Talk to Me! Are you sure you’re taking your medications exactly as the doctor ordered?  read more »

Everybody with type 1 diabetes must start using insulin from the moment they are diagnosed.  read more »

Complete surgical removal or radiation of the entire prostate are the “gold standards” for treatment of localized prostate cancer.  read more »

As restaurant and packaged-food portion sizes have grown, so too has the American waistline.  read more »

Colonoscopy is widely used to screen people for colon cancer and to monitor those who have had a polyp (pre-cancerous growth) or tumor removed. After inserting a thin, flexible viewing tube into the anus and carefully moving it up through the colon, a doctor examines the lining of the colon and rectum. If a polyp is found, it can be removed using a device at the tip of the scope. Although the procedure is only minimally invasive, it’s not without risk.

Looking at the numbers  read more »

About half of people with advanced cancer suffer moderate to severe pain. Doctors generally prescribe medications called opioids to try to help relieve this pain, and the most frequently used opioid is morphine. Although morphine works well in most cases, approximately 20% of people end up switching to another drug. This is either because they don’t get adequate relief or because morphine’s side effects cannot be tolerated.

Oxycodone comes into its own  read more »

?Peppermint is a familiar flavoring in a variety of foods and in such tasty products as gum and candy. In ancient Greece, peppermint oil was a common ailment remedy. And in our day, some studies suggest that it may indeed help reduce digestive symptoms.

What is it?  read more »

Infertility is one possible side effect of cancer treatment that younger people and their doctors may not take into consideration during their initial focus on battlinga cancer. But it is an important issue, and it’s becoming more so as both the chances of cure and the methods for preserving fertility grow. For those reasons, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has put together guidelines to raise awareness among both doctors and people with cancer of the options that may be available for preserving their fertility.

A frank discussion  read more »

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic (long-term) disease marked by inflammation and ulceration (erosion and pitting) in the wall of the large intestine, also called the colon. Although the disease may begin at any age, it usually affects people between the ages 15 and 30.

Causes and symptoms  read more »

Each treatment, diagnostic test, and new insight into the cause of arthritis is an outgrowth of hundreds of hours of research. As a result of this effort, many people with arthritis are able to lead active, productive lives. But challenges remain, and scientists continue to research the disease in hopes of conquering arthritis—or at least furthering our ability to slow its progress.

Early detection  read more »

Dyslipidemia refers to abnormal blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (lipids, or fats). It is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Many people don’t realize that this problem can start in early adulthood or even sooner. Because this heart disease is the leading cause of death among people with type 1 diabetes, researchers wanted to know: How aware are younger people of their cholesterol levels? And, is dyslipidemia being treated adequately?

A study investigates  read more »