Hannibal Regional Healthcare System News Archive
Mary Sprague, a northeast Missouri resident, has a lot to celebrate - on June 7th, National Survivors Day, and every day!
Thanks to advances in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and follow-up care, more people than ever before are surviving longer after being diagnosed with cancer. In America alone, more than 16.9 million people are alive today after being diagnosed with cancer.
Mary was diagnosed two years ago with Stage 2 breast cancer. She was having difficulty with rib pain which led her to find a lump on her breast. She made an appointment with Dr. Julie Viehmann, Gynecologist at Hannibal Regional Medical Group. Dr. Viehmann saw signs of concern so she sent her to see surgeon, Dr. Stacey Copeland also with Hannibal Regional Medical Group. She performed a biopsy on a Monday and by Wednesday Mary was informed of her cancer diagnosis.
From there, she met with the team of Dr. Joseph Bean at the James E. Cary Cancer Center; Dr. Kristen Strasser, Hematology/Oncology Specialist, and Dr. Copeland, both with Hannibal Regional Medical Group. She was diagnosed with HER 2 Positive Breast Cancer. She was all set to begin her chemo treatment when Dr. Strasser encouraged her to get a PET scan to make sure there were no other issues. The results of the PET scan showed that Mary’s cancer was now Stage 4 because it had spread to her liver.
“I am going to live! This is not a death sentence. I have too much to do,” Mary recalls thinking. She began chemo treatment with Dr. Strasser and her team. “They were great, just like family!”
When Mary’s hair began falling out her girlfriends came to her home and they had a hair cutting party. Then foods began not tasting good, but she made herself eat in order to stay strong so she could continue with and manage her chemo. She began meditating at night and she had shower talks with God.
“You have to stay positive, positivity manifests healing. I am going to live to be a healthy old lady.”
Mary finished her last chemo treatment around Easter of 2019. She had a lumpectomy performed by Dr. Copeland and 20 rounds of radiation with Dr. Bean. She was then told by Dr. Strasser that she saw no signs of cancer.
You are a survivor the moment you are diagnosed. Take every day with a new outlook on life. “Tears are weaknesses leaving your body to make room for strength! I am alive, I am living, I am a survivor!” Mary is living her life to the fullest taking on new challenges and keeping a positive outlook on life.
National Cancer Survivors Day is a celebration for those who have survived, and inspiration for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of support for families, and outreach to the community.
For more information about cancer diagnosis or treatment options, call the Hannibal Regional Infusion Center at 573- 629-3500.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Over the past few decades, more people have been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer than all other cancers combined. In 2018 it is estimated that over 178,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed.
Some risk factors for skin cancer include a lighter natural skin color, reddish hair, family history of skin cancer, history of indoor tanning, history of sunburns (especially early in life), and skin that burns, freckles, or reddens easily. “If you have any of these risk factors, you should see a doctor for a skin cancer screening at least once a year,” says Dr. Schuyler Metlis with Hannibal Regional Medical Group. “Catching cancer early often allows for more treatment options, and if you have skin cancer, finding it early is the best way to make sure it can be treated with success.”
Beginning in April and going through June, Dr. Metlis will be hosting free skin cancer screenings throughout the region. The screenings are free, however space is limited and an appointment is required. Dr. Metlis will be available for screenings on the following dates and times:
As part of Hannibal Regional, the Hannibal Regional Medical Group (HRMG) is a growing multi-specialty physician group continuing to expand primary and specialty care services to meet the health needs of northeast Missouri residents. HRMG family and specialty physicians deliver a range of acute, chronic and preventive medical care services. In addition to diagnosing and treating illness, they also provide preventive care, including routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunizations, screening tests and personalized counseling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Hannibal Regional Medical Group has locations in Bowling Green, Canton, Hannibal, Louisiana, Monroe City, and Shelbina, as well as an Express Care clinic in Hannibal.
Hannibal Regional Medical Group is excited to welcome Dr. Nwakile to their Cardiology team! Dr. Nwakile comes to Hannibal from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he was a Chief Fellow of Cardiology at the Einstein Medical Center. Dr. Nwakile has been a physician for over ten years and joins the Hannibal Regional Medical Group’s expert cardiology team of Dr. Alvi, Dr. Harruna, Dr. Valuck and Kim Cordes, CVNP-BC.
“The moment I chose to become a physician happened in my teens” shares Dr. Nwakile. “The dexterity and patience of a doctor saved my father’s life. It was at a point when virtually all hope was lost! I wanted to experience the joy associated with giving myself to take care of people with health needs.” Dr. Nwakile strives to give the best of himself to each of his patients while being sensitive to the emotional and psychological needs of his patients and their family.
When talking about the most rewarding part of being a physician, Dr. Nwakile notes, “Seeing that smile on the face of a patient whose life I have touched in some way - that is probably one of the greatest feelings anyone can have! The happiness I experience when families joyfully take their loved ones home after an episode of ill health makes the long hours all worth it.”
Chinualumogu Nwakile, MD is accepting new patients and works alongside Hannibal Regional Medical Group’s highly skilled cardiology team. To reach the Cardiology offices at Hannibal Regional Medical Group call 573-629-3500.
Hannibal Regional is the first in the area to offer patients a new wireless monitoring sensor to manage their heart failure. It has been proven to significantly reduce hospital admissions by up to 37% in a clinical study.
