CAN VOLUNTEERING IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH?

It's no surprise that volunteering can be socially rewarding, but did you know that donating your time and services can also be a boost to your health? Consider some key research findings reported recently by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• Volunteering leads to lower rates of depression and greater satisfaction about life.

Researchers have found that volunteering enhances a person's sense of purpose and accomplishment, as well as the social networks that buffer stress and reduce risk of disease.

• Seniors are most likely to receive greater health benefits from volunteering than are youngsters who volunteer.

Among those age 60 or older, the added perks of volunteering include improved physical and mental health, and more satisfaction with life.

• Folks who volunteer live longer.

According to several longitudinal studies, individuals who were volunteers during the first wave of surveys have lower mortality rates when they're surveyed a second time around–even when taking into account age, physical health, gender, and socioeconomic status. Researchers also have found that when patients with serious or chronic illness volunteer, they receive benefits beyond what medical care can achieve.

The upshot of this research, says Thora Loutfi, Alta Bates Summit’s director of volunteer development and services, is “that it’s nice to think about other people because it keeps you involved and helps you feel good about yourself. And that’s a powerful message, no matter your age.”

To download the full report, “The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research,” visit www.nationalservice.org. For information about volunteering at Alta Bates Summit, call (510) 204-1695, Alta Bates Campus, or (510) 869-6553, Summit Campus.

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BREAST CANCER SCREENING 101

For those diagnosed with breast cancer, there’s reason for optimism: In most cases, the disease is now very treatable. “Breast cancer has become much more of a chronic illness,” says Leslie Paine, O.T.R., manager of the Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Center on the Summit Campus. “Today, many breast cancer survivors live a full and active life.”

While medical treatments of cancer continue to advance, one thing remains the same: The earlier breast cancer is spotted, the more effectively it can be treated. So it’s important to make breast cancer screenings a priority.

Women should get regular clinical breast exams from a doctor or other health care specialist, such as a nurse practitioner. This physical examination can help detect any unusual changes in the breast. Experts recommend that women get a clinical breast exam every three years in their 20s and 30s, and then annually beginning at age 40.

The best available tool for breast cancer detection, however, remains the mammogram, in which a low-dose X-ray is used to take images of the breast tissue. Beginning at age 40, women should get an annual mammogram.

In some cases, women under age 40 may be candidates for breast imaging as well. Younger women who have a suspicious lump or a family history of breast cancer, for example, should be screened. “Generally, if you’re a woman with an immediate family history—a mother, father, aunt, or uncle who had breast cancer—and you know the age at which that person was diagnosed, you should subtract 10 years from that age to determine when you should start being screened,” Leslie says. “So if your relative was diagnosed at 45, you would typically start being screened at 35.”

For younger women, mammography is not necessarily the best choice. “Women’s breasts below the age of 40 are very dense because of the estrogen our bodies are making,” Leslie says. “Oftentimes, when taking a mammogram of a very dense breast, you just can’t see enough, so screening ultrasounds, which use sound waves, are done instead.”

Experts also recommend women do regular self–breast exams. “We tell women not to do self–breast exams expecting to find abnormalities but rather to be familiar with the structure of your own breasts,” says Leslie. “So many women just have lumpy breasts and thicknesses, so it’s important to know what’s normal for you.” Should you notice any changes, of course, make an appointment with your doctor.

ENSURING CARE FOR ALL WOMEN

Alta Bates Summit has partnered with the state of California to offer the Cancer Detection Program, which provides a funded annual breast cancer screening to any woman as long as she has a physician to whom a mammography report can be sent. For more information, call the Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Center at (510) 869-8833.

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PREVENTING BREAST CANCER

Some of the best news on the breast cancer front is as simple as this: You have the power to reduce your own risk of getting the disease. Just make a few adjustments in your daily life, experts say, and you can boost your body’s ability to fight off breast cancer and maintain health.

One of the best moves for preventing breast cancer— and other cancers—is paying attention to what you pile on your plate. Eating fresh, healthful foods is key, so shoot for five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Try to get a range of colors into your shopping basket because fruits and veggies with different pigments (yellow, orange, red, green, blue) have different cancer-fighting phytochemicals. Experts also recommend eating whole grains and cutting back on red meat.

Another great tip: Turn off the television and get your blood pumping. People should get a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise, five to seven days a week. Besides keeping you trim, exercise may help regulate hormone levels, which can reduce the risk of breast cancer.

NOURISH YOUR BODY AND MIND

Lifestyle changes can help prevent cancer and benefit patients diagnosed with cancer. Alta Bates Summit’s Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Center offers an innovative four-week workshop called “Nourishing the Mind–Body Connection” to help those recovering from cancer manage stress, pain, nausea, and other side effects of treatment. For more information, call (510) 869-8833.