In 2017, Kimberley Marek received a call after her mammogram, letting her know that something had come back abnormal. It wasn’t the first time this had happened. Since she has dense breast tissue, she had experienced this call before, but the follow-up had always produced a normal result. Not this time. This time it was…
Sexual health is important for any adult’s well-being, but patients with cancer face a new set of challenges when it comes to sexuality. Laila S. Agrawal, M.D., breast cancer oncologist with Norton Cancer Institute, is spearheading efforts to develop a sexual health clinic at Norton Healthcare. “The World Health Organization says that sexual health is…
Swollen lymph nodes and the COVID-19 vaccine have been an issue for many, but the harmless side effect is causing alarm as some mistake the temporary underarm lump for a tumor. Swollen lymph nodes are a normal vaccine side effect, as the body produces antibodies against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Lymph nodes are a…
Perhaps you put off cancer screenings over the past few years. Delays of just a few months in detecting various forms of cancer can make treatment more difficult and reduce chances of survival. Here’s a guide to tests that can detect cancer and who should get checked when. Breast cancer Mammogram — an X-ray of…
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is form of breast cancer that often can be mistaken for a rash, allergic reaction or minor infection. Although it is aggressive and fast-growing, it is rare, accounting for 1% to 5% of all breast cancers. Symptoms of IBC Because the signs of IBC mimic those of an injury, skin rash…
Now, more than ever, is a time to take control of your health. With October marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, take the time to schedule your annual mammogram. Increased steps to prevent infection at seven locations and two mobile units — as well as online scheduling, extended hours and quick turnaround for results — mean…
A few months ago, when Americans began feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, state mandates required a focus on urgent and emergency care. Along with patients’ own concerns about being in a health care setting due to fears of contracting the virus, this led to delays in routine care such as screenings and elective procedures. Many more…
The COVID-19 pandemic can provide angst and challenges for everyone. It can prove especially challenging for those undergoing cancer treatment and their families. Turning worry into action For 9-year-old Egan and 11-year-old Etta Hofmann, the coronavirus outbreak brought additional worry for their mom, TJ Hofmann, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer at Norton Cancer…
The link between chemicals and cancer is often in question. The latest is a study that found a higher risk of developing breast cancer among women who used permanent hair dye or hair straighteners. This higher risk also affected women who apply the products to others’ hair. The study, published in the International Journal of…
While Leigh Galloway undergoes her last chemotherapy treatment before a double mastectomy, she and Laura Chamberlin are engrossed in a watercolor. Like she does often with Laura, an expressive art therapist with Norton Cancer Institute Resource Centers, Leigh opens up in that way that seems easier when your focus is elsewhere. “I’m nervous, scared. I’ve…
Breast cancer in men is serious and particularly deadly, partly because it isn’t discussed. There are some body parts we’re born with whether we’re male or female — including breast tissue. The breast tissue doesn’t go away in men; it just typically doesn’t develop into milk-producing breasts. But the tissue is still there, which is…
When television journalist Cokie Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, she had reason to be optimistic. The 15-year survival rate for breast cancer patients was about 70%, meaning the odds were with her, then 58, living well into her 70s. Cokie died at age 75 of complications from breast cancer, ABC News announced…