CindyA

How to Correct Errors in your Medical Records These Mistakes Can Affect Your Healthcare and Outcomes By law, you have the right to correct most errors you find in your medical records. Those corrections are referred to in the law as "amendments." The records themselves are called a "designated record set." In particular, as medical records are transferred from paper to digital, electronic records, there are any number of mistakes that are being made. Your review and correction is definitely warranted. Once you have obtained, then reviewed your medical records and have found an error, you'll want to follow this procedure: 1. Determine exactly what the error is and whether it needs correcting. Sometimes errors are simply typographical and may or may not require correction. However, any piece of information that will have an effect on your diagnosis, treatment, or ability to be contacted, whether it can affect you or your health today or in the future, should be corrected. Further, problems with medical identity theft are on the rise, so information that regards payment, billing or your personal identity should be corrected. Here are some examples: If any medical test results, symptoms or treatment decisions are recorded incorrectly, they should be corrected immediately. Your care and future health could hinge on their accuracy. If your phone number is incorrect, you'll want to make sure it gets corrected immediately. Failure to do so will result in the wrong information being replicated. If the record says your appointment was at 2 p.m., but you never saw the doctor until 3:30 p.m., that may not have any bearing on your future health or billing information needs. If your doctor met with you for 45 minutes, but only a 10 minute appointment is recorded, then it probably does not need to be corrected. That would be up to the provider's office to correct. But if you had a 10 minute appointment, and a longer time period has been recorded, it may affect your billing and the amount of money you will have to pay. In that case, you may want to consider requesting an amendment to the record. 2. Contact the provider's or payer's office to ask if they have a form they require for making amendments to your medical records. If so, ask them to email, fax or postal mail a copy to you. 3. Make a copy of the record page(s) where the error(s) occur. If it's a simple correction, then you can strike one line through the incorrect information, and handwrite the correction. By doing it this way, the person in the provider's office will find it most easily and be able to correct it most easily. If they sent you a form to fill out, you may staple this copy to the form. 4. If the correction is more involved, you may need to write a letter outlining why you think it is wrong and what the correction is. If you do write a letter, make sure you include some basics, such as your name and the date of service in your letter, then staple your letter to the copy of the page that contains the error. Be concise, and write the correction exactly as you think it should be noted. The idea is to make it very easy for the provider's records person to amend your records. 5. Make a copy of each page you have put together to send to the provider: the form they sent you, any letters you have written, and any page you have written on. Mail, fax or deliver your amendment request in person. What Happens Next? The provider or facility must act on your request within 60 days, but may extend up to 30 days if they provide a reason to you in writing. They are not required to make the change you request. In many cases, they will, because it will benefit both you and the provider. However, if they believe your request does not have merit, they can refuse to make the amendment. They must notify you of their decision in writing. If they have refused to amend your records as per your request, you may submit a formal, written disagreement which must be added to your file. If you feel as if your privacy has been violated during the process of requesting an amendment, the federal government provides a procedure for making a formal complaint on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. Correcting Records Kept by The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) The Medical Information Bureau is an organization that supplies information to health insurers, life insurers, and other entities which have interest in a combination of your health information and credit information. To correct your MIB records, follow the procedure they have outlined on their website. While it is basically the same procedure outlined above, their terminology is different, and they do provide phone numbers. http://patients.about.com/od/yourmedica ... orrect.htm

Happy Thursday everyone! Tomorrow is FRIDAY!! We are expecting beautiful weather here this weekend, and all of next week. My family and I will be visiting family for my Mom's birthday. What do you get someone who has everything? Last year I gave her a pot filled with an aloe vera plant that I had glued photos on with modge podge glue. Recently I saw it in the garage as a miscellaneous holder. HAHA. Fail. I think this year I'll get her a gift card. You can't go wrong with gift cards. Or can you, lol? What is in store for you this weekend? Alright who's still on the PARTY BUS?! Katie - flipping thru songs on her ipod to play in the bus... Cindy - is making anew batch of rita's while talking on the phone... Bruce - is sitting in the back waiting for Eric's beer... Diane - is still sipping on a footlong margarita? Dog-Driving We are looking out for Randy (is on pastry duty), Lillian (she's on nacho duty), Michelle you too! Who else wants a ride? All aboard! We are headed to Airdrie Cross to pick up Eric!

