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When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the focus is usually on finding the most successful treatment options. But there’s more to dealing with cancer than medical therapies and procedures. Cancer may affect a person emotionally, socially, and financially, too. That’s when oncology social workers can help. Oncology social workers are skilled professionals who provide emotional, psychological, social, and practical support for cancer patients. They help patients navigate different resources and unpack useful information....

Last week, President Joe Biden commemorated World AIDS Day by announcing his administration’s commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus) epidemic. The disease has claimed the lives of more than 36 million people globally and 700,000 people in the United States. Key Takeaways Last week, President Biden announced a plan to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.The plan involves distributing funds to programs that increase access to HIV medical care and medication and create housing stability for low-income people with HIV....

Did you know that taking some herbal supplements in the month before or after having surgery can be dangerous? In fact, these nutritional supplements can be as dangerous as taking aspirin or Advil (ibuprofen) before surgery. Most people know they should tell their healthcare providers about any prescription or over-the-counter drugs they are taking, especially when they are planning to have surgery. But not everyone stops to think about the possible risks their herbal supplements could pose to the success and safety of their surgery....

Seizures are complicated, so describing all the potential ways they might look is a very difficult task. Keep in mind that any person who is suddenly unconscious for no apparent reason with no medical history to explain it warrants a call to 911. Seizure treatment consists of mostly supportive care and calling for help if necessary. In patients with a chronic history of seizures, having a single seizure does not always warrant a trip to the hospital....

If you have an upper respiratory tract infection—also known as the common cold—researchers have found that honey might be more effective at relieving your symptoms than traditional treatments. Key Takeaways Upper respiratory tract infections come with symptoms like cough and congestion.Traditional treatments, including antibiotics and over-the-counter medications, have not been shown to be as effective as honey for relieving cold symptoms.Honey might not be able to prevent a cold, but it’s a safe alternative remedy for most people who have cold symptoms....

Determining the cause of knee pain relies on a proper examination of the knee joint. Learn about how your healthcare provider can examine your knee to determine the source of your knee pain, and what tests can be performed to make the diagnosis. Knee Swelling Many people know if their knee is swollen—they can see or feel the swelling without any difficulty. However, not everyone knows there is excess fluid in the knee joint....

U.S. death rates from cancer continued to steadily decline from 2014 to 2018, according to a recent report. Key Takeaways U.S. death rates from cancer are declining overall.However, death rates have slowed or leveled off for colorectal cancer, breast, and prostate cancers.Experts say lack of screening and advancement in treatments may have lead to this decline. The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer found that there was a drop in death rates for 11 of the 19 most common cancers in men, and for 14 of the 20 most common cancers in women....

Cancer treatments and prognoses, or likely outcomes, depend in part on the stage of your disease. Generally, staging is a system of categorizing an individual’s disease into groups, or stages, which depend on how far the disease has spread and how much of the cancerous disease is already established in the body at the time of diagnosis and treatment planning. According to the American Cancer Society, healthcare providers may choose from a number of different methods to take a sample of the involved tissue, or a biopsy, for testing and microscopic analysis....

Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology. Localized How to say it: Localized (low-cul-eyesed) What it means: Affecting just one part of the body. Where it comes from: Latin, locus, “a place or spot” Where you might see or hear it: If you get a rash on your hand, your healthcare provider might write in your medical notes that it is “localized” to just that part of your body....

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a condition caused by the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (fluid typically found in the spinal cord and brain) primarily in the brain’s ventricles. Hydrocephalus, in fact, means “water on the brain.” The fluid buildup occurs when there is a block in the flow or absorption of the cerebrospinal fluid. Often, despite the fluid buildup, there is little or no increase in the pressure inside the skull, thus the name “normal” pressure hydrocephalus....

For many people, snoring or sleep apnea may be worse when you lie on your back. To correct this situation, there are devices available that can help to keep you positioned on your side during sleep. One such option is the Zzoma Positional Therapy. What is the Zzoma positional therapy device and how might the prescription belt help you to sleep better by resolving snoring and sleep apnea? What Is Zzoma Positional Therapy?...

