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Breast cancer is a very common type of cancer that affects both women and men — but that doesn’t make it any less scary. This type of cancer can strike at any time, which leaves you feeling vulnerable. However, there are steps you can take to detect early signs of the disease.

At Hunterdon Oncology Hematology, we help you not only understand your specific type of cancer, but all of your treatment options as well. Our board-certified team of oncology and hematology specialists also assists you with breast cancer detection through self breast exams.

Why self exams are important

Self breast exams are the number one way you can stay on top of your breast health — and detect changes as early as possible. Although your doctor usually performs these exams once a year, that isn’t enough to stay ahead of cancer.

So how often should you be performing a breast exam? The simple answer is every month. The best time to do this is after your menstrual cycle, because your breast tissue won’t be swollen and sensitive.

If you no longer have a menstrual cycle, your periods are very sporadic, or you’re a man, you can simply pick the same day every month to do your exam. To make it easy, either pick the first day of each month, or a number that’s special to you so you don’t forget.

How to perform a breast exam

A self breast exam involves you visually inspecting your breasts, as well as feeling each breast for any abnormalities. To perform the visual part of your exam, you’ll want to be in front of a mirror, topless and without a bra. Stand with your hands down at your side, and look for:

Changes in size
Changes in shape
Symmetry
Dimpling or puckering
Inverted nipples

You’ll also want to put your hands on your hips, as well as raise your arms over your head to check for any of the above changes. In addition, make sure to lift each breast and inspect the underside for any abnormalities.

Once you’ve performed the visual exam, manually check your breasts with your fingers for any lumps or changes in your breast tissue. You can do this either in the shower or by lying down on a bed or sofa.

Lying down helps you more easily feel for changes because it allows your breast tissue to flatten out, making a lump more discernible. In the shower, it’s also easier to do a breast exam, because your fingers glide more easily over your breast tissue when you’re lathered with soap and water.

Make sure you manually examine each breast completely. Not only does this help you detect any changes, but it also makes you familiar with how each breast feels, so that each month potential abnormalities are easier to find.

Tips to help you with a self exam

Although self breast exams aren’t necessarily difficult, there are some tips you should learn to make the whole experience a lot easier. Tips that help you detect changes in your breast tissue include:

Use the pads of your fingers

The pads of your fingers are pretty sensitive, making them ideal for finding lumps in your breasts. Use your index, middle, and ring fingers to do your manual exam. If you don’t have good feeling in your finger pads, you can also use your palm or back of those three fingers.

Change your level of pressure

Using different levels of pressure allows you to feel the different depths of your breast tissue. Use a lighter touch to feel the top layer of tissue, and use a heavier touch to feel the tissue closer to your chest wall.

Try not to rush

Self exams only take a couple of minutes, and rushing to get the exam done could lead to missed breast tissue changes. Take your time to do it properly.

Use a pattern

Following a certain pattern during your self exam makes your monthly routine go much more smoothly. It also helps you make sure you check every inch of your breast tissue. You could start at your nipple and move outward, or you could begin at your collarbone and work down.

If, during your exam, you notice any abnormal changes in your breast tissue, contact our office as soon as possible to schedule a consultation. Although lumps don’t always mean cancer, it’s best to rule it out rather than wait too long.

If you need more information or have been diagnosed with breast cancer, call our office in Flemington, New Jersey at 908-264-1798 to make an appointment. You can also reach out to us by using our online booking tool.

Fighting cancer is a full-time job all in itself, and the treatments can be harsh and physically draining. You’ve probably heard about chemotherapy and radiation therapy as treatment options at your appointments, but have you ever heard of immunotherapy?

At Hunterdon Oncology Hematology, our goal is to help you fight off cancer with the most up-to-date treatments. Our esteemed team of doctors specializes in many forms of cancer treatment, including immunotherapy, which fights your cancer with your own immune system.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight off cancer cells in your body. The term immunotherapy encompasses several forms of treatment that essentially boost your immune response to better find and kill cancer cells.

Your immune system is made up of white blood cells, along with tissues and organs within your lymphatic system. One purpose of your immune system is to seek out and kill abnormal cells within your body that could potentially turn into cancer.

The problem with cancer cells is that they’re able to avoid your immune response in a number of different ways. One way is by changing their genetic code to be less visible to your immune system.

Cancer cells are also able to alter cells around your tumor, which makes it harder for your immune cells to find and attack them. They’re very good at disguising themselves.

Types of immunotherapy treatments

Our team offers many different forms of immunotherapy. Each one has a specialized way of helping your immune system attack the cancer cells that are making you sick. Some of the types of therapy we offer include:

Immune checkpoint inhibitors

There are checkpoints in your immune system to make sure you don’t constantly have an exaggerated immune response when you don’t need it. Immune checkpoint inhibitors block those checkpoints to allow your immune cells to overwhelm the cancer.

