Thrive
Sarah Hagerty
Doing a little detective work can go a long way in finding skin cancer, the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States, at its earliest, most treatable stage. However, a new survey found that many people do not know how to spot skin cancer and are unaware of their risk of developing the disease.
In an effort to increase the public’s understanding of skin cancer and motivate people to change their behavior to prevent and detect skin cancer, the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) today launched the new SPOT Skin Cancer™ public awareness initiative. The campaign’s simple tagline – “Prevent. Detect. Live.” – focuses on the positive actions people can take to protect themselves from skin cancer, including seeing a dermatologist when appropriate.
“Unlike other types of cancer that can’t be seen by the naked eye, skin cancer shows obvious signs on the surface of the skin that can be easily detected by properly examining it,” said board-certified dermatologist Daniel M. Siegel, MD, FAAD, president, American Academy of Dermatology. “The goal of SPOT Skin Cancer™ is to help save lives by educating the public on how to protect themselves from the sun and how to examine their skin for suspicious spots.”
In Easton, Shore Health System and the Talbot County Health Department is offering free screenings for adults 18 and older on May 16th. Appointments are available between 5pm and 8pm at the Talbot County Health Department, 100 S. Hanson Street in Easton.
To schedule an appointment for the May 16 skin cancer screening, call Shore Regional Cancer Center, 410-820-6800.
Almost three-quarters of respondents (74 percent) did not know that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.
Only half (53 percent) of respondents knew how to examine their skin for signs of skin cancer.
Thirty percent of respondents were either unsure or did not know that skin cancer can be easily treated when caught early.
“When it comes to skin cancer, our survey demonstrates that knowledge is power,” said Dr. Siegel. “For example, respondents who know how to examine their skin for signs of skin cancer were more than twice as likely to have shown suspicious moles or spots to a medical professional as those who did not know how to spot the warning signs of skin cancer on their skin. In some instances, this knowledge can mean the difference between life and death, which is why it is so important to see a dermatologist if you notice a spot on your skin that is changing, itching or bleeding.”
SKIN CANCER FACTS:
More than 3.5 million skin cancer cases affecting 2 million people are diagnosed annually.
Current estimates are that one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime.
The five-year survival rate for people whose melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 98 percent.
Monday, May 7, is Melanoma Monday® and the official launch of Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month®. Also debuting on Melanoma Monday® is the SPOT Skin Cancer™ program’s new website www.spotskincancer.org where visitors can learn how to perform a skin self-exam, download a body mole map for tracking changes in your skin, and find free skin cancer screenings in their area. Those affected by skin cancer also will be able to share their story via the website and download free materials to educate others in their community.
Last winter, we mailed more than 800 ballots to Anne Arundel County attorneys. We asked them, “If you needed to recommend an attorney (other than yourself) to a friend or loved one, which Anne Arundel County attorney would you recommend in the following specialties?” We then listed 16 areas of specialization: Bankruptcy, Business Law, Construction Law, Criminal Law, Dispute Resolution, Elder Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Immigration Law, Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Real Estate Law, Trust & Estates/Wills & Probate, Workers’ Compensation, and Zoning, Planning, Land Use. Only original, watermarked ballots were accepted. The voting response from these anonymous surveys was enthusiastic and impressive.
This honor is especially meaningful because it come directly from other attorneys—people who really know what it takes to be a good lawyer. It was gratifying to see so many area attorneys respond to the survey. They obviously share our opinion that this biennial poll provides a valuable service for our readers.
The 2012 Leading Lawyers (listed below) represent those individuals who clearly received the most substantial number of peer votes in each category; not everyone who was nominated. The names in each category appear in alphabetical order. They are All Leading Lawyers.--Sarah Hagerty
BANKRUPTCY
James M. Greenan
McNamee, Hosea, Jernigan,
Kim, Greenan & Lynch
888 Bestgate Road, Suite 304
Annapolis — 410-266-9909
www.mhlawyers.com
Carolyn G. Krohn
Law Office of Carolyn G. Krohn
128 Lubrano Drive, Suite 202
Annapolis — 410-266-2777
www.AnnapolisBankruptcy.com
Steven M. Sindler
1130 Annapolis road, Suite 101
Odenton — 410-551-9323
BUSINESS LAW
Rignal W. Baldwin, Jr.
Baldwin, Kagan & Gormley
112 West Street
Annapolis — 410-974-9200
www.bkglaw.com
Geoffrey S. Mitchell
Law Offices of Geoffrey S. Mitchell
721 Melvin Avenue
Annapolis — 410-263-7330
www.gsmitchell.com
Midgett S. Parker, Jr.
