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Radiation and surgery are local therapies, and as such have limited use for people with metastatic breast cancer. Instead, systemic treatments—treatments like hormonal therapies, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy, which address cancer wherever it happens to be in the body—are the mainstay of treatment. If metastases to your bones, liver, lungs, or brain are not causing symptoms, or if they don’t put you at risk for complications such as a fracture, they are usually treated as part of your general therapy for breast cancer with systemic treatments....

The purpose of medical ID (alert) jewelry—identification necklaces and bracelets with medical information inscribed on them—is to provide emergency health workers with information about any conditions you may have or other concerns that may be relevant to your care in the event you become unconscious or otherwise incapacitated. Medical ID jewelry has been around since 1953. Most emergency responders are trained to look for such a necklace or bracelet when triaging a patient....

A meniscus tear is common sports injury that affects the C-shaped cartilage in the knee. Pain from a torn meniscus is felt at the front or sides of your knee. You may be able to bear weight on the injured leg at first. However, the knee will swell and become increasingly painful over the course of a few days. Initial treatments for meniscal tears include rest, ice, compression, and elevation (R....

Myalgia is the medical term for muscle pain. Acute (short-term) causes of myalgia include muscle strains or overuse, infections, and vitamin deficiencies. Chronic (long-term) conditions can also cause muscle pain and soreness. These include fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression. Depending on the underlying condition, myalgia treatment may involve medication, self-treatment, and physical therapy. This article discusses what myalgia is and what can cause it. It also covers when to see a doctor and how myalgia symptoms are usually treated....

Chemotherapy may depress the neutrophil count and expose people being treated for cancer to a severe infection known as neutropenic sepsis. It is a risk of cancer treatment. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell. They fight infection. Neutropenic sepsis is especially dangerous because it occurs when the body’s immune system is weak. The symptoms of sepsis can include fluctuating blood pressure, respiratory distress, and unstable heart function. The infection requires treatment, and the systemic (whole-body) effects require intensive care....

Performance anxiety is a type of anxiety, or strong, excessive feeling of fear or worry, that is related to being able to accomplish something specific, or a fear of consequences of not being able to perform well. The term is commonly used to describe stage fright, which is stress or fear before performing or speaking in front of people. It is also sometimes used as a shortened version of the term sexual performance anxiety, which is a fear related to having sex....

Breathing is an automatic action that you perform without thinking, but it’s not a reflex you should take for granted. If you’ve ever lost your breath, you know it can be a frightening event. The minute you have to think about breathing, you intuitively know that something is off. Shortness of breath can affect anyone, including healthy people. It’s a subjective feeling, so its presentation differs from person to person. Shortness of breath, clinically known as dyspnea, is sometimes described as difficulty catching your breath, wheezing, or breathlessness....

People around the world are exposed to toxic chemicals called PFAS. Found in fast food packaging, some drinking water, and even non-stick pans, these chemicals can build up in the body over time and cause health issues. For expectant and new mothers, these foreign toxins may affect not only their health but the health of their children. Key Takeaways PFAS, a class of toxic chemicals, can lead to health issues in people exposed to them....

Sweat is a salty liquid that your skin’s glands produce. Sweating (also called perspiring) occurs when your body becomes heated and attempts to cool itself. As such, you might notice that you sweat on hot days, when exercising, when experiencing anxiety, or when you have a fever. This article explains sweat’s structure, function, and causes. It also covers conditions associated with sweat. The Production of Sweat Glands in your skin produce sweat....

Everyone will have to make healthcare decisions at some point in their lives, either for themselves, their family members, or both. These decisions, while difficult at times, will influence everything from overall well being to the quality of care you or your family receive. Even the cost of care is impacted by your decisions. For these reasons, taking the time to make the best possible decision is paramount. What’s more, people who work closely with their healthcare providers to make health decisions are happier with their care and the results they achieve....

In case you didn’t learn while growing up, mixing bleach and ammonia can kill you. When combined, these two common cleaning agents produce a chemical reaction that releases toxic fumes capable of anything from a sore throat to unconsciousness and death. This article details the gasses that are created when bleach and ammonia are mixed, the symptoms of exposure to the toxic gas, and how it is treated. It also explains what to look out for in cleaning products and what to do if you’ve been exposed....

