Your Body Talks, Listen to it.

The pandemic has changed a lot of things; your family doctor/nurse practitioner wanting to ensure you are taking care of your health and wellbeing is not one of them.

If you have any unexplained, new, worsening or persistent changes in your health or changes in your body: don’t delay. Book an appointment with your family doctor/nurse practitioner right away so they can begin to investigate any changes you are experiencing. 

Your health is important. The healthcare system is prepared and ready to respond to any issues you experience and our facilities and primary care clinics remain safe places to seek care.

Your body talks, listen to it.

Detecting disease early, especially cancer, is important to save lives. There are symptoms you can look for, and if you experience any of them, book an appointment with your family doctor/nurse practitioner or health care team immediately, even during the pandemic. They will work with you to decide what tests you need. Some examples include:  

• An unusual or growing lump

• Blood in your stool, urine, or phlegm, especially if persistent or associated with other symptoms related to your bowels (pain, constipation), urination (pain, frequency, poor stream), or breathing (worse cough or shortness of breath). Also, unusual bleeding from vagina, especially in postmenopausal women  

• Any changes to a mole (size, shape, colour)

• Trouble urinating for men, such as needing to pee right away, more often, with difficulty or pain

• Unexplained significant weight loss (>10%)

For a full list of symptoms: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/cancersymptoms 

For other cancer resources: www.ahs.ca/bodytalk 

If your family doctor/nurse practitioner suspects cancer, they will refer you for testing, such as imaging or biopsy and possibly to a specialist to plan any necessary treatment.

If you do not have a family doctor/nurse practitioner, you can find one by calling 811 Health Link or by visiting www.albertafindadoctor.ca 

National No-Smoking Week

January 18 - 24th is National No-Smoking Week in Canada!

The purpose of this themed week is to educate the public on the dangers of smoking, prevent those who do not smoke from starting, encourage and support those who do smoke to quit, educate the public on the dangers of secondhand smoke and to denormalize the tobacco industry, their marketing practices, tobacco products and usage.

January 21st is Weedless Wednesday!

The purpose of this day is to encourage those who smoke to abstain for just one day. The goal is that by not smoking for one day, it will kickstart the quitting process.

If you smoke and would like to quit, our PCN can help with education and one on one support. Please contact our office at 780-986-6624 for more information or visit our website at:

http://www.lbdpcn.com/Services/Pages/SmokingCessation.aspx   

Quick Facts:

• Tobacco use is one of the leading risk factors for chronic disease and is responsible for more than 37,000 premature deaths in Canada each year.
• 3,400 Albertans die each year as a result of tobacco-related diseases.
• Smoking is still responsible for more deaths each year than drug and alcohol abuse, car crashes, AIDS, murder and suicide combined. According to the World Health Organization, every eight seconds someone dies from a tobacco-related illness. It's clear that nictine has a firm grip on those who consume it.
• Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness, disability and death in Alberta and Canada.
• Half of all regular smokers will eventually die from their habit. Most of these deaths are premature.
• Researchers estimate that, on average, smokers lose about 15 years of their lives.
• On average, people who quit smoking before they turn 50 cut their risk of death in half.
• Between 1997 and 2001, there were 40 deaths in Alberta from fires caused by smokers.
• In 2001, 87% of substance-related deaths in Alberta were related to tobacco use.

For more information, please visit the Canadian Cancer Society website and Alberta Health Services website.

Terry Fox Run

This marks the 34th year since Terry was forced to stop his Marathon of Hope, just outside of Thunder Bay. With one leg having been amputated, Terry decided to run across Canada to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Terry ran 5373 kms in 143 days before the cancer spread to his lungs, forced him to stop. Terry's goal was to raise $1 for each citizen living in Canada at that time; 24 million people.

His legacy continues through yearly runs hosted in many communities around the world. The annual run has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$600 million has been raised in Terry's name.

Here are a few local runs that you can participate in on Sunday, September 14th.

Leduc

Telford House
Registration: 9:00 am.
Run 11:00 am - Noon
You can participate in a 2k, 5k or 10k bike, walk or run route, dogs are welcome!

Beaumont

Four Seasons Park near the concession
Registration: 10:30 am
Run starts at 11:00 am

Beaumont offers 1km 5km and 10km routes (bike, walk, run, rollerblade) as well as a kids 1km fun run.

Devon

Intersection of River Drive And Rideau Street.
Registration: 12:00 pm
Run starts at 1:00 pm
Walk, run, rollerblade, stroller and wheelchair accessible, dogs welcome.

For other locations, please click here. 

There is no entry fee required and no minimum donation.

Donate at: http://www.terryfox.org/Run/

Watch the Terry Fox Story, here.

Screen Test Mobile Mammography Clinic coming to Leduc

Women 50 and over are recommended to be screened every 2 years, and do not need a referral. Women 40-49 can also be screened with a referral for their first mammogram.

Breast cancer will affect 1 out of every 8 women in Alberta. The majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer (over 80%) will be between 50-74 years old. Screening mammograms can detect a cancer 2-3 years before it can be felt, when treatment options are better. This is one of the reasons that most women are now surviving their breast cancer diagnosis, and why it’s so important for women 50 and over to have regular mammograms. 

