June 6, 2018

Think You Know Your Age? Tiny Chromosome Tips May Say Otherwise

We all know how old we are chronologically. But do we know how old we are biologically? Everyone ages at a different pace. Lifestyle, genetics, stress and other factors contribute to keeping us younger than we look or aging us beyond our years. One telltale sign of the inner aging process may be found deep […]

June 6, 2018

How to Make Airport Security Easier for Cancer Patients During Summer Travel

Summer travel season is here, and for the millions leaving town to enjoy some rest and relaxation, one stop can put a damper on the excitement: airport security. Standing in long lines, removing shoes and belts, getting through body imaging, metal detectors, and in some cases, a pat-down, is an inconvenience for most fliers. But […]

June 6, 2018

What Men Need to Know About Factors that Impact Risk of Prostate Cancer

While anyone may be diagnosed with cancer, everyone has varying levels of risk based on genetics, environment and lifestyle. Certain larger populations may also be at increased risk compared to other groups. For instance, your risk of cancer may vary according to your race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographic location or gender. In the case of […]

May 7, 2018

Burning, Tingling Pain? It Could Be Peripheral Neuropathy

Receiving chemotherapy for cancer treatment can lead to a number of unexpected side effects, including damage to the nerves located outside your brain and spinal cord, known as your peripheral nerves. Peripheral neuropathy, which describes nerve damage that’s often felt in your extremities, including your hands, feet, legs and arms, may be caused by a […]

May 2, 2018

Fat Cells May Hinder Chemotherapy’s Impact

It’s hardly newsworthy that obesity leads to a litany of health problems, from heart disease and high blood pressure to diabetes, sleep apnea and cancer. But for cancer patients, a new study suggests obesity may cause even more medical complications by interfering with efforts to treat the disease. Citing the results of research published in Molecular Cancer Research, a National […]

April 3, 2018

Excess Weight May Contribute Up to 40 Percent of US Cancer Diagnoses

Your weight plays an important role in your overall health, including your risk of many chronic diseases — cancer included. In fact, being overweight or obese — defined as a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 25 or 30, respectively — is believed to cause up to 40 percent of all cancer diagnoses in […]

April 3, 2018

Matchmaking for Transplants

Each year, thousands of people diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, including blood cancers, myelodysplastic syndrome, sickle cell disease and many others, require bone marrow or stem cell transplants to give them the best chance at beating their diseases. These patients require finding a matching donor, and while some find a match from a family member, nearly […]

March 13, 2018

Why Sleep Should Be a Priority for Cancer Patients

Most people experience poor sleep from time to time. Maybe you went to bed too late, were too excited or stressed to fall asleep, took medication that kept you alert or had an alcoholic beverage before bed that interfered with your ability to fall asleep. There are many reasons that you might have a bad […]

March 13, 2018

What are Environmental Risk Factors, and How Can I Avoid Them?

Tobacco smoke at a concert. Pollution from the factory around the corner. Radiation from a routine X-ray. When it comes to environmental factors that raise the risk of cancer, it may seem like avoiding exposure is as impossible as avoiding the air you breathe. In reality, though, you have more control than you think. Experts […]

February 12, 2018

Banding Together through Cancer with Music Therapy

Patients don’t need to know how to play an instrument to participate in the Music Therapy program currently offered at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center (Southwestern) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They don’t even need to be musically inclined, according to Dr. David Wakefield, PhD, mind-body therapist at Southwestern. “Some patients […]