MMC Radio

Most women in labor have choices about what they want their birth experience to be. At the Family Birth Center at Maine Medical Center, the patient's safety and desires come first. Whether it is a natural child birth with little to no medical intervention, or one with medication to help ease pain, our nurses and doctors work with each patient individually to help them achieve their goals. Should you choose medication for relief during labor, it’s best to know your options before making a...

No one wants to be admitted to the hospital but knowing what to expect can help make it easier. Dr. Elizabeth Herrle is a hospitalist at Maine Medical Center. Hospitalists are doctors who specialize in the care of patients in the hospital, and they are often your lead physician while you are admitted. Listen to inside information on how doctors and nurses work together to care for patients. There is a lot that happens regarding patient care that the patient doesn’t see. Another important...

About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary, caused by abnormal genes passed from parent to child. Most inherited cases of breast cancer are associated with two abnormal genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2; however, there are other genes associated with breast cancer risk. Getting tested for the mutations of these genes is a very personal and private decision women must make with their doctors. They can then decide with their physicians what to do with that information. Listen in as...

National news stories have drawn attention to the shorter course of radiation therapy now recommended for many women with early stage breast cancer, but not widely practiced. Listen in as Ian Bristol, MD explains that earlier trials confirmed that treatment can be safely and effectively delivered in 3-4 weeks, resulting in increased convenience for the patient, decreased cost to the health care system and, therefore, increased value of services provided.

Recurrent brain cancer, called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) can be a life threatening condition, however, immunotherapy – which is showing tremendous promise for many cancers – is now being tested against this cancer. The trial is testing a vaccine created with the patient's own tumor tissue. Immunotherapies are treatments that restore or enhance the immune system’s natural ability to fight cancer. In just the past few years, cancer immunology has produced several new methods of treating...

At Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute in Portland, Maine, prostate cancer represents one of our largest volumes of cancer patients. High-tech prostate imaging gives men with suspicious prostate lesions more targeted and accurate biopsies. MMC is first hospital in Maine to offer this important tool. Listen in as Matthew Hayn, M.D., discusses all the latest advancements in diagnosing and monitoring Prostate cancer.

Peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.) is a disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to your head, organs, and limbs. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, fibrous tissue, and other substances in the blood. P.A.D. usually affects the arteries in the legs, but it also can affect the arteries that carry blood from your heart to your head, arms, kidneys, and stomach. Listen in as Elizabeth A Blazick, MD, a vascular surgeon at Maine Medical Center, discusses...

Each year, 40,000 babies in the United States are born with Congenital Heart Disease, and one or more surgeries are typically required during the first year of life to correct their heart defects. Dr. Alexa Craig was recently awarded a KL2 Career Development Awards through Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute. The grant will allow Dr. Craig to continue her work on slowing down the rate of rewarming in babies with congenital heart disease following surgery. The idea is that...

The latest advanced technology in breast cancer screening and diagnosis, called DBT (digital breast tomography), 3D or Tomosynthesis, creates a layered, 3-dimensional image. While the patient experience is very similar to traditional digital mammography, the new technology provides a series of thin images that a radiologist can view almost like turning the pages in a book. The results include better detection of invasive breast cancers and fewer call-backs for false positives. Elizabeth...

The year 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the patent for Viagra, a pill which changed the world’s perspective of erectile dysfunction almost overnight and started a multi-billion-dollar subindustry. Since that time, as our population ages, doctors have been encountering greater numbers of men with increasingly complicated medical problems who wish to maintain aspects of their sexuality. And as many of these men are finding out, the more complicated one’s medical history, the less...

Keeping kids safe at home is a top priority. As a parent, it is important that you know what dangers to look out for that could be harmful to your children. From TV tipovers, and window falls, you can prevent some of the scariest dangers to our children. Ian Neilson, MD a Pediatric Surgeon with Maine Medical Partners is here to discuss home safety for your children.

The Vector-borne Disease Laboratory at Maine Medical Center Research Institute is dedicated to the control of emerging tick-and mosquito-borne diseases. We seek to understand the environmental interactions of vectors, hosts, habitats, and climate; monitor the geography of risk; and increase public awareness of the threat of tick-and mosquito-borne diseases. Chuck Lubelczyk, Vector Ecologist, is here to help understand the environmental interactions of vectors, hosts, habitats, and climate;...

101,000 people in the US are waiting for kidney transplants. Due to the kidney organ shortage 5000 of them won’t make it to the end of this year. Living kidney donors provide recipients better chances for survival as the kidney’s usually last twice as long as deceased donors. Dr. Juan Palma, Transplant Surgeon at Maine Transplant Program at Maine Medical Center will discuss the facts around being a living kidney donor.

The Vector-borne Disease Laboratory at Maine Medical Center Research Institute is dedicated to the control of emerging tick-and mosquito-borne diseases. Chuck Lubelczyk, Vector Ecologist, is here to help understand the environmental interactions of vectors, hosts, habitats, and climate; monitor the geography of risk; and increase public awareness of the threat of tick-and mosquito-borne diseases.

Heart disease, not cancer, is the number one cause of death for women in America. Nearly every minute of every day each year, a woman dies of heart disease. What are the risk factors? How can we lower our risk? Dr. Lynette Weeman is here to explain the symptoms every woman should know, and what we can do about them?

Summer is a time for being carefree and outdoors as much as possible. Unfortunately, summer activities can lead to injury or worse if you aren’t careful when doing those activities. Learn how to keep your family safe when enjoying all that summer has to offer. Suzanne Grace, CPSTI, is here to discuss the best ways to keep your family safe during the summer months.

Winters can be tough. Months of frigid temperatures and heavy snow fall can make daily life difficult. You can, however, safely maneuver through winter weather by taking proper precautions, whether you are walking, driving or shoveling. Suzanne Grace, CPSTI, is here to discuss the dangers of frigid winter weather.

People who arrive at a hospital in cardiac arrest (heart has stopped) have poor chances of full recovery. The PEARL Study is looking at improving those outcomes. Currently some of these patients undergo heart catheterization, while others do not, depending on the physician’s judgment. But what if everyone had a heart cath? Would it improve outcomes? A note about the study: Most medical research studies require an individual’s informed consent in writing before they can be enrolled, but...

Many people come to the hospital and don’t have a clear understanding of the roles of their care team. Hospitalists play a key role in that care team during a patients stay. Dr. Dan Meyer, Hospital Medicine at Maine Medical Center will explain what a hospitalist is and how they differ from other people involved in the care of patient while in the hospital.

The Department of Vocational Services is a leader in the field of employment for people with disabilities. There are only a few hospitals in the US that have this as a service and MMC is the only one in the State. It is a unique service and one that allows patients to meet with an Employment Specialist while they are in the hospital to discuss any concerns they may have about returning to their current job or if they are unemployed how the service can assist them in obtaining...