Smarter Medical Care show

Smarter Medical Care

Summary: When people are threatened by any serious illness, learning about non-medical issues is an obvious but often neglected need. For example, What can a person do to prepare for a physician visit? At Smarter Medical Care, our mission is to offer practical advice about matters in concise, casual conversations between medical experts during that period of time when people are confronting illness. What are some other “non-medical” issues? How can a person tell their child they are ill? Or minimize mood swings? Or cope with friends who make painful statements? Or manage pain and fatigue? How can recently diagnosed individuals cope with family and friends, or negotiate the medical system, or deal with insurance companies, or manage their time or prepare for tests? These are uncommonly discussed issues that should be addressed. Smarter Medical Care’s podcasts address these issues directly, practically and compassionately.

Podcasts:

 Neuropathy | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 14:53

Dr. Robert Miller defines what a neuropathy is (an abnormality in a nerve), why different neuropathies cause different symptoms, what the usual causes of neuropathy are, and what the relationship between cancers, cancer treatments and neuropathies are.

 ALS | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 18:10

Dr. Robert Miller is interviewed about how ALS (or Lou Gehrig's disease) involves nerves controlling voluntary muscle movements. Weakness in one muscle group, speech changes and difficulty swallowing are some of the problems that initially affect people and cause them to seek medical attention. Care is complex, relying upon multiple therapists to give people the best quality of life. At this time, one medicine has been shown in trials to slow down but not halt the progression of disease. Maintaining hope, accepting symptoms to relieve symptoms, maintaining good nutrition, ensuring good lung function and involvement in a multi-disciplinary clinic have all been shown to improve people's quality of life.

 A Lump in the Neck | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 14:18

Dr. Mark Singer, a noted head and neck surgeon in San Francisco, describes in straight-forward terms what to do when a lump is discovered in the neck. There are several possible causes ---infection, inflammation, a remnant of a cyst from the time of birth as well as cancer. Depending upon where in the neck the lump is as well as the lump's characteristics (size, location in the neck, hardness and tenderness), the person's age, the possible history of a sore throat a few weeks earlier, a history of smoking and many other factors, physicians can prioritize which of the several causes are most likely. Often a trial of antibiotics is appropriate. There is also a simple, painless procedure to place a small needle into the lump that can identify the cause. Cells can be evaluated under the microscope and cultures can be taken as well through the needle. Tumor cells and often the type of tumor can also be identified, an important issue for some patients. The procedure is called an FNA for fine needle aspirate.

 Voice Prostheses | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 9:46

You needn't live in silence even if your larynx is removed. Dr. Mark Singer, a head and neck surgeon, describes how people who need total removal of the larynx, the natural voice box, can regain speech.

 The Value of Hospice | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 8:04

Hospice is a Medicare benefit that offers care at home, the availability of several support services for those in need, and active cancer care if that is medically appropriate. Dr. Andrew Lasher is interviewed in order to understand and maximize this invaluable service.

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