Eric! Nice to see you here. I'm so happy for you that you met Liz. She sounds great! Good luck at your meeting I look forward to hearing how it goes. Alright who's still on the PARTY BUS?! Katie - is having a silly willy day Cindy - is cleaning/mopping that spilled sangrita out the back door... Bruce - ??? Diane - is sipping on a footlong margarita Dog-Driving We are looking out for Randy (is on pastry duty), Lillian (she's on nacho duty), Michelle you too! Who else wants a ride? All aboard! We are headed to Airdrie Cross to pick up Eric!

Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 40-45 minutes Yield: 8 servings Serving size: 1 cup Ingredients 8 oz whole wheat spiral pasta, cooked and drained 1 lb lean ground beef 1/2 white or yellow onion, diced 1/2 cup baby bella mushrooms, sliced 1/4 cup green bell peppers, diced 1 jar light spaghetti sauce 1 cup low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese 2 1/2 oz turkey pepperoni slices Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender. Drain pasta and set aside. In a large skillet, cook beef on medium-high heat for about 8 to 10 minutes or until no longer pink. Drain liquid and set ground beef aside. In the same skillet, cook onion, mushrooms and bell pepper over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Add ground beef back to the skillet. Stir in spaghetti sauce and cooked pasta. Transfer to a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle cheese over the top and arrange turkey pepperoni slices. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes. Nutrition Information Per Serving (1 cup): Calories: 274 Fat: 7g Carbohydrates: 30g Fiber: 3g Protein: 25g Sugars: 5g Sodium: 698mg Vitamin A: 9% Vitamin C: 4% Calcium: 11% Iron: 18% http://ow.ly/v04RK

There's nothing more powerful than hearing stories of living with lung cancer straight from survivors themselves. In this video series, survivors at different stages of the disease talk about the reality of receiving a lung cancer diagnosis, and their quiet strength will inspire you. http://events.lungevity.org/site/PageSe ... s_of_Hope#

An Unexpected Present March 24th, 2014 - by Kenneth Lourie Not that I minded it in the least (in fact, I appreciated it in the most), but I received my first senior discount the other day. I was fast-fooding at my local Roy Rogers restaurant when the unexpected kindness occurred. Considering that I’m not at the age yet when such discounts are typically available, I certainly did not (do not) presume that my appearance somehow reflects an age which I am not. In truth, I don’t believe it does. So even though I didn’t ask for the age-related discount, I was offered/given it nonetheless. As the cashier tallied my bill, she then spoke the price and adjusted it downward 10 percent for my surprise “senior” discount. On hearing the lower price and the reason for it, I immediately responded: “Oh, you’re giving senior discounts to people over 40?” To which she replied, while looking me directly in the eye: “No. Over 30.” Laughing at her quick-thinking quip, I thanked her again for the discount and commended her on her excellent answer/customer service. Without making this too much a cancer column, a terminal diagnosis at age 54 and a half sort of means that certain realities, benefits and inevitabilities (if you live long enough, which after receiving my diagnosis/prognosis seemed unlikely) are off the table; heck they’re likely on the floor waiting to be swept up and placed in the trash bin (been and gone, you might say). I refer generally to the kinds of things associated with turning 65: retirement, Social Security, Medicare, and of course, “senior discounts.” After hearing what I heard, reaching age 55 seemed challenging enough. To be honest though, and you regular readers know I’m honest, maybe painfully so; after receiving the incredibly discouraging and grim news concerning my diagnosis from my oncologist five years ago, I didn’t really think about the parts of my life that I would be missing since my future was, at that point, seriously in doubt. If I recall, my mindset back then wasn’t on the future I was losing because of my disease, it was more about the present that I was living and being as proactive as possible to try and live as long as I could. Moreover, given the rather morbid tone I was hearing from my oncologist, it sounded as if I’d be lucky to have a present, let alone a future. A “13-month to two-year prognosis” (out of the blue no less; I was asymptomatic and a lifelong non-smoker) followed by an admission from my doctor that he can’t “cure me, but he can treat me;” and a further reply to my wife Dina’s query as to why there aren’t any parades for lung cancer survivors, as there seem to be for breast cancer survivors: “Because there aren’t any” (survivors that is) hardly reinforce a lung cancer patient’s future prospects. Yet here I write, nearly five years post-diagnosis, receiving the previously (given my life expectancy) unimaginable senior discount. And though there are likely fewer guarantees now and even less certainty for a stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer survivor five years out and still living, I don’t discount the significance of any discounts. At this juncture, I deserve any I can get. Besides, I think I’ve earned them. _____________________________________________________________________________ “This column is my life as one of the fortunate few; a lung cancer anomaly: a stage IV lung cancer patient who has outlived his doctor’s original prognosis; and I’m glad to share it. It seems to help me cope writing about it. Perhaps it will help you relate reading about it.” Mr. Lourie’s columns can be found at www.connectionnewspapers.com. (key word, Lourie) http://blog.lungevity.org/2014/03/24/an ... d-present/

