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Some Family Secrets Should Not Be Kept
Knowing your family health history is the best way to manage your own health. But, for various reasons, some parents keep health secrets despite their importance for the next generation. A favorable generational change has begun as millennials and Gen-Z members are more interested than previous generations in discussing health issues with their parents. [...]
Diabetes Can Increase Pancreatic Cancer Risk
Researchers have found that individuals with recent-onset diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes) accompanied by weight loss had a high risk for developing pancreatic cancer. Older age, previous healthy weight, and no intentional weight loss further elevate this risk. Currently more than 80% of pancreatic cancer patients have advanced, incurable disease, but identifying high risk groups [...]
Illumination of Navigator Experiences Reveal Key Elements of Optimal Navigation Services
The essay Cancer Patient Navigators for the Underserved: Illuminating the Voices of the Unsung Heroes gives voice to nonclinically licensed patient navigators who work with poor, minority, and medically underserved female cancer survivors. The case study perspective highlights experiences and suggests ways in which navigation can be better incorporated into the delivery of quality [...]
Identification of Breast Cancer Risk Before Diagnosis Improves Survivability
Recent studies have identified that patients who uncover genetic mutations such as BRCA 1/2 prior to their breast cancer diagnosis can reduce their risk and overall mortality. An article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that the lifetime risk of breast cancer for a BRCA mutation carrier is approximately 70%. However, most BRCA [...]
Genetic Referrals During Cancer Care
Appropriate genetic referrals during cancer care may reduce mortality and improve survival for relatives at risk. By providing timely referrals and appropriate genetic testing of the cancer patient, health care professionals can target screening and preventative treatments for at-risk family members. According to the Commission on Cancer (CoC), “Cancer risk assessment and genetic counseling [...]
Can My DNA be Protecting Me From COVID-19?
A network of geneticists has embarked on the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative to answer this question. Their goal is to learn why some relatively healthy people are having severe and life-threatening reactions to COVID-19 while others completely avoid its effects. Decoding DNA Are there differences in DNA code that allow the virus to enter [...]