Category: Cancer
Prostate Cancer- The Basics
There is a common saying: “Prostate cancer “is a disease you live with, not a disease you die from.” Fortunately for many prostate cancer patients, there is a lot of truth in this statement. Prostate cancer commonly grows so slowly that many patients are symptom-free for years after their initial diagnosis. The “Good” News about […]
Obesity Cancer Risk Like Smoking
When the “war on smoking” began in 1964, 44% of Americans smoked. Today only 18% of Americans smoke. While these numbers are still far too high, it’s estimated that 8 million lives have been saved by this “war”. Like smoking, obesity is strongly linked to increased cancer risks, including the risk of: getting certain types […]
Colorectal Cancer: A Silent Killer
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. As with all cancers, the sooner colorectal cancer is found and treated, the greater the chance that treatment will be successful. On the other hand, the longer the cancer grows without being discovered, the less likely the chance that it can be treated successfully. What is a cancer screening? […]
Cancer Survivors 2 to 6 Times More Likely to Die of Heart Disease
When patients are first diagnosed with cancer, their main concern is survival. Fortunately, cancer treatments are powerful and often successful, with success varying according to the type of cancer. There are estimated to be over 18 million cancer survivors in the US alone. That number is, thankfully, increasing. This is great news for cancer patients. […]
Is Dense Breast Tissue a Problem?
It’s easy to get alarmed when our mammogram report contains information we don’t understand. One term that appears on a lot of mammograms is the phrase “dense breasts”. What does this mean? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? In order to understand what a “dense breast” is, it helps to know what breasts are made […]
Research Brings Hope to Cancer Survivors
Research recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Oncology, looked at the relationship between: the life expectancy of cancer survivors their level of physical activity after diagnosis the number of hours they spend sitting each day Association of Sitting Time, Physical Activity With Cancer Survival – For The Media – JAMA Network […]
Cancer Patients: Eating When You Don’t Feel Hungry
It’s important to eat well and stay hydrated during cancer treatments. However, as many cancer patients know, one of the side effects of cancer treatment is a loss of appetite. These effects can be severe, with nausea and vomiting, or more mild, with changes in the way food tastes and smells. Cancer-related fatigue can also […]
Signs of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. It also accounts for 1 in 20 cancer-related deaths. Women who have it are usually diagnosed between the ages of 55 and 64. Barriers to Early Diagnosis The ovaries are two small organs located near the uterus. Unlike cervical cancer, […]
Your First Mammogram-What to Expect
A mammogram is an imaging procedure used to screen for breast cancer (A screening checks for disease when there are no signs and symptoms present.). If you have never had one before, it can be a bit intimidating, as it involves a certain amount of undressing (of the breasts only), as well as putting your breasts one at […]
Immunotherapy: Cutting Edge Cancer Treatment
Immunotherapy, based on research done by Nobel prize winner Dr. James P Allison, is one of the newest forms of cancer treatment. The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism. When the this system recognizes disease or infection, it’s normal response is to attack the disease. Unfortunately, if the immune system cannot recognize that tissue […]