Health

Health 10-29-14

October 30, 2014 By Mary Rathman

Celiac support group meeting
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, will host the West Pasco celiac support group Nov. 1 at 10 a.m.

The meeting will be followed by a gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner at 11:30 a.m. Guests should bring a covered dish. The meetings include recipe demonstrations.

For information, or to RSVP for the dinner, call (727) 862-4815.

Foundation to host Black & White Ball
The Suncoast Health and Education Foundation will host a Black & White Ball Nov. 1 at Aripeka Elks Lodge, 9135 Denton Ave., in Hudson.

A cocktail hour begins at 4 p.m., and dinner is at 5 p.m., followed by dancing.

Tickets are $20 per person available at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s lobby, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

There will be a silent auction, a raffle, and professional portrait taking by Glamour Shots Portrait Studio.

All proceeds will go to the foundation’s scholarship fund.

For information, call Barbara Benson at (727) 863-6437, or John Cardalena at (727) 967-1253.

Free autism symposium
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at University of South Florida is hosting its annual Autism Health and Wellness Event Nov. 1 from noon to 4 p.m., at Embassy Suites Tampa, 3705 Spectrum Blvd., near Busch Gardens.

There will be vendors, presentations by autism and health experts, and autism and behavior screenings.

Xbox representatives will be there with Kinect for interactive play for kids.

For information, call Daianna Apolito at (813) 974-2493, or visit Card-USF.FMHI.usf.edu/symposium.

Oak Hill walk, bake sale
Oak Hill Hospital’s Team Oak Hill Support Walk for breast cancer is Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at 11375 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The walk and a pancake breakfast begin at 8:30 a.m.

There will also be a bake sale and a drawing for a handmade quilt.

For information, call Katie Stacy at (352) 597-6317.

Preview the new Florida Hospital ER
Florida Hospital Tampa, 3100 E. Fletcher Ave., will offer a look at its new emergency room Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event includes guided tours, CPR and poison prevention education, entertainment, food trucks, door prizes, and music.

Admission is free.

For information, visit FHTampa.org/NewER.

NAMI hosts veterans seminar
Elks Lodge 2284, 7201 Congress St., in New Port Richey, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Pasco County will host “What Hurts, What Helps,” a seminar for veterans and their families Nov. 12.

There will be a panel of veterans dealing with mental issues sharing their challenges and successes through a question-and-answer presentation.

There also will be a spaghetti dinner.

Deadline for reservations is Nov. 3.

For information and reservations, call (727) 992-9653.

Alzheimer’s caregiver support
The Health & Wellness Center at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, 2700 Healing Way, will have a free support group for family and friends caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia Nov. 4 at 10 a.m.

To register, call (813) 991-7524.

Nutrition and diabetes
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will have a nutrition and diabetes class Nov. 4 at 10 a.m.

Topics will include basic principles of nutrition, meal timing, how proteins and fats affect blood sugar, and how to make better food choices.

For reservations, call (727) 834-5630.

Free Medicare presentation
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer Medicare 101, an information presentation, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m.

Topics will include supplemental insurance, advantage plans, prescription drug coverage, and savings programs.

To make a reservation, call (727) 834-4868.

Hip pain seminar
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will present “Hip Pain: From Advil to Anterior Hip Replacement” Nov. 5 at noon.

Dr. Stephen Hanff will discuss the common causes of hip pain, treatment options, and the history of hip replacement.

Admission is free. A complimentary lunch will be served.

For reservations, call (727) 834-5630.

Hospice holiday grief support
Gulfside Hospice will host a grief support group at Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m.

Topics will include the four tasks of mourning, and tips and techniques to better handle grief during the holiday season.

Light refreshments will be served.

For information, call Cecilio De Leon at (727) 992-8034.

Flu shots offered at Copperstone

Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, will offer Walgreens flu shots Nov. 7 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the meeting room.

No appointment is necessary.

Most insurance is accepted. The cost without insurance is $25.

Sertoma foundation fundraiser

The Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation will host its Las Vegas Casino Night Nov. 8 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., to benefit its Children’s Hearing Help Fund.

The event will be at West Pasco Board of Realtors, 5409 Sunset Road in New Port Richey.

Sponsorships are available and consist of banners, advertising, tickets to the event with appetizers, beverages and more.

For information, call (727) 834-5479, or visit FamilyHearingHelp.org.

Free copies of Five Wishes
Throughout the month of November, Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care will offer free copies of Five Wishes, an easy-to-use tool with advance directives and planning information, while supplies last.

Copies can be picked up at any of the Gulfside thrift shops.

There is a limit of one per person. Spanish versions are available by calling Gulfside Hospice.

For information, call Kirsty Churchill at (727) 845-5707, or email .

Lodge offers TOPS program
J.F. Swartsel Lodge, 3309 Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, offers the TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) program every Wednesday.

Weigh-in is at 9 a.m., following by a meeting at 9:45 a.m.

For information, call Mary Clark at (813) 908-3587.

