Cancer

You probably know that mammograms are the gold standard for breast cancer detection, and that they save lives. But did you know that about 40% of breast lumps are detected by women during a breast self-exam? In addition to mammograms, breast self-awareness is an important part of breast health. What should you be looking for? … Read More

When Tricia Takasugi first discovered a lump in her breast, she knew she had to act quickly. A close friend, a breast cancer survivor who was treated at Hoag, urged her to seek care without delay. “She said, ‘You cannot wait two months or three months to see a doctor.’” Following that advice, Tricia called … Read More

Innovative treatment option provides hope for those otherwise unable to receive liver cancer treatment NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (October 14, 2024) – Hoag announced today a new technology using ultrasound energy to precisely destroy liver tumors in a single outpatient visit. HistoSonics Edison Histotripsy System is a precise, non-invasive cancer treatment option and the only FDA-approved … Read More

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (October 15, 2024) – As part of October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hoag joined the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA), a US nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness and promote more research for an understudied type of breast cancer, to declare October 15th “Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day.” Invasive … Read More

We have a choice about how to react to the heartaches of life. We can wallow in the dark places. Or we can, as Christine Lucas has, place the hummingbird feeder in the sunniest part of the garden, find a comfortable chair and enjoy the gift of being human. After losing two partners to cancer, … Read More

Fall 2023, Jennifer Drinkwater scheduled an appointment with the Hoag Breast Center to get a second opinion on her small, non-invasive breast cancer diagnosis. Upon further screening, board certified fellowship-trained breast surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Kraft, discovered Jennifer had been misdiagnosed. Jennifer was diagnosed with HER2-positive invasive breast cancer, which had spread to her lymph node. … Read More

In a groundbreaking study conducted at the Hoag Family Cancer Institute, researchers have unveiled promising advancements in breast cancer imaging that could significantly impact patient care around the world. Breast cancer, especially when it’s advanced or comes back, needs precise imaging to see how far it has spread. Usually, doctors use CT scans and FDG … Read More

In yet another pioneering study conducted at the Hoag Family Cancer Institute, researchers have achieved a significant advancement in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Utilizing a novel imaging technique and targeted therapy, this research opens new doors for patients battling advanced stages of this disease. The new study highlights the potential of SSTR2-targeted Dotatate … Read More

Some couples share a favorite movie. Others share a meaningful song. Monica Mita, M.D., and Alain Mita, M.D., share a guiding philosophy about what it means to take care of patients. The oncology power couple recently joined Hoag from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Monica Mita is the co-director of early phase development … Read More

What makes Orange County one of the most desirable places to live on Earth is also what makes the Hoag Melanoma & Skin Cancer Program so vital to our community: the sun. More than 1,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer in Orange County every year. That is a higher rate per capita than both … Read More