How to Properly Wash Your Hands

Practicing proper hand hygiene is a simple, yet extremely effective, way of preventing the spread of germs and diseases. By washing your hands properly, and often, you can protect yourself as well as your family and even the community you live in. When should I wash my hands? When in doubt, wash! It’s important to … Read more

What is Strength Training and Can It Help Cancer Patients?

Strength training is a type of exercise in which one uses resistance to force the muscles to contract to build strength. Resistance for strengthening can come from a person’s own body weight or from gym equipment. We spoke to Nancy Campbell, MS, an exercise physiologist at Dana-Farber’s Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, who … Read more

What is a Tumor, Exactly?

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

Lawn Care and Cancer Risk: What You Need to Know

Medically reviewed by Timothy Rebbeck, PhD Lawn care can help grass become and stay full, green, and healthy, but are the chemicals and fertilizers that you use to take care of your lawn increasing your cancer risk? Fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are common lawn care products. Although frequent exposure to chemicals in these products can … Read more

What is the JUUL?

JUUL is a brand of electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, that enables users to inhale vapor infused with nicotine, flavorings, and other compounds. How does the JUUL work? JUULs consist of a battery-powered vaporizer that connects to a cartridge, or “pod,” filled with liquid containing nicotine salts, flavorings, and other substances such as glycerol, propylene glycol, … Read more

What is a Gene Mutation?

A mutation is a change in the sequence of DNA units, which are like the letters of the alphabet, that make up the genetic instructions that determine a cell’s structure and function. A mutation in a gene could be compared to a simple misspelling of a word by a single letter, or a duplication or … Read more

What are PFASs and Are They Linked to Cancer?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are chemicals whose ability to repel oil and water has led them to be used in a wide variety of consumer products, such as non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, and food containers that resist grease and oil. They’re highly stable chemicals, so they can persist … Read more