T-cell transfer therapy

This therapy is also known as adoptive immunotherapy or immune cell therapy. With this type of treatment, one of our doctors extracts the immune cells located within your tumor. In the lab, the best immune cells are separated from the rest and altered to make them attack cancer cells more aggressively. The lab grows a large amount of these T-cells, and then infuses them back into your body to fight off your cancer.

Immune system modulators

This type of immunotherapy increases your body’s own immune response to enhance the fight against your cancer cells. Essentially, this helps your immune system to not only seek out your cancer cells, but also to attack and kill them in large quantities.

Monoclonal antibodies

These antibodies are formulated in a lab and are made to detect specific parts of the cancer cells. In addition, antibodies can transport drugs and radioactive therapy to the cancerous tumor.

Treatment vaccines

These vaccines help to protect your body against diseases that cause cancer. The vaccine stimulates your immune system to protect your body and cells from being taken over by cancer cells.

The type of therapy that our doctors suggest depends on treatments you’ve already tried, along with the type and stage of cancer that you have.

Cancers immunotherapy can help treat

Immunotherapy is a very versatile treatment, meaning it can be used for a lot of different types of cancer. Of course, it may not be right for everyone, so discussing the treatment with one of our doctors is essential to finding out if it’s right for you. Some of the cancers that this type of treatment can help include:

Bladder cancer
Brain cancer
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Leukemia
Cervical cancer
Colon cancer

Immunotherapy doesn’t stop there; in fact, the list of cancers it can be used to treat goes on well beyond the above list. Like many other cancer therapies, though, it can have side effects. If our doctors are suggesting this type of treatment, it usually means that they believe the benefits considerably outweigh the side effects of the treatment.

If you think immunotherapy may be what you’ve been searching for, call our office in Flemington, New Jersey at 908-264-1798 to schedule a consultation. You can also reach out to us by using our online booking tool.

Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States, responsible for 104,610 new cases this year. It can be treatable if you know what to look for and detect it early. And even though it’s not fully preventable, there are steps you can take to lower your risk.

At Hunterdon Oncology and Hematology, we aim to keep you as healthy as possible while treating many types of cancer along the way. Our skilled team of oncologists and hematologists specialize in the most up-and-coming cancer treatments, to help you get your life back on track.

Risk factors for colon cancer

Cancer is a terrible disease that can attack at any age. While maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps to decrease your risk, you can’t change things like your family history, genetics, and age. Risk factors you can change include:

Obesity
Low-fiber, high-fat diet
Sedentary lifestyle
Smoking
Drinking alcohol

The above risks could eventually lead to gene mutations, setting you up for a tumor in your intestine. Many times, tumors start from a polyp in the lining of your colon. At some point, the cells in the polyp start to divide uncontrollably, becoming cancer cells.

These polyps can be found during routine colonoscopy screenings, and removed before they turn into colon cancer. That’s why the CDC recommends regular screenings for men and women from age 50 to age 75.

Symptoms to look out for

In the early stages of colon cancer, you might not have any symptoms. This definitely makes it hard for anyone to figure out that something’s wrong. However, as the cancer progresses, symptoms become more apparent. Symptoms in the earlier stages of colon cancer include:

Abdominal cramps
Diarrhea
Constipation
Bloating
Bloody stools

You may also notice a change in your bowel movements, including narrow stools or different colored stools than normal. As the disease progresses, your symptoms become more apparent. Late stage symptoms include:

Vomiting
Fatigue
Weakness
Weight loss

Changes in your stool at this stage last longer than a few weeks, and you might also feel as though your bowels don’t empty the whole way. Getting help as soon as you notice problems helps to increase the likelihood that treatment is successful.

5 tips to reduce your risk

Cancer definitely isn’t something that can be entirely prevented. However, you can make lifestyle changes that greatly decrease your chances of getting certain cancers, including colon cancer. The following are five steps you can take to reduce your risk:

1. Stop smoking

Smoking negatively impacts your health because of the toxins within the smoke. It can weaken your immune system, making it more difficult to ward off cancer cells. If you smoke, you’re more likely to develop colon cancer than someone who doesn’t. Quitting decreases your risk. If you need help quitting, reach out to our team, and we can help.

2. Get regular exercise

Along with its other added benefits of staying lean and fit, just 30 minutes a day of exercise can decrease your chances of developing colon cancer.

