B cells are an important part of the immune system. One of their jobs is to neutralize the threat from a foreign invader known as a pathogen. They do this by producing an antibody that binds with the antigen on the threatening entity.
When an antigen binds to a receptor on a B cell, the B-cell receptor signaling pathway is activated. Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is an enzyme that’s critical to the activation of the B-cell...
Redness or another change in the skin color of the breast, swelling on one side and/or a rash that appears quickly — sometimes literally overnight...
Overcoming cancer or completing treatment can make many survivors feel like they’re on top of the world. But there’s another very real, raw...
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), roughly 6 in every 10 adults live with some form of chronic illness. Many are severe enough that their sufferers require some type of assistance to manage their lives. That means thousands of spouses, parents, siblings, adult children and close friends are serving as someone’s caregiver each day.
But acting as a caregiver isn’t easy. Depending on how debilitating a loved one’s...
There are four main types of thyroid cells: follicular, papillary, medullary and Hurthle. While they’re all different, each of these cells...
What does it mean when your cancer has spread? Many patients given a cancer diagnosis of metastatic cancer or stage IV cancer do not know...
I’ve been in treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma for more than 30 years. Since I was first diagnosed in 1992, I’ve had radiation therapy, a...
The symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the symptoms of bladder cancer can be very similar. Both may involve pain while urinating...
You’ve probably heard that a colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening and prevention. But you may still have questions...
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. It’s responsible for the hormones that control your heart rate, blood...