ACS Announces Second Volume of Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery

An associate in otolaryngology head and neck surgery at Mount Nittany Physician Group in State College, Pennsylvania, Dr. James Freije provides care to adults and children. Beyond his responsibilities as a physician, Dr. James Freije is a cancer liaison representative for the American College of Surgeon’s (ACS) Cancer Committee.

Committing to promoting improved care and safety standards for surgical patients, the ACS routinely works on new standards and guidelines for both its members and the professional community as a whole. Recently, the ACS announced that it is in the process of creating the second volume of Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery with the help of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and the ACS Commission on Cancer (CoC). This second volume is intended to focus on cancers not covered in the first volume and provide information regarding cancer surgery techniques and various care recommendations.

In June 2015, the ACS released the first volume of the Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, which focused on cancers found in the colon, lung, breasts, and pancreas. The first standards manual of its kind, it is intended for use as a reference for researchers planning various clinical trials and to provide recommendations for a variety of procedures. The second manual is set to cover rectal, esophagus, thyroid, and gastric cancers, along with melanoma. As of yet, the ACS has not given a release date for the new volume.

Laryngeal Cancer Risks and Causes

An associate in otolaryngology head and neck surgery with Mount Nittany Physician Group in State College, Pennsylvania, Dr. James Freije is familiar with a variety of medical areas. During the course of his career, Dr. James Freije has gained experience with such illnesses and diseases as squamous cell carcinoma, cystic hygroma, and laryngeal cancer.

There are several factors that increase the risk of developing laryngeal cancer, but smoking and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol are the main risk factors. Tobacco use is a risk factor for most head and neck cancers and individuals' chance of getting laryngeal cancer is positively correlated with how much they smoke. Additionally, drinking more than one drink per day has been shown to increase the risk of laryngeal cancer. Although drinking alcohol carries a lower risk than smoking, it should be noted that combining the two habits multiples risk substantially.

Beyond smoking and alcohol, several types of the human papilloma virus (HPV) have been linked to laryngeal cancer. The development of cancer from an HPV type is very rare and the causal link has yet to be determined, but it is still considered a risk factor. Diet and family history are also risk factors. Poor diet results in the body getting less of the minerals and vitamins it needs and, in turn, increases the likelihood that cancer will form. Meanwhile, certain genetic syndromes and a family history of head and neck cancer may double an individual’s risk.

Risks and Benefits of an Ethmoidectomy

For over 20 years, Dr. James Freije has been providing patients with high-quality care in otolaryngology head and neck surgery. Currently practicing with Mount Nittany Physician Group in State College, Pennsylvania, Dr. James Freije has experience with a wide variety of procedures, including the ethmoidectomy.

Used to treat sinus infections and other conditions resulting from blockage of the nasal passageways, an ethmoidectomy is an intranasal, outpatient procedure performed by a medical professional specializing in ENT conditions. There are several benefits of having an ethmoidectomy. The procedure decreases the number of sinus infections patients have and reduces the symptoms associated with such infections. Additionally, since it is minimally invasive, patients go home the same day and have quicker recoveries and lower risks of infection than those who opt for more traditional sinus surgery.

However, there are a few risks associated with having an ethmoidectomy. As with all surgery, the procedure carries some risk related to the use of anesthesia. Beyond that, patients may experience dryness of the nose, loss of smell, or pain following the procedure, and some intracranial injuries to the brain may occur, though they are rare. There is also a risk of damage to the muscle responsible for eye movement or even the optic nerve, resulting in changes in, or loss of, vision; fortunately, this problem is also rare.                            

The Three Core Functions of Public Health

An associate in otolaryngology head and neck surgery at Mount Nittany Physician Group, Dr. James Freije has spent the last two decades dedicated to improving public health. Dr. James Freije received a master of public health from SUNY University at Albany and is on both the cancer committee for Mount Nittany Medical Center and the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s committee for physicians' health.

The term “public health” is used in reference to the various methods by which populations promote health, prolong life, and prevent disease as a whole. There are three main functions of public health, which are listed below.

