Ever since I turned 40, each year in December I would go to have my annual mammogram. I usually scheduled my screenings during a weekday where I would take a few hours off from work because I chose to wait and stay for my results. While I felt comfortable going to my appointment alone, the clinic I attended had a friendly environment where women could schedule their appointments within the same time frame. I would always see groups of women, mothers and daughters, friends making a girls’ afternoon out of their screening.

The Longest I Had Gone Without A Mammogram

Last December, I missed my appointment. I knew I needed to reschedule, but as 2020 began, I didn’t follow through. When the pandemic started, many doctor’s offices, including mine, were closed temporarily. After my clinic reopened, I found myself focusing on other priorities and pressing stressors, like the virus, changes to my personal and professional life, and racial and social unrest in my community. Still, deep in the back of my mind I was feeling guilty because this was the longest I had ever gone without having my mammogram.

A Strange Pain

One night this past July before I was to travel out of town, I felt a strange pain in my left breast. As someone who is very in-tune with my body, I knew I had never felt pain like that before and I didn’t take it lightly. While I was out of town, I continued to feel the pain in waves, wondering what it was. Was I stressed? Was it the need for a new bra? But I also wondered what if it was cancer. Then the pain went away.

About two weeks later, the pain came back on a Sunday night. It was more intense. I vowed that first thing Monday morning I would schedule a mammogram. I remained positive and hopeful the screening would help to find anything early enough to be able to address it.

A Sense of Serenity

I called my clinic on Monday morning and, due to a patient cancellation, I was able to come in that afternoon for a screening. The waiting room was no longer filled with women sipping beverages and socializing. Instead, the process was streamlined, and the screening was very efficient. The environment was clean, spacious, and the new procedures were clearly explained. I felt safe.

Mammograms are never pleasant, but the mammogram technician lightened the experience with her professionalism, competence, and friendliness. Patients can no longer wait for their results: I would receive them in a text message. I dressed and waited outside for my ride. As my ride was pulling up, I received a text message saying my results were normal. I felt a sense of serenity and joy and was impressed with the speed of communication.

Breast Cancer Disparities

In addition to feeling joy and relief with my results, there was something else on my mind throughout my appointment. The pandemic has brought to light many injustices that have long been part of our society, including health disparities.

A racial disparity has long existed around breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), black women are about 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, even though their rates of getting the disease are similar. Black women are also more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage of breast cancer than other women (Source: ACS CAN). According to BreastCancer.org, these disparities likely reflect a combination of factors including differences in healthcare. As a society, we are finally having some powerful conversations that I hope will bring about positive change and reduce these disparities.

Schedule Your Screening

Looking back, I think that the strange pain I experienced was related to the increased stress I had been feeling related to the virus, the new changes in my life, and the unrest in my community. I have since adapted some stress management tactics that have been helping me, and I remain pain free.

It can be easy for health screenings, like mammograms, to fall to the bottom of the priority list when we’re challenged with the stressors of daily life. Not to mention the added stress of a global pandemic. Prevention is my passion and timely screenings are one part of a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, this October, I challenge you to schedule a screening that you may have missed, whether it be a mammogram, a colonoscopy, or even your annual physical. If this year has taught us anything, it is that we should fiercely prioritize our health and be more empathetic to the needs of our most vulnerable. Let us be there for ourselves and for each other.

For more information about mammograms, view a downloadable poster, Be the Priority, from Excellus BCBS. If you need help reconnecting with your doctor, visit ExcellusBCBS.com/Reconnect.

“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” – John F. Kennedy

A few months back, the snow started to melt and we headed out to the Erie Canal for our family walk/bike ride. My son, Matthew, asked if I wanted to ride his bike for a few miles so he could rest.

I laughed at the idea.

A bike? Me?

At age 42, I hadn’t been on a bike since I was 16 – no, that isn’t true. I was on a bike while at the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland a few years ago, but it was one of those beach bikes that holds four people and has a basket in front. Does that even count?

Anyway, I agreed. I got on the bike and wobbled a little at first. But then after about a mile, I realized… I love this feeling!

And this is how my biking obsession began. I worked out the details to purchase nice bikes for my husband and me that we could use on the roads and trails near our home in Chittenango, and within days we had our very own Trek bikes.

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Bike riding: I’m not alone

What I have learned since that day in March is that I’m one of many people who have this love for the freeing, stress relieving qualities of riding a bike.

As I take to the roads and trails every day with my husband and children, we pass dozens of biking enthusiasts. Some are sporting fancy gear and riding the cream-of-the-crop bikes, others are simply wearing their protective helmet and peddling a not-so-fancy bike like mine.

Take my friend and coworker Erika Gruszewski, from Monroe County, for instance. Since the pandemic started, she, her husband and their daughter have gone bike riding together as a family, which is a fun way to explore their neighborhood and get some activity at the end of the day.

“We also have a push-along trike for my toddler – she can’t reach the pedals yet, but she loves ringing her bell and wearing her helmet,” Erika said. “Pushing her around the neighborhood in the trike or the stroller is an almost daily activity for us. Getting out and moving in the fresh air always improves my mood!”