Celebrate Recovery from addictions
Victorious Life Church, 6224 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, offers a Celebrate Recovery group on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

The group is a recovery resource for healing from addictions. Participants will discuss hurts, hang-ups and habits.

For information, call (813) 973-2230.

Mending hearts through art
Gulfside Hospice recently hosted its Mending Hearts Family Night in Dade City to help teach children and parents ways to express their feelings of grief verbally and artistically. Children worked on painting their feelings on a memory wall, and families painted a family tree using their handprints for the leaves.

Loved ones remembered
Gulfside Hospice hosted a community memorial service Sept. 29 in Zephyrhills to honor loved ones who passed away on Gulfside’s services over the past year.

More than 100 names were read, each followed by the ringing of a bell.

Those in attendance were given a candle to light in memory of their loved ones.

To register, call (813) 991-7524.

Hospice remembrance service
HPH Hospice will have a nondenominational, interfaith service Nov. 6 at 6 p.m., at HPH’s East Pasco campus, 37445 Clinton Ave., in Dade City.

The 45-minute service will be under a canopy and will feature readings, music and tributes to individual loved ones. Veterans also will be honored.

For information, call (800) 486-8784.

Gulfside volunteer orientation
Gulfside Hospice is having a volunteer orientation for all new volunteers in East Pasco Nov. 6-7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Gulfside’s Center for Hospice Care, 5760 Dean Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.

Volunteers must be at least 15 years old.

Space is limited.

For reservations, call Tracey Thompson at (813) 780-1235.

Grief support at West Winds
Gulfside Hospice will offer a grief support group Nov. 11 at 2 p.m., at West Winds Assisted Living Facility, 37411 Eiland Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

There will be information on the four tasks of mourning and how they relate to the holiday season, as well as tips and techniques for handling holiday grief stress.

Light refreshments will be served.

For information, call Cecilio De Leon at (727) 992-8034.

Donate to remember loved ones
All Gulfside Hospice thrift shops are offering a way to honor or remember loved ones at the Hike for Hospice.

For a $1 donation, the name of a loved one will be written on a paper shoe. The shoes will be displayed in the thrift shops until the event, and then placed on a memory wall at the Hike for Hospice Nov. 16.

For information and shop locations, visit GHPPC.org.

Health 10-22-14

October 23, 2014 By Mary Rathman

Lodge offers TOPS program
J.F. Swartsel Lodge, 3309 Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, offers the TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) program every Wednesday.

Weigh-in is at 9 a.m., following by a meeting at 9:45 a.m.

For information, call Mary Clark at (813) 908-3587.

Pre-diabetes lecture
Access Health Care LLC, 5350 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill, will have a lecture on “Pre-Diabetes: Learn What This Means, If You Have the Problem, and What You Can Do to Prevent Diabetes” Oct. 23 at 5:15 p.m.

For information or to register, call (352) 688-8116.

Breast cancer support
Florida Cancer Affiliates will host breast cancer support group meetings every other Thursday at the New Port Richey center, 5500 Little Road.

The next meeting is Oct. 23 at 6 p.m.

For information, call (727) 505-6379.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
The Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel will host the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Pasco event Oct. 25.

This is a non-competitive 5-kilometer walk of cancer survivors, families and friends, business partners and community members.

Registration will open at 8 a.m., and the walk begins at 9 a.m.

For information, visit MakingStridesWalk.org/Pasco.

Alzheimer’s seminar for caregivers
There will be a seminar called “Alzheimer’s Disease: What Family Caregivers Need to Know” Oct. 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 414 Magnolia Ave., in Tampa.

Topics will include diagnosis and treatment, participating in a clinical trial, tips to prevent or reduce behavior problems, and managing medications.

Lunch will be provided. Admission is free.

Pre-registration is required by calling (813) 974-4357.

Breast cancer discussion
The Health & Wellness Center at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, 2700 Healing Way, will offer “The Nature and Treatment of Breast Cancer” Oct. 28 at noon.

Admission is free. Lunch will be provided.

To make a reservation, call (813) 929-5432, or visit FHWesleyChapel.org/events.

Hearing loss, deafness seminar
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will have a seminar called “A Surgical Option for Conductive Hearing Loss and Single-Sided Deafness” Oct. 29 at noon.

Topics include how our bodies hear and perceive sound, types of hearing loss and their causes, and surgically implantable devices.

Admission is free. A light lunch will be served.

For information or to register, call (727) 834-5630.

General cancer support
Florida Cancer Affiliates will host a general cancer group meeting Oct. 29 at 6 p.m., at the New Port Richey center, 5500 Little Road.

For information, call (727) 808-4818.

Prepared childbirth course
The obstetrics program at Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer a six-week prepared childbirth class starting Oct. 29.

Classes meet one night per week at 7 p.m. The cost is $70.

For information or to register, call (727) 834-5630.

Foundation to host Black & White Ball
The Suncoast Health and Education Foundation will host a Black & White Ball Nov. 1 at Aripeka Elks Lodge, 9135 Denton Ave., in Hudson.

