The good news is that lung cancer rates are dropping. The bad news is that lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths. Screenings can help doctors detect signs of lung cancer early, while the disease is most responsive to treatment. Lung cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both cells. As areas of abnormal cells...

Radiologists help doctors diagnose illnesses and evaluate the severity of injuries for millions of patients each year. Results of a new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital suggest that radiologists could also help clinicians identify cases of domestic violence. To do so, though, the radiologists must be aware of the subtle patterns that can sig...

Mental health issues, such as dementia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can significantly decrease the quality of life in the patients who suffer them. In many cases, the signs and symptoms of these mental health issues are quite similar; this can lead to incomplete or even inaccurate diagnoses. There is an association between dementia an...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and if you've been putting off having a mammogram performed, now is a great time to get it done. The American Cancer Society says women should begin having annual mammograms every year beginning at age 45, or earlier for women who have increased risks for breast cancer or who wish to have them performed bet...

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual event that increases awareness of the disease and promotes the early detection of breast cancer through mammography. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in 1985 when the American Academy of Family Physicians, AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation and several other sponsors collaborat...

(This is part 2 of a 2-part series on sports-related concussion injuries) A concussion is an injury to the brain that occurs when the brain "bounces" off the skull. While your skull and a thin protective layer of cushioning fluid provide some degree of protection against minor bumps, they can't protect against a forceful collision with a hard surfa...

MRIs and other types of diagnostic imaging could someday replace invasive biopsies currently used to identify patients who are at risk of developing kidney disease. The kidneys are two bean-shaped, fist-sized organs. They are located just below the ribcage, one on each side of the body. Each day, the kidneys filter 120 to 150 quarts of blood to pro...

About 54 million adults in the U.S. are affected by osteoporosis and osteopenia (low bone mass), conditions that significantly increase your risk for serious fractures, including spine, hip and thigh fractures that can wind up causing long-term disability, not to mention considerable pain. Although osteoporosis occurs most commonly in menopausal wo...