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The gloves are on

Fighting back with risk assessment and prevention The greatest risk factors for breast cancer are being female and getting older. For women living in the United States, breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer next to skin cancer. It is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths next to lung cancer.…
Mammogram memo

How often should I get checked? One in eight women will get breast cancer in their lives. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. One way to improve these outcomes is by having appropriate screenings whereby we are able to detect cancer earlier. Mammograms can be uncomfortable for many women and…
Today’s breast conserving measures

The then and now of treatment and surgery Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Each year 1.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer and the incidence of breast cancer increases with age; more than 80 percent occur above age 50 and 35 percent above age 70. There are many diagnostic…

Medical Advice: Back-to-school tips and the 5-2-1-0 program

AS STUDENTS and families prepare to return to school, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (FDOH-Polk) would like to take this opportunity to remind them to take the proper steps to stay healthy this school year. Good health is important for students in order to maintain regular school attendance and be ready to…
Hospice Help: Hospice myth busting

WHEN MOST PEOPLE hear the word “hospice,” they immediately associate the provided care as being intimately tied to hours, or if lucky, days before death. Then there is also the supposition that hospice is only for cancer patients. These are just two myths that need to be busted when it comes to understanding hospice.
First impressions of our daughter’s new specialist

WE HEARD IT growing up from our mothers all the time, but we didn’t quite understand the true significance of it. As adults, we begin to see the value in making a good first impression. Whether it’s for a job interview, that first parent-teacher meeting, or sitting down with a new doctor, first impressions play…