Sigmoidoscopy: Purpose, procedure and how it compares to a colonoscopy
An anoscopy examines the anus, and a colonoscopy examines the colon. So, what does a sigmoidoscopy examine? Hint: the answer is in the name.
A sigmoidoscopy – sometimes called a flexible sigmoidoscopy – is a procedure doctors use primarily to see inside the rectum and sigmoid colon.
You may be wondering what conditions a sigmoidoscopy can help diagnose and how a sigmoidoscopy differs from a colonoscopy. Here, I’ll answer...
The sandwich generation: Tips for juggling parenting and an aging parent’s cancer diagnosis
The term “sandwich generation” describes people who are raising their children while also caring for their aging parents.
Juggling...
What is dysplasia?
“Dysplasia” is the scientific term for “abnormal cells,” which don’t look the way they’re supposed to under a microscope. These abnormal cells...
Cancer recurrence: 4 questions to ask
You’ve finished your cancer treatment and shown no evidence of disease — for weeks, months or maybe even years. Then, a routine scan or bloodwork reveals something concerning. Your doctor thinks the cancer might have returned. So, what do you do now?
What happens when cancer recurs? We spoke with Wendy Woodward, M.D., Ph.D., a radiation oncologist who specializes in the treatment of inflammatory breast cancer. ...
Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD): What you need to know
Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a very rare form of skin cancer, affecting an estimated one in a million people in the U.S. It tends...
Tips for using AI to find cancer information
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way many of us find information online. Only a few years ago, a web search would pull up pages...
Anoscopy explained: Purpose, process and results
An anoscopy is a procedure that examines the lining of the anal canal to help diagnose anal conditions. Anoscopies can help doctors diagnose...
6 ways to cope with scanxiety
If medical tests like scans, biopsies or bloodwork cause you anxiety, you’re not alone. It’s common to...
Which blood tests show cancer?
PSA tests can detect elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood, which are sometimes a sign of prostate cancer. And complete...
PET scans: What are they and what to expect
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging exam that shows how your tissues and organs are working. PET scans can cause anxiety...