Preventative Medicine
We aim to prevent the development of serious illnesses by monitoring the health status of all of our patients on a regular basis.
For preventative procedures including PAP smears, prostate cancer checks, skin checks, cholesterol and blood tests, our computer recall system reminds patients when their appointments or procedures are due.
Another important area of preventative medicine is the Care Plan Clinic. Our CPC nurses work closely with your doctor to help with chronic disease management such as diabetes, chronic obstructive airways disease and arthritis, and assist with GP Management and Team Care Plans. These form a framework for identifying the management goals and actions to be taken by the patient. These goals are then reviewed with the patient each 3 to 6 months.
When a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement is in place, patients with chronic diseases can then be referred to Allied Health Providers, such as podiatry, physiotherapy, diabetes educator, osteopath and exercise physiologists. These Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) referrals entitle patients to five Medicare subsidised sessions per calendar year. They facilitate communication between doctors, specialists and Allied Health professionals, which enhances patient care.
We also have a Diabetes Educator who liaises closely with your doctor that works one day a week at the clinic.
Our CPC nurses also do Health Assessments for all our patients aged 75 and over. During the visit the nurse can discuss your general health, medications you are taking and in particular any health services you may be eligible for, but may not be aware of. Annual Health Assessments are an opportunity for your doctor to explore areas of health that may not be covered in a routine consultation.
Heart Disease
Heart disease effects both men and women. There is no single cause for heart disease, however, there are known risk factors that increase your chance of developing it. A risk factor can be described as the way in which you live and/or hereditary and health conditions.
There are some risk factors that you can’t change, such as getting older, your gender and having a family history of heart disease. But there are many risk factors that you can change, and by choosing to live a healthy lifestyle and following your doctor’s advice, you can reduce your chance of developing heart disease and having a heart attack.
Risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol and smoking. Nine in 10 adult Australians have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease and one in four (25%) have three or more risk factors.
Ask your doctor about your personal risk factors and get a heart health check.
Cardiovascular disease, heart disease and heart attack facts
Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in Australia, with 45,392 deaths attributed to CVD in Australia in 2015, causing one Australian death every 12 minutes. Cardiovascular disease includes heart, stroke and blood vessel diseases and affects one in six Australians or 4.2 million people,
Coronary heart disease or heart disease affects around 1.2 million Australians and is the single leading cause of death in Australia, it kills one Australian every 27 minutes.
It is estimated over 400,000 Australians have had a heart attack at some time in their lives each year around 54,000 Australians will suffer a heart attack. This equates to one heart attack every 10 minutes.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a national health priority, and the 10th leading cause of death in Australia.
Our doctors at Point Lonsdale Medical Group provide comprehensive diabetes management according to the Australian National Diabetes Strategy. We take a patient-centred approach to diabetes management, providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences.
The doctors and nurses at Point Lonsdale recognise the importance of education, preventative measures, early detection and management of diabetes. They will closely monitor blood glucose levels, cholesterol, body weight and blood pressure.
Our Care Plan Clinic nurses and Diabetes Educator will liaise closely with your doctor, and can refer you to a specialist Endocrinologist, dietician, exercise physiologists or foot care clinic as required. These practitioners work together with patients to optimise diabetic control and provide copies of results for ongoing comparison and motivation.
There are different types of diabetes; all types are complex and serious. The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable. The number of people with type 2 diabetes is growing, most likely the result of rising overweight and obesity rates, lifestyle and dietary changes, and an ageing population. Within 20 years, the number of people in Australia with type 2 diabetes may increase from an estimated 870,000 in 2014, to more than 2.5 million.
If left undiagnosed or poorly managed, type 2 diabetes can lead to coronary artery disease, stroke, kidney failure, limb amputations and blindness. The early identification and optimal management of people with type 2 diabetes is therefore critical. Your doctor has the central role in type 2 diabetes management across from identifying those at risk right through to caring for patients at the end of life.
Type 2 Diabetes risk Factors
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Being overweight – especially those who have excess weight around the waistline (ie: more than 94cm for men and more than 80cm for women).
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Being physically inactive.
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Having high triglycerides and low HDL-C (good cholesterol) and/or high total cholesterol.
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Having high blood pressure.
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Having a family history of type 2 diabetes and/or heart disease.
People aged 40-49 years who are at high risk of diabetes are eligible for a free Health Assessment with our Care Plan Nurse and doctor.
Below are some interesting statistics from Diabetes Australia:
Diabetes is the epidemic of the 21st century and the biggest challenge confronting Australia’s health system. Diabetes is a serious complex condition which can affect the entire body. Diabetes requires daily self care and if complications develop, diabetes can have a significant impact on quality of life and can reduce life expectancy. While there is currently no cure for diabetes, you can live an enjoyable life by learning about the condition and effectively managing it.
