Advancing Your Health

We’re excited to introduce a new interactive initiative that was launched in partnership between Emory Healthcare and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. This platform, called “Whiteboard,” opens up a new way for people to do their own kind of research about cancer. Readers can scroll through a variety of questions on different cancer topics, read and like these questions, or submit their own. Newly submitted questions will be reviewed by our Winship team, including our physicians, investigators, nurses and other support and care team members. Depending on the type of question, we are able to respond quickly (within a business day or two). More complex or specific questions may require further research and collaboration on our part and therefore may take us longer to answer. The Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University is Georgia’s only National Cancer [...]

Michael Douglas recently brought HPV16-Related Throat Cancer into the forefront of many people’s minds this week when he commented that oral sex is a cause of throat cancer and the possible cause of his own throat cancer. HPV, known to cause cervical cancer for many years, recently was also linked to a common head and neck cancer. HPV16 - related throat cancer typically affects otherwise healthy men between the ages of 50 and 60 who are non-smokers and non-drinkers.  The  symptoms are very unlike traditional oral cancers.  It first appears as a mass in the neck with no other symptoms. Winship Cancer Institute Head and Neck Surgeon, Amy Chen, MD stated in an article in Prevention that “HPV16 has been found to be associated with one type of oral cancer at the base of the tongue and the tonsil, otherwise known as the pharynx.    Unfortunately at this time there are [...]

Thank you for joining us for the live online chat on the topic of Skin Cancer and Melanoma on May 28. We had excellent questions on skin cancer and melanoma. The key takeaway from the chat is that prevention is the best medicine for skin cancer and melanoma. Once you are burned the damage is already done to your skin.  So remember to wear your sunscreen (SPF of 30 or greater), wear hats and protective clothing and avoid the sun in the heat of the day (10am – 2pm). Take action now to avoid detrimental long term effects from the sun.You can read a full transcript of the Skin Cancer and Melanoma chat here. [...]

Debbie Church

Debbie Church is Coordinator of the Cancer Survivors’ Network and Patient Navigator at Saint Joseph’s Hospital and a 5-year breast cancer survivor. Debbie has shared her story through the journey of survivorship below. We’re lucky to have Debbie and Saint Joseph’s Hospital as part of the Emory Healthcare family and we thank her for sharing her story. We hope our readers and community members are as inspired by her story as we are!

"Dick and I fell in love over 32 years ago and have never quite gotten over it! We have had some interesting moments, but we have made it through each challenge. Love always finds a way. Unexpectedly, our lives changed in an instant when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2008. We knew life would never be the same. Life is like that box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get."

Martin Sanda, MD, a member of the Winship Cancer Institute, chairman of the Emory Department of Urology and internationally recognized prostate cancer scientist, recently delivered big news about better prostate cancer diagnosis, at the American Urological Association’s 2013 Annual Meeting.

As corresponding and presenting author of the abstract "Prostate Health Index (phi) for Reducing Overdetection of Indolent Prostate Cancer and Unnecessary Biopsy While Improving Detection of Aggressive Cancers," Sanda presented findings that represent a significant step towards better detection and diagnosing of fast-growing prostate cancers, and fewer unnecessary biopsies of indolent cancers.

The Prostate Health Index (phi), a blood test used to evaluate the probability of prostate cancer diagnosis, outperformed commonly used prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and free/total

Emory geneticist explains how to determine if genetic testing for the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer genes – BRCA1 and BRCA2 -- is right for you. In the wake of Angelina Jolie’s disclosure that she had a preventive double mastectomy after discovering she has the BRCA1 gene mutation, many women are asking if they should get genetic testing for BRCA.  As a genetic counselor and educator, I’m glad that Jolie is bringing attention to this issue.  However only a small percentage of women have a BRCA1 or 2 mutation, so genetic testing is not right for everyone.  Of all breast cancers, only about 5% are due to a BRCA1 or 2 mutation, while about 15% of ovarian cancers are related to mutations in one of these genes. Family history is the key to knowing if a woman would benefit from seeing a cancer genetic counselor. Family history features which suggest you should [...]

Have you performed your monthly mole check? If not, take time today to do it and put it on your calendar for this day every month! Checking your moles monthly can help you from developing malignant melanoma. The earlier you find suspicious moles or lesions, the better your chances of being cured. Some helpful tips to examine your moles:

• Examine your skin after a shower, in good light, in front of a mirror without your clothes on.
• Make sure to do a thorough, full body inspection. Start with your toes or your face and work your way over every surface of your body. Be sure to also check your scalp, underarms and genitals, parts that could be covered with hair.
• Look for moles or skin markings that you haven’t noticed before, or areas that have changed in appearance since your last exam. Pay special attention to lesions that bleed or don’t heal.
• Photos taken over a

A new era in cancer treatment in Georgia recently began as Emory Healthcare and Winship Cancer Institute broke ground on the first facility in Georgia to offer the most advanced radiation therapy possible – proton beam therapy. Proton therapy is the next generation of radiation oncology. It uses protons to precisely treat cancerous tumors and minimize radiation to the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. For certain cancers, and for pediatric cancer patients, it may provide more effective treatment with fewer side effects. This innovative therapy is offered at fewer than a dozen centers in the United States but is available in other countries and more than 110,000 people worldwide have received this FDA-approved therapy.  The Emory facility is being built in partnership with Advanced Particle Therapy, LLC of San Diego, CA. Proton therapy may be most beneficial for [...]

If not caught early, melanoma is the deadliest of all skin cancers. One-in-fifty Americans has a lifetime risk of developing melanoma. It develops from changes to the DNA of skin cells, which can happen when skin is over-exposured to ultraviolet light from the sun or from extended tanning bed use. Also, certain viruses can cause DNA changes that lead to skin cancer. To prepare yourself and your family for the summer and protect yourself from any form of skin cancer, join Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University physician, Keith Delman, MD, Wednesday, May 29th for an online web chat at 12 noon. Dr. Delman will be able to answer questions such as:

• How to prevent melanoma and skin cancer
• What causes skin cancer and melanoma
• Signs of melanoma and skin cancer
• Treatment options for melanoma and skin cancer
• The latest research on the horizon

By the year 2022, there will be 18 million cancer survivors living in the United States, according to a recent report by the American Association for Cancer Research. The report points out that as survival rates increase and cancer survivors become an ever-growing portion of the population, a coordinated effort will become crucial to meeting long-term medical, psychosocial and practical needs. When news of the boost in survivor numbers made headlines, CNN Newsroom anchor Brooke Baldwin brought Emory surgical oncologist Charles Staley, MD on set to interview him as both a cancer doctor, and a cancer survivor. Watch the full interview below: As more people are living longer after a cancer diagnosis it is very important to educate survivors on the after effects, long term effects, nutrition, and fitness following cancer care. Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University has [...]