Blog

Understanding Lynch Syndrome

My name is Judy Smelser Mitchell.  I have Lynch syndrome. What is Lynch Syndrome Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer. People with Lynch syndrome typically acquire their cancer at a younger age (before 50) with the most common cancer sites being colon…

Radon-Induced Lung Cancer: Gail’s Journey

 Recording provided by: Energy Association of Iowa Schools Radon is a very serious problem but has a very simple solution. And that is just to test and mitigate. My name’s Gail Orcutt and I was an Iowa teacher for 33 years. Two years after I retired, I had a cough and a wheeze. (I)…

HPV Vaccination Completion Rates Continue to Lag Behind Other Vaccinations

By: Katie Jones, Iowa Department of Public Health Imagine a world without cervical cancer. In 2019, approximately 2,370 people were diagnosed with cervical cancer in Iowa.1 By contrast, halfway around the world, Australia is on track to nearly eliminate cervical cancer within the next two decades because of the country’s strong HPV vaccination rates.2 In…

Flu Shots & Cancer

By: Kelly Hendershot The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone age 6 months and older should get a flu shot every season. It’s further advised flu shots should be received at the start of the flu season, typically in October. However, maybe you’re a cancer patient/survivor and heard conflicting information regarding if…

Community Spotlight: Johnson County Sun-Safety Initiative

Written by: Leah Laageide (Carver College of Medicine, 2020) and Emily Weig, MD The summer season may have passed, but sun-safety is still important! Here at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) Department of Dermatology, we’re taking an active role to generate sun-safety awareness and promote the use of sunscreen year-round. Supported by…

Stigma Surrounding Palliative Care & Hospice

By: Kelly Hendershot My own personal shift in how I viewed hospice was on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 during the Family Group (a support group for caregivers of someone diagnosed with cancer) at Gilda’s Club Quad Cities. My friend Bill’s wife Karen had died the previous weekend. Bill was relaying to the group that when…

The 2019 Great American Smokeout

Quitting smoking isn’t easy. It takes time. And a plan. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with day one. Let the Great American Smokeout event on November 21, 2019 be your day to start your journey toward a smoke-free life. You’ll be joining thousands of people who smoke across the country…

Iowa Army of Pink: How dense are you?

Written by: Brigid Greening How dense are you? That is a very important question that every woman needs to be able to answer regarding her breast tissue. My Story: On September 8, 2016, I did a self-breast exam. I did not do them consistently and was surprised to feel a lump on the outside of…

Beyond Pink TEAM: Moving beyond awareness, pink ribbons and pink trinkets

By: Kelly Hendershot It’s Pinktober, so chances are good that you are – or someone in close proximity is – wearing pink. Not wearing pink in October is almost as taboo as not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day. But is donning a special color enough? Nearly 200 volunteers in the Cedar Valley are making…

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

By: Jodie Kavensky, NormaLeah Ovarian Cancer Initiative September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Hopefully my words will resonate with someone who is or has been impacted by this disease. My life’s mission is to  empower women to be vigilant self-advocates for their own health. I’m not a cancer survivor, but as a caregiver and pre-vivor,…