December 1 is observed as World AIDS Day, which is dedicated to increasing awareness about AIDS and HIV. AIDS is a global pandemic that began in 1981 and has persisted as an international public health issue.

Since the pandemic began, an estimated 40 million people worldwide have died from AIDS. In addition, an estimated 37.7 million people are currently living with HIV. In the United States, an estimated 1.2 million people 13 and older are infected with HIV. About 13 percent — one out of seven— don’t know they’re infected and need to be tested.

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is an infectious germ that attacks the body’s infection-fighting immune system. Specifically, it attacks and destroys a type of white blood cell called CD4 cells. These cells help coordinate the immune response to bacteria and viruses by stimulating other immune system cells to fight the germs.

When CD4 cells are compromised, the immune system doesn’t work properly. As a result, the person become susceptible to other illnesses called opportunistic infections. Without treatment, HIV gradually destroys the immune system and will progress to AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

HIV is spread through contact with certain body fluids of people infected with the virus. These body fluids include blood, semen, preseminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids and breast milk. In most cases, HIV is spread by having unprotected anal or vaginal sex or by sharing drug equipment, such as syringes and needles, with an infected person.

The body can’t rid itself of HIV, and there’s cure for the infection. Once infected with HIV, a person has it for life.

Many people feel no symptoms during the first few months after infection and may not know that they’ve been infected. Others experience flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks after becoming infected with HIV. This time frame is considered Stage 1, or acute HIV infection.

Possible symptoms include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and mouth sores. Some people experience no symptoms and do not feel sick during this stage. As the disease progresses, symptoms may expand to include weight loss, diarrhea and cough.

Even with symptoms, the only way to know for sure if someone been infected with HIV is to get tested. There are several types of tests available from a doctor’s office, hospital or community health center. There are even HIV tests you can take at home.

If you suspect that you’ve been exposed, get tested.

Stage 2 is chronic, or asymptomatic. During this stage, the virus is still active but not reproducing as quickly. A person often has no symptoms during this stage but can still spread HIV to others. Without treatment, this stage can last for 10 years or more before progress to Stage 3, which is AIDS.

A diagnosis of AIDS is made if the CD4 count drops to less than 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. (A normal count ranges from 500 to 1,500.) AIDs may also be diagnosed if certain opportunistic infections develop. These include pneumocystis pneumonia, a lung infection; Kaposi sarcoma, a skin cancer; cytomegalovirus, which typically affects the eyes; tuberculosis, which mainly infects the lungs; and candidiasis, a fungal infection.

HIV is treated with a combination of medications known as antiretroviral therapy (ART). In most cases, ART suppresses the HIV so that it is undetectable in the blood. The amount of the virus in the blood is called the viral load. People with HIV that take ART as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load can live long, healthy lives and will not spread HIV to uninfected partners through sex.

In the US, most people with HIV don’t develop AIDS because ART stops the progression of the disease. Although an AIDS diagnosis indicates severe damage to the immune system, ART can still help. Without treatment, however, people with AIDS typically survive about three years.

To help prevent HIV and AIDS, use a latex condom during vaginal, anal or oral sex, and never share needles to inject drugs.

There are other ways to prevent HIV, including preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication taken daily if at risk for infection. Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is medication taken within 72 hours of possible exposure to prevent the virus from taking hold.

If you do become infected with HIV, take your ART and visit your doctor as recommended. Remember; ART enables people with HIV to live healthy, productive lives. It also serves to prevent further spread, reducing the risk of onward transmission by 96 percent.

Patti DiPanfilo

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia, a group of disorders characterized by brain changes that lead to a decrease in memory, language, problem-solving and thinking abilities, as well as behavior changes that can impair your daily functioning. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases.

Alzheimer’s disease is more common in older adults. It is estimated that 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease today. And unless a cure or a way to prevent the disease is discovered, the number of American affected by it could balloon to nearly 14 million by 2060.

According to the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the US. But, other recent data suggest it may be the third leading cause of death, just behind heart disease and cancer.

