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Cancer treatments can lead to many nutrition-related challenges, including weight loss or gain, loss of muscle mass, and poor appetite. Side effects can also impact what and how you eat. Since a healthy diet is crucial to health and healing, Arizona Oncology physicians encourage their patients to take their nutritional needs seriously. Common Nutritional Challenges for Cancer Patients Nutritional support can help with many common side effects of cancer treatment. Here are some general tips that many cancer patients find helpful. Of course, cancers and cancer treatments differ, so be sure...

At age 35, Deborah Portzer got the news no one wants to hear: breast cancer. Thirty-three years and two recurrences later, her oncologist, Dr. Langerak, gave her better news. Here’s her story. First Diagnosis It’s 1989, and Deborah is working for an aerospace company in California and teaching ballroom dancing. She goes in for her first mammogram at age 35 because of a family history of cancer. The results aren’t good: she has an infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma in her right breast, hormone receptor ER negative and node negative. During her scheduled lumpectomy, her doctor discovers the...

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...

It’s no secret that being carrying excess pounds can lead to serious health consequences–but did you know that it can also raise your risk for certain types of cancer? National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) showed that in 2011–2014, nearly 70% of U.S. adults aged 20 years or older were overweight or obese. Research shows that higher amounts of body fat can increase the risk for several types of cancer, including liver cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, gallbladder cancer, thyroid cancer, cervical...

Lymph nodes (also called lymph glands) are an important are part of your immune system. If your lymph nodes become enlarged or feel sensitive to the touch, that is their way of letting you know that your body is fighting an infection. In addition to that, they function as an early warning system for some types of cancer, including lymphoma, leukemia, and breast cancer.  What are Lymph Nodes? The lymphatic system is a major part of our body’s immune system, which consists of lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. Its primary function is to help rid the body of toxins, waste, and other...

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...