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Treatment Choices

A Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump Keeps Colorectal Cancer in Check

A decades-old tool, the Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump, is experiencing a revival because it can offer a powerful option for some patients whose colorectal cancer has spread to the liver.

What You Need to Know About Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Two plastic surgeons address common misconceptions about breast reconstruction surgery, and answer commonly asked questions.

Why Breast Self Exams Are Now Optional

Twenty years ago, a physical examination of the breast was considered an essential early detection tool. Educational materials on how to perform self-exams were widely distributed, and women were strongly encouraged to learn the technique and perform it monthly. Today, the role of the self-exam in early detection is less clear.

How getting a second opinion led to a clean bill of health

For almost a year, Daniel Szkarlat thought his intestinal pain was due to an ulcer. When the symptoms didn't go away, a colonoscopy found he had a large mass. His doctor removed the mass and 33 lymph nodes and said he wouldn't need chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Dan and his wife weren't so sure, so they got a second opinion from John Krauss, M.D., director of the Multidisciplinary Colorectal Cancer Clinic at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.

COVID-19 Information for Cancer Patients

Michigan, like much of the rest of the world, is experiencing a health care crisis right now like we’ve never seen before. Here in Southeast Michigan, we are experiencing a surge in people with COVID-19. The number of people needing care will soon be greater than our current hospital capacity. This has impacted how we are treating our patients with cancer during this difficult time. This may mean changes or delays in your treatment.

HIPEC Combines Chemotherapy and Surgery to Target Abdominal Cysts

Melissa Hough considers herself to be patient No. 154. That’s how unusual her condition is. In June, she was diagnosed with cystic mesothelioma. It’s a noncancerous version of the lung disease commonly linked to asbestos exposure. In Hough’s case, hundreds of cysts had developed throughout her abdomen.

Making Choices Around Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Breast cancer patients face a dizzying number of choices for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. A Michigan Medicine plastic surgeon offers advice and insight. Breast reconstruction after mastectomy can have long-lasting effects on quality of life. But with multiple options available, each with its own risks and benefits, the decision process can be overwhelming.

Metastatic Breast Cancer: What You Should Know

Metastatic means the cancer has spread beyond the breast and immediate lymph nodes to other organs or tissues in the body, most often the bones, brain, lungs or liver. It’s considered stage 4 breast cancer, which means the cancer has progressed to its most advanced stage.

Tips to Help You Understand Your Doctor

Cancer comes with a lot of information and a lot of emotion. That mix can make doctor visits tricky. Doctors try to be clear as they walk through recommended treatments, explaining the possible risks and side effects. But the language involved in cancer care is complicated.

Mouth Care: Why it’s Important Before, During and After Cancer Treatment

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause complications like sores in the mouth and changes to the teeth, salivary glands, gums and bone, which makes mouth care important before, during and after cancer treatment.

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