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280 Australians develop diabetes every day. That’s one person every five minutes
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Around 1.7 million Australians have diabetes. This includes all types of diagnosed diabetes (1.2 million known and registered) as well as silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (up to 500,000 estimated)
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More than 100,000 Australians have developed diabetes in the past year
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For every person diagnosed with diabetes there is usually a family member or carer who also ‘lives with diabetes’ every day in a support role. This means that an estimated 2.4 million Australians are affected by diabetes every day
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Total annual cost impact of diabetes in Australia estimated at $14.6 billion
Diabetes can be managed well but the potential complications are the same for type 1 and type 2 diabetes including heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, limb amputation, depression, anxiety and blindness.
We know diabetes:
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Is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults
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Is a leading cause of kidney failure and dialysis
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Increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke by up to four times
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Is a major cause of limb amputations
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Affects mental health as well as physical health. Depression, anxiety and distress occur in more than 30% of all people with diabetes
Early diagnosis, optimal treatment and effective ongoing support and management reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.
Bowel Cancer
Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women in Australia and is more common in people over the age of 50. It is estimated that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with colorectal cancer by their 85th birthday will be 1 in 13 (1 in 11 males and 1 in 15 females). It is a serious disease, but if bowel cancer or its warning signs are diagnosed early, it is often curable.
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, develops from the inner lining of the bowel and is usually preceded by growths called polyps. The risk of bowel cancer increases with age, in those with a family history, those with a past history of adenoma polyps and those with inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis. If you are at risk of bowel cancer, discuss with your doctor whether you need to have regular tests.
In the early stages, bowel cancer often has no symptoms. This means that a person could have polyps or bowel cancer and not know it. Some of the most common symptoms of bowel cancer are:
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blood or mucus in the faeces or on the toilet paper
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an unexpected change in bowel habit (for example, diarrhoea or constipation for no obvious reason)
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general discomfort in the abdomen (feelings of bloating, fullness, pain, cramps)
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constant tiredness
Having these symptoms does not mean that you have bowel cancer. People experiencing these symptoms should discuss them with their doctor.
You can reduce your risk of bowel cancer by eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly and not smoking. Eating a healthy high fibre diet and exercising regularly reduces bowel cancer by 66% to 75%.
Bowel cancer screening is recommended in those aged over 50, and a colonoscopy is recommended from 40, or earlier is there is a family history of bowel cancer or in those with a history of rectal bleeding. We have an excellent referral network of Specialists to send you to for your endoscopy.
Bowel cancer (Colorectal cancer) in Australia
The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Estimated number of new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in 2017
16,682 = 9,127 males + 7,555 females
Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2017
12.4%
Estimated number of deaths from colorectal cancer in 2017
4,114 = 2,136 males + 1,978 females
Estimated % of all deaths from cancer in 2017
8.6%
Chance of surviving at least 5 years (2009–2013)
69%
People living with colorectal cancer at the end of 2012 (diagnosed in the 5 year period 2008 to 2012)
52,630
Lung Cancer
Over 2,340 Victorians are diagnosed with lung cancer every year. Lung cancer occurs most often in adults between the ages of 40 and 70 who have smoked cigarettes for at least 20 years. The cause is not known in all cases however up to nine out of 10 lung cancers are caused by smoking. Chronic exposure to second-hand smoke, such as living with someone who smokes, is called 'passive smoking'. This is thought to increase a non-smoker's risk of lung cancer by about 30 percent.
Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7000 chemicals, including over 70 carcinogens (chemicals known to cause cancer). After 10 years of stopping smoking, your risk of lung cancer is halved.
Our doctors at Point Lonsdale Medical Group can assist you in giving up smoking. They are up to date with the latest nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine gum, patches, lozenges, tablets or inhalers. There are also prescription medications can help to reduce withdrawal symptoms when you quit, such as cravings, irritability, and anxiety, as well as advise on other alternative therapies available.
Lung cancer in Australia
The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Lung cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer codes C33 (Malignant neoplasm of trachea) and C34 (Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung).
Estimated number of new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in 2017
12,434 = 7,094 males + 5,340 females
Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2017
9.3%
Estimated number of deaths from lung cancer in 2017
9,021 = 5,179 males + 3,842 females
Estimated % of all deaths from cancer in 2017
18.9%
Chance of surviving at least 5 years (2009–2013)
16%
People living with lung cancer at the end of 2012 (diagnosed in the 5 year period 2008 to 2012)
15,924
