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Pop Quiz! Celebrating Cervical Cancer Awareness Month With the Facts

Do you know what type of cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death for women? The answer is cervical cancer. Thankfully, an increase in awareness and testing has led to a dramatic reduction in deaths from cervical cancer, but it is still a big enough threat that every woman should know how…
A Nose for COVID-19

Central Florida Company Trains Canines to Detect Virus by JULIE GMITTER In 2020, many people adapted to the changing health crisis — whether it meant conducting business differently, working from home or virtual learning with their kids. F1K9, a Central Florida canine scent detection training school, is one of many businesses refocusing their efforts in…
Transformation

Winter Haven Operating Room Technician Opens Up About Her Weight Loss Surgery and Journey by TERESA SCHIFFER photos by APRIL SPAULDING Elizabeth Lawhorne was living a life of frustration and poor health before she made a decision that would change her life forever. Lawhorne was 356 pounds with serious health issues, including high blood pressure,…

Medical Advice: Your flu prevention to-do list

AS YOU GATHER your “to-do” lists and prepare for the holiday season ahead, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County recommends you add one more important step — get a flu shot! The flu shot is the best way to protect our families and communities against the spread of influenza. When you make it…
Family Health: Flu shots for seniors

HE FLU is nothing to sneeze at. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 200,000 people will be hospitalized this year with the influenza virus, and it has been estimated that 50 to 70 percent of those hospitalized are people age 65 and older.
Word of Mouth: Your dentist is key to early cancer detection

IT SEEMS LIKE you hear about many different kinds of cancers these days, but one that isn’t being talked about enough is oral cancer. Cancer in the mouth and throat are diagnosed in nearly 50,000 Americans a year, and statistics show that only 57 percent of those diagnosed still will be living in five years.