- Assessment: monitoring and assessing the overall health of a community and population allows professionals to determine what health problems are present and which ones must be prioritized. By knowing about a population’s main health problems, communities can look into possible causes and treatments.

- Policy development: local and national health organizations must design various policies that address a population’s health issues. This involves everything from informing and educating communities about problems to establishing various solution partnerships and actions within the community.

- Assurance: in order to maintain public health, all members of a population must have access to healthcare that is affordable and fitting for a range of health problems. Any established laws or policies require enforcement and regulation, along with regular research to ensure continued effectiveness and relevance.                            

The Three Core Functions of Public Health

An associate in otolaryngology head and neck surgery at Mount Nittany Physician Group, Dr. James Freije has spent the last two decades dedicated to improving public health. Dr. James Freije received a master of public health from SUNY University at Albany and is on both the cancer committee for Mount Nittany Medical Center and the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s committee for physicians' health.

The term “public health” is used in reference to the various methods by which populations promote health, prolong life, and prevent disease as a whole. There are three main functions of public health, which are listed below.

- Assessment: monitoring and assessing the overall health of a community and population allows professionals to determine what health problems are present and which ones must be prioritized. By knowing about a population’s main health problems, communities can look into possible causes and treatments.

- Policy development: local and national health organizations must design various policies that address a population’s health issues. This involves everything from informing and educating communities about problems to establishing various solution partnerships and actions within the community.

- Assurance: in order to maintain public health, all members of a population must have access to healthcare that is affordable and fitting for a range of health problems. Any established laws or policies require enforcement and regulation, along with regular research to ensure continued effectiveness and relevance.                            

Methods of Diagnosing Laryngeal Cancer

For more than 20 years, Dr. James Freije has been providing otolaryngology head and neck surgical care to patients in Pennsylvania and New York. Currently working out of Mount Nittany Physician Group, Dr. James Freije has written several publications and given numerous presentations on everything from cholesteatoma to head, neck, and oral cancers like laryngeal cancer.

Laryngeal cancer is often found based on the various symptoms an individual is presenting, but tests are still needed to confirm the diagnosis and determine the stage of the cancer. Doctors will often start off by asking questions about your symptoms and possible risk factors or family history. They will complete a full physical examination to check for any signs of other cancers, focusing specifically on the head and neck areas. If the results continue pointing towards laryngeal cancer, you will be referred to an otolaryngologist for more specialized tests.

Your specialist will often complete a biopsy, which removes and tests cells from the affected area. Both an endoscopy and laryngoscopy involve removing tissue, though they are used in different areas: a laryngoscopy takes a sample from the larynx while an endoscopy takes samples from the throat and esophagus. Otolaryngologists may also complete various imaging tests, such as a CT or MRI scan, to look for the actual tumor and determine how far the cancer may have spread.                            

The ACS Reminds Parents of the Risk of Exposing Children to Peanuts

Dr. James Freije, a diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology, provides high-quality medical care to patients as an otolaryngology head and neck surgery associate at Mount Nittany Physician Group. Dedicated to staying abreast of developments within his field, Dr. James Freije belongs to several professional organizations including the American College of Surgeons.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS), an educational and scientific organization dedicated to raising surgical standards, recently released an advisory to parents against exposing young children and babies to peanuts. The advisory was made in response to news about how exposure to peanuts in infancy may prevent peanut allergies in adulthood. According to the advisory, news coverage does not properly illustrate the risks involved in this exposure.

Although having a desire to prevent a food allergy seems positive, the ACS’ advisory reminds parents that peanuts are one of the leading causes of choking in infants and toddlers. Due to the undeveloped coordination of the swallowing muscles as well as the lack of molars in infants, it’s unlikely that peanuts will be chewed enough before being swallowed. It is also possible that the peanut will enter the lungs rather than the stomach, causing serious breathing problems.

If parents wish to expose their infants to peanuts, it is safest to go through with the exposure while at a physician’s office. This allows for careful monitoring of the child and ensures the child is treated quickly if a problem arises. Additionally, exposing the child to smooth peanut butter is best instead of exposing them to whole peanuts since it eliminates the risk of choking and blockages.