A cocktail hour begins at 4 p.m., and dinner is at 5 p.m., followed by dancing.

Tickets are $20 per person available at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s lobby, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

There will be a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, and Glamour Shots.

All proceeds will go to the foundation’s scholarship fund.

For information, call Barbara Benson at (727) 863-6437, or John Cardalena at (727) 967-1253.

Preview the new Florida Hospital ER
Florida Hospital Tampa, 3100 E. Fletcher Ave., will offer a look at its new state-of-the-art emergency room Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event includes guided tours, CPR and poison prevention education, entertainment, food trucks, door prizes and music.

Admission is free.

For information, visit FHTampa.org/NewER.

Donate to remember loved ones
All Gulfside Hospice thrift shops are offering a way to honor or remember your loved ones at the Hike for Hospice.

For a $1 donation, you can write the name of a loved one on a paper shoe. The shoes will be displayed in the thrift shops until the event, and then placed on a memory wall at the Hike for Hospice Nov. 16.

For information and shop locations, visit GHPPC.org.

Balance program for seniors
Anytime Fitness, 7016 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz, is offering an Agility & Balance Program for seniors on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. For information, call Tom Marbell at (352) 409-2984, or email .

Celebrate Recovery from addictions
Victorious Life Church, 6224 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, offers a Celebrate Recovery group on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

The group is a recovery resource for healing from addictions. Participants will discuss hurts, hang-ups and habits.

For information, call (813) 973-2230.

Senior strength classes
The Groves Golf and Country Club, 7924 Melogold Circle in Land O’ Lakes, offers a Silver Sneakers Strength & Balance program on Wednesdays at 9 a.m.

These are low-impact classes to improve flexibility and balance.

Classes are free to Silver Sneakers members, and $5 for non-members.

For information, call Tom Marbell at (352) 409-2984, or email .

Oak Hill offers mammograms for uninsured
Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville, offers digital mammography screenings for $60 to patients without health insurance.

The screening includes the imaging and the radiologist’s reading.

Patients do not need a prescription from a physician to schedule a screening.

For information, or to schedule an appointment, call (800) 921-7158.

Don’t forget: Men get breast cancer, too

October 16, 2014 By B.C. Manion

Kriss Bowles was in Colorado attending a wedding with her husband, Brock, when he began complaining about pain in his spine as well as two of his ribs.

He felt a lump in his right breast, too.

Brock Bowles lost a three-year battle to breast cancer, which ultimately spread to other parts of his body. His wife, Kriss, has made it her personal mission to spread the word about the dangers of male breast cancer. (Courtesy of Kriss Bowles) — Brock Bowles lost a three-year battle to breast cancer, which ultimately spread to other parts of his body. His wife, Kriss, has made it her personal mission to spread the word about the dangers of male breast cancer.
(Courtesy of Kriss Bowles)

When they returned to their home in Lutz, Brock decided to see his doctor.

His main concern was trying to find out whether he had arthritis in his spine, but he also casually mentioned the lump in his breast, Kriss said.

The doctor ordered a mammogram to be taken the next day.

The screening led to a mastectomy, she added. The surgeon removed 13 lymph nodes, all of them cancerous.

Brock underwent chemotherapy, but despite the doctors’ efforts, the cancer spread to Brock’s lungs, hips, spine and brain before his ordeal with cancer ended his life on Sept. 16, 2004. His death certificate, however, highlighted breast cancer.

As the nation honors breast cancer awareness month in October with walks, runs, strolls, rallies and other events, Kriss — who now lives in Land O’ Lakes — wants people to remember that men die from breast cancer, too.

She said she felt compelled to get involved.

When her husband was battling cancer, “He’d lay in a recliner to sleep,” she said. “I would sit there and watch him sleep and wonder what was going through his mind. Because he knew he was dying.

“One day I said, ‘You know Lord, I know I’m not supposed to ask you why, but I’m asking ‘Why Brock?’‘”

Then she added, “I don’t expect an answer right now, but I hope someday you’ll give me an answer.”

After her husband’s death, Kriss said she began noticing that when people talked about breast cancer, they never mentioned men. So she’s made it her personal mission to spread the word about the need for men to be vigilant to protect themselves from breast cancer.

Besides being aware of symptoms, they need to avoid being too “macho” to take breast cancer seriously, Kriss said. It’s also important to eliminate any stigma: Men should not feel embarrassed about being afflicted with breast cancer because it is not a condition confined to women.

Kriss said her husband wasn’t embarrassed, but that’s not true for all men.

About 2,360 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men, according to the 2014 statistics from the American Cancer Society. About 430 men will die from breast cancer during the year.

For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1-in-1,000, according to Cancer Society estimates. The disease is about 100 times less common in men than women.

Because the incidence is so much lower, men are not routinely screened for breast cancer. The smaller number of cases, however, does not diminish the importance of the issue, Kriss said.

Male breast cancer affects everyone who has a husband, a son, a father, a brother, a nephew, an uncle or a grandfather, she said.