It’s common to hear and read about all sorts of migraine triggers. Cluster headaches, too, may have triggers or associations—although scientific research is very limited. Similar to migraines, triggers of cluster headaches are individualized and pinpointing your precise ones can be challenging. And sometimes, triggers or associations are simply out of your control—for instance, you cannot change your DNA. Let’s review examples of cluster headache triggers and what you can do to avoid them (if possible)....

The question of when you can have sex after surgery is a common one. But it’s one many people are embarrassed to ask their surgeon. Unfortunately, the answer is not straightforward. It depends on your overall health, your post-surgical healing progress, and the type of surgery you are having. This article will discuss when it’s safe to return to sexual activity after you have surgery. It will also mention questions you should ask your healthcare provider to make sure you can safely have sex following a surgical procedure....

The triangular fibrocartilage complex, or TFCC, is the cartilage and ligaments that inside the wrist joint, on the ulnar side of the wrist (the side with the small finger). Injuries to the TFCC can cause wrist pain and clicking sensations. Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex or TFCC The TFCC is a complex structure, as its name implies. However, it’s no surprise given the complicated movements that take place at the wrist joint. Unlike some joints that have simpler motion in just one plane, the wrist moves in three distinct planes, all at the same time....

Synovitis is inflammation of the synovium, which is the lining of a joint. Symptoms associated with synovitis include joint pain, joint swelling, redness, and warmth. In the absence of inflammatory disease, synovitis is usually caused by overuse of a joint. Synovitis is also a feature of various types of inflammatory arthritis. With inflammatory arthritis, signs of synovitis are usually detectable during a physical examination. Subclinical Synovitis Subclinical synovitis is inflammation of the lining of the joint that is not detectable with a physical examination....

President Joe Biden announced last week that he will help districts that have been forbidden from enacting mask mandates in school. Governors in several states, including Arizona, Florida, and Texas, have passed legislation banning schools from putting mask requirements in place. Key Takeaways President Joe Biden says he will help school districts that want to enforce mask mandates in states where they have been banned.The Biden administration will help provide funds to compensate for penalties instituted by states for refusing to follow mask mandate bans....

Blackhead removal involves squeezing the skin with your fingers or a tool to extract material that is clogging a pore. This can clean out the skin, but it can also cause damage if not done correctly. You can have blackhead extractions safely done during a professional facial treatment or you can do it yourself. The keys are using sterile tools and following the proper steps to protect your skin. This article discusses the blackhead removal process, how extractions are done at a day spa, and the right way to do them at home....

There are significant differences among brain tumors, especially with regards to where they originate. The origin of a brain tumor is important because this will likely affect a person’s cancer outcome and the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor. Differentiating Between “Primary” and “Metastatic” Brain Tumors The terms primary and metastatic describe where the tumor has originated, and brain tumors are generally classified as one or the other. Primary brain tumors arise from the brain or spinal cord while metastatic brain tumors, also termed secondary brain tumors, arise from other tissue and have spread to the brain....

Chondrocalcinosis, also known as calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease, is a condition in which calcium pyrophosphate crystals build up in the joints. The deposits cause irritation that lead to inflammation and cartilage damage. The symptoms can be similar to gout and other types of arthritis. According to the Arthritis Foundation, almost half of people 85 and older have chondrocalcinosis. CPPD Symptoms Not everyone who develops calcium crystals in their joints will experience symptoms....

Reactions to medication are extremely common, with 15% of hospitalized patients experiencing an unintended reaction as a result of medication, and 25% of patients evaluated in outpatient clinics reporting an adverse reaction to at least one medication. However, true allergic reactions to medications only account for about 5 to 10% of all adverse drug reactions. People can experience allergic reactions to just about any medication. Most adverse drug reactions are common and predictable, while others may be erratic or may only affect those who have a predisposition to them....