Alzheimer’s disease most often affects people 65 and older, but it can also affect people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. This is called early-onset Alzheimer’s disease or younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease. This type affects about 5 percent of all people with the disease or around 200,000 US adults under age 65.

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown, but certain factors increase your risk for developing the condition. Risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease include: Age, family history, genetics (certain genes have been linked to both late-onset and early-onset forms of the disease), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and obesity.

Among the complex brain changes that occur with Alzheimer’s disease, the development of the condition is associated with an abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain called beta-amyloid and tau. It is believed that amyloid protein builds up and forms masses called plaques and twisted fibers of tau form into tangles. These plaques and tangles interfere with communication between brain cells, which prevents normal brain function and leads to symptoms.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease generally present gradually, and the effects on the brain are degenerative. This results in a slow, progressive decline in your condition. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:

• Memory loss that impacts daily life
• Inability to learn new things
• Trouble with familiar tasks
• Difficulty with problem-solving
• Trouble with speech or writing
• Disorientation with time or places
• Impaired judgement or reasoning
• Difficulty recognizing family or friends
• Changes in mood and personality
• Difficulty sleeping
• Impulsive behavior
• Withdrawal from friends, family and community
• Hallucinations, delusions or paranoia

Alzheimer’s disease can be definitively diagnosed only after death, when the doctor can actually visualize the plaques and tangles in your brain tissue. Your doctor can make a presumptive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease while you are alive.

There is no single test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. Your doctor will begin by asking you about your experiences, symptoms and medical history. The doctor will perform a physical and neurological exam to rule out other medical causes for your symptoms such as infection or stroke.

Your doctor may order imaging tests to get a clearer picture of your brain. These tests may include CT, which can show abnormal characteristic in your brain; MRI, which can reveal inflammation and bleeding, as well as structural issues; and PET, which can help your doctor detect abnormal activity in your brain.

Blood tests may also be recommended to look for specific genes that are linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Currently, there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but there are medications that can help ease the symptoms and temporarily delay disease progression. Donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Razadyne) work to maintain high levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine helps nerve cells communicate so the brain functions better. These medications are often used in early to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

If you have moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease, your doctor may prescribe memantine (Namenda), which helps block the effects of glutamine. Glutamine is a brain chemical that is released in high amounts in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Glutamine damages brain cells; blocking it keeps brain cells healthier.

Many people with Alzheimer’s disease experience behavior-related symptoms as well, such as depression, anxiety, restlessness, aggression, agitation, paranoia and hallucinations. Your doctor may prescribe antidepressant, antianxiety, anticonvulsant or antipsychotic medications to treat these symptoms.

Unfortunately, there’s no sure-fire way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but practicing healthy lifestyle habits may help you avoid cognitive decline. The following measures have been suggested: quit smoking, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, eat a plant-based diet, consume more antioxidants, try cognitive training exercises and maintain an active social life.

The prognosis for people with Alzheimer’s disease varies from person to person. On average, people with Alzheimer’s disease live four to eight years after diagnosis, but some can live as long as 20 years after diagnosis.

November is American Diabetes Month. Let’s get up to speed on this common disorder.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition that affects how your body uses food for energy. When you eat, your body breaks down the food into a simple sugar called glucose, which enters your body’s cells with the help of insulin, a hormone produced by special beta cells in your pancreas. When the amount of glucose in your blood increases, it signals the pancreas to release insulin.

With diabetes, either your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or your body stops responding to the insulin made, a condition called insulin resistance. When this occurs, too much glucose accumulates in your blood, called hyperglycemia. Untreated hyperglycemia can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and vision loss.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 34.2 million US adults have diabetes, and one in five don’t know they have it. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the US and the number one cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputations and adult blindness. The number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled in the last 20 years.

There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the beta cells in your pancreas, so no insulin gets produced. The reason for the attack is not known, but genetics may play a role. It’s also possible that a virus sets off the immune system’s attack.

