Does your teen have the right doctor?

If you have a teenager, you’re likely well-acquainted with the changes and challenges he or she faces from day to day—be they related to physical, psychological or social factors.

Along with the long list of physical changes they experience, teens often seek more independence and responsibility, including taking more ownership of their own health. Because the teenage years are so important (and often volatile), finding your teen the right primary health care provider is critical.

What’s the number one type of cancer treated in Macomb County?

It’s lung cancer, which remains the top cancer killer in the United States and worldwide.

There is some good news, however. Federal officials report that lung cancer rates continue to drop nationwide, thanks to continuing anti-smoking efforts.

Oncologists at McLaren Macomb and the Ted B. Wahby Cancer Center have noticed similar results.

The cancer team, based in Mount Clemens, diagnosed and treated 72 cases of Stage IV lung cancer (the most advanced stage) in 2010, but those numbers dropped to 39 cases in 2012 (the year for which complete data is available). The numbers also show that patients with all stages of lung cancer have dropped each year, as well.

5 things you should know about 3-D Mammography

There’s a new weapon in the arsenal against breast cancer.

It’s 3-D mammography, the next generation of technology for detecting breast cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage.

The McLaren Macomb Breast Center was one of the first in the area to offer this type of mammography, which is used in combination with conventional 2-D mammography.

Weight management just got easier

Trying to manage your weight? Don’t eat less, eat better.

Sounds simple, but we don’t always understand the basics of overeating and weight loss. Sometimes we just need a little help.

McLaren Macomb offers a Weight Loss Management Program designed for people who don’t necessarily have the time for a set schedule of meetings and weigh-ins.

We’re seeing red!

It’s National Wear Red Day® and McLaren Macomb is marking the day by encouraging employees to wear red – part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the importance of good heart health for women.

In the United States, heart disease is the number one killer of women. For more than 10 years, the American Heart Association has sponsored National Wear Red Day® to increase efforts in the fight against heart disease in women.

So grab something red to wear and remember these healthy heart tips: Try to exercise more and eat a wide variety of healthy foods. These should include:

• Fruits and vegetables: At least 4.5 cups a day
• Fish (preferably oily fish): At least two 3.5-ounce servings a week
• Fiber-rich whole grains: At least three 1-ounce-equivalent servings a day
• Sodium: Less than 1,500 mg a day
• Sugar-sweetened beverages: No more than 450 calories (36 ounces) a week

Want to learn more?

To learn more about women and heart disease, attend a free seminar at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, in the auditorium of McLaren Macomb in Mount Clemens.

Dr. Beth Bowling, a board-certified interventional cardiologist with the Macomb Cardiovascular Institute, will discuss women and heart health.

To register for the free seminar, please call toll-free (855) 362-5273 or visit mclarenwomensheart.eventbrite.com. The program is part of the Mat Gaberty Heart Center’s Healthy

Have you thought about cancer prevention today?

It’s something to think about every day, but today is World Cancer Day.

It’s a global event organized by the Union for International Cancer Control and promoted in the United States by the American Cancer Association.

With events, festivals and information going out worldwide, this special day is designed to get people talking about cancer and the importance of early detection in beating it.