Linowes and Blocher
One Park Place, Suite 585
Annapolis — 410-268-0881
www.linowes-law.com
CONSTRUCTION LAW
Michael P. Darrow
Hillman, Brown & Darrow
221 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis — 410-263-3131
www.HBDLaw.com
Matthew S. Evans, III
Law Office of Matthew Evans III
210 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis — 410-569-6009
www.msevanslaw.com
Dominic J. Souza
Souza Law
2543 Housley Road
Annapolis — 410-571-8366
www.souzalaw.com
CRIMINAL LAW
Gill Cochran
Cochran, Cochran & Chhabra
116 B Cathedral Street
Annapolis — 410-268-5515
www.ccc-law.com
Michael Cuches
Buck, Migdal & Myers
23 West Street
Annapolis — 410-263-8855
www.bmmlaw.com
Peter S. O’Neill
Murnane and O'Neill
7425 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd.
Glen Burnie — 410-761-6800
www.murnaneandoneill.com
David Putzi
Putzi & Fischer
7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 300
Glen Burnie — 410-787-1800
www.fischerputzilawfirm.com
Richard R. Trunnell
Trunnell Law
2101 Defense Highway
Crofton — 410-721-7169
www.trunnelllaw.com
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Rignal W. Baldwin, Jr.
Baldwin, Kagan & Gormley
112 West Street
Annapolis — 410-974-9200
www.bkglaw.com
Anita C. Deger
Law Offices of Anita C. Deger
583 Bellerive Road, #3D
Annapolis — 410-974-9294
Stephen P. Krohn
Krohn & Krissoff
133 Defense Highway, Suite 203
Annapolis — 410-974-6026
David A. Simison
110 Cathedral Street
Annapolis — 410-268-7787
www.daslaw.com
ELDER LAW
Eileen K. Cochran
113 Cathedral Street
Annapolis — 410-280-2211
Catherine E. Stavely
Law Office of Catherine E. Stavely
124 South Street, #1
Annapolis — 410-268-9346
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Susan T. Ford
Council, Baradel, Kosmerl & Nolan
125 West Street, 4th Floor
Annapolis — 410-268-6600
www.cbknlaw.com
Charles R. Schaller, Jr.
Linowes and Blocher
One Park Place, Suite 585
Annapolis — 410-268-0881
www.linowes-law.com
FAMILY LAW
Stephen P. Krohn
Krohn & Krissoff
133 Defense Highway, Suite 203
Annapolis — 410-974-6026
Paula J. Peters
1401 Forest Drive, #27
Annapolis — 410-990-0090
www.divorcelaw.com
Stacey B. Rice
Hillman, Brown & Darrow
221 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis — 410-263-3131
www.HBDlaw.com
IMMIGRATION LAW
Alan S. Forman
Law Office of Alan S. Forman
7704 Quarterfield Road, Suite A
Glen Burnie — 410-878-7230
www.allanformalaw.com
Marysabel Rodriguez-Nanny
The Law Firm of Annapolis
705 Melvin Avenue, Suite 103
Annapolis — 410-268-5070
www.LawFirmofAnnapolis.com
LITIGATION
Rignal W. Baldwin, Jr.
Baldwin, Kagan & Gormley
112 West Street
Annapolis — 410-974-9200
www.bkglaw.com
Jonathan P. Kagan
Baldwin, Kagan & Gormley
112 West Street
Annapolis — 410-974-9200
www.bkglaw.com
Linda Schuetts
Linowes and Blocher
One Park Place, Suite 585
Annapolis — 410-268-0881
www.linowes-law.com
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
Michael H. Bereston
8 Fleet Street, 2nd Street
P.O. Box 2990
Annapolis — 410-269-5011
www.berestonlaw.com
Jonathan W. Brassel
Brassel Law Group
900 Bestgate Road, Suite 402
Annapolis — 443-837-9800
www.brassellaw.com
Kathleen H. Meredith
Iliff, Meredith, Wildberger, Brennan
8055 Ritchie Highway, Suite 201-203
Glen Burnie — 410-685-116
www.ilimer.com
Paul J. Weber
Hyatt & Weber
200 Bestgate Circle, #585
Annapolis — 410-266-0626
www.hwlaw.com
PERSONAL INJURY
Allen Cohen
Cohen & Green
156 South Street
Annapolis — 410-268-4500
www.cohengreene.com
Jonathan P. Kagen
Baldwin, Kagan & Gormley
112 West Street
Annapolis — 410-974-9200
www.bkglaw.com
Deborah Lynn Potter
Jaklitsch Law Group
14350 Marlboro Pike
Upper Marlboro — 410-268-2801
www.jaklitschlawgroup.com
Paul J. Weber
Hyatt & Weber
200 Bestgate Circle, #585
Annapolis — 410-266-0626
www.hwlaw.com
REAL ESTATE LAW
Christopher D. Buck
Buck, Migdal & Myers
23 West Street
Annapolis — 410-263-8855
www.bmmlaw.com
Thomas J. Mulrenin
Thomas J. Mulrenin & Associates
1919 West Street, #200
Annapolis — 410-573-5005
Benjamin S. Wechsler
Linowes and Blocher
One Park Place, Suite 585
Annapolis — 410-268-0881
www.linowes-law.com
TRUSTS & ESTATES / WILLS & PROBATE
Frank Campbell
Holden Campbell
705 Melvin Avenue, #105
Annapolis — 410-263-1667
www.holdencampbell.com
Walter S.B. Childs
Linowes and Blocher
One Park Place, Suite 585
Annapolis — 410-268-0881
www.linowes-law.com
Frederick R. Franke, Jr.