For more information on breast cancer screening, visit www.screeningforlife.ca/breastcancer.

Terry Fox Run - Sunday, September 15th.

It has been 33 years since Terry was forced to stop his Marathon of Hope, just outside of Thunder Bay. His legacy continues through yearly runs hosted in many communities around the world. Here are a few you can take part in on Sunday, September 15th:

Leduc

Telford House
Registration: 9am. Run 10am - Noon
You can participate in a 2k, 5k or 10k bike, walk or run route, dogs are welcome!

Beaumont

Four Seasons Park near the concession
Registrations: 10am, run starts at 11am

Beaumont offers 1km 5km and 10km routes (bike, walk, run, rollerblade) as well as a kids 1km fun run.

Devon

The event in Devon has not yet been confirmed as they do not have an organizer this year.

Terry ran 5373 kms in 143 days.

For more information or to donate, please visit the Terry Fox Foundation webpage. 

How important is regular physical activity to your health?

So many of us associate regular and structured physical activity and/or exercise with weight loss.  Why is this?  For so long now society has placed images into our brains by way of media.  “Workout to lose weight!”, “Lose weight in 21 days with this workout!”, “In just 10 days you can have abs of steel through this workout!” We have heard it all. 

The truth is, the focus of exercise or increased physical activity should be on the health benefits and living longer, better quality lives.  Not only is there strong evidence that regular physical activity can help to manage most chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease,  high cholesterol, high blood pressure  and some cancers,  but it can also help prevent them as well. 

“People who are active and fit, live longer, healthier lives”       ~ Dr. Robert Sallis 

The time has come to change the focus on the importance of increasing our daily physical activity.  Let’s start with changing the idea of “if I work out more or walk more often I will lose weight.”  Instead, think “if I walk regularly at a brisk pace for 30 minutes, gradually working up to 5 days per week, then my heart will work more efficiently, my energy level will improve and I will start to feel better overall.”

Of course starting off with what you are able to tolerate is important. If walking for 5 or 10 minutes is your limit now, start there and set monthly goals to increase gradually over time.

When it comes to health, activity level is vital.  Yes, it would be a bonus if some weight loss was to occur, but let’s remember that these health benefits, just to name a few, will happen overtime with regular and consistent activity, regardless of weight loss:

- Improved circulation
- Improved cardiovascular fitness
- Increased insulin sensitivity
- Increased HDL (good cholesterol)
- Increased energy level
- Improved quality of life
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Reduced blood pressure
- Reduced risk of chronic conditions
- Decreased cognitive decline

Just like prescribed medicine, physical activity should be thought of as a prescription to take in order to be effective.

Corinne Cutler BPE, CSEP 

Certified Exercise Physiologist

Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network 

Terry Fox Run

Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1958, and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and forced to have his right leg amputated 15 centimetres (six inches) above the knee. While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients, many of them young children, that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. 

He called the run Marathon of Hope. 

Terry started his run in St. John’s, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980. On September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kms, Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario when the cancer came back in his lungs. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at the age 22.

"Even if I don't finish, we need others to continue. It's got to keep going without me."



To date, over $600 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name through the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world.


To donate or learn more, please visit:

Terry Fox Foundation

The 32nd annual Terry Fox Run will be held Sunday, September 16, 2012 in communities across Canada. Local events include:     

Leduc 
Telford House 
Registration at 9:00 am
Race starts at 10:00 am

Beaumont
Four Seasons Park (behind the high school)
Registration at 10:30 am
Race starts at 11:00 am

Devon
Corner of River Drive & Rideau Street
Registration at 12:00p pm
Race starts at 1:00 pm

National Sun Awareness Week

June 4-10 marks National Sun Awareness Week

 

After a long winter and all those short daylight hours, we welcome the warm, sunny days of spring and summer.  People of all ages love to be outside enjoying the fresh air doing a variety of activities.

 

The Canadian Cancer Society wants us all to stay healthy when it comes to sun exposure.   The purpose of National Sun Awareness Week is to remind people that we need to be “sun smart” while enjoying the great outdoors. 

 

Here are some sun safety basics:

 

Limit time in the midday sun.

- The sun's rays are strongest between 11am and 4pm.  Whenever possible, limit exposure to the sun during these hours.

When your shadow is shorter than you, look for shade.

- Do outdoor activities under a tree, umbrella, or in the shade of a building.

- Create shade by planting trees or by using partial roofs, awnings, gazebo tents, etc.

Use the UV index each day to plan outdoor activities.

- Consult local radio and TV stations or check on-line for the UV index forecast in your area. When the UV index is 3 or higher, wear protective clothing, sunglasses and  sunscreen.
- Wear tightly-woven, loose-fitting, full-length shirts and pants.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat so that your ears are covered as well.

- Wear sunglasses that provide 100% UVA and UVB protection and ensure they wrap around your face.

- Apply a generous amount of sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) on all exposed areas 20 minutes before you go outside. Ideally, sunscreen should be reapplied 20 minutes after going outdoors so that the product stabilizes on the skin and gives maximum protection. Thereafter, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours (and more often if you are swimming or sweating).

- Do not put sunscreen on babies less than 6 months of age.

 

For more information, visit:

Health Canada 

Canadian Cancer Society