Medical information
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Why Dental Care Before and After Radiation Therapy Matters So Much
Radiation therapy to the head and neck affects the salivary glands and jawbone, raising the risk of tooth decay and bone necrosis. A dental check-up before treatment lets problem teeth be dealt with in advance; during treatment a soft toothbrush, fluoride and frequent sips of water help manage dry mouth; and after treatment, regular dental visits and sharing information with the medical team remain essential.
Immunotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: Who It Is For and What to Expect
From the principle that immunotherapy releases the brakes on immune cells rather than attacking the cancer directly, to who it is mainly used for in recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer, the meaning of PD-L1 testing, expected benefits and immune-related side effects, this article explains it all at a patient-friendly level.
Anemia and vitamin B12 after stomach surgery: why do they show up later?
When the stomach is removed, stomach acid and intrinsic factor decrease, lowering the absorption of iron and vitamin B12. Iron deficiency can appear relatively early after surgery, while B12 deficiency, because of stored reserves, can show up years later as anemia and neurological symptoms. The key is to supplement with food, iron pills, and B12 injections, and to track the trend with regular blood tests.
Colorectal cancer targeted therapy chosen by gene testing, summarized in one go
Colorectal cancer targeted therapy is a method of choosing drugs based on the results of the tumor's gene test. Characteristics such as the presence of RAS and BRAF mutations, MSI-High, and HER2 are checked to select the matching treatment — EGFR inhibitors, angiogenesis inhibitors, immunotherapy, and so on — and if you know the pattern of side effects in advance and prepare, you can receive treatment while maintaining daily life.
Can colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver still be removed? A look at resectability
Even when colorectal cancer has spread to the liver, surgery can remove it if conditions such as location and the volume of remaining liver are right. Even if resection is not possible at first, conversion therapy that shrinks the tumor with chemotherapy, methods that grow the opposite side of the liver, and radiofrequency ablation or embolization can open the door to surgery. It is worth reconfirming resectability through a multidisciplinary team.
When Five Years of Anti-Hormone Therapy Feels Long: Side Effects and Tips for Getting Through
For hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, the long stretch of five to ten years of anti-hormone therapy is a burden. This calmly lays out the side effects of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors (hot flashes, joint pain, osteoporosis, blood clots, and more), ways to ease them in daily life, how to adjust medication with your doctor rather than stopping on your own, and tips for protecting your peace of mind.
If You Still Hope for a Child: What You Must Ask Before Starting Breast Cancer Treatment
This covers fertility preservation that young breast cancer patients should consider before treatment. It calmly lays out how chemotherapy affects the ovaries, methods such as egg, embryo, and ovarian tissue freezing, the realities of schedule and cost, and the importance of asking your medical team first before treatment begins.
HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: What Makes Targeted Therapy Different
HER2 is a protein that acts like a switch making cancer cells grow; when there is too much of it, it is HER2-positive breast cancer. Unlike ordinary chemotherapy that attacks indiscriminately, targeted therapy blocks only the HER2 signal, tends to have fewer side effects, and is usually used together with chemotherapy. Drugs such as trastuzumab have advanced, but heart function must be checked periodically.
If You Carry a BRCA Mutation: When You Are Weighing Preventive Surgery
A BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation raises the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, leading many to consider preventive removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Surgery greatly lowers the risk but cannot bring it to zero, and it carries the burden of early menopause. It is best to decide together with genetic counseling, weighing your age, childbearing plans, family history, and the stress of screening.
When Lung Cancer Spreads to the Brain: The Treatments You Can Choose Now
Because of how blood flows, lung cancer readily spreads to the brain, and it is nothing to blame yourself for. Depending on the number, location, and size of the metastases and the patient condition, treatment may go toward stereotactic radiosurgery, whole-brain radiation therapy, surgery, or drugs such as EGFR and ALK targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Because genetic testing reveals the nature of the tumor and widens the options, it is best to ask your doctor directly whether targeted or immune therapy is possible for you.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Lung Cancer: Another Path When Surgery Is Not an Option
SBRT (stereotactic body radiation therapy) delivers a high dose of radiation precisely to a lung tumor in just 3 to 8 sessions. For early-stage lung cancer patients who cannot undergo surgery, it offers an outpatient alternative with quick recovery, though it carries risks such as radiation pneumonitis and requires careful follow-up. The decision depends on tumor size, location, and lung function, and should be made together with your doctor.
Removed Without Cutting the Abdomen — Early Gastric Cancer and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD)
When gastric cancer is still confined shallowly to the mucosa, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can remove it without opening the abdomen, preserving the stomach and allowing a fast return to daily life. The removed tissue is examined under a microscope to decide whether further surgery is needed, and complications such as bleeding and perforation, along with follow-up endoscopy, must be managed. Ultimately, early detection is the key, so regular gastroscopy matters.