Hi Drema M, Welcome to the LCSC boards. There are a lot of friends here who have taken Tarceva. I'm sure once they read your message they will give you some great advice. You have come to the right place. With LUNGevity, you do not have to go through this alone. Here are a few ways the Foundation can help you in addition to these message boards. Caregiver Resource Center http://events.lungevity.org/cg/index.html LifeLine http://events.lungevity.org/site/PageNa ... eLine.html If you have any questions about these please feel free to email me at Support@lungevity.org

It's Tuesday! What will you do today? As for me I will be on the phone quite a bit, so I wanted to just drop a line to say hello. Hello!

Cindy hands Diane a footlong margarita with a swirly straw. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry I couldn't hear you guys, the blender was on. Here we go to the Carolinas to get Randy! Pedal to the metal dog! Someone text him that we are on our way there and we are just going to honk our horn that sounds like the Mexican Hat song (click this to hear it )WHO wants Sangria's?! (Cindy starts the blender again, OH NO, she forgot to put the lid on!)

Hi everyone! How was your weekend? Diane, the dog is driving the party bus, lol! Katie is on board, she's over there in a seat planning the National Hope Summit on one of her cool hand held devices.

Celebrating National Celery Month! Meals to Heal By Marissa Lubin Celery is often an under-appreciated vegetable and doesn’t get much attention in the shadows of powerhouses like kale and broccoli. But, celery has some amazing health benefits that should not go unnoticed! Celery has both a high water content and a ton of insoluble fiber, which, together, help promote normal digestion and keep you full. It also has several antioxidants and protects against inflammation in the digestive system. Plus, it has an amazing crunch and is the perfect snack. Remember snacking on celery with peanut butter & raisins as a kid (or as I used to call it, “ants on a log”)? Here are some grown up ways to bring back that childhood favorite and integrate celery into your diet. For the traditionalist: ❖ 4-inch celery sticks ❖ Almond butter ❖ Red grapes ❖ Cinnamon Top each celery stick with 1 teaspoon almond butter, 2 halved grapes, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. A Mediterranean Twist: ❖ 4-inch celery sticks ❖ Hummus ❖ Olives, tomatoes, or other toppings ❖ Chili powder (optional) Top each celery stick with 1 teaspoon hummus, chopped olives and tomatoes, and a sprinkle of chili powder. http://meals-to-heal.com/blog/celebrati ... ery-month/

The following was submitted by Addison GIlbert Hospital: Beverly Hospital and Beverly Radiology Associates are offering a free low-dose chest CT screening to individuals who meet the established National Comprehensive Cancer Network's (NCCN) high-risk criteria. Persons between the ages of 50 and 74 who have smoked at least an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for twenty-years, may meet the criteria. To learn if you meet the criteria, an initial assessment is required and may be taken by calling 1-855-CT- CHEST. While private insurers and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) do not currently cover low-dose CT lung screenings, and most hospitals charge a self-pay of at least $350. for this screening, Beverly Hospital is determined to help bring awareness and accessibility of this testing to all people at high-risk at no charge. The screening does not obligate those who participate to return to a Beverly Hospital facility for any further screenings, for further evaluation of any findings or any other services that Beverly Hospital provides. http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/bev ... ening.html