Type 1 diabetes is most often diagnosed in children and teens but can occur at any age. People with this type of diabetes must take insulin every day to stay alive.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body develops insulin resistance and glucose builds up in your blood. It’s the most common type of diabetes, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of diabetes cases. You can develop Type 2 diabetes at any age but it’s most often diagnosed in people ages 45 and older. A combination of genetics and lifestyle factors are believed to cause this type of diabetes.

You are at a greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes if you are overweight; have a family history of diabetes; have a family history of high blood pressure; have had gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds; are African-American, Native-American, Latin-American or Asian-Pacific Islander or live a sedentary lifestyle.

In many cases, Type 2 diabetes can be managed by controlling your weight, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Sometimes, people with Type 2 diabetes must take medication or inject insulin to control their blood glucose levels.

Gestational diabetes occurs in women who are pregnant and usually resolves after they give birth. It develops when the placenta produces hormones that make your cells less sensitive to the effects of insulin. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby is at a higher risk for health problems, such as excessive birth weight, early (preterm) birth, breathing problems, low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) and even stillbirth.

Further, you and your baby are at a greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Treatment for gestational diabetes typically includes special meal plans and scheduled physical activity. You may have to inject insulin if you cannot manage your glucose level with diet and exercise alone.

If you have any type of diabetes, it’s important that you check your blood glucose level frequently throughout the day.

Prediabetes is a condition in which your blood glucose level is elevated but not high enough to warrant a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. In the US, 88 million adults, more than one in three, have prediabetes, and 84 percent of them don’t know they have it. Having prediabetes raises your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Each type of diabetes has its own symptoms, but there are some general symptoms. These include increased hunger, increased thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, blurry vision, extreme fatigue and sores that don’t heal.

There are certain blood tests your doctor will use to make a diagnosis of prediabetes and diabetes. The fasting plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose after you’ve not eaten anything for eight hours. The A1c test provides a view of your blood glucose levels over the previous three months.

The glucose challenge test checks your blood glucose level an hour after you drink a sugary liquid, and the glucose tolerance test checks your glucose level after you fast overnight and then drink a sugary liquid.

Women who are pregnant are typically tested for gestational diabetes between the 24th and 28th weeks of their pregnancy.

If you eat a healthy diet, control your weight, exercise regularly and follow your doctor’s instructions for taking any medications, if required, you can successfully manage your diabetes and live a full and active life.

It’s October, and we all know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Look around. See all the pink ribbons? The color pink is a reminder to learn the basics of breast cancer and then get screened. And men, don’t think this doesn’t apply to you. Though it’s much more common in women, breast cancer affects men, too.

Consider these facts. About one in eight American women will develop breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Only lung cancer kills more women each year.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women in 2021. In addition, 49,290 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ) will be diagnosed. Sadly, about 43,600 women are expected to die from breast cancer this year.

Further, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 2,650 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in American men in 2021, and about 530 men will die as a result. A man’s lifetime risk for developing breast cancer is about one in 833.

Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast start growing uncontrollably. Most of the time, but not always, these extra cells collect and form tumors. These are the lumps that can often be detected in the breast on your self-exams or mammograms.

A new lump in your breast or armpit is one symptom of breast cancer, but there are others as well. You might notice thickening or swelling of an area of your breast, or irritation or dimpling of your breast skin. Look for red or flaky skin near the nipple, as well as secretions from the nipple other than breast milk. Changes in the size and shape of your breast, and pain in any area of the breast are other breast cancer symptoms.

If you have any of these symptoms, visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Breast cancer is the result of a mutation, or abnormal change, in the genes that regulate the growth and reproduction of breast cells. About 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancers are inherited, or caused by mutations passed on from your parents. The rest are caused by abnormal changes that occur as the result of aging and life in general.

That makes getting older a risk factor for breast cancer, one you can’t do anything about. Other risk factors for breast cancer you cannot control include getting your period before age 12 and menopause after 55, having dense breasts, having a personal or family history of breast cancer and having been treated with radiation therapy.

There are also risk factors for breast cancer you can control, things like being physically inactive, being overweight, drinking a lot of alcohol and taking hormones. In addition, having your first baby after age 30, not breastfeeding and never having a full-term pregnancy can also increase your risk for breast cancer.

