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When it comes to cervical cancer, nearly all cases are caused by exposure to the human papillomavirus, or HPV. Thankfully, cervical cancer is almost always preventable. Understanding more about HPV and cervical health, in general, can greatly help in the prevention of this kind of cancer. Here’s some important information every woman should know.  HPV: The Root Cause of Cervical Cancer Cervical cancer is a disease that forms in the tissues of a woman’s cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) that connects to the vagina (birth canal). According to the National...

February 13th, 2014 22 Months All Clear! I'm happy to report that my 22 month post-surgery check up showed no evidence of lingering cancer cells.I'm not happy to report that the Tucson cancer "establishment" is still not telling new chemotherapy patients about the baldness-preventing cold caps that preserved my hair and my morale.  Not a single person has contacted me for information despite newspaper and TV publicity about their effectiveness with me. I recently attended a psychology conference in Anaheim with an estimated 8,000 attendees. See the attached photo for what I wore. ...

Some cancer patients face hair loss, also known as alopecia, as a result of cancer treatment. While this is a common side effect, losing one’s hair can still be a significant emotional challenge. The good news is that this change in appearance usually doesn’t last forever. Most cancer patients see hair re-growth begin shortly after they are finished with treatment. Until that time, however, many people turn to head coverings such as scarves and wigs to help them cope during this transition. Initially, the thought of wearing a wig may seem worrisome. There may be some concerns about...

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In fact, research shows that it is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, will result in over 53,000 fatalities in 2020, and will appear in almost 150,000 patients over that same time frame. As with many health issues, knowledge of colorectal cancer means power: the power of early detection, treatment, and in some cases even prevention. You may worry that you or a loved one are at risk for developing colorectal cancer; or you may want to better understand certain aspects of this...

One breast cancer survivor’s story of turning a personal patient solution into a community solution By: Lori McNeill Sherri’s Story “I was shocked.” This, perhaps not surprisingly, was Sherri Romanoski’s response to being told back in 2000, at the age of 48, that she had breast cancer. “It hit me hard. I was full of fear,” said Sherri. Along with that fear can sometimes come a sense of powerlessness—how do I combat a disease I don’t fully understand?—and a lot of questions. What’s my cancer treatment plan? How long will it take? What can I do outside of the doctor’s appointments right...

Cancer treatment continues to advance, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of it with our brand-new Halcyon Linac by Varian. This state-of-the-art radiotherapy system offers faster treatment in a spacious, patient-centered design, while incorporating volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to deliver a consistent radiation dose to tumors while minimizing the dose to healthy tissue. Dr. Neil D’Souza is a radiation oncologist at our Goodyear location who has firsthand experience with this revolutionary machine. We asked him to share, in layman’s terms, exactly what makes the Halcyon Linac...

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, a time set aside to increase awareness of the disease and the importance of screening as a prevention strategy. Arizona Oncology reminds all women to speak with their healthcare providers about being screened for cervical cancer. In the United States, approximately 13,820 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 4,360 women will die from the disease this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Today, however, invasive cervical cancer is highly preventable. According to the National Cancer Institute, the key to preventing...

Jackie Dominguez had a very aggressive form of breast cancer, but with a multidisciplinary cancer care team who cared for her both physically and emotionally, she’s thriving with and beyond cancer. “The doctor was kind enough to not make me wait for the results. I’ll never forget that,” Jackie said. “But he also said that it wasn’t a death sentence. He just reassured me that I wasn’t going to die from this.” Jackie chose Arizona Oncology for treatment for her breast cancer. For most patients with breast cancer, surgery is the first step, and Jackie went to see an Arizona Oncology breast...

Of all the cancers, lung cancer is claiming the most lives of men and women every year in the United States. If you are a smoker, then it likely concerns you that smokers have the greatest risk of developing lung cancer according to the CDC. The good news though is that even after a lifetime of smoking, you can substantially reduce your risk of getting lung cancer if you stop smoking now. This article explores practical tips that can help you to quit smoking and as a result, reduce your lung cancer risk. What Practical Steps Can Smokers Take to Reduce Their Lung Cancer Risk? Go...