Cancer linked with a more than doubled risk of dying from stroke

Credit: Getty Images utah778

Newswise — People living with or beyond cancer are more likely to die from stroke than the general public, according to new Penn State research, and certain types of cancer may boost the risk

even more.

Researchers at

Penn State College of Medicine

found that compared to the general population, people who have or have had cancer are more than twice as likely to die of a stroke, and the risk increases with time. Additionally, cancers of the breast, prostate or colorectum were the type most commonly associated with fatal stroke.

Nicholas Zaorsky

, assistant professor in radiation oncology and public health sciences, said the

results

– recently published in Nature Communications – may help physicians identify patients at risk for fatal strokes.

“Previous research has shown that most cancer patients aren’t going to die of their cancer, they’re going to die of something else,” Zaorsky said. “A stroke is one possibility. Our findings suggest that patients may benefit from a screening program to help prevent some of these early deaths from stroke, as well as help identify which patients we could target with those preventative efforts.”

According to the researchers, cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States, with stroke being the fifth leading cause. But while institutions like the American Heart Association and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network provide separate guidelines for stroke prevention and advice for people beyond cancer treatment, there is little guidance for preventing strokes in people who have or have had cancer.

Zaorsky, a member of the

Penn State Cancer Institute

, said he and the other researchers were interested in identifying those at the highest risk of stroke to help future prevention efforts.

The researchers used data gathered from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program. SEER includes data about cancer incidence, survival, treatment and age and year of diagnosis, and covers 28 percent of the U.S. population.

For the current study, the researchers used SEER data on more than 7.2 million patients who had been diagnosed with invasive cancer – cancer that has spread beyond the tissue in which it originally developed – between 1992 and 2015.

The researchers found that out of 7,529,481 cancer patients, 80,513 died of a stroke. Males and females had equal chances of dying from a stroke, but those diagnosed with cancer at a younger age had a higher chance of a fatal stroke.

Additionally, they found that among those diagnosed with cancer before they turned 40, most strokes occurred in people treated for brain tumors and lymphomas. In patients diagnosed with cancer above the age of 40, fatal strokes were most commonly associated with cancer of the prostate, breast and colorectum.

Zaorsky said one explanation for the increased risk could be that many people who are diagnosed with cancer are in a “prothrombotic” state, which means they are more likely to form a blood clot.

“That blood clot may then go to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism, for example, or cause a stroke if it goes to the brain,” Zaorsky said. “In general, it’s an underlying theme and risk factor for a lot of cancer patients. And because certain cancers like those of the prostate, breast and colorectum are some of the most common cancers, that could also help explain that high association.”

Brad Zacharia

, assistant professor of neurosurgery, said another explanation may stem from the effects of certain types of cancer treatment.

“We can speculate that a subset of cancer patients are receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatments that may have a direct effect on the blood vessels to the brain and could increase stroke risk,” Zacharia said. “This may be particularly true in patients with brain cancer.”

The researchers added that future studies could help pinpoint mechanisms and further establish the relationship between cancer and strokes.

Ying Zhang, Penn State; Leila T. Tchelebi, Penn State; Heath B. Mackley, Penn State; and Vernon M. Chinchilli, Penn State, also participated in this work.

About Penn State College of Medicine

Located on the campus of

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

in Hershey, Pa.,

Penn State College of Medicine

boasts a portfolio of nearly $100 million in funded research. Projects range from development of artificial organs and advanced diagnostics to groundbreaking cancer treatments and understanding the fundamental causes of disease. Enrolling its first students in 1967, the College of Medicine has more than 1,700 students and trainees in medicine, nursing, the health professions and biomedical research on its two campuses.

A Guide to Preparing Your Home for the Holidays

(olive-wolverine-471793.hostingersite.com)(Nov. 29, 2019)–The festive season is rocketing into view and, as all grown-ups know at this time of year, that means more work, more guests, more mouths to feed and more joy and laughter to nurture. The festive period is full of fun for your close and extended family, and visiting friends, but it’s also a time during which your home will be sheltering more heads than usual – and as such, it’s an important time to be prepared for. In this handy guide, you’ll learn how to best prepare your home for the holiday season in order to make your Christmas as wonderful and carefree as possible.

