Cancer
Browse articles on cancer, covering prevention, treatment options, and support for those affected. Find valuable insights to help navigate the journey.
Understanding Germ Cell Cancer in Children and Adults
Germ cell cancer can affect both children and adults. Although researchers have not determined the exact cause of these cancers, several risk factors have been identified that may increase the likelihood of developing them. Germ cell tumors are unusual growths that arise in the cells responsible for forming eggs or sperm. About 20% of these […]
Prostate vs. Colon Cancer: Your Questions Answered
Prostate and colon cancers share several risk factors but are separate diseases. They involve different organs and present with distinct symptoms. Screening approaches and clinical recommendations for each also vary. Prostate cancer develops when malignant cells form in the prostate gland. This gland sits near the urethra in people assigned male at birth and helps […]
How to Tell the Difference Between Tonsil Cysts and Tonsil Cancer
Tonsillar cysts and tonsil cancer can produce overlapping symptoms. A clinician can distinguish between them using tests such as imaging and tissue sampling. Your tonsils are collections of lymphatic tissue located at the back of the throat. They play a role in defending your body from pathogens entering through the mouth. Cysts are benign, fluid-containing […]
Will Medicare Pay for Genetic Testing?
Medicare typically won’t cover genetic screening tests unless they directly influence treatment or result in a clear diagnosis, though exceptions exist for certain illnesses like cancer. A Medicare-authorized physician must document signs or symptoms of a condition—or an elevated risk of developing one—for genetic testing to be eligible for coverage, and the findings must be […]
Lymphoma Survival Rate by Age: How Old You Are Really Does Matter… Kinda
Numbers That Surprise Let’s kick things off with something strange but true: there’s a type of lymphoma—Primary Mediastinal B-cell Lymphoma—that pops up mostly in young adults, and for them, the 5-year survival rate is about 80%. That’s… impressive, right? Not something most people expect to hear with the word “cancer.” But there it is. From […]
Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Life Expectancy: What Do The Numbers Really Mean?
(img by OHSU) Kids, Surprises, and Tough Diagnoses Let’s paint a picture. Picture a kid—someone’s giggly kindergartener, or maybe your own curious little one—racing across a playground on a bright, ordinary afternoon. They fall, skin a knee, maybe cry for a minute…and then they hop right back up. Life’s supposed to be like that, right? […]
Is HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: A Death Sentence? The Real Talk You Deserve
Let’s Start With That Gut Drop Oh, you know the feeling. That jumpy heartbeat when you’re waiting in that weirdly silent exam room…the crinkle of the paper sheet beneath you…your brain cycling through what-ifs faster than an out-of-control washing machine. Then, the words: HER2-positive breast cancer. Your world tilts. You hear “aggressive.” You hear “spreads […]
Positive HER2 Breast Cancer Stories: Hope, Grit, and Real-Life Wins
Not What You Expect At first… I thought it was nothing. I mean, who really expects that scratchy feeling by your sternum, or a weird pain after a long walk, to be the start of a whole new chapter? If you’ve been there—or if you’re facing it now—I want you to know you’re not alone. […]
Basal Cell Carcinoma Stages Pictures: A Down-To-Earth Visual Guide
(img by MDPI) Those Sneaky Little Spots Did you know basal cell carcinoma (BBC for short) is the most common skin cancer in the world? I’ll be honest—before writing this, all I knew was “If it doesn’t look right, get it checked.” Turns out the real story is kind of wild: BCC can be an […]
Basal Cell Carcinoma Untreated for 2 Years: What Really Happens?
It’s Just a Spot, Right? Let’s get honest… who hasn’t ignored a strange little spot on their skin before? Maybe it’s red, maybe shiny, maybe it just won’t quit—so you think, “I’m busy… I’ll watch it.” We all do it. Life gets in the way, and that weird spot becomes background static. But behind that […]
