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Most people have heard about genetic testing when it comes to cancer risk, but there is a lot of misinformation. Today, gynecologic oncologist Casandra Liggins, MD joins us to bust the myths about genetic testing and share the facts. MYTH #1: Most Cancers are Genetic FALSE. The majority of patients who develop cancer do not have a genetic predisposition. “Genetic inheritance plays a role in approximately five to ten percent of cancers,” Dr. Liggins explains. When it comes to breast cancer in particular, five to ten percent of breast cancer patients have an identified gene, although...

Oncology social workers are licensed clinical professionals who all have master’s degrees and   are able to assist patients and families when affected by cancer. They provide emotional support, counseling, and resource information. March is Social Work Month. Kelly Huey LCSW, Manager of the Social Work department at Arizona Oncology, talks about how the social work team can be of assistance to patients and their families during this difficult time. “Social workers have many roles here at Arizona Oncology. It is important we evaluate each individual patient as to their personal...

March is colorectal cancer awareness month, so let’s talk about some things you might not know about this type of cancer. According to www.cancer.org: Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S. Over 75% of colon and rectal cancers happen to people with no known risk factors.  Younger and younger people are being diagnosed. The first line of treatment for early stage colon cancer is surgically removing the cancer. This will often be enough to cure it. But one of the biggest fears people have surrounding colorectal...

Think your chances of getting cancer are out of your hands? Think again! According to an American Cancer Society (ACS) study, 42% of cancer cases and 45% of cancer deaths are linked to preventable risk factors. This means that while you can’t control every aspect of your cancer risk (for example, family history), there is a lot you can do to take control of your health. The top five lifestyle factors that researchers discovered had an impact on cancer cases and deaths were: cigarette smoking, being overweight, alcohol consumption, UV radiation exposure, and physical inactivity. Let’s take a...

In many cases, cervical cancer can be cured. “Cured” means there are no signs that cancer cells remain in the body. However, because it is difficult to know whether the cancer may come back, doctors prefer to use the term “in remission” rather than “cured.” What Does “In Remission” Really Mean? After treatment, your doctor may tell you that you are in “partial remission” or “complete remission.” Partial remission means that there has been a reduction of at least 50% in the size of the tumor. Complete remission means there are no detectable signs of cancer present. Some...

Being a caregiver to someone with cancer can be difficult. This blog post is meant to be a resource for people helping someone who is going through cancer. If you are a cancer patient, you might want to share this information with the people closest to you who are helping and supporting you during this time. Challenges of Being a Caregiver It can be physically and emotionally challenging to provide care to a person with cancer, especially if they will be in treatment for a long time. While you may feel dedicated and up to the task at first, over time many caregivers begin to feel the weight...

No-Shave November is an annual movement to bring awareness to men’s health issues in a provocative way. Men participate by growing a beard and/or mustache throughout the month of November. They take a photo of their clean-shaven face on November 1st and a final picture on the 30th. Hopefully, during the thirty days in between, they can have conversations about important men’s health topics, including prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer is the second-most common cancer affecting men Prostate cancer is enormously common in the United States. After skin cancer, it is the most common cancer for...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a good reminder to talk with your doctor about whether it is time for your breast cancer screening. Of course, being aware of your breast health is important all year long. No matter what month it is, we hope this information will encourage you to talk to your doctor about your breast cancer risk and what you can do to stay healthy. Breast cancer survival rates continue to improve. The average 5-year survival rate for women with invasive breast cancer is 90% 1. If the cancer is located only in the breast, the five-year survival rate is...

Taking control of your health starts with being proactive. Screenings are a vital component of comprehensive healthcare and they’re the best way to identify cancer in its earliest stages, often before it causes any symptoms. The physicians at Arizona Oncology want to encourage everyone to continue getting their regular screenings during these unprecedented times. Delaying important routine exams, such as mammograms, colonoscopies and lung screenings, can increase the chance of the cancer spreading to other organs. The fact remains, most cancer is treatable if detected early. For some,...

HPVs (human papillomaviruses) are a group of common viruses for which some are easily sexually transmitted. Several of these viruses cause genital warts while the high-risk HPV types are responsible for the majority of HPV caused cancers. The National Cancer Institute reports that HPV infects epithelial cells, which cover the inside and outside surfaces of the body, including the skin, the throat, the genital tract, and the anus. HPV related cancers include cervical cancer, vulva cancer, vaginal cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer as well as cancer in the back of the throat including the base...