Blog

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—except when it isn’t. Facing the holidays with cancer presents unique challenges. It’s very common to experience a mixture of anticipation, excitement, and apprehension. The social workers at Arizona Oncology work with our patients to help them prepare for and cope with holiday-related pressures. Here are some of their tips. P Plan in Advance. In previous years you may have had the energy to pack the holiday season full of activities, traveling, and shopping. This year, however, doctor appointments, treatment side effects, and low energy may...

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Research has made great strides surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Not counting non-melanoma skin cancers, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women. The American Cancer Society reports that the lifetime chance of developing lung cancer is 1 in 15 for men and 1 in 17 for women. For those who smoke, the risk is much higher. Low Dose CT Scan for Lung Cancer Screening Cancer is more treatable when caught early. Lung cancer often isn’t caught until it is well advanced, but low dose CT lung...

Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by exposure to the human papillomavirus or HPV. The good news is that cervical cancer is almost always preventable, however, there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to the facts. Understanding more about the connection between HPV and cervical health, in general, can greatly help in the prevention of this kind of cancer. Below is some very important information every woman should know. HPV: Where Most Cervical Cancers Begin Cervical cancer is a disease that forms in the tissues of a woman’s cervix--the lower part of the uterus (womb) that...

While certain cancers such as brain tumors are viewed as equally affecting men and women alike, other cancers are seen as gender specific. For instance, prostate cancer is identified as a type of cancer that only affects men for the simple reason that women do not have prostates. Breast cancer is widely recognized as being a common type of cancer that affects women. However, what isn't talked about as much is the fact that breast cancer affects men as well. Let's take a closer look at the signs, symptoms, risk factors, screening, and treatment options available for male breast...

If you’ve visited our website or social media lately, you may have noticed a new logo and new look and feel! At Arizona Oncology, we are proud to move into the future with a reinvigorated purpose and a refreshed look, and we’d like to share with you what inspired it. You may recognize our new logo as a stylized version of the barrel cactus blossom. Viewed from above, this cactus provides a different perspective and promises a holistic approach to cancer care. The green petals represent our community of highly specialized care providers, researchers, and staff working together to deliver...

If you receive a cancer diagnosis, you expect to get care from an oncologist. But your oncologist is only one member of the team of specialists involved in treating cancer. At Arizona Oncology, we take a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment, but what does that actually mean? Let’s take a closer look. Multidisciplinary Care is the Highest Quality Care Cancer care can be complex. Many doctors will likely be involved in your care. Without a multidisciplinary approach, there is a possibility for poor communication and poor coordination of care. When it comes to cancer, you want each of...

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...