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Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Therefore, it’s important to learn some facts about prostate cancer screenings and make sure you, or the males in your life, are getting screened for prostate cancer in a timely manner.   Early Detection of Prostate Cancer Can Provide Better Outcomes for Patients! All men, even healthy ones, can benefit from making prostate cancer screenings part of their regular healthcare routine. Doctors sometimes recommend testing simply because of age or family history. Other times, patients have some symptoms, and...

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month – a time dedicated to informing women and their families about a disease that affects thousands of women each year. Ovarian cancer, a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries, is often referred to as the “silent killer” because it isn’t usually diagnosed until it has progressed to an advanced stage. Many early symptoms either aren’t apparent or they are mimicking symptoms of other stomach and digestive illnesses. This is why it’s not only important to know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, but also to pay close attention to any new or...

Often times, when people hear the word “cancer”, sarcoma isn’t one that quickly comes to mind. Some may not even know what a sarcoma is--so it’s no surprise that it’s considered the “forgotten cancer.” To bring it to the forefront, July has been declared Sarcoma Awareness Month. Now, more than ever, is the perfect time to learn more about this rare disease. What is Sarcoma? Sarcomas can be broken into two main types: soft tissue sarcomas and bone sarcomas. There are, however, more than 50 different subtypes that fall under these two categories. Soft tissue sarcoma is a broad term...

Many of you may have heard that the American Cancer Society (ACS) changed the age of colorectal screening for individuals at an average risk to age 45 at the end of May. But why? While the number of diagnoses for colorectal cancer for adults aged 55 and over has declined over the last 20 years, a disturbing increase of 51% in colorectal diagnoses has been noted for adults under the age of 50 since 1994 (American Cancer Society, 2018). Furthermore, death rates from colorectal cancer in the younger age group are also rising. Based on these statistics, the ACS funded a modeling...

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day”–a day to encourage awareness of sun safety in hopes of reducing the rates of skin cancer caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. With a little planning, you can enjoy the summer sun and protect your skin–not just on this day, but every day. The Importance of Sun Safety Sunshine is enjoyable–but too much exposure to the sun can be dangerous. Overexposure to UV rays can result in more than a painful sunburn. It can also lead to more serious health problems, including...

Prostate cancer research has been an ongoing process of looking into causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of prostate cancer. But with hundreds upon hundreds of published studies out there, how can patients keep up with what’s new? Here are 3 new developments to watch in prostate cancer treatment:  1. Genetic & Genomic Testing Related to Prostate Cancer Genes can play a role in both the development and behavior of prostate cancer. Two types of tests that can be helpful in acquiring information are genetic testing and genomic testing. While they sound similar, they...

It turns out there’s another bonus to marriage: early skin cancer detection and management. According to a recent study published in JAMA Dermatology, melanomas are more likely to be detected early in married people than people who are single, divorced or widowed. How can being married help reduce my risks? Data suggests that spouses or partners may help identify melanoma that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. The analysis, which included 52,063 people of various marital statuses, found that skin lesions were detected sooner among married people than they were among those who were...

Throughout my practice as a radiation oncologist, I have noticed a recurring question that patients ask; “If the surgeon sticks a needle into the tumor or if they expose the tumor to air, will the tumor spread?”  The answer to the question is that realistically, the possibility is very low. In 2015, the Mayo Clinic analyzed 250 patients that had biopsies and found no risk of tumors spreading associated with the procedure. They went further and analyzed 2,000 Medicare patients with pancreatic cancer and found no significant difference in cancer spread between those that had a biopsy...

Did you know that exercise is one of the most important actions you can take during your cancer treatment? It’s true! New research has shown that exercise before, during, and after cancer treatments can: Help alleviate side effects of cancer treatment, such as fatigue, pain, and bone and muscle loss Fuel your appetite Improve your quality of life by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression Reduce the risk of cancer recurrence Help sustain your heart health Maintain or improve your physical abilities Boost your self-image and confidence Help control your weight  This doesn’t mean cancer...

Chances are you or someone you know has a close relative or friend that has been impacted by breast cancer and they may even be receiving breast cancer treatment at our facility in Phoenix. Busting these common myths about breast cancer can help you be informed about what's real when it comes to this disease. Breast Cancer Myth 1: Breast cancer only occurs in women. Though it is true more women are affected by breast cancer, it still can and does occur in men. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, over 2,000 men are diagnosed annually with breast cancer. It is...