PodcastDX
This week we will continue our coverage of Bile acid malabsorption (BAM), a . It’s a common cause of . When bile acids aren’t properly absorbed in your intestines, they build up, upsetting the chemical balance inside. Excess bile acids trigger your to secrete extra water, leading to watery stools. This week we will continue our coverage of Bile acid malabsorption (BAM), a . It’s a common cause of . When bile acids aren’t properly absorbed in your intestines, they build up, upsetting the chemical balance inside. Excess bile acids trigger...
info_outline Bile Acid MalabsorptionPodcastDX
This week we will discuss Bile acid malabsorption (BAM), a . It’s a common cause of . When bile acids aren’t properly absorbed in your intestines, they build up, upsetting the chemical balance inside. Excess bile acids trigger your to secrete extra water, leading to watery stools. What are bile acids? Bile is a substance your makes while filtering your blood. Your liver sorts waste products, such as toxins, dead blood cells and excess cholesterol into bile. Bile acids come from synthesizing these products together. The different acids in bile help...
info_outline Veteran's Hesitancy to HealthcarePodcastDX
This week we will discuss a Veteran's hesitancy to receive healthcare at the government hospital system known as Veterans Administration or "VA". Although many veterans may share the concern over receiving care through a government agency due to the medical care they got while in training or active duty; i.e. sucrettes and tylenol being the standard of care when Jean Marie and I were in training. Our guest, Mark Frerichs, has different reasons to question the quality of care. Mark, a Navy veteran who continued working as a contractor post-war in Afghanistan. It was during his work...
info_outline Adrenal InsufficiencyPodcastDX
In this episode we discuss adrenal insufficiency You can have either primary, secondary, or tertiary adrenal insufficiency. Primary adrenal insufficiency is also called Addison’s disease. When you have this type, your adrenal glands are damaged and can’t make the cortisol you need. They also might not make enough aldosterone. Secondary adrenal insufficiency is more common than Addison’s disease. The condition happens because of a problem with your pituitary gland, a pea-sized bulge at the base of your . It makes a hormone called adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). This is the...
info_outline Heart Attack on a TrainPodcastDX
Have you ever wondered "what would happen if you or a family member had a medical emergency while using public transportation" Today we feature Bill H. who had a cardiac event after boarding a Chicago Metra train and the two bystanders that weren't about to let these be his LAST train ride! can help save lives during sudden cardiac arrest. However, even after training, remembering the steps to use an AED the right way can be difficult. In order to help keep your skills sharp, we've created a quick step-by-step guide that you can print up and place on your refrigerator, in...
info_outline EDS and GastroparesisPodcastDX
This week we are speaking with Dani, AKA, Stoned Zebra. It took almost 7 years of her health declining after giving birth, until she finally received her EDS diagnosis. She was initially misdiagnosed with Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Neuropathy, or chronic pain syndrome. Her gastroparesis, symptoms (bloating, nausea, early satiety, severe constipation, weight loss, dehydration, belching, belly pain) began July 2022, and after a ton of aggressive testing, she was diagnosed in May 2023. EDS just tacks on chronic pain, joint instability and other comorbidities like POTS, MCAS, and OH that...
info_outline Long Covid With Grace MillerPodcastDX
This week we will discuss a topic that is of concern for millions of people: "Long Covid" and our guest this week is Grace Miller. Grace is 20 years old, and lives in Iowa. Currently attending college, where she is president of the honor society and finishing up her gen eds. She plans on pursuing a degree in Communication Disorders and become a speech pathologist. Some of her hobbies include crocheting, singing, playing the piano, and learning. Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as Long...
info_outline Processed Food AddictionPodcastDX
Continuing a mini-series on obesity, we welcome once again Dr. Ifland. She founded the online Addiction Reset Community (ARC) in 2016, . The Facebook group, ‘Food Addiction Education’ (2014) and (2014) provide free support. Reset Week is the first online live video program for withdrawal (2018). ARC Manager Training is a program training future Addiction Reset Community leaders (2020). Dr. Ifland is the lead author of the first scholarly description of processed food addiction and definition of addictive foods. Dr. Ifland earned her PhD in addictive nutrition at...
info_outline National Childhood ObesityPodcastDX
This week we will discuss the obesity problem for children in the US. Our guest, once again, is Dr. Joan Ifland. Dr Ifland has been creating breakthroughs in recovery from food addiction from 1999 with her first popular book to 2018 when her textbook, Processed Food Addiction: Foundations, Assessment, and Recovery was released by CRC Press. She founded the online Addiction Reset Community (ARC) in 2016, . The Facebook group, ‘Food Addiction Education’ (2014) and w (2014) provide free support. Reset Week is the first online live video...
info_outline Recovering From Surgery in a Rehab SettingPodcastDX
Skilled Nursing care, also known as Post-Acute Rehabilitation, is for those who need short-term care following an injury, surgery, or illness. The goal with this level of care is to successfully transfer patients from hospital to home, or senior living community, by providing the tools and resources for each phase of recovery. A stay at a skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and post-acute care center is meant to be a transitional period to help patients recover and return to their everyday lives. Our Co-Host Ron had shoulder surgery recently and needed this type of care until he could regain use...
info_outlineOne of the risk factors for colorectal cancer is a family history of the disease. Colorectal cancer is called "hereditary" or "inherited" when several generations of a family have it.
