Features

Health-Conscious Bakery Delivers Low-Carb, Sugar-Free, and Gluten-Free Treats  by  MARY TOOTHMAN You’ve got to love the name of this little bakery: the No Guilt Baking Company. Owned and operated by Darla and Andrew Markley, the bake shop evolved through the Catapult Lakeland initiative. Three small businesses operate under the umbrella name/theme of “Counter Culture.”    […]

Bond Clinic’s Diabetes Clinic Goes Beyond Treatment to Education by TERESA SCHIFFER According to the CDC, the incidence of new diabetes cases is going down — except among young people. The incidence of new cases among individuals under age 20 is actually going up. Data analyzed through 2018 shows that just over 10 percent of

Breast cancer is the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer for women in the U.S. It is also the second-deadliest form of cancer for American women. Thankfully, death rates for women older than 50 from breast cancer have continued to drop since 2007, due in part to increased awareness and treatment advances. While awareness concerning breast cancer

Hollis Cancer Center Doctor Trained in Breast Cancer Genetics by TERESA SCHIFFER Central Florida is a leading region for medical progress. When it comes to advancements in breast cancer research, the patients reap the benefits of the widespread skill and talent.   The Hollis Cancer Center of Lakeland Regional Health holds a rare advantage to

Pandemic Doesn’t Hold Back ‘Making Strides’ Virtual Campaign  by TERESA SCHIFFER With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and 2020 being a year of social distancing and heightened health and safety measures, it’s no surprise that many annual fundraising events are being postponed, canceled, or held virtually. While this doesn’t have to stop people from

How One Woman’s Breast Cancer Brought Her New Perspective by TIM CRAIG photos by APRIL SPAULDING For Toshika Chambers, it was a moment that put everything in perspective.   Sitting in the lobby of her doctor’s office, the Lakeland native and Haines City resident waited for the results of a biopsy. Her mind swirled. A

Why We Avoid Routine Medical Examinations By MARY JOYE, LMHC   Most of us do it, or rather don’t do it when it comes to scheduling routine medical screenings or examinations. Who really wants a mammogram, colonoscopy or other unpleasant procedures? We procrastinate though we are told and scolded by the media and experts that

Doctors Discuss Safety, Logistics of Education During Pandemic by TERESA SCHIFFER It’s back-to-school season again – but this time there’s a twist. COVID-19 infection rates and deaths are still on the rise in the U.S., meaning students, educators, and parents must learn to navigate education during an ongoing public health crisis. This is not the

Doctor Explains Why Immunizations Are So Critical, Even During Pandemic by TERESA SCHIFFER As we enter flu season while in the midst of a raging pandemic, the topic of vaccinations is on a lot of people’s minds. You may be wondering if you should get a flu shot this year, if a coronavirus vaccine will

Polk Schools Offer Array of Medical Programs to Prepare Students for Booming Healthcare Fields by MARY TOOTHMAN The healthcare sector is booming, and people all across the country are taking note. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that from 2006 and 2016, 2.8 million jobs were added to the health sector. That’s almost seven