To help spotlight the issue, Kriss waged a letter-writing campaign last year, reaching out to governors across the nation. She asked them to designate the third week in October as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week.

So far, 20 states have done so, she said. One of those states is New Jersey.

That’s where the Bowles lived before they moved to Florida.

Gov. Chris Christie made the designation after Assemblyman Nelson Albano spoke about Brock during the opening session in Trenton, New Jersey.

Besides writing letters, Kriss also has stickers printed, sharing that “Men get breast cancer, too.” She also has had pink ribbon pins made that have the words, “Men, too,” written on them.

She gives those stickers and pins to organizers of breast cancer events, to help spread the word.

It has been nine years, since Brock died. Kriss still does what she can to spread the word, and she’s beginning to see some progress.

One day, she hopes, that this month that’s awash with pink ribbons and breast cancer prevention events will do more to acknowledge that, as her stickers say, “Men get breast cancer, too.”

Published October 15, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Health 10-15-14

October 16, 2014 By Mary Rathman

Lymphedema group meeting
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will have a lymphedema support group meeting Oct. 16 at 3 p.m.

Lymphedema is a persistent swelling, usually affecting an arm or leg that sometimes occurs as a side effect of cancer treatment.

Seating is limited. For reservations, call (727) 834-5630.

Infant CPR class
The obstetrics program at Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer a Family and Friends Infant CPR class Oct. 18 at 9 a.m.

Participants will learn the skills of the American Heart Association course for pediatric CPR.

The cost is $15 per person, or $25 for two.

For reservations, call (727) 834-5630.

Ostomy support group
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will host an ostomy support group Oct. 22 at 5 p.m.

The meeting is open to all ostomy patients and their families. Walk-ins are welcome. For information, call (727) 834-4450.

Commissioners proclaim Mental Illness Awareness Week
The Pasco County Commissioners presented the National Alliance on Mental Illness Pasco County Affiliate with a resolution proclaiming Oct. 6-12 Mental Illness Awareness Week. NAMI Pasco bestowed awards to members of the community who have been instrumental with its mission during a banquet Oct. 9. Those attending the commission meeting where the proclamation was made were, from left, Commissioners Jack Mariano, Ted Schrader, Pat Mulieri and Kathryn Starkey, NAMI Pasco president Gloria Strother, Nancy Whitener, Commissioner Henry Wilson, Maryann Senderling and Nikki Drake.

For information or to register, call (352) 688-8116.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Day
The Alzheimer’s Family Organization will host a Caregiver Day: What You Need to Know Oct. 27 from 10 am. to 2 p.m., at Venetian Gardens, 201 E. Dixie Ave., in Leesburg.

Guests speakers will be Dr. Kimberly Besuden, Betty Cunningham and Bill Maguire.

Cost is $10 for AFO members and $25 for non-members.

Refreshments, lunch and a certificate of attendance are included.

Seating is limited. To register by Oct. 20, call (727) 848-8888.

Hospice remembrance service
HPH Hospice will have a non-denominational, interfaith service Nov. 6 at 6 p.m., at HPH’s East Pasco campus, 37445 Clinton Ave., in Dade City. The 45-minute service will be under a canopy and will feature readings, music, and tributes to individual loved ones. Veterans will also be honored. For information, call (800) 486-8784.

Pregnancy Care Center’s ‘Run For Life’
“Run For Life” to benefit the Zephyrhills Pregnancy Care Center is scheduled for Nov. 22.

The event includes a 5-kilometer run, a 1-mile fun run, face painting, live music and a farmer’s market.

Registration forms can be picked up at the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, YMCA or Florida Hospital Wellness Center, by calling (813) 453-9042, by emailing , or online at PCCZephyrhills.org or Active.com.

Health 10-08-14

October 9, 2014 By Mary Rathman

Woman’s club delivers gifts for preemies
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club recently visited the Florida Hospital Tampa Neonatal Intensive Care Unit bearing gifts for premature and challenged babies.

The club has been sewing year-round to provide fabric bags for the babies who graduate from this unit. These “first suitcases” are filled with caps, sweaters and other supplies for the babies.

Autism support group
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, hosts the Helping HANDS autism support group on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.

The next meeting is Oct. 8.

The group is for parents, family members and friends impacted by autism and related neurological disorders.

For information, call Jonica Chittum at (813) 402-9442, or email .

Cholesterol lecture
Access Health Care, 5350 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill, will have a lecture on “Cholesterol is Not the Enemy” Oct. 9 at 5:15 p.m.

For information, call (352) 688-8116.

NAMI hosts comedian
The National Alliance on Mental Illness Pasco will host an education and awards banquet Oct. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., in New Port Richey.

Dress is business casual. Dinner is at 7 p.m.

The keynote speaker is comedian Juanita Lolita, a finalist in Florida’s Funniest Comedian contest.

For tickets and sponsorships, call (727) 992-9653, or download forms at NamiPasco.org.

For information or to RSVP, call Nancy Whitener at (727) 375-5337.

