Author: Reyna Baker

Medically reviewed by Tesia McKenzie, M.D.If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you’ve probably heard people ask what stage it is. So, what does that mean?Breast cancer staging can be complex. But to keep it simple, it’s the process of finding out how much cancer is in your body. There are several different breast cancer staging systems. The most commonly used is called the TNM system. Staging includes pathologic staging (also called surgical staging) — which means analyzing tissue from the tumor and lymph nodes taken during an operation — and clinical staging, which looks…

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic health condition that typically affects people who are 20 to 40 years old. And women are twice as likely to have the disease as men. If you have MS, it can be a sometimes scary and uncertain diagnosis, but with the right treatment, you can help control symptoms. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about MS. What is MS? MS is an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue. In this case, it’s healthy nerves and myelin, which make up the protective layer covering nerve fibers in…

If you’ve decided to use birth control pills for contraception or other medical reasons, your next decision is which kind. We talked to Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Yale University School of Medicine and a member of HealthyWomen’s Women’s Health Advisory Council, about choices women have for birth control pills and how to choose the right one for your priorities and needs. How do combination and estrogen-free hormonal birth control pills work? There are two basic types of hormonal birth control pills, which are also called oral contraceptives. All of…

Many of us kick off the new year with new fitness goals. However, many of us are already bored with said fitness goals and scrolling through #FitTok for ideas and inspiration. Luckily, there are some fun, new workout ideas and trends out there. And research shows that trying something new can have significant mental and physical benefits. Here are four fun fitness trends to consider this year. 1. Say “yes” to a smart ring iStock.com/new look castingIt’s the year to put a ring on it. The smart ring industry is expanding with shiny new models and eye-catching features to track your…

Alex Fulton Alex Fulton has been working in the wellness field for more than 20 years. She has written extensively about integrative medicine, herbalism, supplements and other topics related to holistic health. Alex also focuses on issues related to women’s health, from menstruation to menopause. She has collaborated with physicians, midwives and functional medicine practitioners to promote natural approaches to health care for women. She has a BA in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Full Bio

Cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which include cervical, throat, head, neck, anal, penile and vaginal, remain a significant public health problem in the United States. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and an estimated 4,300 deaths from cervical cancer will occur in 2023 in the U.S.Fortunately, in addition to essential screening and early treatment, there is an HPV vaccine that protects against the types of HPV that cause most cervical and other HPV-associated cancers. This vaccine is a major advancement since it offers primary prevention against the infectious agent that is the main cause…

English Las estadísticas podrían sorprenderte: El cáncer de pulmón mata más mujeres en EE.UU. que cualquier otro tipo de cáncer. Aproximadamente 120,000 mujeres reciben diagnósticos de cáncer de pulmón cada año y aproximadamente 60,000 mujeres mueren por la enfermedad. Aunque el cáncer de pulmón frecuentemente se asocia a fumar, es importante saber que no fumadores también pueden tener cáncer de pulmón. Aquí encontrarás lo que debes saber acerca de los varios tipos de cáncer de pulmón y sus tratamientos. Hay tres tipos de cáncer de pulmón con muchos subtipos 1. Carcinoma pulmonar no microcítico (NSCLC)El carcinoma pulmonar no microcítico (NSCLC,…

Once the stuff of science fiction, gene and cell therapies are now saving and prolonging the lives of people with serious and fatal diseases.These cutting-edge treatments let doctors give patients a chance at a biological “do-over.” Cell therapies “reset” patients’ immune systems, while gene therapies change or delete genes that cause disease.Here’s what you need to know about what cell and gene therapy are and how they work. What are cell and gene therapy? Some people think gene therapy and cell therapy are the same thing, but there are important differences.With cell therapy, doctors insert new cells of a specific…

The statistics may surprise you: Lung cancer kills more women in the U.S. than any other cancer. About 120,000 women are diagnosed with lung cancer each year and about 60,000 women die from the disease. Although lung cancer is commonly associated with smoking, it’s important to know that non-smokers can get lung cancer, too.Here’s what you need to know about the different types of lung cancer and how they’re treated. There are three types of lung cancer with many subtypes 1. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) makes up 85 out of 100 of all lung cancer…

About 1 in 10 people over 65 have Alzheimer’s. And almost 2 out of 3 are women. Alzheimer’s disease begins years before symptoms appear and gets worse slowly.   At first, symptoms may not be noticeable, but they get worse over time.  Once diagnosed, people with Alzheimer’s live an average of 4–8 years, but they can live as long as 20 years.  Pay attention to small changes  Some early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s: Memory loss Challenges or problems with familiar tasks Misplacing items Confusion Social isolation Changes in mood Don’t delay If you notice any changes in memory or thinking,…