Our Blog

Summer means fun in the sun, frolicking in a pool and eating hot dogs and potato salad at family picnics – unless you are pregnant.

When expecting, you need to take precautions with your health - no matter the time of year. During the summer months, though, you need to be extra careful. Heat and humidity can cause additional stress on you and your baby.

Before picking out names or decorating a nursery, you need to consider the health of you and your baby before you become pregnant.

According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, up to 10 percent of pregnancies in the United States can be considered high risk.

A preconception evaluation can help your doctor determine if you could have a High Risk Pregnancy – a condition with the potential to cause health issues or even death for the mother and/or child.

The female reproductive system is the remarkable and robust producer of life. Yet, it is fragile and requires constant monitoring and care.

When health problems arise or persist with a uterus and/or ovaries, a hysterectomy may be necessary for a woman’s long-term health.

The second most-common surgery among women in the United States, this procedure basically removes a woman's uterus. The surgeon also may remove fallopian rubes and ovaries – especially if tests indicate possible issues. The procedure ends the woman’s ability to become pregnant.

More than a third of American women older than 60 have undergone the procedure.

Here is some helpful information about hysterectomies:

As your baby is ready for arrival, your doctor may have to deliver him or her by cesarean section.

Also known as a C-section, this surgical procedure might be necessary if the baby is large or descending breech; the cervix is not opening enough; or there are health complications with either the baby or mother.

The decision to deliver by C-section also might be precipitated by an emergency.

Here are some answers to questions you might have about the procedure, provided by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:

Women over 40 have different nutritional needs than younger women. A woman who has never had trouble keeping weight off may suddenly be gaining weight. A woman who has always found it easy to exercise may have trouble finding the energy to do so.

Hormonal changes may be to blame for weight gain, loss of bone and muscle density, and even digestive issues. Choosing a nutrient-rich diet including healthy fats, lean proteins, dairy, and lots of fruits and vegetables as well as a regular exercise program can help women fight against the changes caused by aging.

Whether you are rockin’ a Zumba class or taking a brisk walk, exercise can help you fight cancer.

A study announced last year by the American Institute for Cancer Research showed a stronger link between exercise and the reduction of risk of 13 cancers.

“It's the latest evidence in a growing area of research suggesting that exercise may play a role in both cancer prevention and healthy survivorship,” the story stated.

Researchers combined data from 1.4 million people who were part of a dozen U.S. and European studies. It is the first ever pooled analysis of physical activity and cancer incidence that has been done in the world.

Remember when Mom insisted you eat your fruits and vegetables?

She wanted you grow up big and strong. Today, she’s helping you fight cancer.

While research continues to focus on treatments for better outcomes, more evidence is indicating that eating healthy foods is important in the fight against (and prevention of) cancer.

The American Institute for Cancer Research says that no single food or food component protects people against having cancer. However, strong evidence “does show that a diet filled with a variety of plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans helps lower risk for many cancers.”

Here are some foods that show evidence of effectiveness in the fight against cancer:

When diagnosed with breast cancer, you have many decisions to make about your treatment and care.

One of the most important will be surgery – specifically what kind to help you achieve the best outcome. Your oncologist and/or surgeon will recommend a comprehensive approach to your care.

You also might get a second opinion to make certain you have all the information you need to decide what’s best for you.

Here are some answers to common questions about breast cancer surgery:

Lung, breast, colon and prostate cancers often get much of the public’s attention – mainly due to their high rates of incidents and news coverage of research.

However, lymphoma – specifically non-Hodgkin lymphoma -  is the seventh most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. And, like many other cancers, early detection can make a significant difference in treatment outcome.

The risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma increases with age and it is more common in males than in females and in Caucasians. North America has one of the highest incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society.

Here are some facts about the disease:

Maybe it’s because we know so many people who have it. Maybe it’s because you were recently diagnosed with it. Maybe it’s because we turn on the news and hear the latest fight against it.

Cancer permeates our conversations often these days. But do you know exactly what the word “cancer” means?

The oldest description of cancer dates back to about 3000 BC in Egypt – in an ancient Egyptian textbook on trauma surgery. Hippocrates in 400 BC called masses of cancerous cells karkinos — Greek for crab.

Today, the term “cancer” is the name given to a collection of diseases with a common factor: a normal cell goes berserk and grows and divides at a rapid, uncontrolled rate.

Here are answers to some common questions about the characteristics of cancer, provided by the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute and the American Society of Hematology: