Did you know your risk of survival with breast cancer decreases with every day you delay treatment? It’s true. Dr. Steven Evans, Chief Medical Officer for SilverSummit Healthplan, was recently a guest on Talking Solutions. He discussed this very important statistic that few people know. And he’s determined to spread the word.
Dr. Evans‘s passion for helping woman survive breast cancer comes, in part, from losing women in his own family to the disease. He spent a significant amount of time researching the statistics and found this scary fact. Once diagnosed with breast cancer, a woman’s chance of survival decreases by 10% if she delays treatment just 30 days. 20% if she delays 60 days.
Dr. Evans used his findings to develop an essential program, here in Las Vegas for those recently diagnosed. THIS. PROGRAM. SAVES. LIVES. And it needs to be talked about in our communities. It’s called Project Accelerate. Dr. Evans and SilverSummit Healthplan have teamed up with medical partners in Southern Nevada. Partners include Quest Diagnostics, Steinberg Diagnostics and local breast surgeons.
Here’s how it works. Project Accelerate found all the cracks in the system when it comes to getting quick treatment after a breast cancer diagnosis. Normal delays in the medical system when it comes to scheduling appointments, getting results, etc. can take weeks, even months. What Project Accelerate does is bring together the people involved in the treatment process under the same promise to push the urgency needed for this kind of diagnosis.
And, as Dr. Evans explained in his interview, Project Accelerate will also follow up until the treatment is underway. Ensuring that patients get the help they need as quickly as possible. Project Accelerate has already saved lives, and Dr. Evans is determined to keep going.
As of now, this is only available to SilverSummit Healthplan members, as that is where Dr. Evans has been conducting his research. But, Dr. Evans says he hopes that getting this conversation going, in addition to publishing his findings, will make this information available to anyone in the world.
Dr. Evans urges anyone who has been released diagnosed with breast cancer to be RELENTLESS when making appointments for treatment. And to make sure that their doctor knows about these statistics. He says if a woman has had a positive mammogram, she needs to call her doctor’s office and stay on the line until she gets an appointment immediately. Within two to three days at the most.
“I want the patients to be a pest,” said Evans, “This is your life. Don’t accept that you’re going to get an appointment in a few weeks. Don’t accept that the doctor will get back to you within 48 hours. Don’t allow delays in the system to decrease your chances of living.”
Hear the entire interview below, and please…share with every woman you know. This one piece of information could save her life. –Wendy Rush, 96.3KKLZ Las Vegas
Original Air Date of Podcast: December 11, 2022. Follow us! Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
7 Stress-Reducing Lifestyle Changes You Should Make
1. Get Enough Sleep
It cannot be understated how important sleep is for stress management. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time so your body can anticipate and make the most of the time you’ve set aside for repose. And ditch those electronics in the bedroom for the best sleep results.
2. Practice Mindfulness
One of the easiest lifestyle changes you can make for less stress is to learn how to practice mindfulness. This doesn’t necessarily mean setting aside 20 minutes every day to meditate. Although that would be amazing. Mindfulness just means being present in the moment. Whether that means putting the phone away when you’re eating so you can focus on the tastes and textures of the food, or taking a moment to notice the sights and smells around you. Mindfulness brings you into the present moment and out of your stress.
3. Eat Well
A good diet is an essential element for keeping your body and mind performing at their best. And this helps to manage the daily stress we all experience. Try to avoid processed foods as much as you can. and eat plenty of greens and whole grains to get the most health benefits. If you are a meat-eater, opt for the leanest proteins you can.
4. Set Boundaries
You know that phrase “location, location, location”? Well that level of importance should be stressed on “boundaries, boundaries, boundaries”. While it might be really challenging to say no when people ask you to do things, it’s a MUST if you are stretched thin and not able to prioritize your self-care. There’s a reason people-pleasers are exhausted all the time.
5. Time Management
With everything we tend to pack on our plates, being able to juggle it all is vital. Think about it, if you start the day later than you need to get everything on your list done, you’re setting yourself up for failure. If you always feel stressed about your packed schedule, maybe waking up ten or fifteen minutes earlier can make a difference in the stress levels you have throughout the day.
6. Get Picky About Your Circle
They say the people closest to you shape who you become. If your circle of friends includes people who are chronically negative, its going to have an effect on your stress levels. So surround yourself with people who elevate your mood and you’ll have an easier time handling stress.
7. Get A Pet
Studies have shown that interacting with animals lowers cortisol. That’s a stress-related hormone. Having a pet also boosts your mood and lowers your blood pressure.
