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.

Facebook page likes = $$

For every new like on its Facebook page,

McLaren Macomb will donate $1 to a local food pantry

McLaren Macomb is pleased to support a local charity during the month of December. For every new like McLaren Macomb’s Facebook page (http://www.Facebook.com/McLarenMacomb) receives during December, the hospital will donate $1 to the Hope Center in Macomb County.

The Hope Center is a non-profit organization that helps those in need through its no-cost, client-choice food pantry. The pantry is available to all residents of Macomb County. The charity’s services also include helping individuals and families in crisis connect to community resources.

For more information about the Hope Center, visit: http://www.hopecentermacomb.org.

Bradycardia: Controlling a slow heart rate

Irregular heart rhythm. It’s a common cardiac condition, but most people with this problem experience a heart beating too fast. A less common type of arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) is known as bradycardia. This condition happens when the heart rate is too slow. Bradycardia is a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute. It can be caused by various problems, including problems with the heart's sinus node, which acts as a kind of natural pacemaker.

It may also be caused by problems in the conduction pathways of the heart. This means that electrical impulses are not being conducted from the atria to the ventricles, so the heart’s regular rhythm is disrupted. Other causes include metabolic problems such as hypothermia, or damage from a heart attack or heart disease.

When it’s your heart, do you know where to go?

Tick, tick, tick…

A few minutes can make a big difference during a heart attack.

So it’s a good idea to know where to go for the best cardiac care. In Macomb County, you’ll want to choose McLaren Macomb and the MatGaberty Heart Center.

With decades of experience and continuous advancement, McLaren Macomb offers the most comprehensive cardiovascular program in Macomb County. It’s also the place for personalized attention from top heart specialists, along with advanced technology, including stress tests offered seven days a week for more immediate diagnosis of potential heart problems.

Looking for a few more reasons to choose McLaren Macomb for cardiac care?  Click through for a few:

Another McLaren First: 3D technology advances mammography

As part of our commitment to bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors in Macomb County, McLaren Macomb is the first in Southeast Michigan to offer next generation technology for mammography.

The McLaren Macomb Breast Center now offers tomosynthesis 3D imaging mammograms. This low-dose imaging technology produces a revolutionary type of mammogram, providing images of tissue at only one millimeter thick. This enables our radiologists to view mammograms with a greater clarity than ever before and can help detect breast cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage.

McLaren Macomb has openings for volunteers

At McLaren Macomb, volunteers are important team members who help in a variety of ways. The hospital has openings for volunteers who are interested in assisting others in a caring, pleasant, friendly environment.

The hospital’s Volunteer Services Department provides training and placement for new volunteers.

Volunteers help out in more than 50 different positions at the hospital and its off-site offices and clinics. McLaren Macomb’s more than 350 volunteers provide support throughout the hospital. Members of the volunteer team assist in many areas, including Java General (coffee shop), surgical waiting rooms, the emergency department, transportation, the gift shop, cancer center and welcome desks. Volunteers also assist in the spiritual care department and on nursing units. Many of the hospital’s volunteers also help at community events.

For more information, please call McLaren Macomb’s Volunteer Services Department at (586) 493-8174. Volunteer applications can also be downloaded here.

U.S. News & World Report names McLaren Macomb among the best hospitals in Michigan

McLaren Macomb has been ranked as one of the best hospitals for 2013-14 in the Detroit metro area and in Michigan. Now in its 24^th year, the annual U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings recognize hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging patients.