You can’t change your age or your genes, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk for breast cancer. A few of these suggestions are no-brainers. We already know that we should maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly and limit our alcohol consumption to one drink a day.

These suggestions you may not have heard. For one, think hard and have a heart-to-heart discussion with your doctor about the risks of taking the Pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). They may not be right for you. If you have a baby, consider breastfeeding, if you’re able. If you have a family history or a genetic mutation, talk to your doctor about ways you can lessen your breast cancer risk.

With breast cancer, as with most cancers, early detection is critical to treatment success. It’s best to find it before the cancer cells have had a chance to invade the nearby lymph nodes and spread to other areas of the body. Maintaining a routine screening schedule can assist with early detection.

The first part of the screening process is regular breast self-exams. You know the look and feel of your breasts, so you’re likely to notice changes such as lumps, pain, or differences in size or shape. You should also get routine clinical breast exams by a doctor or nurse, who use their hands to feel for lumps in your breasts.

The next step is to get a mammogram. The American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines recommend that women begin yearly mammograms by age 45. They can switch to having mammograms every other year at age 55. If lumps are detected, your doctor may perform a biopsy to determine if their cells are cancerous.

If cancer is detected, there are many approaches to treating it. Doctors often use more than one approach on each patient.

Chemotherapy is a common approach. It uses drugs to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Surgery, called mastectomy, is often used to remove the breasts and the tumors. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays directed at the spot of the cancer to kill cancer cells. Unfortunately, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have uncomfortable side effects.

Doctors use additional treatment approaches including hormonal therapy, which doesn’t allow the cancer cells to get the hormones they need to survive. Another approach is biological therapy, which works with the immune system, your body’s natural defense against disease. Biological therapy helps the immune system fight the cancer. It also helps control the side effects of other cancer treatments.

Breast cancer is the subject of much research, and if you’re interested, you can participate in a clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and treatments. To find a clinical trial near you, ask your doctor or go to clinicaltrials.gov.

Now, you know the basics of breast cancer. Put on something pink and share what you’ve learned!

Lung disease kills 4 million people every year. It kills more people than any other disease worldwide. Lung disease is a broad term that encompasses multiple conditions that prevent your lungs from working properly. October is Healthy Lung Month. Let’s use this time to learn more about our lungs and some of the disorders that threaten their health.

Your lungs are a pair of air-filled organs located in your chest. Each lung is made up of smaller sections called lobes. Your right lung has three lobes and your left lung has two lobes. The lungs are part of your respiratory system, a group of organs and tissues responsible for bringing fresh air into your body and expelling waste gases, mainly carbon dioxide, out of your body.

There are many conditions that can affect your lungs, but they are typically divided into three main categories: airway diseases, lung tissue diseases and lung circulation diseases. Each group of diseases impacts the lungs in a different way.

Airway diseases primarily affect the tubes, or airways, that carry oxygen and waste gases into and out of the lungs. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, are examples of airway diseases of the lungs.

With asthma, your airways become inflamed and swell, and often produce excess mucus, making it difficult to breath. The most common conditions associated with COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to and from the air sacs, or alveoli, in the lungs. Emphysema involves the destruction of the alveoli. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD.

Lung tissue diseases affect the structure of the lung tissue. With these diseases, the lungs are unable to fully expand as you breathe due to inflammation and scarring. This makes it difficult for your lungs to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis are examples of lung tissue diseases.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the lung tissue becomes scarred, thickened and stiff. The scar tissue makes it difficult for the lungs to open up and take in air. With sarcoidosis, your immune system cells clump together and form granulomas, or small areas of inflammation. This can occur in any organ of your body, but it most commonly affects the lungs.

Lung circulation diseases impact the blood vessels in the lungs. They most often involve clotting, scarring or inflammation of the blood vessels. Pulmonary hypertension is a common lung circulation disease. Pulmonary hypertension develops when the pressure in the arteries leading from the heart to the lungs increases. If the pressure becomes too high, the arteries in the lungs can become narrow, restricting blood flow to the lungs.