Reviewing the Personalized Therapies in Lung Cancer Conference: Part 1 http://ow.ly/uNlen March 20th, 2014 - by Dr. Jack West Over the last couple of years, I’ve attended and spoken at a lung cancer conference that I find to be particularly gratifying. Each fall, the Annual Personalized Therapies in Lung Cancer conference is held at a location in southern California. I wanted to provide a summary of what was covered at the last one, back in November, since it covered a broad range of the topics I think are most interesting here, using an interactive, case-based format integrated into the presentations. The first session focused on existing targets, specifically the HER/EGFR family and ALK, though the discussions were more forward-looking than reviews of information we already know. Dr. Paul Bunn, former ASCO President and President and then Executive Director of the International Association of the Study of Lung Cancer, started the day with a summary of “game changers” in lung cancer in 2013, a whirlwind tour of the emerging landscape of acquired resistance and discussion of rare variants of mutations. Dr. Phil Mack from the University of California at Davis then described the shifting world of lower costs and wider availability of whole genome sequencing for lung cancer, though he noted that this is still creating a haystack of data in which we’re still looking for needles. Of course, this field will be changing rapidly, and we should expect our practices to follow as the price and turnaround time decrease as the number of clinically useful targets increases. Dr. Ron Natale from Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles provided a great summary of the data comparing first and second generation oral EGFR inhibitors. Specifically, he covered the very consistent evidence that Iressa (gefitinib), Tarceva (erlotinib) and Gilotrif (afatinib) all handily demonstrate overwhelmingly greater activity than standard chemo as first line therapy for patients with an activating EGFR mutation, but we don’t have any direct comparisons of these agents to say that one is clearly superior to another. With regard to less common mutations, those not on exons 19 or 21, work with Gilotrif demonstrated that it isn’t particularly effective outside of those classic, activating mutations. And looking at the efficacy and side effect profiles of Gilotrif and Tarceva in different trials side by side, it appears that they are very similarly active, with greater diarrhea and probably rash and mouth sores with Gilotrif. Dr. Fred Hirsch from the University of Colorado then looked at the potential role of IV antibodies to EGFR, such as Erbitux (cetuximab), in advanced NSCLC. He recapped the questions around the FLEX trial, marginally positive for a survival benefit, but with so little absolute difference between the arms that Erbitux hasn’t really entered into routine use. He noted that a related antibody, necitumumab, was actually positive for a survival benefit in the SQUIRE trial, as related in a press release, though we haven’t seen the actual results yet and don’t know if it will become a new, routinely used agent or another near miss like Erbitux. Dr. Karen Kelly from the University of California at Davis then covered irreversible EGFR inhibitors like afatinib and highlighted the unknowns about whether it is an improvement beyond the reversible EGFR TKIs Iressa and Tarceva. She reviewed the encouraging phase II research work with dacomitinib (which has just been reported to demonstrate no improvement in efficacy compared with Tarceva in EGFR TKI-naïve patients, and no improvement compared with placebo in EGFR TKI-treated patients with acquired resistance), as well as offering her commentary on Gilotrif – noting that we really won’t know whether it is superior to other options until the outcome of a couple of randomized phase III trials being conducted now are completed – one against Tarceva, and another against Iressa. Turning to ALK, Dr. Alice Shaw from Massachusetts General Hospital then reviewed established data with XALKORI (crizotinib) and then cataloged exciting new work with second generation ALK inhibitors LDK-378 (now ceritinib, from Novartis), alectinib (from Chugai/Roche), and AP26113 (from Ariad) – all with significant activity in XALKORI-resistant patients, and all with activity against brain metastases, unlike XALKORI. She also noted that several heat shock protein inhibitors (HSP90) have also demonstrated activity in ALK-positive patients and are now beginning to be studied in this setting as well. I closed the session with a discussion of approaches for acquired resistance for EGFR mutation-positive patients. Starting with the concept that limited progression is appropriate to consider for local treatment like surgery or radiation, and slow, multifocal progression may also not require any change in treatment, I then spoke about options in patients who have more significant progression that warrants a change in systemic therapy. I spoke about the potential value of continuing the same targeted therapy with concurrent chemotherapy, vs. discontinuing it when switching to chemotherapy. I also touched on the early work with CO-1646 from Clovis, AZ9791 from Astrazeneca, the combination of Gilotrif and Erbitux, and the HSP90 inhibitor AUY922. The next session covered more general topics, personalizing therapy outside of molecularly targeted therapies. GRACE’s own Dr. Jared Weiss from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill discussed the growing collection of data supporting use of doublet chemotherapy for elderly patients and those with a marginal performance status. He also summarized the work with Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) that revealed a very promising efficacy in patients over 70, and which is leading to a subsequent study specifically in the elderly. The morning ended with a presentation by Dr. Daniel Morgensztern, from Yale, who reviewed the full range of evidence and options in maintenance therapy. This summary highlighted that there is no single approach of choice, but a choice of approaches. All of that was just what we did before lunch! I’ll summarize the afternoon’s presentations in part II

Please share in the comments below. Do you leave brochures at clinics or hospitals? Do you try to talk to at least 3 people a day? What are your tips?

