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Cancer Care and Screenings

Before You Toast: How Alcohol Impacts Cancer Risk

Posted December 17, 2025

The holiday season is a time for celebration, often accompanied by festive drinks and joyful gatherings. But while raising a glass may feel harmless, many people don’t realize that even moderate alcohol consumption can increase the risk of several types of cancer. Understanding the connection between alcohol and cancer is essential for making informed choices about your health—especially during times of celebration. Learn more about the science behind alcohol’s cancer risk and share practical tips to help you protect yourself and those you care about.

Understanding Cancer Prevention: Controllable and Uncontrollable Risk Factors

Posted April 08, 2025

It’s never too late to make cancer prevention your top priority. Cancer affects 1 in 3 people in this country, according to the American Cancer Society. If you haven’t been touched by it, you likely know someone who has — a friend, family member, coworker or neighbor. With odds like that, why not take the necessary steps to help prevent it in the first place? While you can’t avoid all causes of cancer, you can significantly reduce your risks — while at the same time...

Who’s Most at Risk for Blood Cancer?

Posted October 07, 2024

Blood plays a vital role in how our bodies function. As blood circulates the body, it’s responsible for supplying all our organs with oxygen, nutrients and antibodies to fight infection and control bleeding. Blood is essential to life. Unfortunately, about every 3 minutes, one person in the United States is diagnosed with blood cancer, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Blood cancers account for nearly 10 percent of new cancer cases in this country every year....

How Cancer Survivorship Programs are Helping Patients Thrive After Treatment

Posted June 17, 2024

In many cases today, cancer has become a chronic disease, rather than a terminal disease, with people living longer and healthier lives after a diagnosis of cancer than ever before. Even more significant, more people are surviving cancer thanks to early detection and more advanced treatment options. The American Cancer Society estimates there are more than 18 million cancer survivors in the United States—and growing each year. At Summa Health, we define cancer survivorship as...

How Does Radiation Therapy Work? [Podcast]

Posted October 13, 2023 by Anand Desai, M.D.

Dr. Desai answers your questions about radiation therapy and discusses advancements in treatment technology.

Fuel Your Way to Recovery: Foods to Add—and Avoid—During Cancer Treatment

Posted October 09, 2023 by Catherine Bentley, MPA, RDN, LD, CDCES and Rella Rotondo, RD, LD

Cancer treatment isn’t just about chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments. Believe it or not, your diet can play a big role in your cancer treatment journey. Not only does your body need energy to function at its best and fight off the disease, but also to repair and recover. Eating nutritious foods is a key component to a healthy lifestyle. In fact, some recent studies have linked plant-based foods and lower cancer rates. The primary goal of a nutrition plan during...

What is Breast Density and Why is it Important? [Podcast]

Posted October 05, 2023 by Patrick Slattery, M.D.

This podcast episode delves into breast density, covering its types, detection methods, significance for screenings, misconceptions, and risk reduction. Learn about dense breast screenings, recent Ohio legislation expanding coverage, and proactive measures for breast health.

A Guide to Ovarian Cancer: Risk Factors, Symptoms and Treatment

Posted November 21, 2022

The ovaries may be small, but they are mightily important in a female’s reproductive cycle. With each about the size and shape of an almond, the ovaries produce eggs, as well as the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. You don’t often hear about a loved one developing ovarian cancer because it’s not very common. However, it does deserve your attention, especially if you’re at high risk. Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among females, according to the American...

7 Cancer Treatments That Are Improving Patient Outcomes

Posted October 24, 2022

Reviewed March 2025 Nearly 40 percent of individuals in this country will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, according to the National Cancer Institute. Breast, lung, prostate, colon and skin cancers are among the most common cancers diagnoses. Fortunately, there are many cancer treatment options available today to cure a cancer, slow the progression or even reduce side effects from cancer — with several more being studied. Cancer treatments include local...

Summa Health Answers Your Questions About Breast Cancer Screenings

Posted October 04, 2022

Updated 9/18/2025 Early detection of breast cancer matters. The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is much better in early stages. Many times women wait until they experience symptoms, like a lump, before they get a mammogram or clinical breast exam. By then, the cancer may have spread and be more difficult to treat and cure. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in females. That’s why for decades, October and the color pink have gone hand in hand to...

5 Tips To Help Catch Cancer Early

Posted September 27, 2022

Reviewed January 2025 Nearly 40 percent of individuals in this country will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, the good news is that many cancers can be found early before they have a chance to grow and spread. And, studies prove catching cancer early when it’s easier to treat improves patient outcomes. For example, breast cancer that is found in the early stages has a 99 percent survival rate, but when...

Oral, Head And Neck Cancers: Get The Facts On Risk Factors, Symptoms

Posted June 20, 2022

While head and neck cancers are not the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US, it affects a significant number of patients. According to the National Cancer Institute, this group of cancers occur in about 4 percent of all cancers in the country. While more common cancers such as breast, colon and lung cancer are more known, oral, head and neck cancers can and do occur, especially in men. Additionally, the population affected by this disease has changed over the last...

