commute more than 15 miles to work were more likely to be obese and carry fat around the middle, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Though the study can’t prove that commuting directly causes obesity, researchers say sitting for long periods of time, whether it be in a car, in front of a computer or on a couch can be dangerous for your health. Heart Attack Warning Signs 
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women, but they often have different symptoms. We’ve all seen those scenes in the movies and on television where a man will clutch his chest and fall to the ground because he’s having a heart attack. Well, real life isn’t always like the movies. Yes, sometimes a heart attack is sudden and intense, but many heart attacks begin slowly with mild pain or discomfort. In fact, many people don’t realize they’re having a heart attack and often wait too long before getting help. Signs to watch out for include: · Chest Discomfort · Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such as in the arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. · Shortness of Breath · Cold Sweat · Nausea · Lightheadedness
While these symptoms can apply to both men and women, women can experience a heart attack without chest pressure. Instead, they may experience shortness of breath, pressure or pain in the lower chest or abdomen, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, upper back pressure or extreme fatigue. In fact, many women chalk up their symptoms to conditions such as acid reflux, the flu or normal aging. If these symptoms do not go away in five minute, call 9-11 immediately for emergency medical transport to a hospital. Do not drive yourself. Thousands of American die each year because they did not seek medical attention in time. Knowing your numbers, exercising and eating healthy can greatly reduce your risk of a heart attack. It’s really important to call 9-11 immediately if you think you are suffering a heart attack. Florida’s Blood Centers, Orlando Health and the American Heart Association have joined forces to reduce the number of deaths caused by heart disease. Know Your Numbers 
Do you know your numbers? Florida’s Blood Centers, Orlando Health and the American Heart Association have joined forces for the Go Red For Women initiative. The three entities want women to know their blood pressure, cholesterol levels and triglycerides as well as they know their dress size. Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance produced by the liver. Too much cholesterol can block arteries and cause them to deliver less blood to your body which leads to heart damage and even failure. Cutting your cholesterol intake to 300mg per day can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, a healthy total cholesterol is less than 200mg per deciliter of blood. Blood pressure is the single most significant risk factor for heart disease. High blood pressure means the blood running through your arteries flows with too much force and puts pressure on your arteries, stretching them past their healthy limit and causing microscopic tears. The American Heart Association recommends a blood pressure reading of 120/80 or below. Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fats exist in food as well as in the body. The calories you eat that are not immediately used by tissues are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. Excess triglycerides can lead to cardiovascular disease and that’s why the American Heart Association recommends triglycerides be less than 150 mg per deciliter of blood. Finding out your numbers can be as simple as donating blood. Each time you roll up your sleeve we give you a free mini-physical that measures blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You can access your risk of heart disease by taking these numbers and plugging them into the American Heart Association’s Heart Attack Risk Assessment Tool. The American Heart Association will assess your risk and give you a print out that you can take to your doctor to discuss the results and map out a heart attack prevention plan. Knowing your numbers like you know your dress size all begins with giving the gift of life. Community Cares for Joey Yannucci 
The photos from the March 26, 2012 school bus accident in Saint Lucie County are horrific. The crash killed on student and critically injured five others from Frances K. Sweet Elementary School. Fifth grader Joey Yannucci was among those injured. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and spent weeks in a coma. Blood from donors helped him sustain life. Joey’s grandmother says she is grateful to those that donated the blood her grandson received and she was among the first to roll up her sleeve at the Joey Yannucci fundraiser and blood drive hosted by the Van Duzer Foundation. Hundreds of Saint Lucie County residents gathered at Big Apple Pizza to show their support for the Yannucci family. Many of Joey’s friends, classmates and family members wore “Team Joey” t-shirts and waited more than two hours to purchase food and have the proceeds go to the Yannucci’s. Frances K. Sweet Principal Juanita Wright described Joey as a shining star. She said he is the student body council president, head of the safety patrol and an honor student. Like more than 100 others, Wright climbed on the Big Red Bus and gave the gift of life in honor of Joey. Many blood donors didn’t know Joey or his family, but say the accident touched the entire community. Together Florida’s Blood Centers and the Van Duzer Foundation helped raise more than $17,000 for the Yannucci’s and helped save more than 370 lives in honor of Joey. Medical Minute April 18, 2012 
Skin Cancer is on the rise in young adults and feeding tubes are being used to help people lose weight. According to the Mayo Clinic the rate of melanoma among men quadrupled over the past 40 years and increased eightfold among women. Why is that? Well, dermatologists say indoor tanning and failing to protect children again sunburns may be to blame. Researchers say people who use indoor tanning beds are 74 percent more likely to get melanoma than non-indoor tanners. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and is expected to kill nearly ten thousand Americans this year alone. Doctors recommend limiting sun exposure, use sunscreen and check for moles using the ABCDE method: asymmetry, a border that’s blurred or irregular, colors that are varied within the same mole, a diameter that’s more than a pencil eraser and elevation or evolution- signs that a mole is raised or changing shape. Feeding tubes are nutritional lifelines for patients who cannot swallow, but now some women are turning to these medical devices to shed pounds quickly. The only nourishment a patient receives is K-E diet powder…an infusion of proteins and fats, with no carbohydrates…mixed with water. The patient only takes in 800 calories a day, but the infusion is constant and curbs hunger. Most people lose about two pounds per day for a total of 20 pounds over a 10 day treatment period. Not everyone thinks this is a good idea. Dieticians say getting only 800 calories a day is low for anyone, but getting them from lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats is very different than getting them from a feeding tube. Medical Minute April 12, 2012 
Getting frequent dental x-rays may cause brain tumors… out of whack sleeping habits can lead to diabetes… and obese mothers may be more likely to give birth to autistic children. According to the study found in the journal Cancer, exposure to ionizing radiation, the kind that’s found in x-rays, is the largest known environmental risk factor for the most frequently diagnosed brain tumors in America. While researchers say these findings should not keep people from visiting the dentist, they may want to have dental x-rays every two to three years, which is the recommended amount for healthy adults. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have found that fighting the body’s natural sleep patterns can increase the risk of type-two diabetes. The researchers found within a few days of disrupted sleep, glucose levels become very high because of decreased insulin released in the pancreas. The good news is that the symptoms disappeared in their study participants within about a week and a half of normal sleeping and eating patterns. A new study published in the journal Pediatrics finds obese women are more likely to give birth to an autistic child. In fact, researchers found the risk of autism increased by 70 percent when mothers were obese during their pregnancies and the risk of having a baby with some form of neurodevelopmental disorder doubled. Principal Doug Loftus 
Colonial High School Principal Doug Loftus takes great pride in his school and in his students. He especially enjoys seeing them give back to the community in the form of blood donation. Blood donation is personal for Principal Loftus because he is a blood recipient. Doctors diagnosed Loftus with a brain tumor in 2008. Though it was benign, the tumor had to be removed and he required several blood transfusions during the operation. Loftus says, “My neurosurgeon said that he had the easy part and I thought how did he have the easy part? He’s the one going into my brain and digging out my tumor and I finally realized that he was correct. The hard part was on my end and the recovery was very, very time consuming. I was always fatigued, always tired, always sleeping because of the trauma of my brain.” Loftus was tough. He went through a grueling recovery process and is back at school. He says he feels a lot better today and credits blood donors for giving him the gift of life. |
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