Latest news with #Prednisone
Time Business News
4 days ago
- Health
- Time Business News
Kevin Dowd's Unyielding Spirit in the Fight Against Prostate Cancer
When confronted with one of life's most formidable challenges, Kevin Dowd of Rochester NY responded not with fear but with fierce determination. Diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in 2022, Kevin's journey has become a symbol of perseverance, hope, and the power of early intervention. Kevin Dowd's story began like many others — with a routine health check. Elevated PSA levels led to further tests and ultimately a diagnosis of acinar adenocarcinoma, one of the most aggressive types of prostate cancer. The cancer carried a Gleason Score of 9 (4+5) and was classified as Grade Group 5, confirming the seriousness of his condition. With 33% of the prostate gland affected, and evidence of extraprostatic extension and perineural invasion, the cancer had already begun spreading. Though the news was devastating, Kevin Dowd of Churchville NY didn't allow himself to be paralyzed by fear. Working closely with a team of oncologists and surgeons in Rochester, he underwent a robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy — a procedure that removed the prostate and surrounding tissues. During surgery, doctors also performed a pelvic lymph node dissection, which showed the cancer had metastasized to one of five lymph nodes, elevating his diagnosis to Stage IVA (pT3a, pN1). Positive margins found during surgery further complicated the prognosis. Still, Kevin Dowd didn't lose heart. Instead, he and his care team crafted an aggressive, multi-layered treatment plan designed to slow the cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence. In November 2022, he began androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with Leuprolide, a hormone therapy aimed at lowering testosterone levels — a key driver of prostate cancer growth. In December 2022, Kevin Dowd started pelvic radiation therapy, targeting the areas where cancer cells might remain, including the surgical site and lymph nodes. This phase of treatment was physically demanding, but Kevin met each session with patience and resolve. To further block androgen production, Kevin Dowd was prescribed Abiraterone, a medication that halts androgen synthesis from not only the testes but also the adrenal glands and the tumor itself. To manage the side effects, Prednisone was added to his daily regimen. Throughout this journey Kevin Dowd has leaned on his deep-rooted sense of purpose and the strong network surrounding him. Whether in Churchville resting between treatments or consulting with specialists in Rochester, he maintained active engagement in his care and refused to let cancer dictate the terms of his life. Kevin Dowd's experience is more than a medical case; it's a story of inner strength. His willingness to confront harsh realities, make bold treatment decisions, and embrace modern therapies has given him the best possible chance at long-term survival. He serves as a beacon for others in Rochester and Churchville NY who may be facing similar health battles. His story is a reminder that early detection, combined with an assertive treatment plan and a strong support system, can turn the tide against even the most aggressive cancers. While the road ahead still includes regular monitoring and continued therapy, Kevin Dowd's unyielding spirit remains intact. His courage in the face of adversity proves that while cancer may be strong — the human will to survive is stronger. #KevinDowd KevinDowd Kevin-Dowd Kevin Dowd TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
11 ICE Officers Are Stuck In A Shipping Container In Djibouti
A group of 11 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and eight migrant detainees are stuck in a shipping container in Djibouti after a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deporting immigrants to third-party countries without due process. The group's plight was described in a filing in U.S. District Court on Thursday, where Melissa Harper, a senior ICE official overseeing deportations, said they're currently being housed in a converted shipping container on the U.S. Naval base in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. 'This has been identified as the only viable place to house the aliens,' said Harper. According to Harper, the daily temperature outside exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, Djibouti ignites burn pits near the base to dispose of trash and human waste, creating a lingering smog cloud. Upon their arrival, defense officials also warned the group 'of imminent danger of rocket attacks' from terrorist groups in nearby Yemen. Harper said members of the group have fallen ill and complained about a lack of medical equipment, including testing for what agents described as upper respiratory infections, all developed within 72 hours of landing. (The U.S. Department of Defense, which operates the base, might contest that description, having reportedly supplied the agents with Augmentin (an antibiotic), Azithromycin (another antibiotic), Doxycycline (a third antibiotic), Prednisone (steroid), inhalers, Zyrtec (treats allergies), Tylenol (pain and fever reliever), Motrin (pain reliever), Benadryl, Mucinex, Sudafed, nasal spray, and eye drops.) While showers are available to both the ICE agents and the migrants, Harper complained they're only available every other day. The three ICE officers originally assigned to the deportation flight were replaced on May 27 with an expanded team of 11 officers and two medical support staffers, who Harper said will also soon be swapped out for a fresh team. Which means the only members of the group consistently being subjected to the inhospitable conditions of Djibouti are the migrants. Trina Realmuto, an attorney for the deportees, told the Washington Post they're increasingly concerned about the conditions they're being held in, especially if they're being shackled. The detainees, who hail from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar and Vietnam, were quietly flown out of the country more than two weeks ago, violating the orders of a federal judge barring the government from deporting people to a third-party country — a nation other than the U.S. or their nation of origin — without first giving them a meaningful chance to contest it. Lawyers for the migrants said in court documents that they were given just hours before they were deported, instead of 15 days as directed by the judge. As a result, the flight, originally bound for South Sudan, instead got stuck in Djibouti. It's unclear if DHS attempted to deport the migrants to their countries of origin before settling on South Sudan. Federal law prohibits deporting migrants to countries that are unsafe or where they could be persecuted. It's also unclear why ICE would continue to subject the group to inhospitable conditions when they could simply return to the United States for the requisite hearings. The Department of Homeland Security didn't respond to a question to that effect. Instead, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughin lambasted the U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy on social media, accusing Murphy of 'putting the lives of our ICE law enforcement in danger by stranding them in Djibouti without proper resources, lack of medical care, and terrorists who hate Americans running rampant. 'Our @ICEgov officers were only supposed to transport for removal 8 *convicted criminals* with *final deportation orders* who were so monstrous and barbaric that no other country would take them. This is reprehensible and, quite frankly, pathological.' Read Harper's sworn declaration, below: Judge: U.S. Officials Must Keep Control Of Migrants Sent To South Sudan Trump Administration 'Unquestionably' Violated Deportation Order, Judge Says White House Confirms Trump Is Exploring Ways To 'Deport' U.S. Citizens People Are 'Disappearing' Since Trump Took Office. Here's What That Means.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How to get ahead of spring allergy season
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Allergy season is ramping up in the Buckeye state with tree pollen in full swing, and grass pollen season right around the corner this summer. With temperatures getting warmer, allergy season gets worse, leaving people battling with symptoms for longer. But taking an everyday allergy medication before the season starts can help you with the battle. 'Those medications work very well to prevent the allergies from flaring up,' said Dr. Joseph Allen, Premier Health regional medical director. 'And once they flare up, they're not as effective. So if you're able to take it early and before things start, it works out really well.' If daily medications don't alleviate allergy symptoms, a trip to the doctor's office may be in order, where they can prescribe stronger drugs to help with inflammation. 'There are things we can use to treat, we up the ante a little bit and use a little stronger, typically a steroid and many, many folks are familiar with those,' said Allen. 'We use those quite a bit whether it is Prednisone or Medrol or some other steroid that we may use, and that may be a pill or a shot or something else.' Allen says if these solutions don't work for you, don't be afraid to go back and try something else. 'Don't be miserable for too long,' he said. The Miami Valley is not a stranger to storms over the past month. While those storms will give you short term relief by knocking pollen to the ground, when the ground dries out, that pollen is thrown into the air.'As the wind blows through, it stirs up all that dust and pollen, and all the other things that cause allergies,' said Allen. 'So on those rainy, windy days, the rain knocks it down a little bit, but that wind picks it all back up as soon as it stops raining, and it can be pretty miserable for folks.'If you want to know what you are specifically allergic to, you can contact your doctor, and get a skin prick test done. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
