Womens Health Archives - Health Partnership Clinic

HPC Mobile Mammography Events

October 14, 2022/in Womens Health/by Health Partnership Clinic

Awareness is Key in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

Nearly all of us have known someone with breast cancer and had our lives affected by that diagnosis. Breast cancer is something that affects all women and some men. Knowing your risk and getting the right screening test is important and can save your life.

We know that mammography is the most effective tool used today to find breast cancer in most women. In partnership with Diagnostic Imaging Centers, P.A., we provide monthly onsite mammograms. Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) kicked off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by hosting a mobile mammogram event on Thursday, Oct. 6 at the Olathe location, 407 S. Clairborne, Olathe, Kan. Participants received a gift bag and refreshments. Mammograms are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are required for these monthly events.

Screening mammograms are available to area women who are 40 and older, low income and uninsured. Clinic staff will enroll eligible women in Kansas’ Early Detection Works, and insurance will be billed, if insured.

To schedule a mobile mammogram appointment, call 913-276-7098.

If you are unsure if you need a mammogram, please talk to your health care provider about your risk level and the appropriate testing for you. To schedule an appointment to see a provider at HPC, call 913-648-2266.

During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, staff will celebrate on Wednesday, Oct. 5 by wearing pink and enjoying cookies in the Staff Break Room. A Word Search Puzzle contest is also open to both staff and patients. Completed puzzles must be sent to Debbie Sparks (Dsparks@hpcks.org) by Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Prizes will be awarded both to an employee and patient on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Tips to Prevent Cervical Cancer

August 1, 2022/in Womens Health/by Health Partnership Clinic

By Kare Lyche, MD, Family Physician, Health Partnership Clinic

Cervical cancer is cancer of the mouth of the uterus. It is thought to be caused by human papillomavirus or HPV which is a sexually transmitted disease.

There are several things that you can do to prevent cervical cancer, the most important by far is to have a pap smear. Pap smears are given to woman ages 21-65. The frequency of your pap smear depends on the type of pap smear and your age. The second most important thing you can do is to get the HPV vaccine. It is offered to all children between the ages of 11 and 12. If you miss that window, it is available to all women with a uterus up to age 45.

To learn more about cervical cancer and how to prevent it, watch our video:

Cervical Health Awareness: Tips to Prevent Cervical Cancer

Vaccination can prevent cervical cancer!

January 13, 2020/in Womens Health/by Health Partnership Clinic

Elizabeth Lewis, WHNP-BC, MSN, BSN, RN
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women around the world. Human papillomavirus infections (HPV) is a virus that is responsible for most cervical cancer. There are more than 200 types of HPV, with only a handful being responsible for the majority of cervical cancers.

Every year in the United States, seven million new people will be infected with HPV. HPV is globally the most common sexually transmitted infection; approximately 80 percent of sexually active people will have the virus at least once during their lifetime. The most common way to get HPV is sex, and risk increases with new partners and the number of lifetime partners.

How is HPV Spread?

HPV is spread from skin-to-skin contact. Consistent condom use decreases this risk but does not eliminate the risk. In one study, even women who had never had sex, HPV was found in eight percent of those sampled.

Most HPV infections, including the types that cause cancer, will resolve within 12 months. Infections that continue after 12 months increase the likelihood of precancerous or cancerous lesions. There is exciting news for prevention!

The HPV Vaccine

The HPV vaccine has been shown to decrease incidence of cervical cancer by at least 71 percent. The Gardasil vaccine can protect people from nine types of HPV, including the types associated with the most cancers. In the U.S., the rate of HPV detected in women decreased by 71 percent from the years before we started vaccinating to the years after. Also, Gardasil has just received FDA approval to expand the age you can get the vaccine.

You can now get the vaccine from age nine to 45 years of age. The vaccine is for any gender! It is best to get the vaccine long before you ever have sex, but it is not too late to get it or complete your series if you haven’t gotten three doses. This vaccine prevents cervical cancer! There is patient assistance available if you can not afford the vaccine.

Even with the vaccine, if you are between the age of 21-65, you should get pap smears on the right schedule. The schedule for pap smears has changed over the last decade. If you are unsure when your last one was or when your next one is due, contact your healthcare provider. If your last pap smear was abnormal, make sure you follow up as directed because early intervention also saves lives.

More Information

You might be eligible for a free pap smear or mammogram. To learn more, visit http://www.kdheks.gov/edw/.

For more information about HPV and cervical cancers, visit https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/.

To schedule an appointment with one of our providers, call 913-648-2266 today.

Join the fight against Breast Cancer: Education and Awareness Key for Women

October 3, 2018/in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Womens Health/by Health Partnership Clinic

Post written by Catherine Rice, VP of Marketing and Outreach

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer.

About one in eight women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.

The good news is that many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. A mammogram – the screening test for breast cancer – can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat.

This October, Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) is proud to participate in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to help raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer.

HPC will host a Think Pink Day on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 (click here for more information) at their Olathe campus, 407 S. Claiborne Rd., Olathe, Kan. for women age 45-64 who haven’t had a mammogram in more than a year.

The event will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Women are encouraged to call 913-648-2266 for an appointment, however, walk-Ins are welcome.

