Ask the Doc
Cancer and Sex By Laura Farrington, DO and Ajaz Khan, MD Q: I’m being treated for cancer. How will that affect my ability to have sex? A: The impact on your sexual functions depends on what type of treatment you’re getting and what other health conditions might already be impacting your sexual function, among other things. If you are […]
Multiple Myeloma
Advancements improve outlook for people with blood cancer affecting the bone marrow Human resources manager Valarie Traynham was standing in front of a group of new hires when her nose started bleeding. She stepped away briefly, but when the nosebleed lasted for more than an hour, she grew concerned and went home sick. “I had […]
Eliminating Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer in Chicago occurs 39% more often and has a 60% higher death rate than the national average, according to Equal Hope Initiative, a women’s health-equity nonprofit. Latina women have the highest cervical cancer rate in Chicago. Cervical cancer, which the human papillomavirus (HPV) causes, is up to 93% preventable, according to the Centers […]
Op-Ed, Part 2: How to Take a Dire Cancer Diagnosis and Make the Best of It
Chicago Health is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. The opinions expressed in this op-ed article are the author’s own. This op-ed is part 2 of a two-part series. Find part 1 here. As I’ve faced my cancer diagnosis, I’ve learned more about myself in the past 11 months than I learned in my first […]
Op-Ed: I Have Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma, and I’m Surprisingly Content
Chicago Health is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. The opinions expressed in this op-ed article are the author’s own. This op-ed is part one of a two-part series. I am addicted to playing tennis. I play with 18-year-old kids and adults 60 and above in USTA mixed leagues. However, as I get older, […]
Beyond Covid-19
mRNA vaccines get ready for their next act: fighting cancer When you look at the trajectory of the Covid-19 pandemic in the U.S., one turning point stands out: the availability of vaccines, predominantly the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Both use mRNA to send messages to cells about how to fight the deadly virus with incredible efficacy. […]
A Crisis of Undiagnosed Cancers Is Emerging in the Pandemic’s Second Year
This story was originally published by ProPublica. Teresa Ruvalcaba lay on a bed in the emergency room of Chicago’s Mount Sinai Hospital, her right breast swollen to nearly twice the size of her left, the skin so thick and dimpled that the doctor examining her would note that it resembled an orange peel. Ojalá que […]
Cancer-Fighting Pantry
Stock these healthy staples in your kitchen Numerous studies show the link between unhealthy eating and cancer. About 18% of cancers and 16% of cancer deaths are due to factors such as poor diet, excess body weight, alcohol intake, and lack of exercise, according to the American Cancer Society. But what should you be eating if […]
Survivor Support
Even though cancer treatment ends, the need for physical and emotional care continues When Marty Hogan found out at age 34 that he had acute lymphocytic leukemia, a rapidly progressing blood cancer, the news devastated him and his pregnant wife, Whitney. It was 2016, and the doctor gave him a low five-year survival prognosis. His […]
The Color of Cancer
Local groups counter sub-par cancer care in underserved Chicago communities At 31, Roshanda Randle of Englewood knew she was younger than most women who develop breast cancer. But it concerned her that three healthcare providers in Chicago told her three different things about the lump in her breast, while saying that she was too young […]
Joining a Clinical Trial
Consider the following when deciding whether to join a trial Treatment. Usually, patients get either the medication being studied or a typical treatment for their cancer (called “standard of care”). Cancer patients rarely get placebos (nonactive medication). If placebos are used, it is along with regular medication. Ask your healthcare team how you could potentially benefit […]
Empowering Outreach
Organizations offer breast cancer advocacy and support September 27, 2006. No one forgets their date, Sophia Williams says. She was 36 years old and was joking around with a friend after returning from a cruise. During their horseplay, she says, she felt something in her breast. The possibility it was breast cancer never occurred to […]
Prostate Problems
Treatments offer men relief for a common uncomfortable condition About 10 years ago, Steven Prosser, of Libertyville, started beating a path from his bedroom to his bathroom five or six times every night to urinate. His problem got progressively worse until Prosser, who is now 57, was waking up more and more often to go […]
Cancer & Fertility
Options preserve hope for pregnancy after treatment When 31-year-old Amy Glomski was planning her perfect wedding, a pandemic wasn’t part of it. Nor was cancer treatment, and, most certainly, infertility was not part of her plan. Yet, while the Chicago resident was in the midst of planning her June 2021 wedding, she found a lump […]