What Is Ultravate? Ultravate (halobetasol) is a prescription topical medication applied to the skin to treat dry, red, and itchy skin, known as plaque psoriasis. It is a part of a drug class called corticosteroids. Ultravate narrows the blood vessels in the skin to prevent the overactive immune response that causes inflammation, while also reducing inflammation. With the use of Ultravate, a protein called lipocortin is released to block the production of chemicals that are responsible for the inflammatory response that causes red and itchy skin....

Bananas are commonly recommended during periods of nausea. They stimulate mucus production from the stomach lining, which acts as a barrier from acidic substances that can cause nausea. Bananas are also used to replenish potassium and other essential nutrients lost due to vomiting or diarrhea. Despite being easy to digest, people still can experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms when eating bananas. Potential causes of stomach discomfort experienced after eating bananas include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS, a common disorder causing abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, and other GI problems), a banana allergy, or fructose intolerance....

Coughing after eating could be the result of food going down “the wrong pipe” (aspiration) or a medical condition, such as a food allergy, acid reflux, an upper respiratory infection, pneumonia, or dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). Depending on the cause, the coughing may be occasional or frequent. The cough may be dry with hacking or wet with mucus and phlegm. Learn more about these and other conditions associated with coughing after eating, when to see a healthcare provider, and ways to prevent it from occurring....

Afrin is a brand name for an over-the-counter decongestant nasal spray containing the active ingredient oxymetazoline. It is used for the temporary relief of nasal congestion (“stuffy nose”) caused by conditions like the common cold, sinusitis, hay fever, and allergies. It can also be used to stop nosebleeds. You can find Afrin at almost any grocery store or pharmacy, and there are other nasal spray brands that also contain oxymetazoline. These include Mucinex nasal spray and Vicks sinus nasal spray....

An anal Pap smear (also called anal cytology) is a screening test for anal cancer. It’s performed by taking anal cell samples that are then sent to a lab and examined under a microscope. It looks for precancerous or cancerous cells but can’t make a definitive diagnosis. If the lab finds abnormal cells, further testing is necessary. The anal Pap does not test for colon or rectal cancer. The anal Pap smear is the counterpart of the cervical Pap smear, named after George Papanicolaou, the Greek doctor who invented the test in the 1940s....

Angiosarcoma is an incredibly rare type of breast cancer. This cancer is unlike other breast cancers as it does not start in the lobules or ducts of the breast tissue, but instead starts growing in the blood vessels or the lymphatic vessels in the breast. This type of cancer makes up only about 0.2% of breast cancers. Angiosarcoma is divided into two types: primary and secondary. Primary angiosarcoma develops for an unknown reason, while secondary angiosarcoma develops after someone has had radiation to the breast for a previously diagnosed, unrelated breast cancer....

Aphasia means you have trouble speaking, writing, or understanding language. Aphasia happens when a part of the brain that helps with language (the frontal lobe, the temporal lobe, or the parietal lobe) is damaged. Aphasia after a stroke is common but can also be caused by a traumatic brain injury, a brain tumor, or an infection of the brain. This article will focus on the three types of post-stroke aphasia. You will learn how each type of aphasia after a stroke is different and how post-stroke aphasia is diagnosed....

David Heath Cooper is a doctoral candidate in the department of sociology at the University of Kansas. His current research focuses on the Rights of Nature movement, which considers the rights of ecosystems and species. Cooper discusses how COVID-19 and climate change are linked, as well as how our responses to the pandemic—from individual to national levels—can serve as a model to cope with climate change. COVID-19 is the largest global crisis the world has witnessed in generations....

Cataract surgery involves removing the eye’s cloudy lens (located at the front of the eye) and replacing it with an artificial, clear lens. Most cataract surgeries are highly successful in restoring vision and improving other symptoms related to cataracts (i.e., decreased vision followed by decreased contrast vision–requiring more light to read). While effective and a relatively quick, painless, and low-risk surgery, there is a preparatory and recovery process involved. In addition, as with any surgery, there are potential complications to be knowledgeable about....