The 10th Annual Women Against Multiple Sclerosis Luncheon

The Penn MS Center has teamed up with the National MS Society for the 10th annual Women Against Multiple Sclerosis (WAMS) Luncheon. The luncheon is held annually to unite the local community and gain support in the fight against MS, as well as to increase awareness about the disease and raise funds for research and philanthropy.

The National MS Society is a non-profit organization with a mission to rid the world of multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. MS can affect anyone, but is two to three times more common in women. Thought to be an autoimmune disease, MS is unpredictable and affects every person differently; some cases are mild, while some are severe and debilitating. What’s clear is that there is still much to learn about MS and how to treat it.

Each year, the WAMS Luncheon honors one local leader with the Woman of Spirit Award for positively impacting the local community. The 2012 Woman of Spirit Award recipient is Amy Gutmann, PhD, President of the University of Pennsylvania, for her effort in the fight to stop MS.

WAMS Luncheon Information
Time: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Date: May 8, 2012
Place: Loews Philadelphia Hotel
          1200 Market Street 
          Philadelphia, PA 19107

To purchase tickets to attend the luncheon, visit the WAMS website.

The Penn MS Center: Setting the Standard for Comprehensive MS Care in the Region

The Penn MS Center and the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Program at Penn Medicine provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for patients with MS and other demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system. MS is known as a demyelinating disorder because the body’s own defense system actually attacks the fatty substance, or myelin, protecting the nerve fibers in a person’s body. Due to the destruction of the myelin, nerve impulses to and from the are disrupted or distorted, which is what causes many of the symptoms of MS such as numbness or tingling in the limbs, loss of vision and paralysis.

The Penn MS Center provides consultative services and ongoing care for more than 3,000 patients annually. The program specializes in quality, state-of-the-art, personalized clinical care with a multidisciplinary approach. The MS Center team includes physicians and highly-trained nurse practitioners who are experts in symptom management, treatment, patient education, health maintenance and general well-being for patients with MS.

• Learn more about the Penn Multiple Sclerosis Center.
• To schedule an appointment with a physician in the Penn MS Center, call 800-789-PENN (7366) or request an appointment online.

Advancing Radiation Therapy at Penn Medicine: CyberKnife® at Pennsylvania Hospital

CyberKnife^® at Pennsylvania Hospital is a minimally invasive radiation treatment that provides patients with an alternative to surgery for treating cancerous and noncancerous tumors. CyberKnife’s frameless radiosurgery system, lightweight linear accelerator and robotic arm allow it to treat tumors and lesions from a variety of angles in hard-to-reach locations. It can also be used on lesions that have previously undergone radiation therapy.

Penn Radiation Oncology provides patients with every form of advanced radiation therapy to treat cancer, including Gamma Knife^®, proton therapy and now CyberKnife. Patients can be evaluated for CyberKnife at Penn Radiation Oncology Network centers throughout the Philadelphia region.

• Read more about CyberKnife at Pennsylvania Hospital
• Find a Penn Radiation Oncology Network location
• Learn more about Penn Radiation Oncology

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer to affect men and women in the United States. In the majority of cases, colorectal cancer develops from abnormal growths in the colon or rectum called polyps. The good news is that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60 percent of colorectal cancers are preventable by removing polyps before they become cancerous.

Penn Gastroenterology recommends the following measures to help prevent colon cancer:

• Schedule regular colorectal cancer screening tests starting at age 50.
• Include fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet.
• Increase physical activity and maintain a healthy weight.
• If you have a family history of colon cancer, talk to your doctor about a cancer risk evaluation.

To schedule a colorectal cancer screening test, call 800.789.PENN (7366) or visit www.PennMedicine.org.

• Watch Gregory Ginsberg, MD, discuss the importance of colorectal cancer screening
• Learn more about screening for colorectal cancer
• Find out about Penn's GI Cancer Risk Evaluation Program

First Bilateral Hand Transplant in Region Performed at Penn Medicine

The first bilateral hand transplant in the Greater Philadelphia region was recently performed at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Under the leadership of the Penn Transplant Institute, the extensive 11 1/2-hour procedure was performed by Penn’s Hand Transplant Program in close partnership with the Gift of Life Donor Program.

Penn’s Hand Transplant Program is a joint venture of the Penn Transplant Institute, Penn Orthopaedics and Penn Plastic Surgery. The multidisciplinary team is dedicated to working together to restore independence to amputees who have lost their arms and legs

• Read more about the region's first bilateral hand transplant
• Learn more about Penn’s Hand Transplant Program
• Learn about the Gift of Life Donor Program

5 tips to prevent heart disease

February is National Heart Month. Heart disease, the number one killer of adult men and women in the United States, includes coronary artery disease, arrhythmias and congenital heart disease. Despite its prevalence, there are ways to reduce the risk for heart disease. In fact, the best defense against heart disease is a commitment to a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Take these steps to help prevent heart disease:

Exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to become healthier and reduce the risk for heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, all it takes is 30 minutes a day, five days a week to reap the positive benefits of exercise for the heart.

Don’t smoke or use tobacco
Tobacco negatively impacts every organ in the body, but it is particularly harmful for the cardiovascular system. The chemicals in tobacco smoke increase the risk of atherosclerosis and can damage the heart. For people struggling to quit, Penn’s Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Program can help them curb the habit safely and comfortably.

Eat right
Maintaining a healthy diet is easier said than done for most people, but it is crucial for a healthy heart. Eating properly protects the heart from disease, controls blood pressure and prevents type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.

Maintain a healthy weight
Obesity is an epidemic in this country with more than one third of adults qualifying as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Obesity is linked to many diseases including heart disease. For people who cannot manage their weight through exercise and diet, weight loss surgery may be a good option. Learn more about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program, which offers multidisciplinary care and the latest surgical procedures to help patients reach and maintain their weight loss goals.

Get regular health screenings
Regular health screenings are important to identify potential health issues before they become problematic. For many conditions, early detection improves the chances for more effective treatment or even a cure. The CDC recommends several suggested health checkups.

• View heart healthy events presented by Penn Heart and Vascular 
• Learn about your risk for cardiovascular disease
• American Heart Association's Seven Simple Steps to a Healthy Heart Program