Hotflashes | January 2025

Signs of Cervical Cancer to Look Out For

Each year, around 11,500 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 4,000 women die from the disease in the U.S. each year. In today’s article, we’ll discuss the common signs and symptoms of cervical cancer to look out for and what to do if you notice them.

Common Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

Some women with early cervical cancers or what’s known as pre-cancers, which is when there is abnormal tissue that is not cancer but may lead to it, may not have any symptoms. This is why regular pap smears are important, as they can detect issues before they are more advanced. However, some women may notice symptoms such as:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding, including bleeding after sex, bleeding after menopause, bleeding and spotting between periods, or having longer and/or heavier periods than normal
• An unusual discharge from your vagina that may contain some blood and may happen between your periods or after menopause
• Pain during sex
• Pain in the pelvic region

Symptoms of More Advanced Cervical Cancer

As the abnormal tissue grows larger and spread to nearby tissue, symptoms can develop even further. Some of the most common symptoms of advanced cervical cancer include:

• Leg swelling
• Issues urinating or having a bowel movement
• Blood in the urine

What to Do If You Notice These Symptoms

It’s important to note than many of the symptoms described above, even those associated with more advanced cervical disease, can also be signs or symptoms of other issues. However, if you’re experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, it is likely an indication of some sort of issue that needs to be addressed with your medical provider. If you do not currently have a women’s health provider and are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, have not had a pap smear recently, or any other women’s health issues, call us today at 229-883-7010 to schedule an appointment.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html

What to Do When Your Child Has the Flu or COVID-19

As a parent, it can be very scary and difficult to see your child sick, especially if they are sick with an illness like the flu or COVID-19. However, most healthy children can be treated for these illnesses at home if you’re familiar with what they need and what to look out for, which we’ll cover in this article.

What To Do If You Suspect Your Child Has the Flu or COVID-19

If you notice your child has a fever, cough, or other signs of sickness, it’s a good idea to take them to their pediatrician or some sort of urgent care if you’re not able to get in with their pediatrician quickly enough. That way, the provider they see can test for a variety of illnesses and rule out a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, that can be easily treated with antibiotics. While antibiotics won’t help the flu or COVID-19 since they are viral infections, it’s best to rule out other possible causes of the illness. And while an antiviral like Tamiflu can help with symptoms of the flu, they do have the risk of side effects with children. Your child’s provider will carefully review their medical history and go over the risks with you before prescribing an antiviral.

What Your Sick Child Needs at Home

Again, most healthy children can be treated for illnesses like the flu and COVID-19 at home without any issues, even without an antiviral. The key things your child will need when they’re sick at home are plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, extra rest, and over-the-counter pain/fever reducers such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or children’s ibuprofen like Motrin or Advil. As with any medication, it’s very important to read the correct dosage for your child’s age and weight and how frequently it needs to be given. Additionally, some cold and flu medications contain acetaminophen, so read labels carefully to make sure you’re not accidentally giving your child too much.

Warning Signs to Look Out For When Your Child is Sick

Although most children can be treated at home for the flu and COVID-19 without any issues, there are things you should look out for, particularly if your child is younger and/or has a history of more severe illness.

The first major thing to look out for when your child is sick are signs of dehydration, which include:

• Not playing as much as usual
• Urinating less
• Dry mouth
• Crying without tears
• Sleepy and/or listless
• Fussy or cries more than normal

The other major thing to look out for when your child is sick is a fever getting too high. This can look different for different ages:

• Infants younger than three months old should be seen by a doctor if their temperature reaches 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
• Children between the ages of three months old to three years old should be seen by a doctor if their fever reaches 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
• Repeatedly has a temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit for any age.

Additionally, if you suspect your child is having a seizure, is struggling to breathe, or is showing other major signs of distress, call 911 or take them to your nearest Emergency Room immediately.

https://www.choa.org/parent-resources/flu/treating-flu-symptoms-at-home

Chicken Breasts in Dill-Caper Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 4 boneless chicken breast halves, pounded very thin
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup white wine
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoons dried dill weed
• 1 ½ teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 4 tablespoons capers, drained

Directions: 

1. Place flour onto a large plate. Dredge chicken breasts in flour and season with salt and pepper. Set aside. 

2. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add chicken to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove chicken from the skillet, cover with aluminum foil, and keep warm. 

3. Pour white wine into the same skillet and deglaze by scraping up all the brown bits from the bottom. Stir in cream, lemon juice, basil, parsley, dill, and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, whisking constantly, until sauce is reduced and has a creamy consistency, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir capers into sauce and heat for 1 to 2 minutes more. 

4. Plate chicken breasts and spoon sauce on top 

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/268099/chicken-breasts-in-dill-caper-cream-sauce/