Advancing Your Health

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 [...]

According to the American Cancer Society, there are over 13.5 million survivors of cancer in the US today (a cancer survivor is defined as anyone from the moment of diagnosis throughout the balance of his or her life). This number is expected to significantly increase over the next 20 years due to improved early detection, improved treatment options, aging baby boomers and longer life expectancies. With longer life expectancies, cancer survivors can experience a higher burden of illness than others not diagnosed with cancer. Few experiences in life match the feeling patients and family members have when they complete acute treatment for cancer and begin their road to survivorship. Some patients move on quickly and experience no further challenges associated with cancer, but others experience “after effects,” or long-term or late effects. Cancer survivors, and their families, [...]

Neuroendocrine tumors develop in the cells of the neuroendocrine system, a network of glands throughout the body that produce hormones. Neuroendocrine tumors are rare, typically affecting 1 – 2 people per 100,000 people. The different types of neuroendocrine tumors depend on the particular cells that are affected.  They usually develop in the digestive system and the lungs.  Approximately 38% of tumors are in the appendix, 23% in the ileum (also known as carcinoids), 13% in the rectum and 11.5% in the bronchi. Symptoms of Neuroendocrine tumors Neuroendocrine tumors may be slow growing (low grade or well differentiated) or rapidly growing (high grade or poorly differentiated).  They may be functional (release hormones) or nonfunctional.  When functional neuroendocrine tumors release a variety of hormones including a hormone called serotonin, a condition called [...]

Dr. Fadlo R. Khuri, surrounded by colleagues at Winship Cancer Institute, including institute executive director Dr. Walter J. Curran Jr., who stands to Khuri's immediate right.

Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University deputy director, Fadlo R. Khuri, MD, one of the world’s leading experts in lung and other aerodigestive cancers, will be awarded the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Memorial Award from the American Association for Cancer Research. The Rosenthal Award is given each year to an investigator under the age of 50 whose contributions to cancer research have led to new understandings of cancer and show promise for even greater advances in the future.

The award recognizes Dr. Khuri’s outstanding contributions and accomplishments as an investigator in lung and aerodigestive medical oncology, especially in the area of prevention and treatment of lung and head and neck

Thank you to everyone who participated in the colon cancer live chat with me on March12. We had some excellent questions on the topics of colon cancer prevention, risk factors, treatment options and new research on the horizon.  As mentioned in the chat, early detection is key to beating colon cancer, so it is important that all people over the age of 50 receive regular screenings. If there is family history of the disease, screening should start at an earlier age.  In many cases, cancer can actually be prevented by screening;  non-cancerous polyps detected during screening can be removed during the procedure.  Also, screening detects early-stage cancer and can prevent its spread. When cancer confined to the colon or rectum (local stage) is discovered, the odds of long- term survival are high. March is national colorectal cancer awareness month.  Take control of your [...]

Although many women who have survived breast cancer are worried about the chance of recurrence, recent research suggests that risk of a heart problem is greater or equal to the risk of breast cancer reoccurring. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments for breast cancer can often be toxic to the heart muscle as well as to other organs. Chemotherapy side effects may increase the risk of heart disease, including weakening of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy). A significant proportion of women with breast cancer have one or more risk factors for heart disease at the time of breast cancer diagnosis that further increase the risk of cardiotoxicity, including smoking, obesity, lack of activity and high cholesterol. Additionally, if a woman had radiation therapy on the area of body that includes the heart, there may be an increased risk of cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease and [...]