Seating Arrangements

Your first task is undoubtedly simply to understand how so many more people arriving in your home will find places to sit, talk, socialize, make merry, and – most importantly – eat. If you’re unable to find enough chairs for all the guests you’re expecting, you may wish to hire some more from a local furniture warehouse, or else buy some second-hand from local furniture stores. Meanwhile, make sure you know how to cater to everyone who visits. You may wish to invest in some

elegant furniture

for your new arrivals – in order to provide seats, beds, couches and tables for everyone who’ll be attending your home this Christmas.

Cleaning and Tidying

With a host of guests due to arrive in your home, there is the usual cleaning and tidying to undertake in order for you to present the home interior that you want to promote to your friends, family, and guests. Go around your home

fastidiously to clean each and every corner

– and be especially careful to hide or secure some of your more precious belongings: Christmas is a time of indulgence, and those who’ve had a little too much cherry may find themselves breaking items that you’ve left out.

The Kitchen

Hands-down the most important room in the house during the festive period, the kitchen will require some work before your guests begin to arrive. You need to make sure that everything’s clean, and that you have enough plates, knives, forks and cooking accessories for some of the feasts you have planned. It goes without saying that you should also check the food in your fridge, and stock up on meat, dairy and beverages to keep you ravenous and excited guests happy throughout the duration of their stay.

Festive Touches

With all the preparation out of the way in terms of seating, sleeping and cleaning, it’s time to add the flourishes that can make your home sparkle and gleam with the

red-and-green festive feel of Christmas

. Whether that means hanging stockings and mistletoe, heaving a Christmas tree into the main room, or adding little cutlets of ivy and holly to your mantelpiece, this is the final stage to decorating your home in the anticipation of a festive frolic with all your closest loved ones this festive period. Decorate in order to luxuriate in a truly Christmas-themed interior this holiday season.

Prepare your home for the festive season with the four tips outlined above – guaranteeing all of your guests a merry, wonderful time!

images courtesy of unsplash

Coast Guard closes search for missing kite surfer near Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, N.J. (Nov. 29, 2019)-—The Coast Guard has closed the search for a missing kite surfer near Ocean City, New Jersey, after the missing individual called and reported themselves to be safe, Friday morning.

Coast Guard Station Atlantic City watchstanders received a call from 911, notifying them of a kite surfer reportedly wearing all black, seen drifting out to sea after falling off a kiteboard approximately 500-yards off Corson Inlet, at around 3:20 p.m., Thursday evening.

At approximately 10 p.m. this morning, the missing kite surfer contacted Sector Delaware Bay watchstanders to inform them that after his kite malfunctioned, he had cut it free and used the board to paddle ashore and return home.

Involved in the search were:

Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew

Station Atlantic City 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew

Station Cape May 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew

Ocean City Police Department members

New Jersey State Police helicopter aircrew

Coast Guard members searched an area covering approximately 550 square miles over a period of 16 hours.

\”This case highlights the effectiveness of the interagency search and rescue system,\” said Petty Officer 1st Class Alex Castonguay, a watchstander at the Sector Delaware Bay command center. \”Cases like this also illustrate the importance of labeling your kayaks, canoes, kite boards and other recreational marine vehicles, so that in the event they are lost, or you are missing, we can reach out to contact you or return it.\”

-USCG-

Lower Township Police Arrest Four Suspects on Robbery Charges

Villas NJ (Nov. 29, 2019)— On Monday, November 25, 2019, at approximately 4:30 P.M., officers from the Lower Township Police Department responded to a call in the Villas section of the Township for a subject reporting he was assaulted and then robbed at gunpoint. Upon arrival, officers found the victim with injuries to his face. The victim told officers that he went to a residence in the

first block of East Atlantic Avenue to conduct a drug transaction when a juvenile male struck him in the face. Investigation revealed that an adult male, Louis Garcia, 18, of North Cape May, then pointed a handgun at the victim and told him to empty his pockets.

The victim was treated by Lower Township Rescue and transported to Cape Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and medical treatment.

During the investigation, Detectives from The Lower Township Police Department, The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and the Cape May County SWAT Team executed a search warrant at the home on East Atlantic Avenue. During the search of the home, an adult male, Jonathan Halas, 19, of Cape May and a male juvenile were taken into custody. A short time later, additional suspects, Louis Garcia and a second male juvenile were located at a separate house, also in the first block of East Atlantic Avenue, where they were also taken into custody.

The four suspects were charged with Robbery, Title 2C:15-1a (1); Aggravated Assault, Title 2C:12-1b (1); Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Title 2C:39-5b; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Title 2C:39-4a; and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Title 2C:5-2. The adults were then lodged at the Cape May County Correctional Center and both juveniles were placed in a juvenile security facility.