Breast health information will be available at all clinic sites, and staff are invited to wear pink on Fridays. Staff may also participate in a crossword puzzle and word search contests.

At the Olathe location, patients are invited to enter their name into a door prize drawing. One winner will be drawn on Oct. 31.

Participants will receive a clinical breast exam, enroll in Early Detection Works (EDW), schedule a mammogram appointment, learn more about breast health and enjoy refreshments. Patients and staff are encouraged to wear pink!

HPC providers offer the following advice to women:

If you are a woman age 40 to 49, talk with your provider about when to start getting mammograms and how often to get them.
If you are a woman age 50 to 74, be sure to get a mammogram every two years. You may also choose to get them more often.
Talk to a provider about your risk for breast cancer, especially if a close family member of yours had breast or ovarian cancer. Your provider can help you decide when and how often to get mammograms.

Resources:

National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides access to breast cancer screening services to underserved women in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 5 U.S. territories, and 12 tribal organizations. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/.

National Cancer Institute

Information about free or low-cost mammogram screening programs is available through NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-422-6237.

The American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society provides lists of resources where you can receive a free or low-cost mammogram based on your location. When you go to their website, Cancer.org, look for the blue “My ACS” in the top right corner.

When you click on that, you can enter your zip code. Scroll down to the Local Resources section and click on Health Care and Screenings. You can search these resources for free or low-cost mammogram screenings in your area. Learn more at https://www.cancer.org/.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation

The National Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1991 by breast cancer survivor, Janelle Hail. NBCF continues to grow every year to help more and more women around the world by educating them about breast cancer and providing free mammograms to women in need. Visit https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org.

8 Important Health Tips for Women

September 26, 2018/in Womens Health/by Catherine Rice

Amalia Almeida, APRN

Post written by Amalia Almeida, APRN
Board-certified nurse practitioner, specializing in women’s health, Chief of Clinical Services and Quality

Putting your health first should be a priority, but many women are so busy with childrearing and careers that they often put their health needs on the back burner.

With National Women’s Health and Fitness Week, it’s a great time to remind women about the benefits of exercise and physical health. There are many ways you can keep healthy even when you’re on a tight budget.

What are some important health tips for women?

-Get your mammograms once you reach ages 40-50, every year between 45-55, and every two years after age 55.

-Get a Pap smear checkup if you are between ages 21 and 29. You should get a Pap test every three years. If you are between ages 30 and 64, you should get a Pap test and human papillomavirus (HPV) test together every five years or a Pap test alone every three years. If you are 65 or older, ask your doctor if you can stop having Pap tests.

-It’s important to remember that your body needs to be taken care of. If you, for example, were to drive around in a car with a wheel put on wrong, you either wouldn’t get far, or your car would wear down quicker and easier. That’s why it’s important that you take these eight steps to keep your body healthy:

1.) Now, this may sound silly, but posture.

Posture is very important, and it is something many people should really work on more. Various things affect good posture.

When you are at school or work or even just hanging out with friends, good posture is often lacking. People slouch because they get too comfortable and they think it looks cool.

Slouching wears down your bones and muscles while creating problems and strains in your muscles. Sit up and stand up straight!

2.) Get active!

With heart disease as a leading cause of death in the United States, it’s important to get active. I recommend exercise at least 30 minutes a day five times a week, but anything is better than nothing.

You can walk around a track for 30 minutes, walk around your neighborhood if it is safe, walk your dog, go to a fitness class at the gym, garden, swim, bicycle and so much more!

3.) Avoid drugs and alcohol.

If you do drink, limit it to one glass a day of wine (5 Fl oz), one beer (12 Fl oz), or 80 proof distilled spirits (1.5 Fl oz).

4.) Protect your skin from the sun!

Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and wear hats, sunglasses and watch for unusual marks and burns you may obtain from the sun. See a doctor immediately if you find a suspicious spot.

5.) Take some time to “smell the roses”.

It is important to take time to just relax and remember what is important to you. If you enjoy gardening, or cards, or painting…or whatever… do those things!

6.) Meditate or find some way to make yourself relax.

Try meditation. Do yoga, cardio, or take walks.

7.) Eat healthy.

The word “healthy” doesn’t solely refer to low fat, sugar or calorie foods. It also refers to non-processed foods, foods that are natural, and foods that are actually meant to be digested.

I recommend limiting soda pop, ramen noodles, potato chips, fruit snacks and other processed foods. Eat food with fiber. Fiber is very important for the body, but many people cut it out accidentally because they don’t like the taste or how it mixes into food.

For example, many people use all-purpose flour when they could use whole wheat flour in cooking. Fiber is good for the body because it helps with healthy bowel movements and softens the stool.

Eat your greens! Many people skip this because salad is not filling. However, adding some lean protein such as chicken or chickpeas can make it filling and healthy. Many essential vitamins that fight off diseases and form antibodies come from eating fruits and veggies.

8.) Mental health.

Mental health is very important to your overall life. Remember to enjoy the little things, slow down and find ways to get your brain working. Read a good book, play sudoku or do math…do things that make you think! Just watching television or playing on your phone is not healthy.

It’s essential to take care of your health. With these eight steps, you should be on a good track!

For a well-woman checkup, call Health Partnership Clinic at 913-648-2266. Go schedule yours today!

Archive for category: Womens Health