Experts have found gene changes (also known as mutations or abnormalities) that cause colorectal cancer. A gene is a block of DNA that holds the genetic code, or instructions, for making proteins vital to our bodily functions.
The children of people who carry these genes have a 50% chance of getting them from their parents.
The two most common inherited colorectal cancer syndromes are hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). These two account for less than 5% of all colorectal cancers.
Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (Lynch Syndrome)
HNPCC, also known as Lynch syndrome, is the most common form of hereditary colon cancer, accounting for about 3% of all colorectal cancer diagnoses each year. People with HNPCC often have at least three family members and two generations with colorectal cancer, and cancer develops before age 50.
lthough not everyone who inherits the HNPCC gene will get colorectal cancer, the risk is very high: about 80%. People with HNPCC also have a higher risk of other Lynch syndrome-related cancers, including brain, kidney, ovarian, uterine, bladder, pancreatic, small intestine, and stomach cancers.
Doctors can check the pattern of colorectal cancer in relatives in order to find out if the family has HNPCC. "HNPCC families" must show certain signs of a pattern of colon cancer across generations. These are called the Amsterdam Criteria and include:
- At least three members with a Lynch syndrome-related cancer
- At least two successive generations with this type of cancer
- Two family members with the disease are first-degree relatives (i.e. parents, brothers, sisters, or children) of another family member with a Lynch syndrome cancer
- At least one member affected at or before age 50
- FAP is excluded from the family member's diagnosis
Check with your doctor if you think this applies to your family. Colonoscopies are recommended in family members who are 10 years younger than the youngest family member who was diagnosed with cancer. You should also be screened for other Lynch syndrome-related cancers. For people with a diagnosis of Lynch syndrome, screening usually starts between ages 20 and 25.
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) Syndrome
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare condition marked by the presence of hundreds or thousands of benign polyps, noncancerous growths in the large intestine and upper respiratory tract. It’s thought to happen in about 1% of all people diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year.
The polyps start early, with 95% of people with FAP getting them by age 35, and are often found in patients in their teens, with 50% having polyps by age 15. Without colon removal, there is almost a 100% chance that some of the polyps will become cancer, usually by age 40. Thyroid cancer is also linked with FAP.
Although most cases of FAP are inherited, nearly a third are the result of a spontaneous (newly occurring) gene change. For people who develop a new gene mutation, they might pass the FAP gene on to their children.
What Is the FAP Gene?
Genes are tiny segments of DNA that control how cells function, such as telling them when to divide and grow. One copy of each gene comes from your mother; the other comes from your father.
In 1991, researchers identified the gene called APC that is responsible for the condition. It can be found in 82% of patients with FAP. The lifetime risk of colon cancer in people who have this gene change is close to 100%.
What’s the Difference Between FAP and HNPCC?
The two main differences between FAP and HNPCC are:
- Number of genes involved. In FAP, only one gene, APC, has a mutation. In HNPCC, several gene changes may be responsible for the condition.
- Presence of polyps. FAP is marked by the presence of more than 100 benign polyps. People with HNPCC have fewer polyps, but they can become cancerous more quickly than normal.
Other Forms of Inherited Polyposis Syndromes
Other very rare forms of inherited polyposis syndromes are linked with a higher risk of colorectal cancer. These include:
- Juvenile polyposis (JP). You may have five to 500 polyps, mostly in the colon and rectum. They usually happen before the age of 10. The stomach and small intestine may also be affected. People who have JP are also more likely to get bowel cancer.
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS). People with PJS typically have dozens to thousands of benign polyps in the stomach and intestines, mostly in the small intestine. The growths can become malignant or can cause a blockage of the bowel.
Ashkenazi Jews and Colorectal Cancer
Jewish people who are Ashkenazi, or of Eastern European descent, are at increased risk for colorectal cancer. This is thought to be due to a variant of the APC gene that is found in 6% of this population. Ashkenazi Jews make up the majority of the Jewish population in the U.S.
If you suspect that you are at risk for Jewish people who are Ashkenazi, or of Eastern European descent, are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer. This is thought to be due to a variant of the APC gene that is found in 6% of this population. Ashkenazi Jews make up the majority of the Jewish population in the U.S. inherited form of colorectal cancer, talk to your doctor. There may be a genetic test that can be performed to confirm your suspicions.
Gene Tests for Colorectal Cancer
Blood tests can find the gene changes that make some people more likely to get FAP or HNPCC.
You might want to consider genetic counseling and testing if:
- You’ve had more than 10 colon polyps
- You’ve had colon polyps and other types of tumors
- You’re of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and your family has a history of colon cancer or polyps
If you test positive for these gene changes, your doctor will probably recommend that you get a colonoscopy every year. This is a test that checks your colon for cancer or polyps.
If you’ve already had colon cancer or polyps, your doctor may talk to you about a colectomy, which is surgery to remove your colon.
Your relatives might want to consider genetic counseling and testing, too.