Law Office of Frederick R. Franke, Jr.
77 Franklin Street
Annapolis — 410-263-4876
www.fredfranke.com
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Jack Schmerling
Attorney at Law
7429 Baltimore-Annapolis Road
Glen Burnie — 443-805-6280
www.jackschmerling.com
Michael D. Steinhardt
Law Offices of Michael D. Steinhardt
7711 Quarterfield Road, #B-1
Glen Burnie — 410-981-9722
www.steinhardtlawfirm.com
ZONING, PLANNING / LAND USE
Harry C. Blumenthal
Blumenthal, Delavan & Williams
170 Jennifer Road, Suite 240
Annapolis — 410-573-2900
www.bdwlawfirm.com
Charles “Fred” Delavan
Blumenthal, Delavan & Williams
170 Jennifer Road, Suite 240
Annapolis — 410-573-2900
www.bdwlawfirm.com
Alan J. Hyatt
Hyatt & Weber
200 Bestgate Circle, #585
Annapolis — 410-266-0626
www.hwlaw.com
Are the benefits of liposuction more than cosmetic?
I’ve been saddled with sinus problems most of my life. (My theory is that my head is too small and there just isn’t room for my sinuses to function properly, but that’s a topic for another Thrive.)
People are always pestering me to use a neti pot (no one’s more persistent that a recent homeopathic convert). Used for centuries in eastern cultures, neti pots look like a cross between a teapot and Aladdin’s lamp. When filled with warm water and saline, a neti pot is used for nasal irrigation. But when considering neti pot use, I can’t help but think of a conversation I had 20 years ago. At the time, I had very serious sinus surgery for multiple nasal polyps, including a turbinectomy and several other gory procedures with less memorable names. I remember the surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania explaining the things that could go wrong—as all good doctors must. The most chilling possibilities were brain damage and the leakage of cerebral spinal fluid out my nose. I did not realize until that moment that the brain is right there at the back of the nose—just a whisper-thin membrane away. Which is why I was always a little leery of neti pot use—rightly so, as it turns out.
Two people recently died in Louisiana after using neti pots filled with amoeba-infested tap water. The parasitic organism infected the victims’ brains, destroying neural tissue which resulted in death within a matter of days. At press time the cases were being investigated since water treatment procedures should have eliminated the threat.
Regardless, there is a reason neti pot manufacturers recommend using distilled or sterilized water. Hope all you netis out there heed that advice.
Many of us start the day by popping a doctor-recommended baby aspirin to stave off heart disease. But this wonder drug doesn’t stop there. Once mankind’s only recourse for headache pain, aspirin’s powers continue to amaze. It seems that nearly monthly, a new study is released extolling the virtues of acetylsalicylic acid in the treatment of a multitude of conditions.
We already have headaches and heart attacks in aspirin’s corner, and its effectiveness in reducing fevers was a real game-changer for humanity. Now, if researchers are on the right paths, we may be able to add such conditions as repeat blood clots, certain types of cancer (particularly colorectal and other digestive tract cancers), melanoma, multiple sclerosis, pulmonary embolisms, diabetes, and acne to aspirin’s can-do capabilities. Research is even being conducted to determine aspirin’s part in preventing miscarriages.
Taking aspirin is not a risk-free action, however. It can lead to stomach bleeding and stomach ulcers, and can cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears). It is also not advised to suddenly stop taking your aspirin therapy. As always, speak with your physician. Stopping aspirin can lead to a rebound effect that may increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
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