Lung cancer is another common disease that affects the airways and tissues of the lungs.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the US. It makes up almost 25 percent of all cancer deaths. It is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the US, excluding skin cancer. In men, prostate cancer is more common, and in women, breast cancer is more common. People who smoke are at the highest risk for developing lung cancer.

Each lung disease has its own set of signs and symptoms, but there are some symptoms that are common to several disorders. These include: shortness of breath with activity; chronic cough; chest tightness; wheezing; rapid, shallow breathing; hoarseness; recurring respiratory infections and fatigue. In rare cases, lung cancer can grow into the nearby blood vessels and cause severe bleeding.

To determine if you have a lung disease, your doctor will perform a physical exam during which he or she will listen to your lungs and breathing. The doctor will review your personal and family history, including your smoking status, risk factors and the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor may use certain tests and procedures to help in making the diagnosis.

Tests and procedures your doctor may employ include: chest x-ray, CT scan, pulmonary functions tests, pulse oximetry, arterial blood gas, bronchoscopy and lung cancer screening.

Treatment depends on the type of lung disease, but it may include medications such as inhaled corticosteroids, which reduce swelling and inflammation of lung tissue, and oral or intravenous medications. Treatment for lung cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy.

There are some steps you can take to reduce your risk for lung disease and keep your lungs healthy:

• Don’t smoke – Smoking cause chronic inflammation in the lungs, destroys lung tissue and may trigger changes that develop into lung cancer.
• Avoid exposure to indoor pollutants – Secondhand smoke, chemicals in the home and workplace and radon can cause or worsen lung disease.
• Minimize exposure to outdoor pollutants – Avoid being outdoors for long periods when pollution is high and air quality is poor.
• Prevent infection – Wash your hands often and avoid crowds during cold and flue season. Get vaccinated against the flu and ask your doctor if the pneumonia vaccine is right for you.
• Exercise – Regular physical activity can help keep your lungs – and heart – healthy.

Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited disorders affecting the red blood cells. Healthy red blood cells are disc-shaped and smooth, and glide easily through even small blood vessels to provide oxygen to the body’s tissues. Red blood cells affected by sickle cell disease are rigid, sticky and crescent-shaped, resembling the farm implement called a sickle.

The exact number of people living with sickle cell disease in the US is unknown, but it’s estimated that approximately 100,000 Americans, mainly African-Americans, are affected. The disorder occurs in about one out of every 365 Black or African-American births and one out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births.

People with sickle cell disease have abnormal hemoglobin, called hemoglobin S, or sickle hemoglobin, in their red blood cells. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen from the lungs through the arteries to the rest of the body. Sickle cell disease is caused by mutations to the beta globin gene that helps make hemoglobin. To have sickle cell disease, you must inherit two defective genes, one from each parent.

There are several types of sickle cell disease. The most common is HbSS. This type is also called sickle cell anemia. It is typically the most severe form of the disease.

People with sickle cell disease typically start to show signs of the disease during their first year of life, usually around 5 or 6 months of age. Signs and symptoms are different for each person and can range from mild to severe. Early signs of sickle cell disease include jaundice (a yellowish color to the skin), fatigue or fussiness, and painful swelling of the hands and feet.

Sickle cell disease can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. It is generally discovered at birth during a routine newborn screening at the hospital. Doctors can also diagnose sickle cell disease before a baby is born using a sample of amniotic fluid or placental tissue. The prenatal screening looks for the defective beta globin gene rather than abnormal hemoglobin.

Couples who are planning to have children and know that they carry the sickle cell gene mutation may want to meet with a genetic counselor to discuss the potential risks as well as their options.

Early diagnosis is important to help prevent complication of sickle cell disease. Complications develop when the sticky, sickle-shaped red blood cells clog the blood vessels. This can result in episodes of pain and cause the organs and tissues to be deprived of the oxygen they need to survive, damaging them. In addition, sickle cells have a much shorter lifespan than healthy red blood cells, and the body typically cannot make enough new cells to keep pace. This results in anemia.