Colorectal cancer screening: Which test is right for you?

Posted March 07, 2022

Reviewed March 2025 As the third leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women in the U.S., screening for colorectal cancer should be an important part of your routine healthcare. Colon and rectal cancers, more commonly known as colorectal cancer, can be found early with testing before it has a chance to grow and spread. And studies prove catching it early when the cancer is easier to treat improves patient outcomes. Just look at the survival rate for colorectal...

Get the facts on lung cancer so you can breathe easier

Posted November 29, 2021 by Sandy Kohut, RRT

You’re not a smoker, so you can’t be at risk for lung cancer, right? Not so fast. While smokers, especially cigarette smokers, make up the leading cause of lung cancer deaths, nonsmokers do get diagnosed with this deadly disease. Lung cancer is the second most common diagnosed cancer in both men and women, and the leading cause of cancer deaths, making up almost 25 percent in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). However, despite how common it is,...

What does "High Risk" for Breast Cancer really mean?

Posted October 18, 2021 by Victoria L. Van Fossen, MD

One out of every eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime; this is considered average risk for U.S. women. High risk for breast cancer is defined as a greater than or equal to 20% lifetime risk, or in other words, a one in five chance of developing breast cancer over a lifetime. We all know someone — a coworker, family member such as a mother, sister, daughter or friend — that has been diagnosed with this disease. That’s why for decades, October and the...

What You Need to Know about Colorectal Screenings [Podcast]

Posted April 19, 2021

Dr. John Fondran discusses the importance of colorectal health, and why getting screened is important.

Breast Cancer: The Importance of Knowing Your Risk [Podcast]

Posted October 26, 2020 by Keristen Brantley, MD & Victoria Van Fossen, MD

Dr. Keristen Brantley & Dr. Victoria Van Fossen discuss Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment.

Think Pink: How to lower your risk for breast cancer

Posted October 19, 2020

For decades, October and the color pink have gone hand in hand to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. The universal pink ribbon represents prevention, early detection and treatment — supporting the mission to spread awareness and education. According to breastcancer.org, breast cancer affects one in eight women, and chances are you know someone — a co-worker, a family member, a friend — who has been diagnosed. Other than skin cancer, it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in...

MRI Fusion Biopsy for Prostate Cancer - What is it and Why is it Better?

Posted December 16, 2019

As one of the most common cancers among men, prostate cancer will affect about 1 in 9 men during their lifetime. In fact, more than 60% of cases are diagnosed in men over 65. The cancer has been difficult to detect in early stages using the most common, and somewhat outdated, tests and screenings. These tests and screenings have been used for three decades with adequate results. Yet, more tests are then needed to try to determine the type of cancer and the best treatment plan.

Should I get a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) Test?

Posted November 03, 2019

It can be difficult to face the idea of getting screened for prostate cancer, and many people opt out due to fear, inconvenience, or lack of knowledge of the symptoms. There is clear scientific evidence that screening with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test can help identify cancer early on which makes treatment more effective and reduces the number of deaths associated with prostate cancer. We’ve compiled some valuable information below so that you can discuss with...

Colon Cancer Screening: What Are Your Options?

Posted March 06, 2019

Updated March 31, 2025 by Cindy Jones, BSN, RN, OCN, CTTS Oncology Nurse Navigator, Oncology Services Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable, treatable and beatable cancers; however, early detection is key. Risks increase with age and according to the CDC, more than 90 percent of colorectal cancers occur in those over the age of 50. However, the incidence of colorectal cancer has been increasing at a younger age. The reason for this is unknown, but changes in...

What you should know about urological cancers

Posted August 02, 2018

Did you know one out of every 10 men in the US will develop prostate cancer? This form is the most common cancer in men. Bladder cancer, another common cancer in the US, affects as many as 68,000 individuals every year. It’s the fourth leading cancer for men and the eleventh for women. For men ages 15 to 44, testicular cancer is the leading type of cancer. What do all of these have in common? They are cancers that form in or affect parts of the urinary tract.

Immunotherapy for Melanoma

Posted July 30, 2018

Updated on May 6, 2024 Did you know skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States? If caught early, skin cancer is one of the easier cancers to treat. However, every hour of every day one American dies from melanoma, its deadliest form. There are various treatments for melanoma, depending on the stage at which a patient is diagnosed, including: surgery to remove the affected area, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a relatively new treatment called immunotherapy....

Reducing the Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Posted March 22, 2018 by Costas Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACP, FACG, FASGE, AGAF

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer remains the #3 cancer killer in the U.S., yet it is one of the most preventable types of cancer. Statistically, 1 in 22 men and 1 in 24 women will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2018 more than 140,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 50,000 of them are expected to die of this disease. Colorectal cancer screening could save more than half...

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