Health Talk

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and women. Unfortunately, symptoms of lung cancer don’t always show until advanced stages of cancer, when treatment options are limited. Recent medical research has shown, however, that screening high-risk individuals — especially those with a lifelong history of tobacco use — can dramatically improve survival rates by as much as 20 percent. This episode of Health Talk by TriHealth features lung cancer survivor Thomas Armstead, and his TriHealth team - primary care physician Chad Dunkle, MD and cardiothoracic surgeon R. Douglas Adams, MD, who has played a key role in developing TriHealth’s lung cancer screening program. They discuss Tom’s care the vital role of lung cancer screening in helping patients like him survive the disease.

Managing your body weight is a critical part of any healthy lifestyle, but for some people dieting and exercise just aren’t enough. This month Tom chats with Dr. Katie Meister, a specialist in bariatric surgery who’s helping Cincinnatians to get that weight of, keep it off, and return to doing the things they love. We’ll also hear from Lee Bird, one of Dr. Meister’s patients, who has made remarkable progress after gastric bypass surgery.

Devices known as cochlear implants enable many patients to overcome hearing loss. In this episode, Tom talks with TriHealth Otolaryngologist Doctor Brian Goico about how cochlear implants are enabling patients to regain their lost hearing. We also chat with Shanice McGrew, a 26 year old nursing student who recently received cochlear implants after a lifetime of progressive hearing loss. For a full transcript of this podcast, visit https://www.trihealth.com/dailyhealthwire/health-topics/speech-and-hearing/health-talk-podcast-cochlear-implants

Heart disease kills 1 in 4 people, making it the most common cause of death in the United States. Yet many of these deaths are preventable with simple lifestyle changes. In recognition of American Heart Month, Tom chats with Doctor Kathryn O’Keefe from the top-rated TriHealth Heart Institute and two of her patients. You’ll learn about the warning signs of heart disease and what you can do to reduce your risk. For more information visit TriHealth.com/heart.

When we think of childbirth, the first image that comes to mind is often a traditional hospital birth with a doctor. In today’s podcast, we’ll look at alternative options available to women with midwifery care. Tom talks with Sue Wenn, a Certified Nurse Midwife who delivers at Good Samaritan hospital, and Stephanie Barnette, who has delivered five children with TriHealth nurse midwives.

Opioid addiction is a growing concern in the United States, and Greater Cincinnati in particular. In this month’s episode Tom talks with two TriHealth physicians, Dr. Michael Marcotte and Dr. Kenneth Patton, who are helping to lead the search for safer and more effective alternatives. We’ll also hear from Jamie Ryan, a patient who was treated with traditional pain medication during her first C-section, and a newer Pain Pack treatment during her second.

Ovarian cancer is one of the more challenging forms to treat, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages. But that may be changing thanks to a specialized form of chemotherapy called Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC). Our guests include gynecologic oncologist Dr. Jack Basil and Farah Kahn, the first TriHealth patient to be treated for ovarian cancer with HIPEC.

About one in ten people in the United States have some form of diabetes, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that the number may rise to one in three by 2050. Today we talk with Dr. Michael Heile from the Family Medical Group — a Type 1 diabetic himself — to learn about the latest treatment and prevention strategies. We’ll also hear from Don DiGiacomo, one of his patients, whose treatment has received a significant boost from new advances.

Genetic counseling is one of the exciting developments in the recent trend toward personalized medical treatment. You'll learn how this rapidly-growing field can help people with a family history of cancer spot warning signs much earlier, improving the chance of successful treatment or even preventing cancer entirely.

Women with heart conditions are often told that they shouldn’t try to have children. But while the risks and challenges are real, in many cases they can be overcome. This month we talk with Doctor William Schnettler, Director of the TriHealth Center for Maternal Cardiac Care, one of the few multidisciplinary programs in the country that’s dedicated to helping women with cardiac conditions achieve their dream of having a baby.

Until recently, much of the damage caused by traumatic injuries and a variety of diseases couldn’t be reversed, but that could be changing thanks to a relatively new field known as regenerative medicine. Here in Cincinnati it’s already being used to treat chronic tendon injuries, osteoarthritis, and acute ligament and muscle injuries. Listen in to learn more about what regenerative medicine already offers today as Tom chats with Doctor Andrew Islam from the TriHealth Orthopedic and Sports Institute. You’ll also hear from Jake Hubbard, a local patient with firsthand experience of the dramatic results regenerative medicine is making possible.

Any form of cancer is a life-altering condition, but brain tumors also create many other challenges. Dr. Richard Curry, the only fellowship-trained Neuro-Oncologist currently practicing in Southwest Ohio, joins us to discuss how he’s helping patients to navigate the life-altering journey of brain cancer. We also talk with Bob Kehm, who is beating the odds after overcoming several brain tumors since 2012.

Imagine losing strength and feeling in one or both of your hands. That’s just one of the challenges faced by some who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, a nerve disorder that can also cause pain and numbness. While many people have heard of carpal tunnel syndrome, there’s a lot of confusion about what actually causes it, and how it can be prevented or treated. It can even be challenging to learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome because of ongoing debates and disagreements in the medical community. Health Talk sat down with Doctor Thomas Kiefhaber from the TriHealth Hand Surgery Center, an Orthopaedic surgeon who’s spent 33 years helping patients overcome carpal tunnel syndrome and resume normal lives.

In this lively conversation, Doctor Catrina Crisp and Doctor Jennifer Yeung dispel the myths about pelvic health conditions that affect one in four women, and give sympathetic advice about getting relief — and getting your life back.

In our premier podcast we focus on robotically-assisted heart surgery. You’ll learn how it’s helping patients avoid the trauma of open-heart surgery, and the significant improvements to recovery times that it makes possible. Guests on today’s program include Doctor J. Michael Smith, Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Medical Director of the Minimally Invasive Training Center at Good Samaritan Hospital and the TriHealth Hatton Research Institute, and Dan Terlau, who had robotically-assisted heart surgery in 2017.