I have always enjoyed an active lifestyle, playing pickleball and taking long walks with my husband, Bill. But in April 2019, I started experiencing back pain and a loss of appetite for a couple of weeks. One night, the pain was so bad that Bill took me to our local hospital in Michigan. Doctors found a mass on my pancreas that turned out to be stage IV pancreatic cancer.
My family was in shock and scared when they heard the news...
Many cancer patients lose weight unexpectedly during radiation therapy because they struggle with side effects caused from treatment. Maintaining...
Becky Van Curen’s family had no history of cancer. So, when she was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2015, she was shocked and scared....
Radiation therapy is one of the most common forms of cancer treatment. It uses high-energy X-rays to pinpoint and destroy cancer cells. Radiation damages the cancer cells causing them to stop multiplying.
We asked radiation oncologist Valerie Reed, M.D., to explain some of the most common types of radiation therapy and how they are used. Here’s what she shared.
Some types of radiation therapies are used to treat cancers...
Ethan Ludmir, M.D., grew up watching Star Wars. But unlike other fans, his favorite character wasn’t Luke Skywalker or Han Solo. Instead,...
One of the most difficult aspects of treating lung cancer with radiation therapy is determining the best way to deliver it. Ideally, doctors...
When Fran Sargent’s doctor in Michigan said he’d need to remove her entire left lung to confirm she had cancer, her response was swift.
I started using cigarettes in the early 1970s, when I was just 16. I smoked a pack a day for more than 35 years. I didn’t quit until my granddaughter...
A decade ago, pancreatic cancer was treated with five to six weeks of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Patients often experienced side...
In the last five years, I’ve competed in 10 professional outrigger canoeing competitions across North and South America. I’ve also had stereotactic...