Childbirth super-prep
The obstetrics program at Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer a childbirth super-prep class Oct. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This is a one-day accelerated/refresher course. The cost is $50 per person.

Registration is required.

For information, call (727) 834-5630.

Oak Hill offers mammograms for uninsured
Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville, is offering digital mammography screenings for $60 to patients without health insurance.

The screening includes the imaging and the radiologist’s reading.

Patients do not need a prescription from a physician to schedule a screening.

For information, or to schedule an appointment, call (800) 921-7158.

A Matter of Balance
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer A Matter of Balance class every Monday and Wednesday, starting Oct. 13 at 9 a.m., for four weeks.

Reservations are required.

For information, call (727) 834-5630.

Caregiver’s support group
The Caregiver’s Support Group meets the first Wednesday of each month at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, to help those caring for loved ones afflicted with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

This free group meets at 11 a.m.

For information, call Phyllis Bross at (813) 996-1361, or email .

General cancer support
Florida Cancer Affiliates will offer a general cancer support group meeting every other Wednesday at the New Port Richey center, 5500 Little Road.

The next meeting is Oct. 15 at 6 p.m.

For information, call (727) 808-4818.

Osteoarthritis lecture
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will have a seminar on “Current Treatments in Osteoarthritis” Oct. 16 at noon.

Dr. Peter Candelora, orthopedic surgeon, will discuss current treatments, including non-operative and operative care, and current thoughts for treatments using medications, injections and stem cell therapy.

He will also discuss operative interventions, such as minimally invasive, computer assisted and various surgical approaches.

Admission is free. A complimentary lunch will be served.

Reservations are required.

For information, (727) 834-5630.

John Skelton is September volunteer
Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida selected John Skelton as Volunteer of the Month for September.

Skelton is a Fellow of The Institute of Directors in London, England, and has served as chairman of the board for the foundation for the last six years.

Celebrate Recovery from addictions
Victorious Life Church, 6224 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, will offer a Celebrate Recovery group on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

The group is a recovery resource for healing from addictions and will discuss hurts, hang-ups and habits.

For information, call (813) 973-2230.

Health 10-01-14

October 2, 2014 By Mary Rathman

Celiac support group
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, hosts a monthly meeting of the West Pasco Celiac Support Group on the first Saturday of every month at 10 a.m.

The next meeting is Oct. 4 and includes recipe demonstrations of a gluten-free diet.

For information or to RSVP, call (727) 862-4815.

Hospice memorial service
Gulfside Hospice’s bereavement center will have a memorial service on Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. to honor and remember those who have passed away in the last year. The event will at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 8320 Old County Road 54 in New Port Richey.

Refreshments will be served. For information, call (727) 844-3946.

Lunch to discuss rheumatoid arthritis
CARES and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point will host “Lunch with a Doctor” at CARES Rao Musunuru M.D. Enrichment Center, 12417 Clock Tower Parkway in Hudson, Oct. 8 at noon.

The guest speaker is Dr. Adam Grunbaum, rheumatologist.

Admission is free, but registration is required.

For information or to RSVP, call (727) 863-6868.

Autism support group
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, hosts the Helping HANDS autism support group on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.

The next meeting is Oct. 8.

The group is for parents, family members and friends impacted by autism and related neurological disorders.

For information, call Jonica Chittum at (813) 402-9442, or email ">.

Dress is business casual. Dinner is at 7 p.m.

The keynote speaker is comedian Juanita Lolita, a finalist in Florida’s Funniest Comedian contest.

For tickets and sponsorships, call (727) 992-9653, or download forms at NamiPasco.org.

For information or to RSVP, call Nancy Whitener at (727) 375-5337.

Oak Hill offers mammograms for uninsured
Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville, is offering digital mammography screenings for $60 to patients without health insurance.

The screening includes the imaging and the radiologist’s reading.

Patients do not need a script from a physician to schedule a screening.

For information, or to schedule an appointment, call (800) 921-7158.

This free group meets at 11 a.m.

For information, call Phyllis Bross at (813) 996-1361, or email .

Gulfside Hospice unveils fountain to honor Lorraine Hadley
Gulfside Center for Hospice Care in Zephyrhills unveiled the Gulfside Ascending Doves Fountain in honor of Lorraine Hadley on her 89th birthday. Hadley started volunteering at Gulfside in 2006, after her husband became a hospice patient. She recently donated $100,000 to help Gulfside continue its mission. Hadley (seated) is shown with her own piece of the fountain, along with Gus PePietto. In the back row are sculptor Michael Hall, Rosemary Hall, fundraising manager Carla Armstrong, Gulfside president and CEO Linda Ward, and Dr. Daniel Heinig.

Sister Stroll 2.0
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills will kick off the Pink Army breast cancer awareness campaign Oct. 2, on its front lawn.

Registration is at 5 p.m. The stroll begins at 5:30 p.m., with a ceremony to follow.

Participants can stroll along the walking trail and enjoy food and fun along the way.

Registered participants will receive a swag bag filled with pink goodies.

