Cervical Cancer – What You Need to Know

Patricia Lee, M.D.  Cervical cancer is the third most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates 11,270 new cases and 4,070 deaths from cervical cancer during 2010 in the United States.  It is a slow growing cancer with symptoms that are usually absent until the cancer is in its advanced…

Breast Cancer Overview

Mark Citron, M.D.  You have breast cancer.These dreaded words will be heard by roughly one in nine women during their lifetime. However, what does that really mean?  The phrase breast cancer treatment often evokes images of hair loss, nausea, and extended drug treatment, yet it doesn’t have to be that way. Today cancer therapy, from…

Back Pain and its Myriad Manifestations

An Overview of Back Pain and its Myriad Manifestations  Brian Hainline, M.D. Low back pain is a very common and ubiquitous reason for patients to visit their primary care physician. When assessing patients for low back pain, it is important to differentiate between nociceptive and neuropathic pain.  Nociceptive pain is caused by the activation of nociceptors,…

Shoulder Arthritis Cause and Symptoms

Brian R. Neri, M.D. Arthritis is an inflammatory condition of the joint resulting in cartilage loss and subsequent pain and disability.  Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, typically affects large weightbearing joints such as the knee and hip.  However, a significant number of people develop osteoarthritis in their shoulder, or glenohumeral joint, as well. …

COULD YOUR PAIN BE POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA?

 Robert Greenwald, M.D. COULD YOUR PAIN BE POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA? Robert Greenwald, M.D. An often-overlooked cause of muscular and arthritic pain in senior citizens goes by the funny name of polymyalgia rheumatica, abbreviated PMR. It is a mysterious condition with which many physicians are not familiar. When properly diagnosed and treated, immediate and substantial relief can…

Arthritis and Your Feet

By Douglas Livingston, DPM, FACFAS Everyone associates the word arthritis with pain. Arthritis can affect all parts of the body. It is a broad term for many conditions that destroy the workings of a normal joint. Arthritis may occur in your back, neck, hips, knees, shoulders or hands as well as your feet and ankles. It…

The Aging Process: Dealing with Dementia

Rose Marie Mathew, M.D. Adapting to the aging process may often pose a challenge, especially when changes include memory loss or dementia. Dementia is a collection of symptoms that may include memory loss, personality change and impaired intellectual functioning, language or judgment. Dementia has many causes some of which may be treatable or reversible. The…

Treating Your Allergies

While avoidance therapy may control allergy symptoms, many allergy sufferers will require treatment. There are two types of allergy treatment: Medication (that is self-administered) and Allergy Injection Therapy. There are several medications available to help manage allergy symptoms. Allergy medications reduce your reaction to allergens. Here’s a summary of various types of allergy medications. Antihistamines block…