In The News
MRI Safety in Breast Cancer Screening
The numbers are scary: The average woman has a 12 percent risk of developing breast cancer at some point in her life. For women with certain genetic mutations or risk factors, lifetime risk can climb to 85 percent. Even more terrifying than the numbers, however, are the rumors; rumors that the contrast dye used in … Read More
5 Things You May Not Know About Cancer Risk
There is still a lot we don’t know about cancer. A diagnosis or even the thought of a future diagnosis can be scary. And what about your cancer risk? Many patients ask me “If a close family member has cancer, does that mean I will too?” Through hereditary cancer assessments, we are now able to … Read More
Alex Trebek Reminds us to go Beyond Fear of Pancreatic Cancer
The news that beloved game show host Alex Trebek has advanced stage pancreatic cancer hit his millions of fans hard this week. His illness has elicited heartbreak and support. As a clinician who treats pancreatic cancer, I anticipated the reaction that would follow next. Fear. While it is a rare form of cancer, pancreatic cancer … Read More
8 Little Ways You Can Actually Help Someone Dealing With Cancer
A cancer diagnosis can be devastating, regardless of the outlook. The news can also be hard on friends and family, as they struggle to figure out what they can do to help a loved one after the diagnosis. Beth Pauvlinch, who wrote about caring for her mother who lived with cancer in her book Two … Read More
We Have a Shot at Preventing Cervical Cancer
Many people think eradicating cancer is unattainable. But for cervical cancer, we are well on our way to doing just that. Cervical cancer was once the leading cause of death in women in the U.S. But we are on the cusp of vanquishing this disease thanks to regular pap screening and a vaccine that protects … Read More
What It's Like To: Get Rid of Cancer Before You Have It
When Somaya Ishaq of Irvine was told she had a 95 percent chance of getting ovarian cancer, she decided to be proactive. This is her story: We had two girls in two years. My husband and I planned on four kids. But I had complications after the birth of No. 2 in 2015. A year … Read More
At Home Genetic Testing Can Confuse Heritage with Heredity
For $199 and a tube of saliva, I found out that I have straight hair and green eyes. Mirrors have been telling me this my whole life for free. But as a genetics counselor, I wanted to learn more about the recreational home genetics tests that have been captivating people. What I was left with … Read More
Connect at Hoag for Breast Cancer Awareness Event
Whoever said you can’t get anything worthwhile for free didn’t know about the upcoming Hoag event, “Demystifying the Breast Cancer Experience” at Hoag Hospital, which also happens to fall on the first week of October, otherwise known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized to raise … Read More
When Cancer Afflicts a Parent, Hospital Program Helps Explain it to Their Children
With a doctorate in statistics and a job as an economics analyst for a healthcare company, Toros Caglar possesses above-average intelligence. That’s why it made little sense when, a little more than a year ago, he started struggling to come up with simple words. The kind used in everyday conversation. Then his peripheral vision diminished. … Read More
Aretha Franklin: Let's Not Lose Another Legend to Pancreatic Cancer
While the world mourned the death of singing legend Aretha Franklin last month, I couldn’t help but wonder whether this tremendous loss could have been avoided. The Queen of Soul battled pancreatic cancer, a ruthless killer known for developing without symptoms until it is too advanced to treat. But the picture of pancreatic cancer is … Read More