What are the risks?

Infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer. HPV is very common and usually clears up by itself. However, if the infection doesn’t go away and becomes chronic. A chronic infection, especially when caused by certain high-risk HPV types, can eventually cause cancer such as cervical cancer.

The American Cancer Society also cites sexual history, smoking, a weakened immune system, multiple pregnancies, a diet low in fruits and vegetables and more can also raise the risk of cervical cancer.

Can cervical cancer be prevented?

The two most important things you can do to prevent cervical cancer are to get the HPV vaccine if you are eligible, and to be screened regularly.

Screening is having tests to find conditions that may lead to cancers and can find pre-cancers before they can turn into invasive cancer. The Pap test (or Pap smear) and the human papillomavirus (HPV) test are specific tests used during screening for cervical cancer. These tests are done the same way. A health professional uses a special tool to gently scrape or brush the cervix to remove cells for testing. If a pre-cancer is found it can be treated, hopefully keeping it from turning into cancer.

When to see a doctor

Contact your doctor if you are experiencing increased vaginal discharge and irregular bleeding as these could be signs of cervical cancer. 

To speak with a UCR Health physician, please visit http://www.ucrhealth.org/womens-health-lp/ or give us a call at 1-844-827-8000.

About UCR Health

UCR Health is comprised of a team of physicians, specialists, and healthcare professionals dedicated to improving people’s health. With five medical offices located throughout the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, UCR Health is growing to meet the healthcare needs of the region, bringing innovative, culturally sensitive medical care to the community. Established alongside the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, UCR Health’s patient-centered primary care and specialty services deliver university-based healthcare excellence and innovation to all communities.

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Thyroid cancer is often diagnosed at a younger age than other adult cancers with the average age of diagnosis being 51.

This cancer is about 3 times more common in women than in men, and nearly 70% more common in Caucasian people than in people of color. In fact, African Americans have the lowest rate.

What is thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer starts in the thyroid gland, the gland that makes hormones to help regulate your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

People can develop thyroid nodules at any age, but they occur most commonly in older adults. Fewer than 1 in 10 adults have thyroid nodules that can be felt by a doctor. 

The main types of thyroid cancer are:

• Differentiated (including papillary, follicular, and Hürthle cell)
• Medullary
• Anaplastic (an aggressive cancer)

What are the signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer can cause any of the following signs or symptoms:

• A lump in the neck, sometimes growing quickly
• Swelling in the neck
• Pain in the front of the neck, sometimes going up to the ears
• Hoarseness or other voice changes that do not go away
• Trouble swallowing
• Trouble breathing
• A constant cough that is not due to a cold

Find answers at UCR Health

If you have any of these signs or symptoms, talk to your doctor right away. Many can also be caused by non-cancerous conditions or even other cancers of the neck area. Lumps in the thyroid are common and are usually benign. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor so the cause can be found and treated early.

To speak with a UCR Health physician, please visit https://www.ucrhealth.org/make-an-appointment/ or give us a call at 1-844-827-8000.

About UCR Health

UCR Health is comprised of a team of physicians, specialists, and healthcare professionals dedicated to improving people’s health. With five medical offices located throughout the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, UCR Health is growing to meet the healthcare needs of the region, bringing innovative, culturally sensitive medical care to the community. Established alongside the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, UCR Health’s patient-centered primary care and specialty services deliver university-based healthcare excellence and innovation to all communities.

The post Thyroid Cancer: Know the Facts appeared first on UCR Health.

Breast cancer is cancer that begins within the breast. It can be in either one or both breasts. Despite the common myth, breast cancer isn’t only in middle-aged and older women, it can occur in women of all ages and men too! Although men account for less than 1% of breast cancer, one should still visit their physician for any changes they may notice. You may be able to recognize symptoms of breast cancer, while sometimes it may not be noticeable. 

To speak with a physician, please visit https://www.ucrhealth.org/make-an-appointment/

The post National Breast Cancer Awareness Month appeared first on UCR Health.

What is Cervical Cancer?  

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. One of the causes of cervical cancer is human papillomavirus (HPV), which is commonly spread through sex.  

What Can You Do? 

Get educated. Take the time to learn about cervical cancer risk and prevention. Educate yourself and those around you to help spread awareness.  

Get vaccinated. Human papillomavirus vaccines can help prevent infection from HPV that may potentially lead to cervical cancer.  

Get screened. A Pap test looks for cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer. An HPV test finds the virus that can cause these cell changes and helps healthcare providers know who is at risk for developing cancer. If you are a woman over 30 years old, ask your healthcare provider on how you can get tested. 

Click here to make an appointment! 

Dr. Nandini Gowda 

Dr. Jin Kim  

Dr. Asma Jafri  

Dr. Marc Debay 

Dr. Zana Shirwan  

Dr. Brian Petrie 

Dr. Deanah Jibril 

The post January is Cervical Health Awareness Month appeared first on UCR Health.

Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Screenings

Colorectal Cancer, also known as colon cancer, is cancer of the rectum or colon located in the lower part of the body’s digestive system. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women in the United States and is expected to cause more than 50,000 deaths during 2018. The good news is that if health professionals, communities and families work together, we can reduce the number of deaths by simply ensuring patients are educated about the risk factors, signs and symptoms, and receive appropriate screenings.

Reducing your colon cancer risk

While there are many colorectal cancer risk factors that we cannot control (such as age and family history), there are several ways to be proactive to protect your colon health. The following changes in lifestyle habits can not only reduce your risk of many types of cancer, but they also reduce your risk for serious diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Here are 6 ways to protect your colon health:

1. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains
2. Get regular exercise
3. Maintain a healthy weight
4. Don’t smoke
5. Limit alcohol
6. Get screened for colon cancer

Signs and symptoms of colon cancer

While many of the symptoms of colorectal cancer can be linked to something unrelated to cancer, it is important to see a healthcare professional if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms below:

• A change in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, narrowing of the stool) lasting more than a few days
• Rectal bleeding
• Dark stools, or blood in the stool
• Unintended weight loss
• Stomach pain or cramping that doesn’t go away

According to the American Cancer Society, when colorectal cancer does turn out to be the cause, symptoms often appear only after the cancer has grown or spread. That is why regular screening for early detection is highly recommended.

Colorectal cancer screening options

Because early stages of colorectal cancer present with no symptoms, it is important to get screened on a regular basis. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, adults at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should be screened beginning at age 50 and continue until the age of 75 using one of the screening tests below:

Tests that find polyps and cancer

• Colonoscopy every 10 years if normal or 10 years before the youngest case in a first-degree relative - most sensitive test
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years *
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years *
• Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years *

Tests that mainly find cancer

• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year *,†
• Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) every year *,†
• Stool DNA test every 3 years *

*Colonoscopy should be done if test results are positive.

† Highly sensitive versions of these tests should be used with the take-home multiple sample method. A gFOBT of FIT done during a digital rectal exam in the doctor’s office is not enough for screening.

For more information about lowering your risk, signs and symptoms, and screening options, visit www.cancer.org. Individuals with a family history of cancer or those with other risk factors should talk with their doctor about screening options and frequency.

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Is a screening mammogram right for you?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and an opportune time to discuss breast cancer screening, including the mammogram.

When should I start breast cancer screening? How often should I have breast cancer screening performed? Why did my friend’s doctor order a 3-D mammogram? 

These are a few very important questions that all women, and even some men, have to face when trying to stay on top of breast cancer screening. Just as we are individuals, there’s no one right answer for everyone. Screening for breast cancer should be a conversation and joint decision between you and your physician. What may be right for you may not be right for your best friend, your mother, sister, or daughter. 

What is a screening mammogram?

A screening mammogram is an X-ray of the breast, and the test that is ordered for most patients to screen for breast cancer. A mammogram can often find or detect breast cancer early, even before a lump can be felt. 

Screening mammograms are usually recommended every 1 to 2 years, beginning by age 50. However, some patients – together with their physicians – may decide to start at age 40. Although testing at an earlier age and more frequently may detect more cancers, it also detects more false-positive results. This can lead to further testing (call-backs) or procedures such as biopsies that may cause anxiety and discomfort for benign (or non-cancerous) findings. Screening after the age of 75 should be discussed further and balanced with an overall health assessment.

Your physician can use risk assessment tools to combine risk factors from your history to calculate your risk of developing breast cancer. This involves diving into your personal medical and family history thoroughly to include information such as the age you started your period, if you have ever been pregnant, your age when you had your first delivery, if you breastfed, if you’ve had family members with breast cancer, and much more. If you are at a higher than average risk of breast cancer, then your doctor may refer you to have genetic counseling, additional testing, more frequent testing or a different type of testing, such as 3-D mammography, instead of a screening mammogram. 

Although screening mammograms are overall safe, mammography exposes patients to a small amount of radiation. It is important to balance the appropriate benefit of detecting cancer with possible harm, and this discussion with your doctor should be an integral part of your individualized plan for screening. 

What about breast self-exams?

While breast self-exams have not been found to lower the risk of death from breast cancer, you should be aware of your own breast tissue, and contact your physician if you notice any changes such as lumps or pain.  

Screening tests to detect breast cancer have improved, and so has the treatment and overall prognosis for breast cancer. Fifty years ago, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer was 75%, compared with the dramatic improvement of 90% as of 2013. Patients should have shared decision-making and agree on the best breast cancer screening plan for them, working with their physician to combine the relevant medical information and data with their own experiences, concerns and priorities. 

Breast cancer screening will not prevent breast cancer, but it can help find breast cancer early when it is easier to treat. Talk to your physician about which, if any, breast cancer screening tests are right for you.

Bich Tran, MD, UCR Women's Health OB/Gyn.

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