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<p>“Sound Medicine” announces its program for Oct. 20, with a debate about yearly lung cancer screenings for heavy smokers, how children learn to manage their chronic illnesses, and how to talk to sick friends.</p>

On ‘Sound Medicine’: Lung cancer screenings, chronic illnesses in kids, and helping a sick friend

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INDIANAPOLIS — “Sound Medicine” announces its program for Oct. 20, with a debate about yearly lung cancer screenings for heavy smokers, how children learn to manage their chronic illnesses, and how to talk to sick friends.

Are yearly lung cancer screenings necessary? The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently issued a recommendation that people older than 55 who have smoked an average of one pack of cigarettes a day for at least 30 years be screened for lung cancer yearly. “Sound Medicine” presents two experts who will debate the risks and benefits of yearly lung cancer screenings. Fred Duncan, director and CEO of the Little Red Door Cancer Agency in Indianapolis, believes resources could be better used to help people stop smoking. DuyKhanh Pham Ceppa, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine, believes the benefits of yearly screenings outweigh the costs.

Why should patients get annual physicals? Healthy living expert Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, M.D.,  visits “Sound Medicine” to discuss the importance of yearly physicals and what patients can do to get the most out of their visit to the doctor. Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber is an associate professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine; she also sees patients at Wishard Hospital.

How young is too young to manage a chronic illness? Children who have chronic illnesses need help from parents to manage their illness and medical care. Mary Ciccarelli, M.D., the medical director of the Center for Youth and Adults with Conditions of Childhood at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health in Indianapolis, gives pointers for knowing  when teens and young adults are ready to assume responsibility for their illness and care. Dr. Ciccarelli is also an associate professor of clinical medicine and clinical pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine.

“Patient Listening”: terminal illness and a general practitioner: Vincent Gattone, Ph.D., a professor of pathology and instructor of gross anatomy at the IU School of Medicine, and his primary care physician Laura Johnson, M.D., speak with host Rich Frankel, Ph.D., to discuss the progression of Dr. Gattone’s incurable disease and how their patient/physician relationship has changed since his diagnosis. Frankel is director of the Mary Margaret Walther Palliative Care Research and Education Program at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center.

How can you help a sick friend? Sooner or later, everyone has a friend or relative who becomes sick, and it’s hard to know what to say or do. Letty Cottin Pogrebin is the author of a new book, “How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick.” After a career that included founding Ms. Magazine, Pogrebin drew on her own experience with breast cancer to write this book. She gives examples on how to be and not be a helpful friend. Pogrebin will also be speaking in Indianapolis at the 15th annual Ann Katz Festival of Books and Arts at the JCC on Monday, Oct. 28.

“Sound Medicine” covers controversial ethics topics, breakthrough research studies and the day-to-day application of recent advancements in medicine. It’s also available via podcast and Stitcher Radio for mobile phones and iPads and posts updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Co-produced by the IU School of Medicine and WFYI Public Radio (90.1 FM) and underwritten in part by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, “Sound Medicine ” airs on the following Indiana public radio stations: WBSB (Anderson, 89.5 FM), WFIU (Bloomington, 103.7 FM; Columbus, 100.7 FM; Kokomo, 106.1 FM; Terre Haute, 95.1 FM), WNDY (Crawfordsville, 91.3 FM), WVPE (Elkhart/South Bend, 88.1 FM), WNIN (Evansville, 88.3 FM), WBOI (Fort Wayne, 89.1 FM), WFCI (Franklin, 89.5 FM), WBSH (Hagerstown/New Castle, 91.1 FM), WFYI (Indianapolis), WBSW (Marion, 90.9 FM), WBST (Muncie, 92.1 FM), WBSJ (Portland, 91.7 FM), WLPR (Lake County, 89.1 FM) and WBAA (West Lafayette, 101.3 FM).

“Sound Medicine” is also broadcast on these public radio stations across the country: KSKA (Anchorage, Alaska), KTNA (Talkeetna, Alaska), KUHB (Pribilof Islands, Alaska), KUAF (Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Ark.), KIDE (Hoopa Valley, Calif.), KRCC (Colorado Springs, Colo.), KEDM (Monroe, La.), WCMU (Mount Pleasant, Mich.), WCNY and WRVO-1 (Syracuse, N.Y.), KMHA (Four Bears, N.D.), WYSU (Youngstown, Ohio), KPOV (Bend, Ore.) and KEOS (College Station, Texas).

Please check local listings for broadcast dates and times.