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As many people, especially families like Erika’s with young children at home, are looking for lockdown-compliant ways to get outside and keep everyone as healthy and happy as possible, we’re all enjoying this physical activity, outside in the fresh air.

In fact, research shows that a growing wave of New Yorkers are embracing cycling and that it’s a booming method of exercise and transportation in larger cities. According to PeopleForBikes Foundation, “affordable recreational bikes and practical models for commuting and errands are in high demand right now.” During May and June of 2020, bike sales throughout the nation were up substantially from last year — 65 percent greater than year-to-date 2019.

A Bicycle Built for Sunday Funday

Lilac Inthavong-McEvoy, who resides in Monroe County, said it’s easy to understand why the popularity of cycling has grown.

“It’s a fun, easy way to get outside, spend time with others, and get exercise,” she explained. Lilac spends her Sundays traveling bike trails and roads throughout Rochester with her coworkers at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield on what she calls “Sunday Funday.”

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“On any given Sunday, we could have as many as 16 people – coworkers, their spouses, their kids – who meet and ride,” she said. “It’s a way to be together and spend quality time in a safe, socially distanced way.”

Connect, Reflect, and Recharge

Co-worker and friend, Melissa Gardner, who also resides in Monroe County, has benefited from Lilac’s cycling Sundays.

“In most aspects of my life I am an introverted person who is very self-motivated to accomplish any goal I set,” Melissa said. “That isn’t true for fitness, though. Any time I missed a goal or broke a fitness streak, I would borderline give up and allow too much time to pass before picking back up healthy habits.”

For someone like Melissa, who wasn’t a fan of group fitness classes or anything that felt competitive, cycling has given her the outlet she needed to connect with others, reflect and recharge.

On the weekly rides, Melissa says she enjoys the fact that she “can meet-up with riders for great energy and be completely by myself – all while burning calories and exploring our community.”

Benefits of getting on a bike and peddling

Not only do biking and other forms of outdoor activity allow families to get exercise, they also provide valuable peace of mind during stressful times, said Nicholas Massa, MD, medical director at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

“Being able to go outside and spend quality time with the family, while getting the physical activity that we all need makes getting on a bike an easy solution to maintaining your health.”

According to Massa, we should follow these physical activity guidelines for Americans.

“Adults need at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity each week,” he explained. “Adults also need to engage in strength-based activities (lifting weights, push-ups) at least 2 days each week. Following these guidelines can improve overall health and decrease the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes.

There are also physical activity guidelines for children age 17 and under:

• Children ages six to 17 need at least one hour of moderate-to-vigorous activity every day. They should also include both aerobic activity (biking, walking, running) and strength-based activities (climbing on the playground, jumping rope).
• Preschool-aged children should be active for at least 3 hours per day to support growth and development.

Tips and Tricks for a Safe Bike Ride:

• Wear a helmet.
• Be seen. Dress like a fluorescent peacock—wear bright colors and reflective clothing, especially in the early morning, late at night, or on cloudy days.
• Protect yourself from the sun. Wear sunscreen, especially on the back of your neck, and sunglasses
• Know the weather forecast. Wear waterproof gear as needed.
• Be alert. Never ride with headphones or an earpiece. You need to hear everything you possibly can.
• Ride with a buddy. Two cyclists will be more visible than one. Plus, if something happens to you, your buddy may be able to facilitate the emergency response process (and vice versa).
• Get creative with your route. Choose roads that are extremely wide or have dedicated bike lanes. Opt for quieter neighborhood roads over high-traffic ones.
• Always carry a patch kit. Learning to patch up your own flat tire can prevent you from being stranded in an unsafe or remote location.
• Carry a cell phone and ID. If you don’t have a patch kit and need a ride, your cell phone will come in handy.
• Bring drinking water for longer rides.
• Ride with traffic, never against it.
• Always be ready to yield. What you can do is go slowly enough that you could stop or give the right of way at a moment’s notice.
• Be vigilant at intersections. When coming to a stop, hang left in the lane so the drivers behind and in front of you can see you.
• Be on the lookout for loose gravel, ice, sand, puddles, and other road hazards.
  
• Take bike-specific trails, whenever possible; follow the rules of the road; use bike line if there is one.
• Don’t share water bottles.
• Practice good cough etiquette by coughing and sneezing into your arm, not your hand.
• Wash hands with soap and water after any possible contamination, before eating and after using the bathroom (or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable).
• Consider bringing hand sanitizer or wipes to use after portable toilets.

As medical practices open for patient visits, it’s time to reconnect with your doctor to discuss care or screenings you may have postponed. That includes screenings for breast, cervical, and prostate cancers. But those aren’t the only screenings to check on.

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in New York state. There are about 9,000 new cases of colon cancer each year in our state and about 3,000 deaths.

Colonoscopy is the most thorough screening test and is proven to prevent the disease. Removing benign or pre-cancerous polyps found during colonoscopy can not only prevent colon cancer, but also can reduce deaths from the disease for years.

