Latest news with #CedarsSinai
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller shares shocking photo of object she claims surgeons left in her body for FOUR years in new lawsuit
Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit after she claimed she discovered that doctors left a catheter inside her following spinal surgery in 2020. The reality TV star, 59, 'suffered for years' with doctors unable to 'diagnose the source of her pain,' her attorney, Nadine Lewis, exclusively told in a statement on Tuesday. Four years after her spinal surgery in September of 2020, the dance instructor claims she discovered that a catheter had been left inside her abdomen, according to the lawsuit. In her lawsuit, Miller — who was recently snubbed by an A-list pop star — shared a graphic photo of what she alleges in the complaint is 'the outline of a foreign blue object embedded beneath her skin, surrounded by scar tissue.' She also included a photo of the 'retained catheter' after it was removed following 'an emergency procedure.' Miller is suing Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital, Dr. Hooman Melamed, M.D., and. Dr. Paul Dwan, M.D. for medical malpractice, professional negligence and medical battery. She is seeking damages in the amount of $430,000. A spokesperson for Cedars-Sinai told in a statement: 'Cedars-Sinai cannot comment on pending legal matters. Also, due to federal and state privacy laws, Cedars-Sinai cannot discuss any patient's medical treatment.' 'However, the care and safety of our patients, staff and visitors are always Cedars-Sinai's top priorities. We are dedicated to ensuring that we meet the highest standards of care for all those we serve.' As per the lawsuit, Miller suffered a severe spinal cord injury in 2018 due to Burkitt Lymphoma, an aggressive and fast-growing cancer, which rendered her paraplegic with a neurogenic bladder. In 2020 she underwent spinal surgery at Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital to treat a condition known as Spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition where one of the vertebrae slips out of its proper position. She claims in the lawsuit that the surgery was performed by both Dr. Melamed and Dr. Dwan. She then underwent a second surgery, performed by the same surgical team, in November 2020, as part of her ongoing treatment, according to the complaint. The lawsuit states that in the months and years that followed, 'Miller repeatedly reported ongoing abdominal pain and discomfort to multiple physicians, including defendants.' Miller claims various physicians 'systemically dismissed her chronic pain and let her suffer for years.' Miller claims in the complaint that 'Dr. Melamed, in particular, attributed her symptoms to post-surgical scar tissue and offered no further investigation, no imaging was ordered, including a failure to examine the site of the pain.' Miller 'repeatedly reported ongoing abdominal pain and discomfort to multiple physicians,' according to her complaint. 'Despite her consistent and persistent complaints, her concerns were dismissed.' 'As a paraplegic woman with a life sentence in a wheelchair, Abby lives with daily pain in the aftermath of her Burkitt Lymphoma diagnosis.' Despite her complaints to 'various physicians', not one of them ordered imaging to locate and diagnose the source of her pain, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit goes on to allege that by 2024, Miller's 'abdominal discomfort had escalated into persistent and debilitating pain, impacting her quality of life on a daily basis.' In June 2024, while seeking care for an unrelated issue at St. John's Hospital, a doctor applied pressure to Miller's abdomen causing her to 'scream very loudly in pain' according to her complaint. 'The affected area of the skin immediately became red, inflamed, and visibly irritated,' as per the lawsuit. Four years after her spinal surgery, Abby discovered that her 'surgeons had left a bright blue catheter inside her abdomen,' according to her complaint. After a dermatologist examined the inflamed area and took a photograph, it 'revealed the outline of a foreign blue object embedded beneath her skin, surrounded by scar tissue' states her complaint. Her attorney said in a statement that the 'systemic minimization of women's suffering has had fatal consequences in our society.' 'Abby's case is a chilling reminder: even when women are vocal and visibly in distress, their pain is still not believed.' 'As a paraplegic woman, Abby is advocating for herself and others in a medical system that has repeatedly failed them,' Lewis added. Miller remains in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma in 2018. Last year she bravely opened up about the terrifying moment she nearly died after contracting sepsis from a UTI. The star was left screaming in excruciating pain when her catheter dislodged just days after she wrapped her Abby Lee Spills the Tea tour in the UK in July 2024. It was one of many health battles that Miller, who was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after being convicted of fraud in May 2017, has faced in recent years. One week after being released in May 2018, she was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma and subsequently underwent life-saving surgery to remove a tumor from her spine. Although she is now cancer-free, she was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down and has been confined to a motorized wheelchair for the past six years. When asked by why she feels she has bounced back from multiple ailments, she choked back tears and said: 'I think that I have a lot to do, and I hope when it is my time to go, it will matter that I was.' 'I have a lot more choreography. I have a lot more kids to teach. I have a lot more social awareness about being in a chair.' Abby rose to fame on Lifetime's long-running reality show Dance Moms, which followed an elite youth dance troupe at the Abby Lee Dance Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which made stars out of Jojo Siwa and Maddie Ziegler.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer deaths linked to alcohol on the rise in the U.S.
