Health Blog

Like all types of medical care, treatment for breast cancer comes with both benefits and risks. Earlier this year, a scientific statement published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation spurred media coverage of the link between some types of breast cancer treatment and an increased risk of developing heart failure and other types of... Read More

As the temperatures rise, you and your family will probably be spending a lot more time outdoors. Whether you’re at the beach or pool, working in the garden, or enjoying a leisurely walk around the neighborhood, there’s one thing you should always do before you step outside—take steps to protect your skin from the sun’s... Read More

Receiving a diagnosis of a serious illness can be overwhelming. Most people aren’t sure what to do next and simply follow their doctor’s treatment recommendations. But if your condition isn’t an emergency, like a heart attack or stroke, you may want to take some time to get a second opinion on your diagnosis and treatment... Read More

New, very expensive prescription drugs that treat a range of conditions from hepatitis C, leukemia, and cystic fibrosis to multiple sclerosis and rare inherited conditions like Wilson’s disease and hereditary angioedema have been one of the drivers of increasing health care costs in the U.S. These prescription drugs can cost from $54,000 to more than... Read More

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men, after skin cancer, with nearly 162,000 new cases of the disease projected to be diagnosed in 2017. Approximately one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, with about 6 in 10 cases being diagnosed in men age 66... Read More

Radiation is one of the three most commonly used treatments for cancer. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, about half of all cancer patients undergo radiation at some point during their treatment. One limit of radiation is that tumors are surrounded by normal, healthy tissues and organs that can be damaged by exposure... Read More

There are a number of different situations when you might want to get a second opinion on your diagnosis or treatment plan. It’s wise to consider getting a second opinion if you’re diagnosed with a serious, complex, or rare condition or if your doctor has recommended elective (non-emergency) surgery like joint replacement or a hysterectomy.... Read More

Two patients are prescribed the same medication. For one, the medication is extremely effective and does not cause serious side effects. But for the other patient, the medication is not effective at all or does cause significant side effects. For years, prescription medications were treated as essentially a one-size-fits-all solution, with drug choices and dosages... Read More

Being in the hospital can be stressful and confusing. It can be difficult to get the information you need from your doctors and healthcare team, ensure all members of the team are communicating to lower the risk of medical errors and inappropriate testing and care, and make medical decisions when you’re ill or injured and... Read More

If you’ve been diagnosed with a serious, complex, or rare condition or if your doctor has recommended elective (non-emergency) surgery, it’s a good idea to get a second opinion. There are several ways that a second opinion can help you make an informed medical decision: It can confirm that your original diagnosis and treatment plan... Read More