Lesbians can get human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cancer, and may be at higher risk because of historical health care barriers that may have caused reluctance to get preventive screenings. Making matters worse, much of the discussion around sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has focused on heterosexual couples. “Providers and patients alike need to…
Completing one century ride in life is a goal for many. Bike to Beat Cancer rider Scott Walters has achieved that goal eight times, riding the 100-mile route in Bike to Beat Cancer for the past eight years. What drives someone to pedal 100 miles year after year? For Scott, it was the loss of…
John and Jessica Bostock were in the middle of exciting life changes as the summer of 2015 started warming up. John was just 35, and the couple had an 18-month-old daughter, Olive. Plans were underway to fix up a farmhouse. John had been experiencing nearly constant headaches for months when they got so bad Jessica…
Bruce Lowe does not take being a cancer survivor for granted. Indeed, surviving three different cancers has given him a mission. “My doctor told me that I had stage 4 incurable bone cancer and had only two years to live. That was seven years ago,” Bruce said. “I am now cancer-free, and I do all…
TrueBeam, CyberKnife and Gamma Knife may sound like superheroes, but actually they are tools for treating brain tumors. These three machines are used for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), a non-surgical treatment option that uses high doses of precisely focused radiation beams to destroy cancer cells. What is stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)? Older versions of radiation therapy cast…
June 6 is National Cancer Survivors Day — a time to celebrate the strength and courage of survivors, their families and caregivers. It’s a good time to remember that life after cancer can be fulfilling, rewarding and inspiring. Survivorship is unique for each patient. It requires individualized care and education plans for patients, families and…
Sexual health is important for any adult’s well-being, but patients with cancer face a new set of challenges when it comes to sexuality. Laila S. Agrawal, M.D., breast cancer oncologist with Norton Cancer Institute, is spearheading efforts to develop a sexual health clinic at Norton Healthcare. “The World Health Organization says that sexual health is…
Pain in your neck to the side of your windpipe could be a sign of many minor conditions such as a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes or muscle strains such as whiplash or from bending over and staring at your phone too long. Rarely, pain in the front of your neck beside the windpipe can…
CAR-T cell therapy takes advantage of the body’s immune system to fight off cancer, much like it does already to kick the common cold and other types of illness. Our bodies don’t always fight off cancer naturally because the cancer cells actually masquerade as healthy cells, and the immune system lets them go on to…
The recommended age for colonoscopy and other colon cancer screenings is increasingly considered to be 45 for those at average risk, five years earlier than the previous guidance. The risk of developing colon cancer is lower in adults under 50, but recent trends have shown that risk increasing, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task…
If you have ever been to a Bike to Beat Cancer training ride or event, chances are you have met one of Bike to Beat Cancer’s most dedicated riders, Mike Farmer. Mike has ridden in almost every Bike to Beat Cancer. He missed the first year, which was his daughter’s wedding day. Mike is a…
The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer begin regular screening at age 45. People at higher risk for colorectal cancer should talk with their doctor about whether starting screening earlier might be right for them. While you may know that you need a colorectal cancer screening, you may be…