Yearly cancer deaths linked to alcohol have doubled in the United States over the last three decades, rising from just under 12,000 a year in 1990 to more than 23,000 a year in 2021, new research finds. The increase was driven by deaths in men 55 and older, the study authors said. It comes as U.S. cancer deaths overall have fallen by about 35% over the same time period, according to data from the American Cancer Society. The findings will be presented next week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. 'This is death as opposed to getting a disease. We can treat a lot of cancers, and we're getting better at that, but this is really driving home the point that people are dying from cancer due to alcohol,' said Jane Figueiredo, a professor of medicine at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who was not involved with the research. The study focused on seven alcohol-related cancers: breast, liver, colorectal, throat, voice box, mouth and esophageal. Alcohol isn't responsible for every case of these cancers, but it has been shown to be a driving factor in a percentage of them. 'When people think about alcohol, they don't necessarily think of it as being a carcinogen like they do tobacco,' said Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor of public health and community medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine, who was not involved with the study. But it is. Once in the body, alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde — a carcinogen also found in tobacco smoke. Alcohol damages DNA and makes it easier for the mouth and throat to absorb other carcinogens. The International Agency on Cancer Research, a branch of the World Health Organization, classified alcohol as a carcinogen in 1987. Research at that time linked drinking to cancers of the head and neck (including the mouth, throat, voice box and esophagus) and liver cancers. It's since been linked to breast and colorectal cancers. A January report from the former U.S. surgeon general said alcoholic drinks should come with cancer warning labels. According to WHO, there's no safe amount of alcohol consumption. The new research found that in 1991, 2.5% of all cancer deaths in men and 1.46% in women were related to alcohol. In 2021, those percentages rose to 4.2% and 1.85%, respectively. Over that same time period, men saw a 56% increase in deaths from alcohol-related cancers specifically. For women, it was nearly 8%. 'It was not surprising that it was higher in men, but it was certainly surprising how much higher it was in men versus women,' said study co-leader Dr. Chinmay Jani, chief fellow of hematology and oncology at the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Historically, men have tended to start drinking alcohol earlier in life, Jani and his team noted. However, sex-based drinking habits appear to be shifting. In recent years, an increasing number of women have become heavy drinkers, and slightly more young women binge drink than men, research has found. Deaths from the seven alcohol-related cancers increased among men in 47 states, and in 16 states for women. In both groups, deaths among people living in New Mexico rose the most — nearly 60% for men and 18% for women. Oklahoma, for men, and Tennessee, for women, came in close second. Washington D.C. and New York saw the biggest decreases for men, and Massachusetts and New York for women. Utah remained the state with the lowest alcohol-related cancer deaths. Cancer deaths were highest among people 55 and older. In men in this age group, alcohol-related cancer deaths rose by more than 1% every year between 2007 and 2021. 'The carcinogenic effect probably isn't affecting you right away in your younger age, but as you continue to drink as you age, this carcinogen has an accumulative effect on the body,' Jani said. Of all seven alcohol-related cancers, liver, colorectal and esophageal cancers were the deadliest overall in 2021. In men specifically, liver cancer deaths were most common. For women, it was breast cancer. 'We know that even small amounts of alcohol can affect the breast tissue,' Figueiredo said. Jani said the next phase of research should tease out how different racial and ethnic groups are affected by alcohol differently when it comes to cancer risk. 'The enzyme that metabolizes alcohol is lower in some ethnic groups than others, so acetaldehyde, the carcinogen in alcohol, is higher in these people,' Jani said. Alcohol consumption in the U.S. hit its peak in the late 1970s and dropped until the late '90s, data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism show. Drinking also rose sharply during the pandemic, as did alcohol-related deaths. Siegel said messaging around alcohol needs to shift from drinking responsibly to making sure people understand the health effects that even moderate drinking can pose. 'It's not that we're telling people they can't drink. Every person has the autonomy to make their own decisions,' Siegel said. 'But we want to make sure they are well-informed based on the facts rather than misconceptions.' This article was originally published on
Reuters
18-05-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Savy King released from hospital, thankful for life-saving help
May 18 - Angel City FC defender Savy King was released from a Los Angeles hospital on Saturday and was resting at home with her family Sunday as she continues her recovery from heart surgery last Tuesday. King collapsed on the field during a match against the Utah Royals on May 9. Doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center discovered a heart abnormality and performed the surgery. King, 20, said Sunday that she's thankful for the life-saving help and looking forward to returning to soccer during her first public comments since the medical emergency. "I'm still finding the words to express just how much your love and support have meant to me over these past few days," King said in a statement. "What I do know is that I wouldn't be getting through this without my incredible family by my side, my amazing teammates who have shown up for me and prayed for me, the fans, the entire soccer community, and the outstanding medical team here at (Angel City FC) who saved my life and cared for me every step of the way. I know God's got me and I'm looking forward to recovering and getting back out on the field!" Angel City also released a statement Sunday regarding King's situation. "On behalf of Angel City FC and Savy's family, we are so grateful for the expert medical care she received by the world class providers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in consultation with our medical staff," the team said. "Angel City is prepared to support Savy as she continues her recovery." King collapsed in the 74th minute