There will also be a car show, entertainment and door prizes.

Advance registration is $15 per person, or $20 at the event.

All proceeds benefit the Simpson Breast Health Center at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

To register, call (877) 534-3108, or visit FHZeph.org.

Family bereavement night
Gulfside Hospice will host a family bereavement night Oct. 2 at 6 p.m., at Gulfside’s East Clinical Office, 37826 Sky Ridge Circle in Dade City.

Children will work on decorating a memory graffiti wall, while bereavement counselors work with parents to give them information on children’s grief and coping techniques.

After the adult session, the families will get back together to work on a family tree.

For information, call (727) 844-3946.

Flu shots at Humana center
The Humana Guidance Center, 7920 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills, will offer flu shots Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Flu shots are free with proof of insurance. All insurance is accepted.

No pre-registration required. Walk-ins welcome.

For information, call (813) 870-7300.

Grief’s Journey bereavement group
HPH Hospice is offering an eight-week Grief’s Journey bereavement group on Tuesdays, Oct. 7-Nov. 25, at 2 p.m., for adults who have experienced the death of a loved one over the past six months.

The group will meet at the HPH Resource Center, 37441 Clinton Ave., in Dade City.

Admission is free. Registration is required by calling (800) 486-8784.

Women’s health seminar
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ Women’s Health Center, 7050 Gall Blvd., will have a “Her Health” seminar Oct. 9 at 5 p.m.

This women’s health event will include physician and expert talks, dinner and door prizes.

Admission is free; registration is required.

For information, call (877) 534-3108, or visit FHZeph.org.

Pregnancy Care Center ‘Run For Life’
“Run For Life” to benefit the Zephyrhills Pregnancy Care Center is scheduled for Nov. 22.

The event includes a 5-kilometer run, a 1-mile fun run, face painting, live music and a farmer’s market.

Runners, walkers and virtual runners who register by Oct. 10 will receive an event T-shirt.

Business sponsorships are also available until Oct. 10.

Federal grant allows improved access to care

October 2, 2014 By B.C. Manion

A federal grant will expand opportunities for Pasco County residents to access health care services offered through Premier Community HealthCare Group Inc, which has offices across the county.

Premier was the only Pasco health care group in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to receive one of the 48 federal grants awarded across Florida.

The health care provider received a $258,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The money will be spent to hire a new pediatrician at Premier’s New Port Richey Family Heath Center in Trinity, and a full-time dental director at its Dade City Dental Center, 37944 Pasco Ave., Suite B, in Dade City.

Premier has more than 2,500 patients in the Central Pasco area, accessing care at its locations in Dade City, Zephyrhills and West Pasco, said Cheryl Pollack, business development director for the health care provider.

Premier is helping to implement the federal Affordable Care Act by providing care and linking individuals to coverage through outreach and enrollment in the health insurance marketplace.

The health care group provides primary care, behavioral health and dental care at locations throughout Pasco County. It offers services for children and adults.

Premier accepts Medicaid, Medicare, Kidcare and various insurance plans. It also serves people who are not insured, Pollack said. Their payment is determined on a sliding scale, based on income.

“We are designed to meet the needs of the population that may not have health care coverage,” Pollack said.

Published October 1, 2014

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Take steps to protect yourself against West Nile virus

October 2, 2014 By B.C. Manion

A human case of the West Nile virus has been confirmed in Pasco County, and officials are advising residents to take precautions to avoid becoming ill.

It is important for people to “cover and drain” — meaning they should wear clothing or use repellent to avoid mosquito bites and should drain standing water on their property, said Deanna Krautner, public information officer for the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County.

A human case of the West Nile virus has been confirmed in Pasco County, prompting officials to issue an advisory outlining precautions that residents can take to reduce their chances of being bitten by a mosquito that could make them ill. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Health in Pasco County) — A human case of the West Nile virus has been confirmed in Pasco County, prompting officials to issue an advisory outlining precautions that residents can take to reduce their chances of being bitten by a mosquito that could make them ill.
(Courtesy of Florida Department of Health in Pasco County)

West Nile virus is most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms, but about one-in-five people infected will develop a fever with other symptoms, the CDC said. Less than 1 percent of those infected will develop a serious and sometimes fatal neurological illness.

The cool weather is drawing more people outdoors, Krautner said, and recent rains have left puddles of standing water on many properties. That can spell greater opportunity for mosquito bites and the illnesses that can accompany them.

To help avoid potential illness, the health department recommends a number of precautions.

To reduce exposure to mosquitoes, residents should:

• Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.

• Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.

• Empty and clean birdbaths and pet water bowls at least once or twice a week.

• Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.

• Maintain swimming pools in good condition, and appropriately chlorinate them. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

• Cover skin with clothing or repellent. Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.

• Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing, and use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months.

When it comes to using repellents, members of the Pasco County division of the health department suggests people read label directions carefully, since some repellents are not suitable for children.

Products with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET are generally recommended. Other approved repellents from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency including Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535.