Address/Location

Lower Township Police Department

405 Breakwater Rd

Cape May, NJ 08204

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 609-886-1619

Obituary: Warren A. Theckston “Tex”, of Gloucester City

On November 26, 2019. Of Gloucester City. Age 82. Born in Camden, he is the son of the late Howard and Caroline (Wiedeman) Theckston. Tex is survived by his loving children; Dorothy Passini (Dennis), Teresa Theckston, Jacqueline Sherriton (Brian), James Theckston; step-children, Gerald Sheridan, Eileen Nemeroff (Dave) and Kathleen Chiodi (John); grandchildren, Nichole, Nicholas, and Edward Sheridan, Daniel Theckston, Matt Nemeroff, Katherine Bradley, Olivia, Joshua, Jenna and Philip Sherriton: brother, Howard Theckston, Jr.; sister, Carol Monforte. He was predeceased by his wife, Jacqueline Theckston; step-children, Margaret Sheridan, Edward Sheridan, granddaughter, Heather Nemeroff and his brother, Norman Theckston.

Tex was an entrepreneur in Florida and Gloucester City, NJ

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 7

at 10:30 am in St. Mary’s Church, 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, where family and friends may visit from 10 to 10:30 am. Burial will be held at a privately later date in New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Tex to help with his daughters needs thru:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/diggers-for-teresa

or sent to Mr. Frank Lopergolo, Detect America, 144 East Arbor Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360, Attn: Diggers for Teresa Theckston, or to her sister: Jacqueline Sherriton, 820 NW 120 Avenue, Plantation, FL 33325.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at

www.mccannhealey.com

under the obituary of Warren A. Theckston. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through:

McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME

, Gloucester City.

Ph: 856-456-1142

Remembering Inky, the Thanksgiving Whale

MediaWize

November 28, 2019

Sheila Dean, co-director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, holds a replica of a pygmy sperm whale like the one found in Longport on Thanksgiving Day 1994.

Submitted by STEVE JASIECKI

It was 1994 on Thanksgiving Day when a female pygmy sperm whale ended up stranded on a beach in Longport. Police and volunteers gave up their dinners to watch over the whale until the Marine Mammal Stranding Center arrived. The whale was in very poor condition and wouldn’t survive without immediate care. It was transported to the stranding center, a flurry of phone calls were made, and the Coast Guard agreed to airlift the dolphin-sized whale by helicopter to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland.

When she arrived in Baltimore she was weak, dehydrated and in shock. There were no obvious signs of any sickness or injuries. She had poor muscle tone and seemed malnourished. Marine veterinarians could not figure out what was wrong and they didn’t expect her to live.

Because animals that arrive in her condition usually don’t survive, the Marine Animal Rescue coordinator had to decide if the expense of her care was warranted. Veterinarians would observe her for a few days to see if there would be any improvement. Like squid, pygmy sperm whales squirt out an inky substance to elude predators and confuse their prey. Her attendants decided to try to rehabilitate her and she was given the name “Inky.”

Over the next several days, Inky remained lethargic. She ate very little and didn’t gain any weight. A series of tests including blood work and X-rays were performed but didn’t yield any results. Finally, after three weeks, an endoscopy was performed to see if she had any ulcers or foreign materials in her stomach.

The endoscopy didn’t find any ulcers but it did find something else — a mylar balloon, a trash bag and other types of plastic that blocked her digestive tract. Once the items were removed she was able to eat again. Although she started to gain weight, she was still weak from the stranding. She was sluggish and had difficulty swimming.

Like trainers in a gym, aquarium volunteers and staff members would help her exercise. They swam with her in the rehabilitation pool, coaxing her to swim harder, build muscle and gain strength. The goal was to get her strong enough to return her to the ocean.

It took a while, but Inky improved and she started to become more active. Her strength came back and after a while the staff felt that she was ready.

Preparations were made for Inky to be released back to her environment. When the time came, it was a sad but exciting day for all the technicians and volunteers who nursed her back to health. They said their goodbyes as Inky was loaded onto a Navy cargo plane that would fly her to Florida. After landing, she was taken to Marine Land where she needed to spend four more weeks in an outdoor pool to get adjusted to the outside environment.

It had been six months since she was found on the beach and after months of medical attention and rehabilitation, Inky was ready to be set free.