Using Artificial Intelligence to Assess Breast Cancer
Software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) may help improve breast cancer diagnosis. QuantX, developed in Chicago, uses AI to analyze breast MRIs. Radiologists can use the technology to help assess if breast lesions are cancerous. Research shows the technology led to a 39% reduction in missed cancers, according to a clinical trial. Maryellen Giger, PhD, […]
Kwame Raoul Discusses Importance of Prostate Cancer Screenings
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul knew that he was at risk of developing prostate cancer. His family history seemed inescapable. He lost his father, as well as his paternal and maternal grandfathers, to the disease. Raoul also knew he had additional risk factors: He is Black and of Caribbean ancestry. His father, who was a […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Thyroid Nodules Generally Don’t Cause Signs or Symptoms
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Are thyroid nodules common? What causes them to develop, and should I be concerned if I have one? ANSWER: Lumps in the thyroid — called thyroid nodules — are common. The likelihood of having one is higher in women and increases with age. It’s estimated that up to half of adults over 50 […]
Diagnosed with Breast Cancer? Answers to Common Questions About Radiation
Physicians have used radiation therapy to treat breast cancer for well over a century. But even though it’s safe, some people facing the treatment have concerns. The first breast radiation treatment took place in Chicago in 1896, when an enterprising medical student irradiated an older woman in an X-ray tube factory on Halsted Street, according […]
Cancer and Covid-19
While individuals are at greater risk, treatment and screening must continue Robyn Hawkins is not an anxious person. “But this is a whole different level of worry than I’ve ever had,” she says. For the 38-year-old Arlington Heights resident, “this” refers to undergoing treatment for stage 4 pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer during the coronavirus outbreak, e-schooling two […]
Suffering from ‘Chemo Brain’? There’s Hope
Some of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients are memory problems, difficulties with multitasking, and reduced attention and concentration. Historically, cancer patients with these symptoms were often diagnosed with depression. Research over the past decade has revealed that many cancer patients experience such symptoms as a consequence of specific damage to the brain […]
Cancer Patients Face Uncertainty as Coronavirus Cripples Hospitals
Above photo: National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov. Photo by Rhoda Baer The federal government has encouraged health centers to delay nonessential surgeries while weighing the severity of patients’ conditions and the availability of personal protective equipment, beds and staffing at hospitals. People with cancer are among those at high risk of complications if infected with the […]
Eating to Prevent Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, the lifetime risk of cancer in the United States is 1 in 3. But many people may not realize that more than half of all cancer deaths could be prevented by making healthier food choices, maintaining a healthy weight and keeping active. What can you do to help prevent […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Screening Is an Important Step in Preventing Colon Cancer
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Are there ways to prevent colon cancer? What about early symptoms to watch for? I just turned 50, and I’ve heard colon cancer is more common as you get older. I’d like to lower my risk of getting this disease as much as possible. ANSWER: There are some lifestyle changes that may […]
Six Viruses that Cause Cancer
The truth is doctors and scientists don’t know what causes most types of cancer. Yes, some lifestyle behaviors, such as smoking, can increase your risk. Hereditary factors sometimes play a role, like if breast cancer runs in your family. And sometimes — in rare circumstances — cancer can be triggered by a virus. It doesn’t […]
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Living with a terminal cancer that is seldom understood Chicagoan Shannon Collins was in for a shock. At age 26, she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, a surprising diagnosis for one so young, even though breast cancer runs in her family. Taking an all-out approach, Collins tackled the cancer with aggressive chemo and a […]
Training Cells to Attack
Groundbreaking CAR T-cell therapy engineers cells to target tumors In fall 2013, when psychiatrist J. Barry Rubin, DO, developed hip pain, he attributed it to his new golf swing technique. Rubin, an active 72-year-old and avid golfer with a thriving psychiatry practice, was surprised when, after an MRI and biopsy, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma […]
Chondroitin and Melanoma: How Worried Should You Be?
