October 16th: DPC Education Center’s Healthcare Consultant, Velma Scantlebury, MD, was Live on Facebook to answer your kidney related questions. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Dr. Scantlebury talks about the importance of monthly self-exams, as well as mammograms as recommended by your healthcare team. We are also well into fall, so Dr. Scantlebury reminds everyone to make sure they have gotten their recommended vaccines and to make those appointments, if not. She also discusses the importance of mental health and many other kidney-related topics.

Since it is breast cancer awareness month, Dr. Scantlebury starts off our live with a reminder of the importance of staying up to date on mammogram and other cancer screenings, especially if you are on the transplant list. Just because you don’t feel any lumps or massing when doing a self-exam, that doesn’t mean you should skip recommended mammograms. It’s also particularly important to let your doctor know if you have a family history of breast cancer, as you may qualify for an early screening. You can also talk to your doctor about genetic testing for the BRCA, or breast cancer, gene if you have a family history.

We are now well into fall, so if you haven’t gotten your vaccine yet, talk to your doctor and make that appointment! If you have been recently transplanted, make sure you discuss recommendations with your healthcare team and make a plan that works for you. As we move into the colder months, we are gathered more inside, which puts us at higher risk for catching viruses. Especially if you have kids or grandkids that are back at school, it is very common for them to bring home upper respiratory infections, so make sure you are protected.

The colder, darker months are also a time when people might struggle more with their mental health, and it’s important to know you can reach out to friends and family for support. Everyone is different and we aren’t all able to handle situations the same way, so Dr. Scantlebury really encourages everyone to use the resources available to them and talk to a professional if you think you might need help.

We invite you to join us for our live events and ask your kidney-related questions! Find us on both Instagram and Facebook:

- IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of the month, 12:30pm EST
- Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of the month, 12:30pm EST

IG Live 10.02.2024 – DPC Education Center’s Healthcare Consultant, Velma Scantlebury, MD, went Live on Instagram to answer your kidney related questions. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Dr. Scantlebury talks about the importance of not only breast cancer screenings for women but staying up-to-date on all cancer screenings for both dialysis and transplant patients. This month, she also discusses some ways to help comfort someone who may be ineligible for a transplant, if you can have your fistula removed after transplant, and many other kidney-related topics.

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Scantlebury highlighted not only how important it is for all women to get screenings when eligible and to do monthly self-exams, but she also discusses the particular importance for kidney patients to say up to date on their cancer screenings. Whether you’re a dialysis patient, on the transplant list, or have had a kidney transplant, adhering to all cancer screening guidelines helps your healthcare team address any possible issues right away and helps keep you eligible for transplant if you are on the transplant list.

When it comes to transplant, though it is often the goal of most patients, there are sometimes that a patient isn’t eligible for a transplant, which can be difficult to hear. Dr. Scantlebury discusses how transplant has a risk/benefit ratio, and how there are still many ways to optimize your function on dialysis and lead a great life. She talks about fistulas and why, usually, they are not removed after transplant and how they can actually be useful for transplant patients sometimes if they need an infusion. Additionally, Dr. Scantlebury talks about needing insulin after a pancreas transplant, embolization of a kidney, and answers many other important patient questions.

If you have your own questions you’d like to have the doctor answer, tune in for our Live events on both Instagram and Facebook:

- IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST
- Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST

FB Live – September 18th: On our September Facebook Live, Dr. Scantlebury talks vaccines and recommendations for the new COVID-19 boosters, flu shots, and more, as well as logistics for traveling while on dialysis, mental health, and many more kidney related topics.

Now that we are solidly into autumn, Dr. Scantlebury reminds us that it is recommended for everyone get their updated COVID and flu vaccines for the year. This is especially important for kidney patients, are they are at a much higher risk of complications from getting sick. Additionally, anyone who is eligible for RSV, shingles, or pneumonia vaccines should also make sure that they talk to their healthcare teams to schedule those. If you are over 65, you’ll likely receive a different flu vaccine that is stronger, but always talk to your doctors if you have any questions or concerns about any recommended vaccinations.

Dr. Scantlebury also talks about some tips for traveling while on dialysis. If you do peritoneal dialysis, you can let your center know where you are going, and they will ship your supplies there ahead of time so you don’t have to lug it with you. For hemodialysis though, make sure you talk to your travel coordinator to help you arrange a transfer to a facility near where you will be traveling and send ahead all necessary paperwork.

In answering a question from a patient during our live event, Dr. Scantlebury discusses some of the mental health challenges that patients can face, such as being afraid of dialysis and the anxiety and depression that can come from having to make a major life change. She highlights the importance of seeking help from friends and family and leaning on them for support, as well as speaking with a professional who can help provide useful tools for working through those feelings, as well as options for patients who need additional mental health help.

We invite you to join us for our live events and ask your kidney-related questions! Find us on both Instagram and Facebook:

- IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of the month, 12:30pm EST
- Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of the month, 12:30pm EST