July is National Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Month.  The purpose of the month is to raise awareness of the dangers of UV radiation and spread the word about how important it is to protect everyone’s skin from the harmful effects of UV rays. Ultraviolet radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation that comes from the sun

June is Men’s Health Month, a national observance used to raise awareness about health care for men and focus on encouraging men to take care of their bodies by eating right, exercising, and working to prevent disease.  The official symbol for the month is a blue ribbon and the purpose of the month is to

Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, making up almost 25% of all cancer deaths, and the American Cancer Society estimates over 2,500 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed a year in Mississippi. One reason why lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death

November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.  The event started back in 1995 as Lung Cancer Awareness Day.  As the lung cancer community and the lung cancer movement grew, the awareness activities increased and the day matured into Lung Cancer Awareness Month.  During the month, people throughout the country come together to support the lung

May is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month.  Driven by advancement in research, surgical techniques, genetic discoveries, and much more, it has never been a better time to take action on brain tumors. The National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS), an organization whose mission is to unrelentingly invest in, mobilize, and unite our community to discover a

Thanks to advancements in research and treatment methods, men diagnosed with prostate cancer have more options and resources available to them than ever before. Whether you or a loved one has been newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, talking to your doctor to learn more about the disease and treatments that are right for you is

As the classic holiday song goes, it is the most wonderful time of the year.  But do you know what else the happiest season of all brings?  Stress.  With all the planning, shopping, decorating and cooking, it’s easy to become tired and overwhelmed.  When cancer treatment is added to the mix, holiday stress can become

Check out this infographic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding African-American men and lung cancer.

February is National Cancer Prevention Month.  If your New Year’s resolution to get healthy is already losing steam, now is a perfect time to give yourself a second chance.  Renew your efforts to make healthier choices by learning what you can do to help reduce your cancer risk. Research has shown that more than half

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year.  In fact, the EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General urge all Americans to protect their health by testing their homes, schools, and other buildings for radon. Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless

November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and according to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and is the only one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers with a five-year relative survival rate in the single digits, at just six percent.

Have you or a loved one been newly diagnosed with lung cancer? In this video from the American Cancer Society, you’ll learn about the most common treatments for lung cancer which may include surgery, radiation therapy, radiofrequency ablation (RFA); chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Kids are out of school, families are taking vacations, and more people are outside enjoying the warm weather.  It’s official, summer is here.  With summer fun comes summer sun, and it’s important to understand the effect the sun is having on our bodies. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common

June is National Cancer Survivor Month and June 4th is National Cancer Survivors Day®. National Cancer Survivors Day is a day to celebrate and recognize cancer survivors, inspire those recently diagnosed, and, most importantly, to celebrate life. As part of the 30th annual National Cancer Survivors Day, cancer survivors and supporters in communities around the

February is National Cancer Prevention Month and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), an American cancer research organization associated with the World Cancer Research Fund, estimates that approximately one-third of cases of the most common cancers in the U.S. could be prevented by eating healthy, being active, and staying lean.  That’s an estimated 374,000

According to research from the Washington University School of Medicine University in St. Louis, Missouri, delaying radiation therapy too long after surgery significantly increases the risk of recurrent tumors in women treated for very early, or what is referred to as “stage 0,” breast cancer.  Stage 0 breast cancer, or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS),

A recent paper, published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a peer-reviewed medical journal published three times a month by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, states that prostate cancer experts have maintained that PSA testing is useful and that it reduces the risk for death. Prostate cancer screening has been a controversial topic

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the only international organization devoted solely to education, prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment of the world’s most common cancer, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.  Skin cancer occurs when there are abnormalities in the cells that make up the skin. 

June is National Cancer Survivor Month.  It is a month dedicated to celebrating and recognizing those who have survived cancer, an inspiration for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of support for families, and an outreach to the community.   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading national public health institute

On Thursday, May 5, the Alliance Cancer Centers in Greenville and Clarksdale hosted a continuing medical education (CME) dinner for local physicians, nurse practitioners, hospital staff, and other area healthcare workers.   Alliance Cancer Center has partnered with Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville, Mississippi, to host a series of CME dinners, and this was

April is National Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month and April 10 – 16, 2016 is National Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week.   According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery), each year, more than 55,000 Americans will develop cancer of the head and neck (most of which is preventable)

In 2000, March was officially designated as National Colon Cancer Awareness Month.  Since then, it has grown to be a rallying point for the colon cancer community where thousands of patients, survivors, caregivers and advocates throughout the country join together to spread colon cancer awareness by wearing blue (on the first Friday of March), holding

If your New Year’s resolution to get fit and healthy is already losing steam, February, which is National Cancer Prevention Month, is a great time to give yourself a second chance.  Renew your efforts to make healthier choices by learning what you can do to help reduce your cancer risk.  The Centers for Disease Control

Alliance Cancer Centers of Clarksdale and Greenville announced that Mary Riley, RN has joined their cancer care treatment teams.   Mary Riley is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012 and her Master of Science in Nursing in 2015 from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.  

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is recognized nationwide during the month of October.  It is an annual health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.  The national campaign also offers information and support to those affected

A 2015 study published in the journal Prostate shows prostate cancer incidence among distant relatives on both sides of a man’s family can help predict whether he will develop the disease.  According to study author Lisa Cannon-Albright, “Family history is a substantial risk factor for prostate cancer.  But typically, a clinician will ask a patient

National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is observed every September in the United States by health experts and advocates, and individuals concerned with men’s prostate health.  Designating a month for the disease serves the purpose of increasing public awareness of the importance of prostate health and screenings, educating about risk factors and symptoms, and advocating for

When you are diagnosed with cancer, having comprehensive cancer treatment options near your home, work, and family is important to you.   You want your cancer treatments to affect your life as little as possible.  Maybe you just started a new job and don’t want to miss work.  Maybe you have kids in school and

Anger, frustration and distress are just a few of the many emotions patients may have if their cancer comes back.  Although these feelings are normal and expected, there are measures you can take to help relieve these added stresses.  Below is a list of coping strategies that former patients have found helpful during their own

Patients coping with a cancer diagnosis may hear unfamiliar medical terms related to their disease and its treatment.  We’ve highlighted four common cancer treatment terms below and provided brief overviews of what each term means.  Local Control:  Refers to cancer that hasn’t grown and progressed and remains at the original tumor site. Radiation is used

The caregiver is a significant role in a cancer patient’s care.  A caregiver is the person who helps the person with cancer the most, and is often the person who knows everything that is going on with the patient.  Usually the main caregiver is a spouse, partner, or an adult child.  In some cases, close

Summer is in full swing.  The sun is shining, the weather is warmer, and people are spending more time outside.  While all the fun in the sun activities are a good time, they are also exposing you to ultraviolet radiation from the sun which puts you at risk for getting skin cancer.   Skin cancer