Learn about Lynn’s colon cancer story by watching the video below:

Prediabetes

Prediabetes is serious, common, and reversible with lifestyle changes. One in three adults has prediabetes, but 90 percent don’t know it because there aren’t always symptoms. A simple blood sugar test can show if someone has prediabetes. African Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, American Indians and Native Alaskans are at higher risk for having elevated blood sugar levels.

Learn more about prediabetes by watching the video below:

 

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The current estimate is that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.  More than five sunburns in a lifetime can double a person’s risk for melanoma.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, Caucasians and men older than 50 have a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population. However, skin cancer can affect anyone. Skin cancer in persons of color is often diagnosed in its later stages, when it’s more difficult to treat.

The American Academy of Dermatology encourages everyone to perform regular skin self-exams to check for signs of skin cancer, including new and changing moles. Individuals with a history of melanoma should have a full-body exam by a board-certified dermatologist at least annually.

Learn more about preventing skin cancer below:

Screening Saves Lives

The best option for medical care is to see you provider in person. With many practices now welcoming patients, it’s time to reconnect with your provider to discuss care or screenings you may have postponed. Screenings save lives!

For more information and resources to help you reconnect with your provider, visit ExcellusBCBS.com/reconnect.

You’ve likely heard this before: staying connected is important for our health.  But have you really thought about why and how, especially during this time of physical distancing?

“We are wired for social connection,” said Amy Hernandez Gamboa, BSW, a medical services care management trainer with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “Our new way of living has tested our ability to go long periods of time without seeing friends, family, being able to hug, or enjoy physical gatherings,” Amy said.

That lack of social connection can have a negative impact on how we feel both physically and mentally. “Right now we are feeling the barriers that are getting in the way of the benefits,” Amy said.

The Benefits of Social Connection

Science backs up the importance of social connection. In fact, social ties might be the single most important predictor of wellbeing.

Some of the positive impacts of social connection on physical health:

• Strengthens the immune system;
• Quicker recovery from disease;
• Increases longevity;
• Sharper memory;
• Can help reduce stress and blood pressure when pregnant

There are mental health benefits of social connection as well:

• Lower rates of anxiety and depression;
• Higher self-esteem;
• Greater sense of empathy;
• Improved mood;
• Increased trust and cooperation;
• Increased ability to support others

Quality, Not Quantity

Social connection looks different for everyone, but there are four key elements, according to Amy:

1. Having meaningful relationships. It’s about quality of relationships, not quantity.
2. Making regular connections. For some, that may be a daily connection and for others, it is less often.
3. Feeling a sense of belonging. Have you heard the expression “find your tribe?”
4. Having shared experiences. Sharing experiences with others can enhance that feeling of connection.

5 Ways to Encourage Connection

“If you’re like me, you may find yourself missing your connections and needing to find creative ways to stay connected,” Amy said. “Social connection can occur without physical connection.”

Amy recommends five themes and thought-provoking questions to consider in order to encourage connection:

1. Grace – be forgiving of yourself and others. Find time and make it a priority to stay connected. Social connection is going to look different today than in the past. Ask yourself: how can I let go of prior expectations and create space for myself and others to connect today? What are my one to two priorities today?
2. Technology – it allows us to go places we may not have been able to go before via virtual tours, such as museums and zoos. Use social apps to connect for a virtual book club or virtual walk with a friend. Ask yourself: where do I want to ‘go’ today? When can I set up a video chat with a friend or relative today? Technology helps us break through the barrier of physical distance.
3. Intention – be intentional in your connections. Who do you want to connect with and how today? Determine how you’re going to spend your time.  This can help address any barriers you may have. Think about a one-word intention that can help you strengthen connections this week, maybe it is “gentle” or “try.”
4. Creativity – think outside the box. What creative idea can you share with a friend or family member today?  What inspires you today?
5. Generosity – socially connect by thinking about others. Ask yourself: who might need to hear from me today or how can I support others?

Choose Your Own adventure

Choose to make your social connections an adventure.  This is especially helpful if negative thoughts begin to take up too much thought.  You can:

• Remember the past. Reminisce on fun, shared experiences with friends or go through mementos.
• Embrace the present. This allows you to appreciate today. A fun idea shared by Amy is to meet up for ice cream with a friend and enjoy from the safe distance of your cars.
• Plan for the future. Make a bucket list. Think of all the future holds for you!

What ways have you stayed in touch while staying apart?

Share your tips in the comments section below.

Sources:

• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/social_connection/definition#what-is-social-connection
• https://depts.washington.edu/uwcssc/content/basic-understanding-social-connection#overlay-context=content/current-research
• Arewasiporn, A., Sturgeon, J., & Zautra, A. Sharing Positive Experiences Boosts Resilient Thinking. October 8, 2018.
• Cacioppo, John T., Patrick, William. Lonelieness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection. New York   London, NW.W. Norton & Company. August 17, 2008.
• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_are_we_so_wired_to_connect
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201309/the-love-hormone-drives-human-urge-social-connection
• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/social_connection/definition#why-practice-social-connection
• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/social_connections_keep_pregnant_moms_healthy