For decades, many believed that breast cancer only affected older women. The disease typically occurs in women above 40, and the overall risk increases with age. However, young women can develop breast cancer, too. It’s important to understand this misconception and acknowledge that breast cancer does not care about age. Considering merely 1 in 1,479 women in their 20s get breast cancer, it’s no wonder many young adults think they’re immune to the disease. The American Cancer Society also mentions that “a very small number of women” under 45 get diagnosed with breast tumors. Still, while incid ..read more

If you were recently diagnosed with early-stage hormone receptor-positive (hormone-positive or HR+) breast cancer, understanding the Breast Cancer Index® test can help you and your cancer care team determine if extending hormonal therapy for five additional years (a sum of ten years) would be beneficial. This unique, proprietary genomic test analyzes the activity of eleven genes in your tumor tissue, helping to identify your risk of breast cancer recurrence. With this life-changing knowledge in the palm of your hand, you and your healthcare team can make the right treatment decision.   Wh ..read more

Although cancer has been around for thousands of years, to this very day, it remains as complex and dumbfounding as ever. This enfeebling disease can cause several complications, such as damaging organs or tissues far beyond the primary tumor growth. In particular, digestive tract paralysis (DTP) is one such cancer complication continuing to baffle researchers. Often requiring a lifetime of management, this lesser-explored “side effect” creates more challenges to a cancer patient’s well-being, even after reaching remission.   What is digestive tract paralysis? Digestive tract paralysis de ..read more

From soft contact lenses and cosmetics to toilet paper and sunlight, the constant bombardment of news about potential cancer causes can be overwhelming. If “everything can cause cancer,” should we avoid everything? This quick read explains everything you need to know about how to interpret cancer news.   How to Navigate News About Cancer Causes The following questions and answers can help you understand cancer’s growing list of causes and decide whether you should take action.   Is the information from a reliable source? Did you know 38% of news consumers in the United States have mi ..read more

Continuing to expose everyday items that contain “forever chemicals,” soft contact lenses from the United States are a new concerning addition. Our previous blog discussed the trace amount of PFAS in toilet paper. Now, the same cancer-causing chemicals are in the lenses people need to correct vision problems. Making matters worse, many soft lenses in the US are “almost pure PFAS,” revealed Scott Belcher, a contact lens testing advisor and researcher from North Carolina State University. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as “a ..read more

Should you get a second opinion from Artificial Intelligence (AI)? With the rampant advancement of AI technology and robotics, even healthcare professionals are concerned about the possibility of losing their jobs. It all started at Bács-Kiskun County Hospital in Budapest, Central Hungary. Dr. Éva Ambrózay, a radiologist with over 20 years of experience, was reviewing the details of a patient’s mammogram results. According to two other radiologists who examined the file, the patient was in the clear, showing no signs of tumor growth. However, as AI software detected abnormalities that the two ..read more

As the sun rises each morning, painting the sky with scenic hues of hope and possibility, there exists a silent battle fought by individuals diagnosed with fibrosarcoma. Their struggles may not seem obvious to casual observers, but living with and beyond sarcoma carves deep impressions on the hearts and minds of patients and their loved ones. The weight of uncertainty rests heavily on their shoulders, yet a glimmer of hope remains. Living with and beyond fibrosarcoma requires learning to dance with life’s complexities. It is an invitation to embrace vulnerability and resilience hand in hand, d ..read more

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), also called iron overload disorder, is a common condition in which the body stores too much iron. It is one of the most common genetic disorders in the United States, with a prevalence of 1 in 300 to 500 people. HH develops from mutations in the HFE gene, which regulates iron absorption in the body. When mutations arise, normal iron regulatory functions break down, causing the body to absorb higher amounts of iron than it needs. Over time, this excess iron accumulates in different areas of the body, including the liver, pancreas, heart, skin, joints, pituitary ..read more

Research from the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management demonstrates that chemotherapy can cause mild to severe joint pain and inflammation, collectively known as chemo-induced arthritis and arthralgia. These conditions can impact a cancer patient’s quality of life by causing discomfort, limiting mobility, making it difficult to cope with ongoing treatments, and slowly impairing overall capacity to perform daily activities. According to a 2020 research paper titled Everyday Life With Rheumatoid Arthritis, chores like cooking, cleaning, gardening, doing laundry, and engaging in recreational ac ..read more

The interconnectedness of inflammation and cancer has been a subject of increasing interest in recent years. However, the majority of information available online might be too highfalutin and perplexing for those seeking straightforward answers to the connection between inflammation and cancer. This article simplifies their link and highlights lifestyle strategies for fighting inflammation.   Understanding Inflammation and Cancer A common misconception is that inflammation is the exact same as swelling. Although partially true, it goes beyond physical symptoms. Inflammation is a biologica ..read more