Cancer of the skin is the most common of all cancers. Approximately 5.4 million cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancer are diagnosed each year, about 80% of which are basal-cell type. Melanomas account for about 1% of skin cancers, but they are by far the most dangerous, and the rate of melanomas has been rising for the last 30 years.
One in three women will develop cancer in her lifetime.
But there is hope. With many screening tools available to women of all ages and with greater awareness of our own bodies, prevention and early intervention are becoming increasingly possible.
Genetic counseling provides valuable insight into family cancer risks. It’s a fact: Ten percent of all cancers are hereditary.
One Woman’s Journey to Determine Hereditary Cancer Risks Reveals Volumes
Our PET/CT program is just one of the many tools Leever uses in our fight against cancer. We talked with HLRCC PET/CT Lead Tech Christina Kidulas for more information on how PET/CT scans work and what patients can expect.
Okay, men. Let’s be honest... when was the last time you had a physical exam? If it’s been too long to remember, then it’s time to schedule an appointment, urges Dr. Michael J. Flanagan of Urology Specialists PC in Middlebury.
As the body's largest and fastest-growing organ, skin has one important job: protection. The American Academy of Dermatology likens it to a coat: It helps us stay warm when it’s cold, helps cool us when it’s hot, protects our insides from the environment, and prevents the body from losing fluids. It’s a big job. And when you consider that the first line of defense—the skin’s top layer, or epidermis—is only about 1/100th of an inch thick, the skin’s work seems even more remarkable. But for all its strength, the skin is also highly susceptible: Skin cancer is, by far, the most common type of cancer.
In November of 2014, The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, with its partners Saint Mary’s Hospital and Waterbury Hospital, collaborated with members of the local medical community in offering no-cost lung cancer screenings. The results were significant: the screenings led not only to cancer diagnoses in some patients, but also to incidental, life-saving findings, including the discovery of aneurysms, pulmonary embolisms and other important findings. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Jo-anne Cosgriff, Alliance Medical, Diagnostic Radiology Associates, Franklin Medical Group, Naugatuck Valley Radiology, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury Hospital, and Waterbury Pulmonary Associates for embracing this national movement and donating their time to benefit local patients.