The final leg of her journey to the ocean came when she was loaded onto a NOAA research ship that would release her into the ocean. Inky was fitted with a tracking device and released into the middle of the Gulf Stream where she would be able to find her favorite food, squid. The ship stayed with her to make sure she would be OK while the crew monitored her behavior with the tracking device. She was swimming, making deep dives and feeding well and the crew felt confident that she would survive.

Not long before, Inky was stranded on a beach, starving because of human garbage in her stomach and she was expected to die. Hundreds of people were involved in bringing this helpless whale back to health. After traveling thousands of miles by trucks, helicopter, airplane and finally by ship, this small pygmy whale received a second chance at life.

Inky truly is a Thanksgiving Whale.

Steve Jasiecki is chairman of Sustainable Margate.

source https://somerspoint.com

Two Atlantic County Men Plead Guilty to Setting Man on Fire

MAYS LANDING – Two men pleaded guilty on Thursday to aggravated assault after setting a man on fire in March, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.

Brandon Perez

Brandon Perez, 23, of Hammonton and David Sult, 24, of Mays Landing, both pleaded guilty to second degree aggravated assault in exchange for five years New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act (85% period of parole ineligibility and three years parole supervision upon release).

David Sult

On the evening of March 15, 2019, Brandon Perez and David Sult were at Sult’s residence in Mays Landing hanging out with a group of other men. Raymond Mullen was asleep on a couch when Perez and Sult decided to play a “prank” on him. Perez sprayed lighter fluid on the back of Raymond’s clothing. Perez ignited it. Raymond suffered severe burns to his back. The men claimed Raymond had been burned accidentally by an electronic smoking device but the investigation revealed the fire had been set intentionally.

Township of Hamilton Police Det. Lawrence Fernan investigated the incident and ACPO Det. Danielle Kratky assisted with the prosecution.

The men are on pretrial release, pending sentencing. They were released after a detention hearing. Sentencing is scheduled for February 28, 2020.

***These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ***

***************************

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County. (source press release)

Gloucester\’s Game Lions – Rams OT

GLOUCESTER CITY NJ (Nov. 28, 2019)–The annual battle between our two neighborhood schools ended regulation tied a 6 – 6. After scoreless first quarter Gloucester Catholic High hit pay dirt first taking a 6 – 0 lead in 2nd but Gloucester High battled back to tie the game at 6 – 6 on a touchdown by Steven Burkhardt.

Lions put on a late first half surge hoping to take a lead before entering the locker room, but QB Gavin Callahan\’s pass intented for Steven Burkhardt as time ran out was intercepted in the endzone by Rams Ben Watkis.

Throughout the second half both teams were unable to provide a knockout punch as the game ended in regulation 6 – 6, after the Rams attempted a goal winning field goal which was blocked by Lions Gavin Callahan

In overtime were each team begins at the 25 yardline, the Lions surprised the crowd when they converted a 4th down 22 yd field goal to take a 9-6 lead. The Rams overtime opportunity resulted in a TD pass to Ben Watkis

Photo\’s courtesy Bruce Darrow

(www.Darrowphotos.com)

Gloucester High School

Gloucester Catholic

https://darrowphotos.com

Two and One-Half-Hours

The Renewal of GLOUCESTER\’S GAME

GHS Cheerleaders and Mascot

Gavin Callahan\’s Blocked FG

Winning Touchdown Ben Watkis

Ben Watkis interception

TD Run Steven Burkardt

Delaware\’s Low-Digit Surf-Fishing Tag Auction starts Black Friday

Dover (Nov. 27, 2019) – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation will auction Low-Digit Surf Fishing Tags starting Black Friday, Nov. 29 at

www.usgovbid.com

Between Nov. 29 and Dec. 11, bidders will have the option to bid on 10 tags, including tags 36, 63, 125 and 225, and on six “choice” categories, ranging from tags 51 to 9999. The highest bidder in each choice category can choose a number, if not already sold, within that category.

The minimum bid for a surf fishing tag is $250. By state law, surf-fishing tags numbered 1 through 200 are limited to vehicles registered in Delaware.

The auction of low-numbered plates was authorized by the Delaware General Assembly and allows DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation to auction low-digit tags to the highest bidder. All proceeds directly benefit Delaware State Parks, which is 65 percent self-funded.

For more information visit

www.destateparks.com/LowDigitTags

www.usgovbid.com

or by phone at 302-739-9200.