Repellent should be applied to exposed skin or onto clothing, but not under clothing.

Published October 1, 2014

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Health 09-24-14

September 25, 2014 By Mary Rathman

Regional Medical honors teens
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point recently honored its teen volunteers at a Teen Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and Awards Ceremony.

During the summer, 110 teens ages 14-18 volunteered in various service areas.

The Volunteer Association awarded four $2,000 scholarships to teens who volunteered at least 100 hours and had a 3.7 GPA or better.

The six Five-Star Volunteers of the Year were Steffany Contreras, Albi Hoxhallari, Meghan Hurley, Julia Melucci, Aakash Pajaby and Ivan Trotter.

Knee replacement lecture
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, is hosting a lecture on “Advances in Knee Replacement – the Uni” Sept. 25 at 3 p.m.

The guest speaker is Dr. Jared Salinsky.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

Seating is limited. For reservations, call (727) 869-5498.

Hike for Hospice kickoff party
Gulfside Hospice will host a Hike for Hospice kickoff party Sept. 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Rasmussen College, 18600 Fernview St., in Land O’ Lakes.

There will be door prizes, drawings and refreshments.

To RSVP, call Erin Labbe at (727) 845-5707, or email .

Surviving cancer seminar
Dr. Roberto Diaz from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute will speak about surviving cancer Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., at Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54 in Lutz.

The program is free, and will cover new treatments for cancer, and allow for a question-and-answer period.

For information, call Walt Bockmiller, chair of the Keystone Cancer Support Group, at (813) 527-8211. Or call Keystone Community Church at (813) 948-4522.

Knee pain seminar
The Medical Center of Trinity is offering a seminar called “An Orthopedic Approach to Knee Pain” Sept. 26 at noon, at Seven Springs Golf & Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd., in New Port Richey.

Guest speaker is Dr. Jennifer Cook on the topics of conservative and surgical care, and joint replacement surgery.

Admission is free. A complimentary lunch will be served.

Seating is limited. For reservations, call (727) 834-5630.

‘Brain Wave Cap’ presentation
Dr. Emanuel Donchin will make a presentation called “Brain Computer Interfaces” Sept. 29 at 8 p.m., at Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road in Tampa.

The event is to honor Dr. Scott Mackler, who died from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2013. Mackler worked as a professor at the University of Pennsylvania using Brain Computer Interface, or a “Brain Wave Cap.”

Reservations are required by emailing Alissa Gutierrez at .

Learn more about Medicare
The Groves Golf and Country Club, 7924 Melogold Circle in Land O’ Lakes, will host a free Medicare presentation Sept. 30 at 4 p.m.

Guest speaker will be Mike Lewis, a volunteer for the SHINE program in Pasco County.

The presentation will include a review on Medicare basics, and guests can get guidance from volunteer Medicare counselors.

Women’s cancer conference
Cypress Point Community Church, 15820 Morris Bridge Road in Tampa, is hosting a free women’s conference “Slaying Your Dragons: Christian Cancer Survivors’ Testimonies of Faith and Strength,” Sept. 27 from 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The event will include lunch and a chance to win tickets for the Women of Faith Conference Oct. 10-11.

To register online for attendance and food, visit CPCConline.com.

Chronic arthritis seminar
The Health & Wellness Center at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, 2700 Healing Way, is offering a “Nutrition and Exercise Interventions for Arthritis” seminar Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Topics include how to include anti-inflammatory foods in your diet, foods to limit that trigger joint pain, and how to keep joints strong through daily exercise.

The lecture is free for health center members, and $5 for non-members.

Space is limited and reservations are required.

For information, call (813) 929-5432.

Hand, arm pain discussion
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is having a seminar called “Hand and Arm Pain, Weakness and Numbness” Oct. 1 at noon.

Guest speaker is Dr. James Donovan, orthopedic surgeon.

Topics include signs, symptoms and current treatment options for hand arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other arm conditions.

Admission is free and a free lunch will be served.

Seating is limited and reservations are required.

For information or to RSVP, call (727) 834-5630.

Cancer support group
Florida Cancer Affiliates hosts a general cancer support group meeting every other Wednesday at the New Port Richey center, 5500 Little Road.

The next meeting is Oct. 1 at 6 p.m.

For information, call (727) 808-4818.

Cancer journey chronicled through ceramic busts

September 25, 2014 By B.C. Manion

People facing a life-threatening disease have different ways of coping.

Some join prayer groups. Others keep journals. Some write blogs.

Land O’ Lakes resident Jan Tucker decided she wanted to keep a physical record of what her breasts looked like before she began cancer treatment.

These three ceramic busts, created by artist Paul Phillips, chronicle Jan Tucker’s journey through cancer. The bust on the left shows Tucker’s upper torso before she began cancer treatment. The one in the middle shows her at her lowest point in the battle. The bust on the right shows her upper torso after breast reconstruction. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — These three ceramic busts, created by artist Paul Phillips, chronicle Jan Tucker’s journey through cancer. The bust on the left shows Tucker’s upper torso before she began cancer treatment. The one in the middle shows her at her lowest point in the battle. The bust on the right shows her upper torso after breast reconstruction.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She knew that her brother, Paul Phillips — who does ceramics and other kinds of art — could make the ceramic bust because he’d done body castings for women who were pregnant.