Other potential complications of sickle cell disease include increased infections, leg ulcers, bone damage, joint problems, vision problems, heart problems, chronic pain, gallstones, developmental delays and stroke.

Currently, the only cure for sickle cell disease is a blood and bone marrow transplant. But there are treatments available to manage symptoms and complications, including chronic pain. Your doctor may recommend certain medications or transfusions to help with this.

Voxelotor is an FDA-approved medication for treating sickle cell disease in adults and children 12 years and older. It prevents red blood cells from forming the sickle shape and binding together, thereby decreasing the destruction of red blood cells and lowering the risk for anemia. It also improves blood flow to the organs.

The FDA approved another medication called crizanlizumab-tmea for adults and children 16 years and older with sickle cell disease. It is given by IV and it helps prevent blood cells from sticking to blood vessel walls and causing blood flow blockage, inflammation and pain.

Hydroxyurea is an oral medication that has been shown to reduce or prevent sickle cell disease complications. It is used in adults and children but not in pregnant women. Hydroxyurea can cause the blood’s white blood cell or platelet count to drop, or in rare cases, cause anemia to worsen. These side effects typically go away when the medication is stopped. After that, your doctor will usually prescribe a lower dose to avoid the side effects.

Your doctor may recommend a whole blood or red blood cell transfusion to help provide more healthy red blood cells to your circulatory system.

Sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in connective tissue, the tissue that holds the body together. Connective tissue is located everywhere in the body, so sarcoma tumors can arise anywhere. But they most often form in the bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage, nerves, fat and blood vessels of the arms, legs, chest and abdomen.

There are two main types of sarcomas: soft tissue sarcomas and bone sarcomas, also called osteosarcomas. There are many different subtypes of soft tissue sarcomas based on the tissues in which they originate, but these cancers share certain microscopic characteristics, produce similar symptoms and are typically treated in the same ways.

Osteosarcoma is a primary bone cancer; it develops in new tissue in growing bone. Many other cancers found in the bones are cancers that have spread, or metastasized, from other cancerous organs, such as the breast, kidney, lung, prostate and thyroid. Osteosarcoma often affects the long bones of the arm or leg, or the bones of the pelvis. Osteosarcomas are most commonly diagnosed in children.

Sarcoma is rare in adults, accounting for about 1 percent of all adult cancers, but rather common in children, making up about 20 percent of childhood cancers.

The American Cancer Society estimates about 13,460 new soft tissue sarcomas will be diagnosed in the US in 2021 and about 5,350 Americans will die from the cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 3,610 people of all ages in the US will be diagnosed with primary bone sarcoma this year, with an estimated 2,060 deaths.

The cause of most sarcomas is unknown, but several factors have been identified that put you at a higher risk for developing a sarcoma. These include a history of radiation therapy; history of genetic disorders such as neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, Li-Fraumeni syndrome or retinoblastoma; exposure to chemicals such as phenoxyacetic acid in herbicides and chlorophenols in wood preservatives; and history of lymphedema (swelling) in your arms or legs.

Sarcoma symptoms vary depending on the type of sarcoma and where in the body it develops. Often, it causes no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. The first sign may be a painless lump under the skin, but as the lump grows, it may press against nerves or muscles and cause pain. You may experience trouble breathing if the tumor is located in your chest or abdomen.

Symptoms of osteosarcoma include intermittent pain in the affected bone, which may be more intense at night; swelling; fever; a fracture for no apparent reason; and a limp if the tumor is located in your leg. If your child experiences bone pain that doesn’t get better, gets worse at night, or is in one arm or leg rather than both, see a doctor for an evaluation.

Adults who experience this type of pain should visit a doctor eight away.

To diagnose sarcoma, your doctor will first perform a thorough medical history and physical examination. Your doctor may also order certain tests to help in making a diagnosis. These tests may include x-rays, CT or MRI scans, bone scans, PET scans and/or biopsies.

