News from Mountainside Hospital

October 31st will soon be upon us, and ghosts and goblins, ballerinas, astronauts, witches and more will be out in full force on the streets of our community. To help the little ones enjoy a safe Halloween, follow these quick safety tips:

Trick-or-treat at homes of friends and neighbors you know.

Supervise children when sorting and consuming candy. Be sure all edible items are in the original packaging, and are separated from nonedible items. Discard candy if wrappers are faded, have holes or tears or show signs of loose wrapping or re-wrapping.

Always keep medications safely stored in locked cabinets and out of reach of children. Some medications, which come in various colors, look similar to and can be easily mistaken for candy

Read instructions when applying costume makeup, face paint, glitter or hair spray. Select non-toxic materials when using makeup and watch for skin irritations like rash or itching. If an irritation occurs wash the makeup off immediately with soap and water. Keep all cosmetics out of the reach of children.

Feed children before they go out trick or treating so they will not be tempted to eat candy before an adult has inspected it.

Children should carry flashlights and/or reflective treat bags or attach reflectors to their costumes.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: The Best Protection is Early Detection

Best Protection is Early Detection The best way to fight breast cancer is to know your body and have a plan that helps you detect the disease in its early stages. The American Cancer Society recommends regular breast cancer screening as an effective method of decreasing breast cancer mortality. The following screening tests are recommended for early detection:

Mammography: According to the Center for Disease Control, the best way to find breast cancer early is with a mammogram. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast and can detect breast cancer up to two years before a tumor can be felt by you or your doctor.

Clinical Breast Exam (CBE): In the early stages of breast cancer, the cancer is too small to feel and does not cause signs and symptoms. As it grows, however, breast cancer can cause changes in how the breast looks or feels. Some symptoms may include change in breast size or shape,

Lumps or thickening of breast tissue
Dimpling or puckering of the skin
Swelling, redness or warmth that does not go away
Pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle
Pulling in of the nipple
Nipple discharge that starts suddenly and appears only in one breast
An itchy, sore or scaling area on one nipple
During a clinical breast exam, your doctor examines your breasts and the surrounding area for any possible signs of breast cancer.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women in their 20s or 30s should have a clinical breast exam about every three years as part of a general health exam. Women over 40 should have a clinical breast exam once a year.

Breast Self Exam: Women should begin monthly self-exams beginning at age 20. Examining yourself on a regular basis allows you to become familiar with your breasts and increases the likelihood that you will notice any changes. While finding a breast change does not necessarily mean that there is a cancer, you should report any new breast changes to a health professional as soon as they are found. Breast self-exams should never replace regular mammograms and clinical breast exams.

Mountainside Hospital Women's Imaging Center

Specializing in breast cancer detection and treatment, the Mountainside Hospital Women's Imaging Center provides a full spectrum of services for prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of breast disease. At Mountainside Hospital's Women's Imaging Center, our commitment is to provide the most advanced diagnostic equipment and medical staff needed to accurately interpret and act on the results. This combination of technology, unsurpassed expertise and preventative techniques allows us to screen for potential problems faster, more accurately and more comfortably.

To make an appointment for a mammogram at the Mountainside Hospital Women's Imaging Center, please call 1-877-523-7787. For more information, call 973-429-6120.

All mammograms in the month of October will come with a special gift in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Mountainide Hospital Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Research

October is All About Pink In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mountainside Hospital employees will be donning their best pink outfits on October 29. The day long event will kick off with "pink" themed treats in the hospital cafeteria. With some 6,300 new cases of breast cancer expected to be diagnosed in New Jersey this year, the hospital aims to use this event as an opportunity to educate the community about the importance of regular mammography screenings.

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, accounting for one out of every three cancers diagnosed in women. As cancer is more curable the earlier it is detected, annual mammograms, clinical breast exams by a health care provider and monthly breast self exams are good health habits for women.

"A Lot to Grow" Is Ready for Autumn

Community Garden

For the last five months, the land directly across the street from the entrance to Mountainside Hospital's Emergency Room has been used for a community garden aptly named "A Lot to Grow."

Community gardening is a growing trend as Americans become increasingly concerned with food prices, the environment and nutrition. Mountainside Hospital is proud to partner in this community effort which demonstrates the role of public health in improving the quality of life in a community. In addition to promoting greater consumption of fresh vegetables, community gardens have also been shown to promote social interaction and community well-being.

Since its creation in May, A Lot to Grow has donated hundreds of pounds of organic vegetables and herbs to local soup kitchens and food pantries. Even in late October, the sixteen beds in the garden are still producing edible flowers, herbs, and vegetables and are being readied for cold frames as cooler weather approaches.

Community Garden

To welcome in the fall season, new vegetables have been planted and nearly a dozen homemade scarecrows now stand guard in the garden. This year the garden grew organic tomatoes, peppers, carrots, lettuce, broccoli, cucumbers, potatoes, radishes, onions, eggplants, and herbs. The harvests were donated to Toni's Kitchen, The Soup Kitchen at the First Seventh-day Adventist Church of Montclair, Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, and the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair

Preventing a Stroke: Knowing the Signs and Symptoms

How do you know if you are having a stroke? Would you know what to do?

Join us as we learn the signs, symptoms and how the Mountainside Hospital's Primary Stroke Center can intervene during these crucial first minutes.

Presented by Amy Paolella, RN, BSN, Educator and Stroke Coordinator.

November 8
9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Montclair YMCA, Holm Room
25 Park Street, Montclair

Registration is requested. To register, please call 1-888-973-4MSH.

Mountainside Hospital Annual Public Meeting

Good things are happening at Mountainside. Come learn about the excellent progress being made as a result of the outstanding collaboration between the hospital's highly skilled employees and a talented medical staff.

We look forward to seeing you there.

November 18

6:30 p.m.

Mountainside Hospital

1 Bay Ave., Montclair

To R.S.V.P. call 973-429-6012 or email info@mountainsidehosp.com.