Hi Debra, Welcome to LCSC. We are glad you are here with us. Please feel free to post in any board that you see fit in these forums. There are a lot of different inforative forums to choose from. Please take a look at our LUNGevity Events forum if you are looking to meet some of us in person. We also have an Off Topics forum that's fun and laid back. Again, welcome! If you have any questions about this board please feel free to email me. Sending you Hugs, Hope & Healing...

It's a bird its a plane, no it's the Party Bus! We just pulled up at Diane's house! Take this Pina Colada we have ready for you. Diane, be warned, Bruce has taken his shoes off. Cindy just turned up the music. Who are we picking up next?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's All About Me! Individualized Lung Cancer Treatments For You Thursday, June 19, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Presenter: Melissa L. Johnson, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology at Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Join Dr. Melissa Johnson, thoracic oncologist in the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and founding member of the Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute as she discusses the diagnosis and treatment of long cancers. She'll explain the genetic causes of lung cancer that affect non-smokers and light smokers as well as the novel treatment options available for these patients. Dr. Johnson will also discuss the personalized approach used at Northwestern to identify and treat patients based on the individual tumor characteristics. Cancer Wellness Center 215 Revere Drive, Northbrook, IL 60062 (847)509-9595 For more information or to register, please visit us at www.cancerwellness.org