She also knew that her brother might feel strange about applying the material to make the mold to her body, so she asked him to teach her husband Ben how to do the first layer, to avoid potential embarrassment.

Tucker initially just wanted a physical reminder of what she looked like before she was diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma — an aggressive, fast-growing cancer.

Being a private person, she didn’t expect others to see it. But those plans changed, and now three ceramic busts — chronicling her journey through cancer — will be on display at an art exhibit and sale to help raise money for the American Cancer Society and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute.

One bust shows her upper torso before treatment began. The second records her at her lowest point in her cancer battle. The third shows her torso after reconstructive surgery.

The story of Tucker’s fight for her life began like many other stories about breast cancer: She found a lump in her right breast during a routine monthly self-exam.

Ironically, it appeared at a time in her life when she’d never felt healthier. She was 46, and she and Ben routinely worked out.

When she found the lump, Tucker made an appointment with her doctor to check it out as part of an annual exam. That exam, as well as a mammogram, showed it was a cyst, which didn’t surprise Tucker because she’d had cysts before.

So, Tucker went about her daily life, working as an online business professor and developing online courses.

As time went on, though, the lump grew. It was right at her bra line and was becoming uncomfortable. She also felt two smaller lumps.

Still, she had no plans to go back to the doctor before her annual check.

“My husband kept nagging me,” Tucker said. “‘You need to go get this checked.’”

But she didn’t until he hurt his foot, and now it was Tucker urging him to see a doctor. They made a deal: He would go for his foot, if she went for her breast.

On the return visit, the doctor said the lump was larger, but was still a cyst. But after Tucker told the doctor it was bothering her, the doctor referred her to a breast surgeon to get the lump drained.

The breast surgeon – Dr. Kimberly Apple – wanted an ultrasound. That led to additional diagnostics, a core biopsy, and a needle biopsy on six cancer tumors.

The doctor told Tucker she would call her with the results, either way. That call came on a Friday morning, April 26, 2013.

“When I picked up the phone, I hear her say, ‘I’m sorry.’ I hear her voice crack,” Tucker said. Then she starts with the doctor jargon.”

She heard the doctor talking, but couldn’t process what she was saying.

“Everything kind of stops in your world,” Tucker said. “It was so surreal.”

The doctor asked Tucker if she had any questions. Tucker had one: “Is it treatable?”

Yes, but it would require extensive treatment.

Tucker’s cancer was so advanced that she had to undergo chemotherapy before surgery. That’s when she decided to have her brother do the ceramic bust.

“I called him and I said, ‘I want to remember how I am today,’” she said.

A week later, she was undergoing chemotherapy.

“It’s awful. There’s no way to sugarcoat it,” Tucker said, noting she went through five rounds of chemo in six months.

Next, she had a nipple-sparing bilateral mastectomy.

She planned to do reconstruction, but lost so much blood she had to have a transfusion, which led to an infection.

“I was down to 95 pounds,” Tucker said. “I’m bald at this point. I have no eyebrows, no eyelashes. My skin is sagging, and I was extremely depressed. I was in a really, really dark place.

“I called Paul and said, ‘I want to do another casting.’

“He’s like, ‘Really?’”

She said she wanted to remember this stage of the battle, too. That casting was done on Feb. 26.

When she got over the infection, she pursued reconstruction again. After that was done, Tucker did another body casting to show her upper torso after reconstruction. That casting was done on Aug. 16.

“It just kind of brought the whole thing together,” Tucker said.

She still had no intention of making the ceramic busts public. But that changed after her brother, who had exhibited some of his art works at Alchemy Art Lounge in Tarpon Springs, told the owner about the castings he’d done for his sister.

“The owner got real quiet and said, ‘My mother has breast cancer,’” Tucker said.

Then the owner suggested having a Pink Party in October, and to donate the proceeds to the American Cancer Society and Moffitt. Tucker agreed to have her ceramic busts on display because they help convey the stages she has been through.

“There really is no better way to illustrate the story than that,” said Tucker, who is now 48.

She and her husband have two sons, Van — who just graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in chemical engineering — and Adam, a sophomore at USF, who is pursuing the same degree.

Tucker said she never would have chosen to walk the path, yet she knows it has yielded new insights.

“I am a different person today because of this,” Tucker said. “I am much more focused on what’s important in life, and it’s not chasing a promotion.”

If you go …
WHAT: Alchemy Art Lounge and Hard Bodies Yo present a Pink Party, featuring an art show and sale, a silent auction and a chance drawing for prizes.
WHERE: 25 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs
WHEN: Oct. 9, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
DETAILS: Proceeds will benefit cancer charities
INFO: Paul Phillips at (386) 334-5943

Published September 24, 2014

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