Did you know there are about 20,500 human genes? In recent years, we’ve learned so much about how genes work and why some diseases run in families. While we can’t change our genes, knowing we have a higher-than-average chance of developing certain diseases can help us take steps to lower our risks. Genetics 101 We…
Does fear of a cancer diagnosis keep you from seeing the doctor, even when you know in your heart you should? If so, you are not alone. Most unexplained symptoms that could indicate cancer are usually NOT cancer, but rather, a less serious condition. However, seeing your doctor promptly can avert a lot of uncertainty…
The average person has between 10 and 40 moles, though the number can vary drastically. The number of moles that you have can change throughout your life, as new moles can develop and some may disappear as you age. You can develop moles almost anywhere on your body, including your scalp and underneath your fingernails….
You’ve probably heard from the health experts that eating fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains may reduce your risk of developing cancer. And maybe you’ve been eating your weight in garlic, tomatoes or whatever foods crop up in the news as especially potent cancer fighters. But if you think one food will give you immunity…
Over the last forty years, the cervical cancer death rate has decreased more than fifty percent due to the increased use of the Pap test. This screening procedure can find changes in the cervix before the cancer develops. It also can find cancer in earlier stages, when it’s most curable. Cervical cancer is most commonly…
By now, everyone knows that tan skin is damaged skin. But just because you don’t have a sun tan doesn’t mean your skin is in optimal health. May is skin cancer awareness month, and Mercy Cancer Center would like to take this opportunity to remind you to take care of your body’s largest organ, the…
Chances are if you are a parent of a tween or teen, you have been offered or even chosen to get your child vaccinated against HPV or human papilloma virus. Have you thought about why this vaccine is so important? Nicole Haines with Mercy Cancer Center provides an educational message on the HPV vaccination. What is HPV…
Mercy employee Gary Trompower says kicking the smoking habit in 2007 after 32 years was one of the hardest (but best) things he’s ever done. A few years later, Gary did another ‘best thing’ for himself: he got a low-dose CT lung cancer screening. Thanks to this quick, pain-free test, Gary’s non-small cell lung cancer…
Only about 5–10% of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary or caused by abnormal genes passed from parent to child. If there happens to be an error in a gene, then that same mistake will appear in all the cells that contain the same gene. It would be like having an instruction manual and…
Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Most men pondering the effects of prostate cancer — including Mercy surgeon and prostate cancer survivor Greg Boone, MD — fully agree. During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (and throughout the rest of the year), we want to arm men with the…
In Ohio, we want to get outside as soon as the weather breaks and we feel those warm rays on our skin. Unfortunately, just one bad sunburn as a child makes you 50 percent more likely to develop melanoma as an adult. Almost everyone has a traumatic sunburn story, but that does not mean we…
Most of us have an uncomfortable, if not painful relationship with cancer and cancer-related issues. But the first step to being proactive in preventing cancer is staying informed. February is National Cancer Prevention month. It’s important to know what each of us can do to make a difference. It was not too long ago that…
Even though male breast cancer is rare, you should never ignore a suspicious lump in the breast tissue. See your doctor. If the lump is cancerous, intervention can begin early. Male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers. Although men and women are very different, male breast cancer is similar to female…
The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as Don’t Fry Day, an annual effort to raise awareness about skin cancer prevention. As the unofficial kick-off to our summer season, Mercy Cancer Center is encouraging everyone to use this day to increase awareness about skin cancer and to adopt…
Cancer prevention doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Start making these simple changes today. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 1/3 of cancers are preventable. If you’ve been watching television talk shows and so-called health experts tout new ways to prevent cancer, don’t rush out and spend money on the latest…
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