Melanoma Risk Factors, Treatment and Prevention

Melanoma is the deadliest of all types of skin cancer. Unfortunately, too many people delay treatment, even when they know they have a potentially life-threatening disease. The lifetime risk of getting melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society, is about one in 40 for Caucasians, one in 200 for Hispanics, … Read More

For Most Breast Cancers, Preventive Double Mastectomy Is Unnecessary

In 2013, actress Angelina Jolie announced that she had both of her breasts removed after genetic testing indicated she was at increased risk of breast cancer. Her announcement came about five years after actress Christina Applegate underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with early-stage cancer in one breast. Media … Read More

Bone Cancer Symptoms: When Aches and Pains Are More Than Arthritis

When you think about the more than 200 bones that comprise the skeletal framework supporting your body, you probably envision them as sturdy, rigid, and unchanged. Actually, your bones are in a constant state of flux. Cells known as osteoclasts break down weakened portions of the bone, while cells called … Read More

Melanomas Can Affect All Races

People with fair complexions, red hair, blue eyes, and freckles typically are considered to be at greater risk of skin cancer than their darker-skinned counterparts. Research has shown that melanomas and other skin cancers occur more commonly in Caucasians than in other racial groups. However, a new study suggests that … Read More

Breast Cancer Treatment Options to Consider

Once you’ve received the sobering news that you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, the next step is to discuss a personalized breast cancer treatment plan with your medical team. Your doctor’s recommendations will involve many factors, including your age, medical history, the type, location, and size of the cancer, and … Read More

Even a Benign Tumor Needs Treatment

Here’s the deal: A benign tumor is still a tumor. No, it’s not cancer, but it’s still an abnormal growth that shouldn’t be present in your body. And anything abnormal, including a benign tumor, needs to be monitored, at the very least. Obviously, the diagnosis of a benign tumor is … Read More

How to Quit Smoking: 6 Steps to Success

Unless you live under a rock, you know that smoking is bad for your health. Tobacco-related diseases kill more than 480,000 people each year in the United States alone, accounting for around 20 percent of all premature deaths. If you’re a smoker, the habit can shorten your life by up … Read More

Tell Your Doctor About Breast Cancer Symptoms

Each year, some 230,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in American women, and about one in eight American women will develop invasive breast cancer at some point. Breast cancer represents the second-most common cancer in women after skin cancer, and it’s the second-leading cause of death in women … Read More

Chemotherapy: How to Manage the Side Effects

Millions of Americans are diagnosed with some form of cancer every year, and many rely on chemotherapy to fight it. Chemotherapy involves the use of strong medications to kill cancer cells, slow the cancer’s growth, and/or keep the cancer from spreading. Chemotherapy is frequently used in conjunction with surgery or … Read More

Getting a Biopsy: 8 Things You Need to Know

People are understandably concerned when told they need a biopsy. What is a biopsy? What is the purpose? How is it performed? Who does it? Where? Does it hurt? What are the risks? What will the results mean? What happens next? Here are the answers to those questions and more. … Read More