A Landmark Study on Palliation of Bone Mets PainWhen a primary cancer such as cancer of the breast, prostate or lung spreads to the bone (bone mets), treatment strategies become complex. In today’s world of oncology, better systemic chemotherapies can add months and even years to a patient’s life; in addition, local cancer control of […] KEEP READING
What You Should Know About CartilageOne of the most fascinating components of the human body is cartilage, an incredibly versatile material. Trying to describe cartilage is like the six blind men who try to figure out what an elephant is: “The elephant is like a pillar,” said the man who touched his leg. “Oh no! […] KEEP READING
How Stress Makes Essential Tremor WorseEssential tremor (ET) is the most common form of uncontrollable rhythmic shaking, though it is sometimes misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. The involuntary trembling results from abnormal communication between certain areas of the brain (cerebellum, thalamus, and brain stem). It is estimated that 10 million Americans suffer from ET, though many […] KEEP READING
If you suffer from acute or chronic low back pain, do you lie awake and wonder if anyone is updating your doctor on the latest treatment guidelines? You probably don’t. You’ve got enough going on just trying to turn the volume down on discomfort and have a normal life. The American College of Physicians The […] CONTINUE
Over half of patients with advanced prostate cancer ignore or underreport symptoms that their disease has spread to the bone (bone metastases or bone mets). This can create a dilemma for the physician. Is it better to… a) Not ask about symptoms if the patient doesn’t volunteer the information? b) Ask questions at the risk […] CONTINUE
“Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone?” – Joni Mitchell Do you have family heirlooms or works of art that you treasure? If so, you probably take special care to protect and preserve them for the future. They make us aware that we are custodians of […] CONTINUE
Strong, healthy bones are good for everyone. Bones support us, protect our organs, and store minerals like calcium that not only nurture bone but can also be released when levels are low in the body. Peak bone wellness is even more important when disease, such as primary or metastatic bone cancer, strikes. When the patient […] CONTINUE
Lower back pain is a widespread problem. Almost everyone has it at one time or another, and it’s a frequent cause of missing work. Some estimates suggest that 85% of people have experienced temporary pain, with at least 5% suffering chronic pain. There are many causes for low back pain, most of them involving soft […] CONTINUE
The spine is a stack or column of individual bones held together in a way that permits flexible movement. Each individual bone, or vertebra, connects with the one above and below at small at small bony projection points. Where the projections meet, they form joints called facet (fuh-SET) joints. The facet joints serve some important […] CONTINUE
“How much time do I have?” is one of the hardest questions a doctor must address when a patient is diagnosed with metastatic cancer to the bone (bone mets). It is emotionally painful for the physician to witness the fear underlying the question, and to recognize how much courage it takes for the patient to […] CONTINUE
Pain is one way in which a person’s body communicates that it’s in distress. Just like an SOS signal sent from a ship or airplane, it should neither be ignored nor guessed at. About 80% of adults experience back pain at one time or another. When back pain is persistent and interferes with daily function […] CONTINUE
Advanced prostate cancer (PCa), along with breast and lung cancer, has a preference for spreading first to bone (bone mets). Bone mets differ from primary bone cancer, which is rare and begins in the bone itself. Bone mets are much more common; nine out of ten advanced PCa patients will eventually have bone mets. This […] CONTINUE
For patients and their partners who are dealing with the woman’s breast cancer, the most effective way to face the challenges and stressors is to take a “we” approach. This is especially true if the patient’s disease spreads to her bones, now adding more anxieties and fear of pain. While both patient and partner are […] CONTINUE
