There were an estimated 18.1 million cancer cases around the world in 2020, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International. Of those cases, the United States had the fourth highest number of new diagnoses, with 362 cases per 100,000 people. These statistics are age-standardized — a summary measure of the rate of disease that a … Read more
What are the BRCA genes? The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes play a big role in preventing cancer. They belong to a class of genes called tumor suppressors, which ensure that cells don’t grow or divide too rapidly by fixing naturally occurring errors in DNA from reproduction during cell division. BRCA testing checks for mutations in … Read more
Pap smears and HPV testing can be an important part of a person’s regular health care, and the procedure is very simple and quick. What is a Pap smear? A Pap smear, or Pap test, is a procedure that screens for cervical cancer. More specifically, it is used to check for abnormal cells on the … Read more
A tumor, also known as a neoplasm, is an abnormal swelling or enlargement within the body caused by cells dividing more than they should or not dying when they should. What is the difference between a tumor and cancer? Although the words “tumor” and “cancer” are often used interchangeably, they aren’t synonymous. A noncancerous (benign) … Read more
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is known to raise the risk of developing colorectal cancer. How much? It depends on how much of your colon and rectum is affected by IBD. Having IBD does not mean that you will develop colorectal cancer, and risk is changing over time as new treatments are available to control IBD. … Read more
For most people, early detection involves an awareness of changes in their body and raising concerns with their physician. Cancer is often detected when an individual notices a change in their health — excessive fatigue, for example, or unusual bleeding, a lump that doesn’t go away, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or a persistent change in … Read more
Fluoride was first added to drinking water in the United States decades ago to help reduce and prevent tooth decay. Overwhelming research shows that there is no reason to believe that fluoride, when used in an approved manner, causes any disease, including cancer. It is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in soil, … Read more
Esophageal cancer forms in tissues that line the esophagus, the hollow, muscular tube that moves food and liquid from the throat down into the stomach. It forms on the inside of the lining and spreads through the outer layers as it grows. While relatively uncommon in the United States, esophageal cancer is often challenging to … Read more
Early research has shown cannabis may be helpful for patients experiencing side effects from chemotherapy and other types of cancer treatment, such as nausea and vomiting. But there are also risk associated with using cannabis, and the persisting social stigma and legal questions surrounding its use complicate how it is approached in a clinical setting. … Read more
Lynch syndrome — also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer — is the most common hereditary form of colorectal cancer. In the United States, about 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year and approximately 3 to 5% of these cancers are caused by Lynch syndrome. It’s estimated that 1 in 300 people may be … Read more
Support from social work has been found to improve health-related outcomes for patients and families.
What are the Symptoms of Cervical Cancer? Cervical cancer screenings, which typically include a pelvic exam and Pap smear, have significantly reduced cervical cancer incidence and death rates in the United States. “The vast majority of cervical cancers are early stage and often asymptomatic, which is why screenings are important,” explains Alexi Wright, MD, MPH, … Read more
Over two-thirds of patients who receive chemotherapy report experiencing a mental fog during or after treatment. This is often referred to as chemo brain.
While pesticides and herbicides — substances used to control pests and weeds, respectively — can be toxic to humans when ingested, researchers are not sure if exposure to these compounds are linked to a higher risk of cancer. Timothy Rebbeck, PhD, a cancer epidemiologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of … Read more
In a country as geographically vast as the United States, and with a large and mobile population, it’s not surprising that cancer rates vary by region, by state, and even by localities within states. Geographical differences exist in overall cancer rates and in specific types of cancer, according to 2019 data published by the U.S. Centers for … Read more
When it comes to cancer prevention, there is perhaps no greater success story than human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. They can help prevent 90 percent of cancers that are caused by HPV. Since their introduction in 2006, the percentage of cervical precancers caused by types of HPV most often linked to cervical cancer has dropped by … Read more
Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, gets its name from the pigment-producing cells called melanocytes from which tumors can develop. Melanocytes manufacture melanin, a substance in your body that produces hair, eye, and skin pigmentation. Melanin absorbs sunlight and helps to protect skin from DNA damaging ultraviolet light which can contribute to the development of … Read more
If someone you love has recently died, thinking about the holidays may understandably bring you sadness and anguish. You may even wish that this year, you could skip the holidays all together. Sue Morris, PsyD, director of Bereavement Services at Dana-Farber, provides bereavement support to the loved ones of patients through individual counseling and peer … Read more