Giving Thanks!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but why wait! I want to send a big thank you to Debbie Jackson, my hardworking co-chair for local enrollment for the American Cancer Society’s CPS-3 study, and to all of the CPS-3 Champions who helped get 423 people enrolled in this amazing cancer prevention study. Our enrollment sites – Memorial Health System of East Texas, Power of Pink!, Lufkin Industries, First Assembly, and the C. L. Simon Recreation Center in Nacogdoches – were fantastic.

Thank you to Becca Chance (along with her powerhouse committee), whose leadership and grace under pressure – and under thunder and lightning! – resulted in another successful Cattle Barons Gala. Thank you to Yana Ogletree and Lindsey Mott with Memorial Health System of East Texas, who hosted an amazing 21^st annual Power of Pink! luncheon. Since 1990, breast cancer deaths in the U.S. have decreased by 27%. Much of that is due to education about mammograms and the importance of screening and early detection.

Today is Election Day. I’m thankful for the right to vote! The most important issue on the ballot today is a constitutional amendment on funding the state's water plan. Voter turnout is expected to be light — below 10 percent of all registered voters — because we just don’t get too excited when actual people aren’t on the ballot. But you need to go vote for Proposition 6. The proposed amendment would authorize the Legislature to withdraw $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to begin funding the state’s 50-year water plan. The benefits from a long range planning and economic prosperity standpoint far outweigh and possible downside. And frankly, I think it is poetically appropriate to use a rainy day fund for water planning anyway. Be thankful you can vote, and vote YES on Prop 6.

Thursday is Salute to Healthcare, the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce’s awards banquet to recognize and thank outstanding leaders throughout the healthcare sector for making Lufkin and Angelina County a better place to live and work. As a physician, I have considered it my highest honor to serve as Chairman of the Chamber board this year. The healthcare sector is now one-fifth of our local economy and drives more jobs and more shopping, retail, and dining dollars than any other industry. Our community can show their support for the healthcare sector not only by coming to the banquet Thursday night, but also by “voting with your feet” when you choose where to go for healthcare. The reimbursement changes that are being implemented at a national level could easily kill what we have here locally if you don’t make the conscious decision to stay here for your healthcare needs. Like anything else, if you don’t use it, you lose it. I applaud the Chamber for starting this event several years ago and for thanking our physicians, nurses, and so many others who help care for us.

Finally, as a cancer doctor, I deal daily with the highs and lows of cancer – celebration and victory for many, but bad news and eventual death for others. I’m thankful I can “be there” for my patients, walking alongside them, no matter which path they are on. You can, too. Comfort is one of my favorite words. Its Latin roots paint a picture of coming along side with strength. Each of us needs to be a source of strength during the holiday season for those around us who are hurting, needy, and hungry. Join in helping others with Community Food Drive, Angel Tree, or other efforts with your church or in the community. And be thankful!

Your Role in Cancer Prevention

Cancer. Got your attention now? I live and breathe cancer. It's my job. Who knows, I may die with cancer. But my odds are improved because of some choices that I make. First of all, I do not smoke. Ninety eight percent of the patients I see with lung cancer either smoke or have smoked, and lung cancer remains the most preventable cause of cancer death. I try not to get too much sun exposure. That's not easy living in Texas (and driving a convertible). I also exercise regularly and strive to maintain a healthy weight. Finally, once I turned 50, I had my first screening colonoscopy in case there were any polyps that needed to be removed. Removal of polyps can prevent colorectal cancer. My wife, for her part, has regular mammograms (to detect breast cancer early when it is highly curable) and Pap smears (again, to detect changes that could lead to cervical cancer).

Of course, that does not guarantee that I won't get cancer. But the good news is that we cure two-thirds of cancers today. That's right... cure. Most people mistakenly think of cancer as a death sentence. Of course, if you get lung cancer, your chance of cure may only be about 15%. Terrible. Especially since it is almost always preventable. But if you detect breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer early - some of our most common cancers - cure rates run 80-90% or greater. Fantastic!

What are you doing to improve your cancer risk? Do you smoke? Quit! Are you overweight and inactive? Diet and exercise! Are you getting your mammograms, Pap smears, screening colonoscopies, checking your skin for irregular or changing moles? Take charge of the risks that you can.

It is not enough to cure cancer or just diagnose cancer earlier. We want to prevent cancer altogether. What can YOU do to help us win this fight?

Participate in CPS3 - Cancer Prevention Study 3! The American Cancer Society has undertaken a huge, nationwide, multiyear study to better understand the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. If you are between the ages of 30 and 65 years old and have never been diagnosed with cancer, you are eligible to enroll.

Participating is easy and involves the following:

1. Read and sign an informed consent form.

2. Complete a survey packet which will ask for detailed information on lifestyle, behavioral, and other factors related to your health.

3. Be measured for waist circumference.

4. Give a small blood sample (similar to a doctor’s visit). The blood sample is drawn by a trained, certified phlebotomist.

5. Completing a mailed survey every few years over the next 20-30 years

All personal information and any individual results of blood analyses that may be performed will be kept strictly confidential by CPS-3 research staff. There will be no cost to you to participate.

Enrollment will be available at the following locations, your choice:

Tuesday, October 15th (7:30am–11:00am) - Memorial Health System of East Texas, Lufkin

Tuesday, October 15th (4:00pm–7:30pm) - C. L. Simon Recreational Center, Nacogdoches

Thursday, October 17th (1:30pm–5:00pm) - After Power of Pink! at Lufkin Convention Center

Saturday, October 19th (9:00am–12:30pm) - Lufkin Industries

Sunday, October 20th (9:30am–1:00pm) - Lufkin First Assembly of God Church

We need 500 people locally to enroll, and we need ALL racial and ethnic groups to participate. To sign up, go to cancerstudytx.org or call toll-free 1.888.604.5888. Do it for your friends or loved ones who have had cancer. With your help, we can finish this fight!