Pleural effusion is often referred to as “water on the lungs.” Not in the lungs, but on the lungs. This medical condition is where excess fluid builds up in the space between the layers of the pleura surrounding the lungs. The pleura is a thin membrane that lines the surface of your lungs and the… Continue reading Pleural Effusion: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Category: Cancer
Is Pancreatic Cancer Hereditary?
Health care is complex. The human body is complex! Certain conditions, like pancreatic cancer, are not only only difficult to understand in terms of how the disease progresses, but how it can be caused. Here, PatientsLikeMe looks to address one question patients have: is pancreatic cancer hereditary? Hereditary Diseases First of all, let’s address what… Continue reading Is Pancreatic Cancer Hereditary?
Dealing with Itchiness from Skin Cancer
Itchiness, or pruritus, is an irritating sensation that makes you want to scratch your skin. Everyone experiences itchiness from time to time. Bug bites, poison ivy, a reaction to the sun, there are a number of things that cause it! Persistent itching, however, can be particularly bothersome and may indicate an underlying health issue. Research… Continue reading Dealing with Itchiness from Skin Cancer
Symptoms of Breast Cancer and How to Manage Them
Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast tissue. It is the second most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States, following skin cancer. However, it is important to note that this cancer can also occur in men. Experts estimate there will be about 310,000 new diagnoses in women in 2024. Understanding… Continue reading Symptoms of Breast Cancer and How to Manage Them
A Dietician’s Guide to Fiber and Cancer
How Does Fiber Impact Your Cancer? Managing cancer can come with many challenges. Both diarrhea and constipation can be symptoms of cancer management and can occur after cancer treatment or from medications. These uncomfortable bowel-related symptoms can make you feel so much worse, but the good news is that there are a few solutions. Adding… Continue reading A Dietician’s Guide to Fiber and Cancer
Common Symptoms of Lung Cancer and How to Manage Them
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women in the United States. It is, unfortunately, by far the most deadly of all cancers. It accounts for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths in the US. Fortunately, the rates of new cases and deaths have been steadily decreasing since… Continue reading Common Symptoms of Lung Cancer and How to Manage Them
What is Prostate Cancer?
The second most common form of cancer in the US, the rates of prostate cancer have been steadily increasing since 2014. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 300,000 new cases in 2024. The prostate gland is only found in men, and 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed during their lifetime. Each… Continue reading What is Prostate Cancer?
The Causes and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer accounts for 3% of all cancer cases in the United States, affecting about 1 in 56 men and 1 in 60 women. The rate of new cases has been steadily rising for the past 30 years. It begins as a growth of cells in the pancreas. The pancreas sits behind the lower part… Continue reading The Causes and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
How to Know if You Have Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a condition where abnormal cells grow in the skin tissues. Normally, old skin cells die off, and new ones replace them. But when this process is disrupted, often by exposure to sunlight’s ultraviolet (UV) light, cells can grow rapidly, leading to cancer. These abnormal cells may be benign (noncancerous) or cancerous. If… Continue reading How to Know if You Have Skin Cancer
New EPA Rules Take Aim at “Cancer Alley”
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new rules aimed at protecting neighborhoods near over 200 manufacturing facilities releasing airborne toxins like ethylene oxide, chloroprene, benzene, vinyl chloride, 1,3 butadiene, and ethylene dichloride. Studies indicate that approximately 104,000 Americans live within 6 miles of these factories. They face a cancer risk above 1 in… Continue reading New EPA Rules Take Aim at “Cancer Alley”