Nutrition From the Ground Up March 12th, 2014 - by admin By Hillary Sachs 40% of New Year’s resolutions focus on health. Now that spring is in the air, it is the perfect time to reflect upon successes and shortcomings, but in a different light. Earth Day celebrations shift the focus from waistlines to footprints (carbon, that is),which can be just as effective in improving overall health. Eat a plant based diet According to a study published by the American Society for Clinical Nutrition, production for a meat-based diet requiresmore resources than for a vegetarian diet. Thus, consuming less meat (i.e. making meat a side dish rather than a main dish) may improve our environment. Plant based foods like fruits, vegetables and legumes are also great sources of nutrients,phytochemicals and antioxidants and are generally lower in calories when compared with meats. When adopting a plant-based diet, some look to choose organic options. Organic foods are produced without pesticides, decreasing exposure to these potentially harmful substances. For those who are not able to choose organic produce, it is important to remember that the benefits of fruits and vegetables outweigh any potential exposure to pesticides. For those looking to include some organic options, frozen organic foods can be less expensive than fresh ones. The Environmental Working Group’s “dirty dozen” list is also a useful tool to help identify the fruits and vegetables most and least likely to be contaminated. http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/. Choose the right kind of meat When eating beef, try to choose grass-fed. According to the Environmental Working Group, while grass fed cattle produce more methane than those that are corn fed, more of the carbon is sequestered into the soil rather than released into the atmosphere. Grass fed cows are also a source of conjugated linoleic acid, a fat that may be helpful in weight loss, and anti-inflammatory omega 3s. Something’s fishy Fish contains essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA. However, the earth’s supply cannot keep up with human demand. Also, certain fish may contain toxins like mercury or PCBs. In order to cut back on risk and preserve supply but also to benefit from fish’s healthfulness, choose to eat a 3oz serving (size of a deck of cards) of fish one to two times per week. The Environmental Working Group recommends choosing wild rather than farmed salmon, trimming fat/skin before cooking and broiling, and baking or grilling instead of frying to decrease PCBs. Additionally, try eating leaner and smaller varieties of fish as these have shorter lifespans and accumulate fewer toxins. Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s website to see the safest seafood choices in your region: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/c ... nload.aspx Think locally The further food has to travel, the more fuel is released into the environment. Similarly, the longer produce takes to get to the table, the less nutrients end up on your fork. Vitamin C degrades upon contact with heat, light and oxygen. In order to buy local, nutrient rich food, visit your local farmer’s market or look for the “local food” section in your grocery store. Go to the following website to find the farmer’s market nearest you: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/FARMERSMARKETS Reduce What are you eating out of? Bags of beans and cardboard tetrapacks of soups use less packaging than their canned counterparts. They often have less sodium and may reduce exposure to BPA. Remember to recycle all packages when possible! Re-use Consider re-using kitchen scraps to start a garden in your backyard. You can regenerate a celery plant from the stub. Soak the stub in warm water overnight then plant in your garden. Take the extra cloves of garlic you were too lazy to peel and plant them in a sunny spot. Once the stalk pokes through the soil cut it off. Wait a few weeks then harvest. Ginger-Take fresh ginger root and plant it. Wait a few weeks then harvest! Take the extra step Research shows that breaking up time sitting may be just as important to health as performing formal exercise. Walk to the grocery store or library as opposed to driving. You will burn your own carbon fuel as opposed to your cars. Aim for 10,000 steps per day. Whether you are a tree hugger or a health conscious consumer, making a few healthy changes will prove fruitful both your health and the environment. References Pimiental D & Pimiental M. Sustainability of meat-based and plant-based diets and the environment. American Society for Clinical Nutrition. 2003. 78;3: 6605-6635. Daley CA, Abbot A, Doyle PS, Nader GA & Larson S. A review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef.Nutrition Journal. 2010.9;10:1-12. Miner JL, Cederberg CA, Nielsen MK, Chen X & Baile CA. Conjugated linoleic acid, body fat and apoptosis. Obesity.2012.9;2:129-134. International Food Policy Research Institute and WorldFish Center. Fish to 2020: Supply and demand in changing global markets.2003.WorldFish Center technical report 62. Accessed at http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/file ... s/oc44.pdf Owen N, Healy GN, Matthews CE & Dunstsan DW. Too much sitting: the population-health science of sitting behavior. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2010. 38;3:105-113. Enviornmental Working Group. Meat eaters guide report: Why go organic, grass-fed and pasture raised? 2011.Washington DC. Available athttp://www.ewg.org/meateatersguide/a- ... re-raised/ Rickman JC, Barrett DM & Bruhn CM. Nutritional comparison of fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. Part 1. Vitamins C and B and phenolic compounds.2007. J Sci Food Agric. 87:930-944. Hunter KJ & Fletcher JM. The antioxidant activity and composition of fresh, frozen, jarred and canned vegetables. 2002.Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies.3;4:399-406. Hillary Murray is a registered dietitian working in an outpatient radiation and chemotherapy center. She uses evidenced based information to help patients minimize treatment related side effects and to guide survivors towards health and wellness. Hillary received a BS in nutritional sciences from Cornell University; completed her dietetic internship at James J. Peters Veteran Affairs Medical Center; and earned an MS in Clinical Nutrition at New York University. http://blog.lungevity.org/2014/03/12/nu ... ground-up/

