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Current or former smokers may find themselves worrying about their risk for lung cancer. Even if you kicked the habit years ago, when should you get screened? U.S. health officials recently expanded the pool of Americans who could benefit from early detection. Now, if you’re between the ages of 50 and 80 with a history of heavy smoking (currently defined as 20 pack-years), you should be screened, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Those guidelines apply, even if you quit smoking up to 15 years ago.

Food safety is of the utmost importance for anyone with a compromised or recovering immune system. But the holidays can pose extra challenges for cancer patients struggling with smell and taste aversions caused by treatment-related side effects. For patients, caregivers and friends, this can threaten to put a damper on festivities. However, some tips and strategies can make navigating the holiday table easier — and more joyful — for those gathered.

Every fall, as nature (and retailers) don a palette of gold, orange and brown, you may also notice a fair amount of pink in the mix, as October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. But as the second-leading cause of cancer deaths for women, and one that has become increasingly survivable with early detection, year-round attention to the preventive steps you can take is key.

When Eddie Van Halen died, fans across the country responded in two overwhelmingly universal ways — one, with a lot of sadness and, two, with a lot of confusion. Not everyone knew that the longtime Van Halen guitarist extraordinaire had battled a litany of cancers, namely tongue, throat and ultimately lung cancer, which ended his life at the age of 65. Whether these cancers were related to each other remains unknown to the public.

There’s a lot to think about when undergoing cancer treatment — appointments, medications, self-care — so sex and intimacy might not be a priority. But a healthy, fulfilling physical and emotional connection during treatment can often aid in recovery. Emotional intimacy and physical touch have been shown to have healing effects, and feelings of love and support can be immensely important during illness.

If you’ve decided to have breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy, you likely will have questions about what to expect and how to pick the surgery that’s best for you: breast implants or a tissue flap procedure. 

Migraine is a neurological disorder that causes a particularly vicious type of headache that forces sufferers to retreat for hours or days to a dark, quiet room until the pain passes, often with the help of powerful drugs.

If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you have to make a lot of decisions about your treatment. And, if you’re preparing for a lumpectomy or mastectomy, there’s one more decision to make: if you want reconstructive surgery. You might think this is a decision you would make after your surgery and treatment are finished—and it can be. But, there are benefits to having reconstructive surgery as early as possible—perhaps even during the lumpectomy or mastectomy.

Your body image changes frequently throughout your life. For cancer patients, this can be particularly difficult to manage as cancer can quickly and dramatically change the way their body looks and functions. 

It’s quite possible you don’t know all the reasons you need an OB-GYN in your life. Establishing a good relationship with your OB-GYN is important, because they can help you better understand the various health issues and body changes you will encounter. They help guide you through different expectations, goals and issues you may face from early adolescence, into adulthood and finally transitioning into menopause and beyond.