The most common forms of treatment for sarcomas are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Most sarcoma tumors are removed with surgery. The goal is to remove the tumor and a safe margin of healthy tissue surrounding it so that no obvious or microscopic cancer cells remain.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells. It may be used before surgery to shrink tumors or after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may have been left behind. Radiation therapy can be internal (placed inside the body) or external (delivered by a machine outside the body).

Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment that uses anti-cancer drugs to kill or slow down the growth of rapidly multiplying cancer cells. It may be used with radiation therapy before surgery to shrink tumors or after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy is also used when the cancer has metastasized to other areas of the body to reduce pain and discomfort.

The outlook for people with sarcomas depends on several factors including the type, extent and location of the cancer. Many people live for longer than five years after diagnosis and thanks to new medical discoveries, the survival rate continues to improve. As with other cancers, your outlook is better if the sarcoma is diagnosed and treatment is started when the cancer is in its early stages.

Unlike other types of cancer, lifestyle factors such as exercise and diet don’t appear to play a significant role in the development or prevention of sarcoma. But adopting healthy lifestyle habits is still a good idea for maintaining your overall health, so do it anyway!

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver, and when your liver is inflamed, its ability to function can be compromised. Hepatitis is most commonly caused by a viral infection, although there are other causes as well. We’re concentrating on viral hepatitis in this blog.

There are five known types of viral hepatitis classified as hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. In the US, the most frequently diagnosed, affecting an estimated 4.4 million Americans, are hepatitis A, B and C.

Each of these conditions is caused by a different virus: the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis A. B and C have similar symptoms but are spread in different ways and can affect the liver differently.

The most common symptoms of hepatitis include: dark urine, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), clay-colored stool, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, fatigue and aching joints. You may also feel sick to your stomach or have stomach pain. If you experience any or a combination of these symptoms, contact your doctor right away.

To diagnose hepatitis, your doctor will perform a physical exam and review of your symptoms. The doctor will use blood tests to check for the presence of the virus and may also use liver function tests to see how your liver is working, an abdominal ultrasound to look for liver damage or enlargement, or a liver biopsy to sample any abnormal areas of your liver and study them under a microscope.

Hepatitis A is usually a short-term illness that doesn’t lead to a chronic, or long-lasting, infection. The hepatitis A virus is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected. Hepatitis A, which is highly contagious, is commonly spread by eating contaminated food or drink. It can also be spread through close personal contact with someone who is infected, such as during oral-anal sex.

There is no cure for hepatitis A. Treatment typically consists of rest, adequate nutrition and fluids. In rare cases, people with hepatitis A require hospitalization. This type of hepatitis normally resolves within 2 months without having any long-term effects, and you will have lifelong immunity afterward.

Hepatitis B is spread through contact with body fluids such as blood, vaginal secretions and semen containing HBV. Your risk for getting hepatitis B increases if you inject drugs or if you have sex or share razors with someone who has it.

Some people with hepatitis B, particularly those who get infected as adults, are able to clear the virus from their bodies without treatment. For others, short-term hepatitis B progresses into a chronic, lifelong infection that over time can result in serious health problems such as liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer and even death.

When treatment for hepatitis B is needed, there are several medications currently available and others in development. However, people who start hepatitis B treatment may need to take medication indefinitely because these medications do not lead to a cure.

Hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver disease in the US and used to be the number one reason for liver transplants. The infection is chronic in 75 to 85 percent of people who have it, and 1 to 5 percent experience life-threatening complications, such as liver failure.

Hepatitis C is spread by coming into contact with the blood of a person who is infected with HCV. This can happen if you share drug injection equipment; have sex with someone who is infected; or share personal items such as razors, nail clippers or toothbrushes with an infected person. In addition, about 6 percent of infants born to infected mothers will get hepatitis C.

Treatment is recommended for all people including children three years of age and older and pregnant women with hepatitis C. Currently, treatment involves taking medication for a course of eight to 12 weeks. The cure rate with this therapy is more than 90 percent with few side effects.

To help prevent hepatitis, there are vaccines against hepatitis A and B, but there is no vaccine currently available for hepatitis C.