Nutrition From the Ground Up March 12th, 2014 - by admin By Hillary Sachs 40% of New Year’s resolutions focus on health. Now that spring is in the air, it is the perfect time to reflect upon successes and shortcomings, but in a different light. Earth Day celebrations shift the focus from waistlines to footprints (carbon, that is),which can be just as effective in improving overall health. Eat a plant based diet According to a study published by the American Society for Clinical Nutrition, production for a meat-based diet requiresmore resources than for a vegetarian diet. Thus, consuming less meat (i.e. making meat a side dish rather than a main dish) may improve our environment. Plant based foods like fruits, vegetables and legumes are also great sources of nutrients,phytochemicals and antioxidants and are generally lower in calories when compared with meats. When adopting a plant-based diet, some look to choose organic options. Organic foods are produced without pesticides, decreasing exposure to these potentially harmful substances. For those who are not able to choose organic produce, it is important to remember that the benefits of fruits and vegetables outweigh any potential exposure to pesticides. For those looking to include some organic options, frozen organic foods can be less expensive than fresh ones. The Environmental Working Group’s “dirty dozen” list is also a useful tool to help identify the fruits and vegetables most and least likely to be contaminated. http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/. Choose the right kind of meat When eating beef, try to choose grass-fed. According to the Environmental Working Group, while grass fed cattle produce more methane than those that are corn fed, more of the carbon is sequestered into the soil rather than released into the atmosphere. Grass fed cows are also a source of conjugated linoleic acid, a fat that may be helpful in weight loss, and anti-inflammatory omega 3s. Something’s fishy Fish contains essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA. However, the earth’s supply cannot keep up with human demand. Also, certain fish may contain toxins like mercury or PCBs. In order to cut back on risk and preserve supply but also to benefit from fish’s healthfulness, choose to eat a 3oz serving (size of a deck of cards) of fish one to two times per week. The Environmental Working Group recommends choosing wild rather than farmed salmon, trimming fat/skin before cooking and broiling, and baking or grilling instead of frying to decrease PCBs. Additionally, try eating leaner and smaller varieties of fish as these have shorter lifespans and accumulate fewer toxins. Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s website to see the safest seafood choices in your region: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/c ... nload.aspx Think locally The further food has to travel, the more fuel is released into the environment. Similarly, the longer produce takes to get to the table, the less nutrients end up on your fork. Vitamin C degrades upon contact with heat, light and oxygen. In order to buy local, nutrient rich food, visit your local farmer’s market or look for the “local food” section in your grocery store. Go to the following website to find the farmer’s market nearest you: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/FARMERSMARKETS Reduce What are you eating out of? Bags of beans and cardboard tetrapacks of soups use less packaging than their canned counterparts. They often have less sodium and may reduce exposure to BPA. Remember to recycle all packages when possible! Re-use Consider re-using kitchen scraps to start a garden in your backyard. You can regenerate a celery plant from the stub. Soak the stub in warm water overnight then plant in your garden. Take the extra cloves of garlic you were too lazy to peel and plant them in a sunny spot. Once the stalk pokes through the soil cut it off. Wait a few weeks then harvest. Ginger-Take fresh ginger root and plant it. Wait a few weeks then harvest! Take the extra step Research shows that breaking up time sitting may be just as important to health as performing formal exercise. Walk to the grocery store or library as opposed to driving. You will burn your own carbon fuel as opposed to your cars. Aim for 10,000 steps per day. Whether you are a tree hugger or a health conscious consumer, making a few healthy changes will prove fruitful both your health and the environment. References Pimiental D & Pimiental M. Sustainability of meat-based and plant-based diets and the environment. American Society for Clinical Nutrition. 2003. 78;3: 6605-6635. Daley CA, Abbot A, Doyle PS, Nader GA & Larson S. A review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef.Nutrition Journal. 2010.9;10:1-12. Miner JL, Cederberg CA, Nielsen MK, Chen X & Baile CA. Conjugated linoleic acid, body fat and apoptosis. Obesity.2012.9;2:129-134. International Food Policy Research Institute and WorldFish Center. Fish to 2020: Supply and demand in changing global markets.2003.WorldFish Center technical report 62. Accessed at http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/file ... s/oc44.pdf Owen N, Healy GN, Matthews CE & Dunstsan DW. Too much sitting: the population-health science of sitting behavior. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2010. 38;3:105-113. Enviornmental Working Group. Meat eaters guide report: Why go organic, grass-fed and pasture raised? 2011.Washington DC. Available athttp://www.ewg.org/meateatersguide/a- ... re-raised/ Rickman JC, Barrett DM & Bruhn CM. Nutritional comparison of fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. Part 1. Vitamins C and B and phenolic compounds.2007. J Sci Food Agric. 87:930-944. Hunter KJ & Fletcher JM. The antioxidant activity and composition of fresh, frozen, jarred and canned vegetables. 2002.Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies.3;4:399-406. Hillary Murray is a registered dietitian working in an outpatient radiation and chemotherapy center. She uses evidenced based information to help patients minimize treatment related side effects and to guide survivors towards health and wellness. Hillary received a BS in nutritional sciences from Cornell University; completed her dietetic internship at James J. Peters Veteran Affairs Medical Center; and earned an MS in Clinical Nutrition at New York University. http://blog.lungevity.org/2014/03/12/nu ... ground-up/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 27 minutes Yield: 4 servings Serving size: 1 stuffed tomato Ingredients 1/4 cup quinoa, rinsed 2/3 cup low-sodium vegetable broth 4 tomatoes (about 1 2/3 pounds) 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/8 tsp pepper 3 Tbsp Parmesan-Reggiano cheese, grated 2 Tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil Instructions Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine the quinoa and broth in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and stir. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 10-15, or until broth has been absorbed and the quinoa is fluffy. Meanwhile, slice the top off the tomatoes (about 1/2 inch thick). Cut around the stems, discard stems and dice the remaining tomato tops. Set aside in a medium-size bowl. Use a spoon to scoop out the pulp and seeds from the tomatoes, discard. Place the tomatoes in an 8”x 8” baking dish. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cheese, basil, parsley and oil to the bowl with the diced tomato pieces. When quinoa has finished cooking, stir it into the filling. Using a 1/3 cup, stuff each tomato shell with filling. Bake the tomatoes for 12 minutes, or until warmed through and the tomato skins are slightly wrinkly. Nutrition Information Per Serving (1 stuffed tomato): Calories: 104 Fat: 4g Carbohydrates: 15g Fiber: 3g Protein: 5g Sugars: 6g Sodium: 105mg Vitamin A: 30% Vitamin C: 39% Calcium: 3% Iron: 6% (SkinnyMom.Com)