"Now we have a wireless sensor chip available called ‘CardioMEMS’ which is implanted in a pulmonary artery. This device painlessly transmits the pressure in the artery which is downloaded to the clinician's computer so we can make decisions about fluid retention and make adjustments to medicines before the condition deteriorates." said Pervez Alvi, MD, a Cardiologist at Hannibal Regional, who performs the procedure.
Penny Kampeter’s mother was recently treated for heart failure at Hannibal Regional. Her mother has suffered from a heart condition for 30 years. About a year ago, her doctor in Saint Louis who had performed open heart surgery to repair a leaky valve in 2011, finally said that “he did all that he could do” for her. But Penny and her mother were not ready to give up. They had heard good things about a cardiologist in Hannibal by the name of Dr. Alvi and they setup a consultation appointment with him. At the consult, Dr. Alvi reviewed her medical history and said, “I don’t have a magic wand but I would sure like to help.” He offered them an option that would provide daily monitoring and would alert healthcare providers at Hannibal Regional if anything needed to be adjusted to Penny’s mother’s medications. Since the procedure, there has been very little swelling in her feet and it has reduced her hospital visits. “It’s been a miracle” said Penny that has changed their lives.
Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization for Americans over age 65 and occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 6 million Americans have heart failure and 900,000 new patients are diagnosed each year. Patients with heart failure are frequently hospitalized, have a reduced quality of life and face a higher risk of death.
“Hannibal Regional is committed to improving patient care by investing in innovative medical technology such as the CardioMEMS to help patients who suffer from chronic debilitating conditions like heart failure,” said Pranav Parikh, MD and Chief Medical Officer of Hannibal Regional Health System. Hannibal Regional serves residents of the tri-state area from more than ten locations and includes, Hannibal Regional Medical Group, Complete Family Medicine, and Hannibal Regional Foundation. Modern Healthcare recently recognized Hannibal Regional as one of the 2017 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. For more information on Hannibal Regional, visit www.hannibalregional.org.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and Dr. Ashraf Almashhrawi, gastroenterologist with Hannibal Regional Medical Group, would like to share some information to help you stay well. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women in the United States and 90% of those cases occur in people who are 50 years of age or older.
Colorectal cancer starts in either your colon or rectum, which make up the lower part of your digestive tract. Changes that occur in the cells which line the inside of the colon or rectum can lead to growths called polyps. Over time, some types of polyps can become cancerous so removing polyps early may stop cancer from ever forming.
“Often signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer only appear when the cancer has progressed to late stage cancer or has spread.” notes Dr. Almashhrawi. Some of the symptoms of colorectal cancer are blood on or in your bowel movement; pains, aches or cramps in your stomach that don’t go away; constant tiredness; vomiting and unexplained weight loss. Many of these symptoms may be caused by other, more common health problems, but it is important to see your healthcare provider if you do have these symptoms so they can determine the root problem. Only a healthcare provider can tell if you have colorectal cancer.
“If you’re 50 or older, getting a colorectal cancer screening could save your life,” shares Dr. Almashhrawi. “Regular screening is very important for colorectal cancer because it can often detect cancer early, when it will likely be easier to treat. In fact, screening can even prevent many colorectal cancers, because screening helps us find and remove growths inside the colon or rectum before they have a chance to turn into cancer.” If you are age 50 or over you should be getting screened for colorectal cancer. Some people are at higher risk for colorectal cancer, based on family history or other factors. They might need to start screening at a younger age, and then be screened more often than normal. How often you need these tests depends on which test you have. In general, you can go longer between tests if you have a colonoscopy, which lets the doctor find and remove polyps, or similar tests. Screening tests that look for blood or other things in the stool must be done more often.
“Talk with your healthcare provider about which screening option is right for you,” says Dr. Almashhrawi. “No matter which test you choose, the most important thing is that you get checked.” It's important to keep in mind that if cancer is found at an early stage during screening, treatment is more likely to be effective. There are currently more than one million colon cancer survivors in the United States. To contact Dr. Almashhrawi’s office, call 573-629-3500.
Thinking it would be just like any other baseball game, Evan Johnson never dreamed that during this one he would end up in the Hannibal Regional Emergency Room.
Evan and his team had a home game at Mark Twain High School in New London MO this past baseball season. Evan, who usually is the starting 3rd baseman, was brought in to pitch. This was not unfamiliar, as now each pitcher alternates games due to recent changes in pitching rules. This particular evening was Evan’s night.
Then the unexpected happened; after throwing a pitch, the catcher threw a line drive ball straight back to Evan. Evan turned his head before he knew the catcher was throwing the ball back to him. The ball smacked him right in the face above his lip. Blood went everywhere. After the coaches and parents assessed the situation, it was determined he would need to immediate medical attention.
Evan’s parents, Wendy and DK Johnson, quickly drove him to the Hannibal Regional Emergency Room. From the moment they walked in the door until the time they walked back to their car, their care was top notch.
“Our entire Hannibal Regional Emergency Room experience was wonderful. They accommodated us in a timely fashion, every single person we came in contact with were super nice and friendly from registration, triage, the nurse that was assigned to Evan, and the ER physician, Dr. Hussain. Dr. Hussain handled the situation very professionally and had a great bedside manner. We cannot say enough good things about our experience,” said Wendy Johnson, Evan’s mother.
Evan’s injury was minor but could have been much worse. He was lucky and received only five stitches with no scarring. Evan is looking forward to being a senior baseball player next year as well as a football player for the Mark Twain Tigers!