and medical personnel appeared to be administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to her on the field. She was carted off the field with an oxygen mask on her face and taken away via ambulance. Players from both teams gathered in a prayer circle, and the match was delayed 10 minutes. There was also criticism that the match resumed at all. In response, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said the league will examine its procedures. "Our focus was really on making sure that the player was cared for during the game, and so we were quite relieved and pleased that she had the resources and that Angel City's medical team really managed her care effortlessly and amazingly," Berman told reporters. "All we could do is learn from the experience and conclude that in a future situation, we will ensure that our policies and protocols do not allow the game to continue." King started each of Angel City's eight matches prior to the injury. She has no goals or assists and two yellow cards. The first-ever draft pick (second overall) of expansion Bay FC in 2024, King played 18 matches and made 12 starts last season for the San Jose-based club. She had two assists and one yellow card last year. The Southern California native played for the University of North Carolina before entering the NWSL. She also made numerous appearances for the U.S. youth national under-17 and under-20 teams. --Field Level Media
New York Times
18-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Angel City's Savy King discharged from hospital roughly one week after on-field collapse
Angel City defender Savy King has been discharged from the hospital after undergoing successful surgery, roughly one week after collapsing on the field during her team's game against the Utah Royals. King, 20, was discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Saturday and is now at home resting with her family, the team said in a statement released Sunday. 'On behalf of Angel City FC and Savy's family, we are so grateful for the expert medical care she received by the world class providers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in consultation with our medical staff,' the team said. 'Angel City is prepared to support Savy as she continues her recovery.' A post shared by National Women's Soccer League (@nwsl) In the week following King's collapse, the National Women's Soccer League said it would review the protocols that allowed for the game to continue even after the defender received life-saving care on the pitch. King collapsed in the 74th minute of the regular-season game against the Royals on Friday, May 9, at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Advertisement The defender was down for several minutes and received immediate care from Angel City's medical staffers, who have been praised by the NWSL, players and NWSL Players Association for their quick action, before being transported via ambulance to California Hospital Medical Center. King was admitted to Cedars-Sinai the following day after doctors discovered a heart abnormality that required surgery. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman on Saturday spoke publicly for the first time since King's medical event during a half-time media availability with reporters during halftime of Angel City and Bay FC's rivalry match at PayPal Park in San Jose, California. Berman said the league was focused on 'ensuring that all of our medical procedures were followed and that, on a go-forward basis,' games do not continue in similar circumstances. Though the commissioner reiterated that the match should not have continued, she provided little detail on how the decision was made or the specifics of her involvement that night. The NWSL initially said it followed 'league protocols … from both a medical and game operations perspective,' when it made the decision to resume the remainder of the match after King's collapse. By Wednesday, the league said it would review those protocols. The NWSL Players Association on Wednesday issued its own statement calling for immediate changes to the existing protocol, including determining whose responsibility it is to inform necessary parties on how to proceed amid a serious event. In the moments after the game ended, players and coaching staff questioned the decision to keep playing, sharing the whirlwind of emotions they endured while sending support to King for a full recovery. 'In those moments, I'm not sure if we should have continued the game,' Utah Royals head coach Jimmy Coenraets told reporters after the game. 'You're emotionally — not only them but also our players were just scared. That's not the right situation to be in, but in the end, we played on. That's the decision other people have taken, which is fine. It was a really tough moment.' Advertisement Angel City forward Christen Press, who scored the game-winning goal shortly before King's medical event, addressed the emotions in a postgame interview with CBS. 'I think this game has been very emotional, very tough. All of us are praying for Savy, our teammate,' she said. 'That's really all I can think about right now. It was a really emotional game.'
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Footballer Savy King undergoes emergency heart surgery after terrifying collapse on pitch
ANGEL CITY star Savy King had emergency heart surgery after her shocking collapse during an NWSL game last week King, 20, fell down during the second half of Friday's match between the Los Angeles outfit and the Utah Royals at the BMO Stadium in California. 2 2 The versatile defender received treatment while the rest of the players looked on, visibly shaken. The former USA youth international was ultimately stretchered off after the game was stopped for 10 minutes. Angel City announced the centre-back underwent the operation after doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA determined she had a heart abnormality King's family announced she is currently recovering, and her prognosis 'is excellent. A statement read: "On behalf of our entire family, along with Savy, we have been so moved by the love and support from Angel City players, staff, fans and community, as well as soccer fans across the country. "We are blessed to share Savy is recovering well and we are looking forward to having her home with us soon." A number of football personalities questioned the decision to continue the game after King's collapse. USA and Washington Spirit ace Trinity Rodman wrote on her Instagram Stories: "In no world should that game have continued." Royals manager Jimmy Coenraets also believes play should not have resumed. Angel City found the courage to pull through and picked up a 2-0 victory. Goals by Christen Press and Alyssa Thompson sealed the big win for the hosts.
