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When Wiebke Papenfus and her husband lost their health insurance, she started skipping her annual mammogram. “I had been very diligent about getting them because my maternal grandmother died of breast cancer,” Wiebke said. During a self-breast exam Wiebke made a startling discovery- a lump in her left breast. “I went to a nurse practitioner who sent me for a mammogram and an ultrasound,” Wiebke said. “Then I had a biopsy.” The results of Wiebke’s biopsy came via email.  An occupational therapist by...

You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who wants to think about cancer, much less get a diagnosis.  However, thinking about cancer now could improve your odds of survival if you have the disease.  Regular screenings can literally make a life-or-death difference.  Early detection is one of the most powerful cancer weapons our clinical experts have in their arsenal. “Catching cancer early is critical to survival. Screening is something we should all keep in mind. Cancer is not just an old...

Studies show income, race, and education could impact access to  potentially life-saving health care. A team of McLaren Flint family medicine doctors is working to change that. April is National Minority Health Month (NMHM), a time to raise awareness about the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities and reducing health disparities. This includes the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness among African American, Asian, and Hispanic populations, an...

McLaren Flint, part of the statewide Karmanos Cancer Network and a regional leader in cancer care and prevention, has enhanced its capabilities through the addition of Volpara® Risk Pathways™, an industry-leading software program streamlining patients’ risk assessment and care management for breast and other common cancers. Volpara has further expanded the care abilities and proficiencies of the McLaren Flint Comprehensive Breast Care program. “Breast cancer risk assessment is a priority for McLaren Fli...

Congratulations to Shelby Eichman, engineering, our March Outstanding Employee of the Month. Shelby is known as someone we can depend on to always get the job done. "Shelby consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication and work ethic. Always punctual, he ensures the grounds of McLaren Flint are immaculately maintained," said Shelby's nominator. "Shelby has taken on the role of outside groundskeeper with remarkable commitment, transforming and upholding the cleanliness and beauty of our surroundings. ...

Alicia Jeffery planned to have a colonoscopy at 45, but life happened, and she did not get the screening until she was 47. “I wanted to be vigilant because colon cancer is in my family,” Alicia said. “My grandmother had it and survived, so I knew screening was important.” However, it wasn’t until after McLaren Flint gastroenterologist Dr. Erika DeGayner performed her colonoscopy that Alicia truly realized what a valuable tool the screening is. “Dr. DeGayner removed four polyps from my colon,” Alicia sai...

Sara Allen suspected she had gallstones, but no amount of pain was going to keep her from her nephew’s wrestling match. “It was an important match,” Sara said. “I don’t have kids, so my nieces and nephews are my life.” As soon as the match was over, Sara headed straight to the emergency room. The 42-year-old soon learned the source of her pain was ovarian cancer. Sara’s loving family immediately rallied around her. “My sister was my keeper. She did all the research for me, so I didn’t go down the rabbit...

Sometimes when we visit a physician looking for a diagnosis, they may need more than a physical exam and blood work to find the answer. This is when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be helpful for your doctor to better understand your condition. By providing detailed images, an MRI can give your physician more information to help diagnose you and plan the best course of treatment. MRI is a type of scan that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the ...

In what is undoubtedly a growing trend amongst primary care providers, the first two McLaren Health Care family medicine providers have earned an additional, special accreditation after successfully completing their training and examination for the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. The supplementary certification is an avenue for providers to enhance their overall patient care — preventing, treating, and reversing chronic conditions and promoting wellness through the discipline’s four core pillars: n...

Taking the first bite of a meal or sip of a drink suddenly became difficult for Daniel Zuhlke. Whatever he ate or drank would stop when it reached his throat, and when it finally went down, it was painful. “I thought I had a hiatal hernia because I had watched my father struggle with one,” Daniel said. “But my doctor thought my symptoms sounded like something more serious. He sent me for tests.” Imaging, followed by a biopsy revealed Daniel did have something more serious. He had esophageal cancer. “I w...