Harvard Health Blog Chondroitin sulfate is among the most popular supplements in the world. It’s often taken in combination with glucosamine for joint disease — some take it for prevention, others to treat pain. And yet, evidence that it actually works at all is limited at best. One review of the evidence suggested that of […]
Sex After Cancer
Helping female survivors regain their sexual satisfaction and confidence After Naomi’s breast cancer treatment — the lumpectomy, the chemotherapy, the 33 radiation treatments — she lost her desire for sex. But she wanted to please her husband, so she had sex with him. And bled for three days. “The bleeding was unbelievable, and the pain was […]
Cooling Caps May Reduce Chemo Hair Loss
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy face the distressing prospect of losing their hair. But cold cap therapy can reduce hair loss from chemo and help patients feel more like themselves throughout their cancer treatment. During chemotherapy, the patient wears a special cap that fits tightly to the scalp, explains Kim Hart, NP, a nurse practitioner at […]
Supporting Medicare Patients After Chemo
The almost 1.7 million people diagnosed with cancer each year face a range of hurdles, but a new healthcare approach may alleviate some of the burden. The Oncology Care Model — launched in July 2016 by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation — is a five-year pilot program that supports Medicare patients undergoing cancer […]
At a Loss for Words
What to say — and what not to — when talking about cancer In 2013, Charles Chamberlain, 53, a Chicago healthcare executive, was diagnosed with a rare type of lymphoma related to celiac disease and given three to six months to live. He has been in remission for two and half years, but he has had to endure grueling chemotherapy and […]
Cancer and Bone Health: Important Questions for Women
DXA Scanner. Photo courtesy of Northwestern Medicine’s Bone Health and Osteoporosis Center For women facing a cancer diagnosis, there are countless questions that come to mind. From treatments and medications to the emotional journey of living with cancer, it’s easy for the mind to get full — and fast. The last question a woman is […]
A Bright Light in Cancer Treatment
Imagine a technology that allows physicians to target cancer cells with laser precision, sparing a patient’s healthy cells in the process. This is exactly what Kerstin Stenson, MD, director of Rush University Medical Center’s Head and Neck Cancer Program and leader of a new cancer treatment clinical trial, says photoimmunotherapy (PIT) can do for physicians […]
Integrative Cancer Treatment
From nutritional therapy to off-label drugs, holistic approaches help patients heal In this age of one-size-fits-all medicine, doctors who practice integrative therapies tailor their treatments to their patients. When it comes to cancer, integrative approaches can encompass everything from nutrition to vitamin infusions to different ways of delivering treatments. “Since the early ’80s, I have […]
Shoot for the Moon
Cancer initiative spurs research—and already advancements are happening In the 1960s, America channeled its scientific and engineering efforts into putting a man on the moon. It was a feat so large and an advancement so powerful that people were saying it couldn’t be done until the very moment that it was. With the same concentrated […]
A Family Affair
Battling pediatric cancer Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo started a tradition in his frequent visits to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. He brings his jersey and offers each child a trade: He’ll sign something for them, if they sign his jersey in return. “Now I have this jersey with […]
Cancer Survivorship
When treatment ends, the healing begins After Carolyn Nugent was diagnosed with stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma, the 33-year-old physical therapist underwent a mastectomy, eight rounds of chemotherapy, 33 radiation treatments and breast reconstruction surgery. Following her radiation treatments, she celebrated with her extended family by taking a New Year’s cruise. That’s when she realized […]
Beating Cancer
Making progress in the long war Cancer has touched almost all of us in one way or another. Its fast-growing cells aggressively multiply and spread. Its pernicious effects take hold of our family, our friends and even ourselves. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the staggering statistics—15.5 million Americans are cancer survivors, according to the […]
Life After Cancer
By David Himmel Above photo: Abigail Mendoza. Photo by Angela Garbot It’s been almost three years since I was diagnosed with skin cancer. It was basal cell carcinoma, the best kind of skin cancer you can get. It grows slowly and isn’t designed to kill, only maim if left untreated for too long. I was […]
Children Exposed to Pesticides Have Increased Risk of Blood Cancers, Study Says
Pesticides seem necessary to keep the home free from ants, cockroaches and other insects, but the toxic chemicals may do more harm than good. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics reports that youngsters exposed to a chronic, low level of residential insecticides may have an increased risk of developing childhood blood cancers. Researchers […]
Can aspirin protect against cancer?
