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18 | October 4, 2018 | 22nd century media Active aging
22ndCenturyMedia.com
You mean, I can now get a
Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening
at Silver Cross?
Nice!
That’s right! CT Low-Dose Lung Cancer Screening is one
of the best ways to find tumors or nodules on your lungs
which may be cancerous‒especially in smokers. It’s quick,
painless, non-invasive and now covered by Medicare and
most insurances. So if you are between 55 and 77 years old
and have smoked at least a pack a day for 30 years, are a
current smoker, or quit within the last 15 years, ask your
doctor for an order.
If further care is needed, you have easy access to a team of
multi-disciplinary lung specialists and advanced therapies
and treatments from University of Chicago Medicine
Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Midwest Institute
for Robotic Surgery, and The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab –
all at Silver Cross Hospital.
To schedule a CT Low-Dose Lung Cancer Screening,
obtain an order from your physician and call (815) 300-7076
to schedule an appointment at Silver Cross Hospital.*
*Physician’s order required.
1900 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox • silvercross.org • (815) 300-7076
Silver Cross procedure gives
active woman her life back
Christine Guzior, 65,
enjoys an active lifestyle,
working, vacationing and
spending time with her seven
children and 16 grandchildren.
But severe heartburn
and acid reflux took a
toll on her.
No matter what she ate or
drank, Guzior suffered with
acid reflux and difficulty
swallowing. She couldn’t
go out to eat with her family
without experiencing
heartburn and coughing.
She even purchased an adjustable
bed to sleep upright
because her symptoms became
so severe that she was
unable to lie flat without
feeling acid in her throat.
For years, the Lemont resident
tried acid-reducing
medications and dietary
changes, but continued to
have bothersome symptoms.
Fortunately, relief came
for Guzior one spring day
when she received the
Silver Cross Experience
newsletter in her mailbox. A
free lecture about the latest
minimally invasive surgical
options to treat heartburn,
reflux disease and Barrett’s
esophagus caught her attention.
She attended and met
Dr. Reza Gamagami, an
experienced surgeon with
the Midwest Institute for
Robotic Surgery at Silver
Cross Hospital. One of the
options he discussed was
an exciting anti-reflux treatment
called the LINX reflux
management system.
What Is LINX?
“LINX is a revolutionary
solution for reflux and
heartburn,” Gamagami said.
“The LINX device is similar
to a beaded bracelet; it’s
a flexible ring of magnetic
beads placed laparoscopically
around the base of the
esophagus to help keep the
stomach valve closed and
prevent reflux from occurring.”
The LINX implant was
designed to be a lifelong solution
to acid reflux.
Following the lecture,
Guzior made an appointment
with Gamagami for
pre-operative esophageal
testing to see if she was a
good candidate for an antireflux
procedure. She was,
so last fall, Gamagami
used the da Vinci XI Robot
System to perform a laparoscopic,
robotic-assisted
hiatal hernia repair with
placement of the LINX antireflux
device. Patients who
undergo this surgery are
allowed to eat regular food
that same day and typically
go home the same day or the
next.
Silver Cross is the only
hospital in Will County to
offer the LINX implant, and
Gamagami is the only surgeon
in Will County trained
to perform the LINX technique.
There are many benefits
to having this procedure
done laparoscopically
through small incisions.
“Christine’s heartburn
and regurgitation symptoms
have been eliminated in a
minimally invasive way, resulting
in a much quicker recovery,
minimal blood loss
and scarring, and a short
hospital stay,” Gamagami
said. “She also has been
able to stop taking all of
her anti-reflux medication,
which could have unwanted
and concerning side effects
when taken long term.”
Life after LINX
Shortly after surgery,
Guzior knew she had her
quality of life back.
“I couldn’t believe how
wonderful I felt so soon after
surgery,” she said. “In just
two hours after my procedure,
I was eating pot roast,
drinking several glasses of
water and not coughing or
having reflux! During these
past several months, I have
experienced minimal discomfort.
My recovery has
been remarkable.
“This surgery with the
LINX implant has totally
changed my life for the better.
I am a new person! I am
Please see procedure, 23