Featuring Dr. Andrew J. Shapiro, MD, FACS of Advanced Physical Physicians

One in eight American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and this year, an estimated 310,720 women will be diagnosed with the disease. That being the case, it’s a safe assumption that everyone knows someone who has been personally affected by breast cancer.

Andrew J. Shapiro, MD, FACS of Advanced Surgical Physicians is the Medical Director of the Advanced Breast Center at Wellington Regional Medical Center which hosts a free breast cancer support group. The support group is open to anyone who has walked through a breast cancer diagnosis or supported a loved one on their journey, regardless of when or where they received care.

Hosted by Sheila Palacios, MSN-Ed, RN, OCN. Oncology Nurse Navigator, the group meets on the third Sunday of every month between 2:00pm-4:00pm in the Wellington Regional Medical Center Community Room.

Dr. Shapiro strongly advocates for regular mammograms every year starting at age 40 and regular breast self-exams.

“Home self-exams can help you maintain good breast health and be mindful of any changes so you can discuss them with your doctor,” Dr. Shapiro said.

Self-exams should be done on a monthly basis on a day that is easy to remember, like the first of the month. Keeping a record of your findings in a journal or on your phone is a good way to track changes.

“A self-exam only takes a few minutes and you can do it when you’re getting dressed for the day, lying in bed or taking a shower,” Dr. Shapiro said.

In order to perform a self-exam, stand in front of a mirror with your arms at your side and visually inspect for any changes like dimpling of skin, swelling or changes in shape or skin color. Then, put your hands on your hips to flex your chest muscles and observe the same.

Use your right hand to examine your left breast and vice-versa.

With the pads of your three middle fingers, start with applying light pressure, then medium pressure and finally firm pressure to check for any lumps, thick spots or changes. Use a circular motion when checking and be sure to check both the flesh nearest your armpit and your areola.

“Lumps in breast tissue are normal and shouldn’t be a reason to panic,” Dr. Shapiro said. “Some people have more dense breast tissue than others. Mammograms are the best detection tool but a home self-exam is a good way of recognizing what is normal for you.”

That being the case, you should consider making an appointment if you experience the following:

Inverted nipples or nipples that stop sticking out.
Redness, soreness, a rash or swelling.
Dimpling or puckering of the skin.
Irregular discharge from nipples.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to connect with Advanced Surgical Physicians by calling (561) 333-1335 or via their website: https://www.toplinemd.com/advanced-surgical-physicians/

A person’s home is their castle, their kingdom, a sanctuary.

Whether it’s a place where they planted roots and raised a family or a place they moved to in the second stage of their life to find peace and contentment, the concept of home should evoke a sense of serenity, calm and well-being.

However, as we age, our home may become more than we can handle and we might need to make the difficult decision to move into an environment better suited to our comfort, health and safety.

Wellington Bay not only provides a luxurious living environment for retirees seeking independent living but also offers expert assisted living and memory care services through their on-site memory care facility, Lisbet Health Center.

“Making the transition into Assisted Living or Memory Care can be a very stressful decision for individuals and their loved ones,” said Jay Mikosch, Campus Executive Director at Wellington Bay. “Once safety and activities of daily living are compromised, it is necessary to find options to ensure basic needs are being met. It’s important to remember that assisted living and memory care facilities are designed to prioritize autonomy, safety and care.”

The decision for a loved one to move into assisted living can be a difficult one with many factors to consider but feeling supported and heard during this transitional period as well as being equipped with knowledge can help make the transition easier.

In honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Jay is sharing some information about signs to look out for when considering the decision to move into a residential assisted living community.

Maintaining physical safety is one of the biggest indicators.

As we get older, we lose both muscle mass and strength and the lenses in our eyes become less flexible, leading to worsening vision. This can increase the likelihood of falls and other accidents – a frightening prospect for both seniors and the people who love them.

Each resident at Wellington Bay is given a wearable devices upon check-in which alerts staff in case of an emergency and ensures they will receive the medical care they need.

“Currently, all staff and almost all residents wear the NxtGen Care Resident M Factor Tech,” said Selina Huong Tran, R.N, Administrator of Lisbet Health Center at Wellington Bay. “We can locate all residents and staff in the building at all times and this system improves response times to resident calls as well as it documents how long we take to respond to any given call.”

The ability to locate residents is crucial, especially if they experience issues like memory loss or other cognitive difficulties which could indicate a neurological condition like Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 60% of people with Alzheimer’s wander at least once and many do so repeatedly which can be dangerous at best and life-threatening at worst. Alzheimer’s patients may attempt to “go home” despite being at home, forget how to get to familiar places, get lost and wander into traffic.

“At Lisbet Memory Care, we offer specialized services for people with Alzheimer’s. We have a staff trained to work with people with cognitive impairments and our facility is a secure environment, equipped with secured doors, alarms and enclosed outdoor areas,” Jay said. “We offer structured routines such as scheduled meals and activities which are designed to promote cognitive stimulation as well as social interaction and we make sure we personalize every single care plan to the individual.”

As we get older, our medical needs also increase. We might start taking medication more often and might need more intensive medical care.

Care is viewed through a holistic lens with assisted living communities like Wellington Bay offering three balanced meals daily, ensuring proper hydration and offering life engagement activities to keep residents cognitively and physically engaged.

They also offer medication management implemented by a licensed professional. This includes not only administering medications but also watching for side effects and coordinating with pharmacies to ensure refills are received in a timely manner. They also offer preventative health monitoring services like regular blood pressure, temperature and oxygen saturation checks as well as blood sugar monitoring and cholesterol screenings for those who might need the additional medical support.

“Forgetting to take medication can have serious consequences,” Jay said. “The more doses you miss, the greater the chance of developing life-threatening health complications. Having a trained staff member meticulously monitor medication relieves stress for both the resident and their loved ones.”

There are many factors to consider when moving into an assisted living facility – health, safety, socialization and personalized care by a trained professional – and finding the right fit between community and person takes dedicated research and time.

“Take a tour of the community to get a feel for what it’s really like,” Jay said. “People should also review online reviews and social media posts in order to make the most informed decision.”

However, the effort put in is worth it as you know that your loved one will receive the attention and care they need to improve their quality of life as they grow older.