Category: Cancer

By Dr. Kinsey Pillsbury, MD, Tahoe Carson Radiology Hello ladies and Happy Breast Cancer Awareness Month! It’s your friendly neighborhood radiologist here to remind you why there’s no good excuse to skip your mammogram this year. Here are a few reasons NOT to avoid coming in for your annual screening exam before the year is up: #1: No one in my family has had breast cancer, so I don’t worry about it. Truth: 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have NO family history of breast or other cancers. #2: I heard that mammograms don’t save lives. Truth: Since its widespread implementation in the 1980’s, mammography has lowered the risk of dying of breast cancer by around 35%. -Cancers detected …

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Did you know that 40% of colorectal cancers are preventable? People most at risk for colorectal cancers do not get colonoscopies. In fact, up to 70% of people in the high-risk category — those age 50 to 75 — don’t seek testing. That’s unfortunate, because colon cancers are more preventable than many other cancers. All colon cancers begin with a precancerous polyp, which can be removed. We can’t emphasize enough just how preventable colon cancers are. You can’t prevent breast cancer, lung cancer or brain cancer in the same way – in other words, you can’t take precancerous polyps off any of those organs. Colonoscopy must be done – it can really save people’s lives. Recent research Colon cancer could …

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Lung cancer often has few symptoms in its early stages, so screening is important for early detection and treatment. Carson Tahoe uses state-of-the-art technology, including low-dose CT lung scans and electromagnetic bronchoscopy to detect and diagnose cancer more quickly and accurately than with other methods. Low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan Sometimes called “CAT scans,” low-dose CT scans are used to see lesions—or “spots”—inside the lungs. Studies show that early detection using low-dose CT reduced lung cancer death rates by 20 percent in high-risk populations. Those who are at high risk for lung cancer include: • Smokers • Firefighters • People with a family history of lung cancer • Workers who have been exposed to potentially cancer-causing materials such as asbestos …

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Carson Tahoe Health and Red’s Old 395 Grill will once again host the THiNK PiNK breast cancer awareness kickoff party at Red’s on Wednesday, October 1st from 5-7 pm. The event is free to attend and individuals wearing a Carson Tahoe “Think Pink” t-shirt will receive free appetizers courtesy of Red’s Old 395 Grill. T-Shirts can be purchased for a $10 suggested donation at the event or at the Carson Tahoe Medical Campus. 100% of proceeds from all “Think Pink” t-shirt, bar and raffle sales will go to the Carson Tahoe Cancer Resource Center for cancer education and support. Click here for more information. About 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer at …

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Did you know that one in five Americans develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime? It’s no secret that using sunscreen is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself, but did you know that not all sunscreens are created equal? When faced with all the choices out there, it can be hard to tell which sunscreen is best for you. First, remember that there are two types of UV rays: UVA rays and UVB rays. Both of these UV types have been attributed to skin cancer and not all sunscreens will protect you from both rays. UVB rays are commonly known to cause sunburns while UVA are known to be responsible for wrinkles. Tip …

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