An electronic health record (EHR) is a computer-based record of a person’s complete medical history that can be shared electronically between health-care providers. Some providers use EHRs in an effort to improve quality of care by having your complete medical history in a single, easy-to-find location.
Summertime brings sun, heat, and outdoor activities, but it can also present challenging health and lifestyle issues for people living with cancer. This article provides important information about sun exposure, heat and dehydration, hot flashes, exercise, wigs, and custom-made swimsuits and caps.
After a child finishes treatment for cancer, regular follow-up screening is needed to diagnose potential late effects — treatment-related side effects that occur several years after a cancer diagnosis. Long-term follow-up care, which should continue throughout adulthood, helps ensure that survivors of childhood cancer stay healthy.
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are medications that help treat anemia caused by chemotherapy. Cancer.Net talked with Alan Lichtin, MD, to learn more about these drugs and what people with cancer should know about them.
Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder that occurs when nerves in your body's peripheral nervous system (outside the brain and spinal cord) are damaged. Peripheral nerves carry information back and forth between the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the rest of the body. Depending on which nerves are affected, a patient can develop symptoms related to altered sensation (numbness and tingling, or pain), muscle function (weakness), and organ function (constipation or dizziness).
Lymphedema is commonly thought of as swelling of the arm that can occur after breast cancer treatment However, this condition can affect both men and women who are treated for other types of cancer, as well. Besides the arm, lymphedema most often involves the lower extremity — the leg.
Dehydration occurs when a person does not take in enough fluid or loses too much fluid. Without enough water, the human body cannot function properly. In particular, people undergoing cancer treatment may be at a higher risk for dehydration due to treatment side effects, such as diarrhea and vomiting. Learning how to stay hydrated, and recognizing and treating dehydration before it becomes severe, are important steps for good health.
It is estimated that about one third of the deaths from cancer can be prevented, as they are related to lifestyle factors such as diet, obesity, and lack of physical activity.The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to take control of your health and develop a strategy that will help you reach your goals for the coming year.
Keeping an accurate record of your personal medical history is an important step in managing your health. This record should include test results, treatment reports, and notes written by your doctor, for each doctor, hospital, or clinic you have visited. Although each facility keeps its own record of your medical care, it is a good idea to maintain and update a personal copy as well.
