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If You Find a Thyroid Nodule Does it Mean You Have Cancer?

If You Find a Thyroid Nodule Does it Mean You Have Cancer?

My friend Lee had a scare recently. She thought she might have thyroid cancer. It all began when she had a CT scan for something else and it showed a nodule or lump on her thyroid. She had a fine needle aspiration biopsy, which came back suspicious for papillary cancer, the most common type of thyroid cancer. Read more ...

Diane Atwood Receives Gold Lamplighter Award

Diane Atwood Receives Gold Lamplighter Award

The New England Society for Healthcare Communications (NESHCo) recently honored Diane Atwood with a Gold Lamplighter Award for her health and wellness blog Catching Health with Diane Atwood.

Atwood, a former health care professional who was the health reporter on WCSH6 for more than 20 years, began writing Catching Health with Diane Atwood in 2011. Bangor Daily News now carries the blog and Atwood is a community blogger for WCSH6. In addition, she has a health column in Maine Women Magazine. Her Catching Health blog was also recognized by the Maine Public Relations Council with a Golden Arrow Award in 2011.

Becky Sawtelle is the Queen of Weight Loss!

Becky Sawtelle is the Queen of Weight Loss!

 

I think today should be all about Becky Sawtelle. No wait, let’s give her the entire rest of the week. She deserves it! For most of Becky’s life she struggled with her weight and finally decided to have gastric by-pass surgery. Dr. Jamie Loggins, from the Central Maine Bariatric Surgery Center did the procedure the end of January. 

When I wrote an update in March she was not happy with how things were going. Here’s what she had to say: “I had a really strong relationship with food. Now I can’t eat whatever, whenever, and how much I want. I miss that.”

Compassionate Communication Panel Discussion To Be Held At Mayo Regional Hospital Resource Center

Pine Tree Hospice, in collaboration with Eastern Area Agency on Aging and with funding from the United Way of Eastern Maine, is pleased to present a program on Compassionate Communication May 16th from 6 – 8 p.m. in Mayo Regional Hospital’s Resource Center.  This panel discussion will help answer the question, “What do I say when those I care about are faced with difficult life events?”  Panelists will discuss how to support a friend or family member who is seriously ill or dying when the natural human reaction is to feel uncomfortable.

This program is open to all community members who are interested in learning how to better communicate and support those with serious illness, bereavement, or other traumatic life events.

Dessert refreshments will be provided.

For more information or to register, please contact Pine Tree Hospice at 564-4346 or email wecare@pinetreehospice.org.