Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Spring 2020

2 | Spring 2020 LAKE REGIONAL NEWS You can save a life Learn how According to the Missouri Department of Mental Health, one person dies by suicide in our state every seven hours. And the rates of suicide are climbing, especially among children ages 10 to 17 and adults ages 18 to 34. What can be done to reverse this alarming trend? Although the causes of suicide vary, the CDC says community- based prevention strategies can be effective. These strategies can promote connectedness, teach coping and problem-solving skills, and educate community members about how they can identify and support people at risk. T he 2019 Cancer Services Annual Report, now available to the community, examines the impact Lake Regional is having on the health of lake-area residents. From preven- tion and early detection to treatment and survivorship, Lake Regional offers a wide range of cancer care services to treat the whole person — not just the disease. The report includes treatment performance for cancers diagnosed between 2014 and 2017. The statistics show Lake Regional is outpacing state and national performance by Commission on Cancer-accredited cancer centers for certain metrics related to breast, colon and lung cancer treatments. Commonly diagnosed cancers Also reported are the top five sites of new cancer cases diag- nosed at Lake Regional in 2018. These include: lung, breast, prostate, urinary bladder and skin. Lung cancer diagnoses significantly increased at Lake Regional during 2018. Ninety-two cases were diag- nosed that year, compared to 58 cases in 2017. The change is likely due to increased awareness that low-dose CT scans are a recommended screening for many smokers ages 55 to 77. “It’s a simple test that saves lives,” says Lake Regional Pulmonologist Harjyot “Joe” Sohal, M.D. “Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer-related death for men and women. A low-dose CT scan can reveal lung cancer in its earliest stages, when treatments are most effective.” In addition, diagnoses of prostate (46 cases) and urinary Report highlights achievements of nationally accredited cancer team bladder cancer (37 cases) increased due to the addition of Urologist Eric McQueary, M.D., to Lake Regional in August 2018. “Since this exceptional surgeon joined our cancer care team, more people are receiving timely diagnoses and the latest treatment for urological cancers,” says Lake Regional CEO Dane Henry, FACHE. “We are proud to offer these services close to home for our community.” To learn more about all Lake Regional Cancer Services, download the complete report at lakeregional.com/reports . Our cancer care team is made up of compassionate providers who will treat you — and the people you love — like family.