Harvard Health Blog The other day, a fit 50-year-old man came to me for a visit to review his health. As we discussed his (generally good) efforts to take care of himself, he said, “I’ve been wondering if I should take an aspirin every day. I read somewhere that it can prevent cancer.” As a […]
Study examines aggressive end-of-life care
Source: University of North Carolina School of Medicine Advanced cancer patients receive aggressive care at high rates at the end of life In the last month of their lives, younger cancer patients continued to be hospitalized and receive other aggressive treatment at high rates, a University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center-led study found. […]
Sleuthing Out Cancer
Above photo: Carey August, MD Out of the spotlight, pathologists help detect disease By Nancy Maes When former President Jimmy Carter announced in August that a mass on his liver was a stage IV melanoma, along with four spots on his brain, the diagnosis seemed surprising since melanoma is usually associated with the skin. Knowing the […]
Sun Sense
Dermatologists say chemicals in sunscreen not a risk By Laura Drucker I was walking along the lakefront with a friend this summer when I realized with horror that I had forgotten to apply sunscreen that day. Living in Miami for two years taught me that my skin changes to a hot-dog red rather than a […]
To The Point
Acupuncture eases chemo-related pain, fatigue and nausea A component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been well researched in Western medicine and noted as safe and effective. It offers such a proven benefit as a complementary cancer therapy that it is offered in many major cancer centers as an adjunct to conventional care. In a […]
Thyroid Cancer on the Rise
Diagnosis increasing, but many questions left unanswered By Heidi Kiec When Rebecca Smith felt a lump on her neck the Friday of Memorial Day weekend in 2013, she spent the next three days being paranoid that it was lymphoma. “When I found out I had papillary thyroid cancer, it was a relief to me,” says Smith, […]
FDA’s Notice on Morcellation Stirs Up Fears and Not Enough Questions
By Ruth Kaufman Last December, a Boston anesthesiologist and her husband, a surgeon, launched a campaign to end the use of a popular surgical technique used during hysterectomies and myomectomies. They say that the technique, known as laparoscopic power morcellation, caused her undetected cancer to spread dangerously fast throughout her body. In response, the U.S. […]
Skin Cancer: A Cautionary Tale
Diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, everything is called into question By David Himmel You wouldn’t have known it by looking at me—and it was barely visible in photos—but back in March, my face was being eaten alive by cancer. I’m not sure how long the cancer had been making a meal of me, or even […]
Funding the Cancer War
Despite the money spent on fighting the disease, we’re still searching for the cure to win by Alex Lubischer Bad news first: Cancer is still here, despite the hundreds of billions of dollars the United States government and its citizens have spent fighting it. And it’s not going away any time soon. The good news, […]
Awareness Related to Colorectal Cancer Helps Reduce the Number of Deaths
By David Himmel March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and here’s what you need to know: Colorectal cancer is tricky. Complicated, really. For starters, it’s really two cancers. Colorectal cancer is the combined term used to reference colon cancer and rectal cancer, but there are many similarities in risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. The […]
