The dangers of smoking are well-known. Inhaling nicotine and other toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke, either firsthand as a smoker or secondhand as a non-smoker, may cause illnesses like heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. What isn’t as clearly understood is the effect of so-called “thirdhand smoke,” a term coined to describe the potentially cancer-causing compounds that form when tobacco smoke particles mix with gases in the air, absorbing into nearby surfaces, like carpets, rugs, clothes, bedsheets, wall paint, car dashboards, and even toys. The residue from tobacco smoke may remain in t ..read more

Breakthroughs in genetics and genomics have led to major advancements in cancer treatment and prevention. Genetic testing, for instance, may identify hereditary genetic mutations that may increase patients’ cancer risk. That information may help patients considering prophylactic steps to prevent cancer or help doctors diagnose cancer in its early stages. Advanced genomic testing may allow doctors to identify DNA mutations in cancer cells and better match targeted therapy drugs to attack those mutations. But what if doctors could not only find cancer-related DNA mutations, but repair them at a ..read more

For many, the only way to start the day is with a hot, steaming cup of coffee. Whether you call it java, joe or jitter juice, or take it black or with cream and sugar, Americans are drinking more coffee than ever. A National Coffee Commission survey released in March showed 64 percent of adult Americans have at least one cup of coffee per day.  A cup of home-brewed joe may have at least 95 mg of caffeine, enough to jumpstart the day for most. For those who may seek a more potent morning jolt, a 20-ounce take-out from a popular coffee house franchise can have upwards of 475 mg of caffeine ..read more

Biosimilar drugs are often confused with generic drugs. Both are marketed as cheaper versions of costly name-brand drugs. Both are available when drug companies’ exclusive patents on expensive new drugs expire. And both are designed to have the same clinical effect as their pricier counterparts. But biosimilar drugs and generic drugs are very different, mainly because while generic drugs are identical to the original in chemical composition, biosimilar drugs are “highly similar,” but close enough in duplication to accomplish the same therapeutic and clinical result. Another key difference is t ..read more

Every year, thousands of people are diagnosed with pre-cancerous conditions, news that may induce fear and panic in those receiving it. While pre-cancer that goes unchecked may ultimately become cancerous, it’s not a guarantee and, in many cases, not even likely. “ No one dies of pre-cancer. It’s a very treatable condition, if it even needs treatment at all. A pathology report may indicate carcinoma in situ. When patients, and even some clinicians, see the word carcinoma, they get misled into thinking they have cancer. Pre-cancer means there are cells that have grown abnormally, causing their ..read more

For many patients and caregivers, cancer is a mystery. Where did it come from, and why is it so hard to treat? It was gone, but now it’s back again—how can that be? For many, the search for answers may lead to facts that help solve some of the mysteries of cancer and help them make confident decisions on treatments and care. For others, research may lead to assumptions, misconceptions and myths that may have devastating consequences. To help resolve some of the confusion, the CTCA Blog developed an occasional series, called Busting myths. This compilation of myth-busting blogs, previ ..read more

Radiation is everywhere. Ultraviolet light streams down from the sun. Radon may seep from the cracks in our basements. Nuclear energy keeps the lights on in millions of homes across the world. X-rays and MRIs may be used to help diagnose injury and disease. The human body is bombarded with low doses of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation throughout the day, from sources of heat and light to waves from cell phones and microwaves. “Our body has the ability to recover from radiation damage,” says Anderson Bauer, MD, DABR, Radiation Oncologist at our Phoenix hospital. “If it didn’t, we wouldn’t ha ..read more

When someone we care about is diagnosed with cancer, many of us want to help but few quite know how. The patient may feel embarrassed to tell well-meaning family and friends what he or she could really use, and if this is a new experience, he or she may not even know what to suggest. The holidays are the perfect time to give a gift or perform an act of service. We’ve compiled a list of useful and meaningful gift ideas for the holidays, or any time of year, for that special cancer patient in your life. A blanket. Hospitals are known for being chilly, and even though most infusion rooms (where c ..read more

Cancer was once viewed as a disease that could only be treated through total destruction.  Doctors—and patients—believed that the only way to kill cancer was to treat it swiftly and comprehensively, even if it meant negatively affecting the patient’s health in other, sometimes significant, ways. “Getting rid of the cancer was always our first priority, no matter the cost,” says Peter Baik, DO, FACOS, Thoracic Surgery Director at CTCA Lung Cancer Institute. “Anything that was cancerous, we wanted to attack, so we generally chose the most aggressive approach possible.” In the past, that may ..read more

A cancer diagnosis often triggers a rollercoaster of ups and downs, dread and optimism, fear and empowerment. Adding to the distress is the difficult task of gathering information to make an evidence-informed decision on a treatment plan. It is natural for a patient to develop erroneous beliefs about cancer and cancer treatment while missing out on important new insights that research shows may improve treatment outcomes. Here, we discuss three myths that are not only incorrect, but also may harm a patient’s chances for thriving after a cancer diagnosis. Myth: I am having side effects from tre ..read more