The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meets at the beginning of June each year in Chicago. It is the world’s largest oncology organization where researchers from around the world present their research findings. Here are the results of two studies presented during the first couple of days of the conference. Chemotherapy Side Effects and...
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The mitochondria in cells produce energy. In the process they form reactive oxygen species. Reactive oxygen species, also called free radicals or oxygen radicals are used in many metabolic processes that are essential to life. For example, they are are part of enzyme reactions in the body. White blood cells, like neutrophils produce reactive oxygen...
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“I just don’t think about my diabetes. It’s too complicated and I’m too busy.” “I’ve given up on carb counting and just eat whatever.” “If my blood sugar is out of range, I just don’t care.” “Family and friends don’t support me. ” “I feel hopeless.” If these...
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A Basic Metabolic Panel is one of the most common tests that your provider can order. It is used to learn about your kidney function as well as calcium levels and glucose levels. You need to fast 8 to 12 hours before this test. What’s measured in a Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)? Creatinine: Creatinine is a waste product that is filtered out of your...
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Before becoming a heart recipient, Stephanie Zimmerman, RN, MSN was a nurse practitioner caring for pediatric cancer patients. This year, Stephanie** underwent biopsies of her donated heart to find out if it has been damaged by her immune system. Then during this terrible flu season, she spent over a month with a severe case of pneumonia. Susceptibility...
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You have probably had a Complete Blood Count or CBC test done before. It is a blood test that is commonly requested at regular check-ups to give your physician an idea of your general health. The test takes six measurements. Red blood cells (RBC): Your red blood cells carry oxygen to cells and remove carbon dioxide from cells. White blood cells (WBC):...
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The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference held in Las Vegas in March is an enormous yearly event filled with marketers, vendors, health IT professionals, executives in healthcare and clinicians. At last month’s conference, an unlikely pair took the stage: mother and daughter, Kristina and Kate Sheridan, spoke about...
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In a continuation of posts on the endocrine system, we introduce four tiny glands (the size of a grain of rice) that perform a huge job. The parathyroid glands are in charge of keeping the calcium levels in your body in balance. Parathyroid Glands Location For most people, the parathyroid glands are located behind the thyroid gland (See: What does the...
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Dr. Kelly Shanahan is a doer. As she wrote about her treatment for early stage breast cancer, “Even the four months of i.v. chemo needed because of one positive lymph node didn’t slow me down: I scheduled chemo for Thursdays, did surgery…on Fridays, threw up on Saturdays, ached from Neulasta® on Sundays, and was back in the office on...
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In From Physician to Patient, I introduced Dr. Kelly Shanahan, a mother, wife, and obstetrician-gynecologist living and working in California. Her life changed with a breast cancer diagnosis. “In 2008, I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, stage IIB to be exact. I underwent an aggressive bilateral mastectomy, because 1) as an ob/gyn...
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Dr. Kelly Shanahan attended the University of Virginia Medical School, graduating in 1987. Her residency at Temple University in obstetrics and gynecology ending as a chief resident in 1991. After practicing for a short time in Pennsylvania, she moved to California spring of 1994 “seeking a more ‘laid back life.'” She set up a private...
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“My son’s deafness was “cured” by early cochlear implants but there is as yet no known treatment for the loss of peripheral vision, nor any way to predict the rate of progression. Literally, the only approved intervention is learn to use braille and a white cane – a folding stick with no light, no tech, no audio, no google maps...
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