So sorry about bringing a new ride as the party bus. Unfortunately I wasn't around when the original started. I was just trying to get the party started. Does anyone have a photo of the bus? Diane, don't worry you aren't late to the party. I haven't found our ride yet. It's like when you go to the mall...and you forgot where you parked. I'm searching the parking lot. Stay tuned. Happy Monday! Joke alert: KNOCK - KNOCK who's there? IRISH! Irish, who? Irish you a Happy Saint Patrick's day!

Authors Dr. Lynne Eldridge and David Tabatsky to speak at LUNGevity's Fourth Annual Lung Cancer Survivorship Summit FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Aliza Bran abran@susandavis.com (202) 414-0791 WASHINGTON, DC (March 14, 2014) – LUNGevity Foundation is inviting lung cancer patients/survivors from across the nation to register for the fourth annual national LUNGevity HOPE Summit to be held on May 2- 4, 2014, at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA. The two-day meeting, kicking off Lung Cancer Hope Month, is designed for people living with lung cancer of all ages and stages of the disease, currently in or out of treatment. LUNGevity HOPE Summits provide an opportunity for participants to celebrate lung cancer survivorship while they learn, collaborate, advocate, and use their voices and stories to make a difference in the fight against lung cancer. The May summit will offer inspirational speakers (including authors Lynne Eldridge, MD, and David Tabatsky), medical expert forums, and lung cancer survivor-specific sessions, with sessions specifically for people in active treatment and others for those out of treatment. Perhaps most important, there will be opportunities for people living with lung cancer to share and connect with other patients/survivors to build a lasting community. To learn more about the 2014 HOPE Summit and to register, visit www.LUNGevity.org/HOPESUMMIT. All conference sessions, meals, speakers, materials, and access to exhibits during the summit will be provided to registrants at no cost beyond the $50 application fee. A limited number of travel grants are available for transportation to Washington, DC, and two-night hotel accommodations at the Key Bridge Marriott. For more detailed information, please email HOPE@lungevity.org with any questions about this summit or about the 2014 regional summits coming up in Columbus, OH, and Seattle, WA, later this year. About LUNGevity Foundation LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as by providing community, support, and education for all those affected by the disease. Our vision is a world where no one dies of lung cancer. For more information about LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org. Since 2002, LUNGevity has funded 100 research projects at 56 institutions in 23 states and has connected people to lung cancer survivorship through research, education, and support. Throughout the year, LUNGevity coordinates grassroots and large-scale initiatives with the goal of funding research in order to extend patients’ lives and improve quality of life post-diagnosis. The research is specifically focused on expediting development of an effective early-detection strategy and identifying therapeutic agents that provide customized genetic intervention for lung cancer. About Lung Cancer Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death, affecting one in 14 Americans. Anyone can develop lung cancer – 60% of diagnoses are in people who have never smoked or quit years earlier. Twice as many women die from lung cancer as do from breast cancer and three times as many men die from lung cancer as compared with prostate cancer. If caught early, the survival rate at five years is more than triple what it would otherwise be. To schedule an interview with Andrea Stern Ferris, President and Chairman of LUNGevity, please contact Aliza Bran at abran@susandavis.com or (202) 414-0798. http://events.lungevity.org/site/PageNa ... 31414.html