Blog

I was enjoying my very busy life as a radiation oncologist, in a relationship, running, going to CrossFit daily, and taking care of three dogs, when my world changed with a simple blood test.   At 3:30 in the afternoon on July 9th, I saw my last new patient of 2013, and was admitted to the hospital at 8 am the next day. I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with multiple critical issues. I was not permitted to leave the hospital for 23 days. It took a village to come to my aid, providing care for my menagerie of pets,...

Although the human papillomavirus (HPV) is quite common, there is still a lot of confusion when it comes to the facts. But in order to protect your health – and those you love – it’s important to break through the myths you may have heard about HPV. Here are five common HPV myths and the truth about them. HPV Myth #1: Only women can get it. Truth: HPV is a very common virus among both women and men. An estimated 80% of sexually active people will contract it at some point in their lives. Although most HPV infections go away on their own, infections that don’t go away (persist) can cause...

Although the terms “genetic” and “genomic” are often used interchangeably, they are actually very different. Learning more about the differences between them can help clear up some of the confusion we often see related to hereditary genes linked to developing cancer. Genetic Testing   Genetics usually refers to the study of specific, individual genes and whether they are passed from one generation to the next. Cancer researchers have studied hereditary gene mutations (changes) that can play a role in the development of cancer.   Genetic tests are medical tests that look for certain...

Receiving an abnormal report on your screening mammogram can be scary, but it doesn’t mean you have cancer. It doesn’t even necessarily mean that you require a biopsy. In this blog post we take an in-depth look at what it means to receive an abnormal mammogram result, and what the next steps might look like. What does “abnormal” mean on a mammogram report? There are several reasons why your report might be abnormal. ·       The images were unclear or missed some part of your breast tissue ·       There is an area that appears...

What is the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout? It's an annual event, held the third Thursday of every November, a date on which smokers nationwide are asked to give up smoking. Quitting for just one day helps you take action toward a healthier life, and reduce your lung cancer risk. Each year, the Great American Smokeout calls attention to the deaths, lung cancer diagnoses and other chronic diseases that smoking causes, and how to prevent them. As a result of this event, there have been actions taken towards reducing the health impacts that smoking can...

On October 27th, 2023, we held the ribbon-cutting for our brand-new facility in Prescott. Located at 5430 Landmark Lane, this 23,000 square foot practice will provide chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, genomic testing, and more in one location. By expanding the current Prescott office with this brand-new facility, our aim is to bring advanced cancer treatment closer to patients' homes and support systems. And we’re so excited to show it to you! Here’s a view of the building from the outside. The project was realized through the collaboration of NexCore Group with McKesson and US Oncology. And...

Head and neck cancers are a group of cancers that originate from the base of skull to the clavicles. It comprises diverse diagnoses of cancers that begin in the sinuses, throat, mouth, salivary glands, and larynx. Cancers in this region have a variety of causes including use of alcohol and tobacco. Head and neck cancers often present as a lump or sore that does not go away. It can be painful or painless. In some cases, the mass can cause difficulty swallowing or even breathing and may cause a hoarse voice. There are many non-malignant causes of these symptoms and concerned patients should be...

A Simple Test Could Tell You! Cancer researchers from Johns Hopkins have concluded that some patients may develop colon cancer due to two specific digestive bacteria that form a film on the colon. According to the study paper, which was published December 2015 in Science magazine, these two types of bacteria invade the protective mucous layer of the colon and create a small ecosystem, including nutrients the bacteria need to survive, causing chronic inflammation and subsequent DNA damage that supports tumor formation. These findings also seem to add to the growing evidence that gut bacteria...

A variety of studies have shown that an occasional glass of red wine has been demonstrated to have a positive effect on heart health. Also, beer has been linked to "some benefit against cardiovascular disease”, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. And, at least one study by the European Journal of Cancer Prevention suggests alcohol could reduce the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma. However, before you pop a cork and say “Cheers” this holiday season, there are some cancer-related risks you...

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States. Annually, there are more than 5.4 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancers. While there are fewer cases of melanoma, the incidence of this cancer is on the rise. Many of these cancers can be prevented by protecting skin from excessive sun exposure and avoiding indoor tanning. Read more about skin cancer prevention tips.  Risk factors Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds Skin & hair color: People with fair skin, freckling or red or blond hair have a...