3. Eat healthy

According to the American Cancer Society, eating healthy foods like whole grains and vegetables reduces your risk of colon cancer. You should limit red meat intake, like beef and lamb, along with processed meats. A healthy diet paired with exercise is an easy step to take to ward off colon cancer.

4. Limit alcohol

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, alcohol is a carcinogen. Their studies show that overconsumption of alcoholic beverages increases your risk of developing colon cancer. On average, if you’re a man you should have no more than two drinks per day; a woman should only have one drink per day.

5. Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing colon cancer by 30%. This is due to the increased fat content in your body. A sedentary lifestyle leads to excess pounds, so getting active and modifying your diet will help cut your risk significantly.

One of the most important steps you can take to limit your risk for this disease is to get screened regularly. Our doctors will discuss with you how often you need to be screened, depending on if you’re at an average risk or a higher risk. Screening is the first line of defense, as it allows our team to find early signs of cancer and eliminate the problem.

If you’re interested in learning more about reducing your risk for colon cancer, call our office in Flemington, New Jersey at 908-264-1798 to schedule a consultation. You can also reach out to us by using our online booking tool.

Skin cancer is something everyone should be aware of over the course of a lifetime. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, and it’s important to know what it looks like so you can seek medical care as soon as possible to prevent its spread.

Here at Hunterdon Hematology Oncology in Flemington, New Jersey, our expert oncologists explain the warning signs — commonly known as the ABCs of melanoma — and risk factors so you can get proper treatment in its early stages.

Melanoma isn’t common, but it spreads easily

You mostly hear about skin cancer in the summertime, but even in the fall and winter months, it’s just as important to protect your skin when you’re outside. Melanoma isn’t the most common type of skin cancer, but it can be the most dangerous type because of how quickly it can spread to other parts of your body if not treated soon enough.

There are several types of skin cancer that begin on the top layer, or epidermis, of your skin. These include:

Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Melanoma skin cancers

Melanoma skin cancer begins in the cells in your skin that normally make melanin — the tan color in your skin. These cells are called melanocytes. When you spend time in the sun or on a tanning bed, the ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes skin damage, which makes melanocytes produce more melanin.

If your skin absorbs too much UV radiation, or you get a bad sunburn, mutations can occur in the melanocytes that prompt these cells then grow out of control. The result is melanoma skin cancer. If not treated, melanoma may spread out of control and form a mass of cancerous cells.

Who’s at risk for melanoma?

According to the American Cancer Society, melanin helps protect the deeper layers of your skin from the harmful effects of the sun. If you’re naturally darker-skinned, you have less risk of developing melanoma, but it’s still possible. Fair-skinned people and women under age 40 are in the high-risk categories for developing melanoma.

Other risk factors include:

Family history of melanoma
Weak immune system
History of sunburns
Excessive UV radiation exposure
Having unusual moles

People who’ve lived closer to the equator or in an area of high elevation also have a greater risk of developing melanoma.

Recognizing the signs of melanoma: Know your ABCs

Melanoma typically develops on areas of your body that have the most sun exposure, such as:

Arms and legs
Face and neck
Chest and back

You can also get melanoma on the soles of your feet, palms of your hands, or even in your fingernails. When you know what to look for, you can seek treatment and decrease your risk of melanoma spreading throughout your body.

The first signs of melanoma often appear as a change to an existing mole or the development of a new, unusual-looking skin growth. The letters ABCDE can help you determine if you should seek medical care for a potential melanoma:

A is for asymmetry

Examine the moles and blemishes on your body to see what shape they are. Do you notice a mole that is asymmetrical in appearance? Melanoma could look like a mole made up of different irregular shapes.

B is for border

Do you have a mole with an irregularly shaped border? If most of the freckles and spots on your skin appear round, but you notice one that has a jagged edge, for example, that is a sign that it could be melanoma.

C is for color

A third indication of melanoma is the changing or uneven color of a mole or growth on your skin. Melanomas come in a variety of colors, including blue-black, pink, red, or brown. A melanoma may even appear white.

D is for diameter

Moles larger than a quarter-inch in diameter may be signs of melanoma. Don’t ignore the size of a mole. It’s best to get it checked out by one of our expert physicians before it continues to grow deeper into your skin.

E is for evolving

Do you notice a mole that seems to be changing over time? Changes may include color, size, and irritation, such as itching or bleeding.

Preventing melanoma and other skin cancers

While there’s no guaranteed method of completely preventing melanoma and other types of skin cancer, you can take precautions to reduce your risk. These include:

Limiting your exposure to UV rays
Wearing sunscreen all year long
Staying in the shade
Wearing a hat and sunglasses
Avoiding tanning beds

It’s a good idea to perform self-exams regularly to note any new moles, changes to your skin, and other growths that may indicate the presence of skin cancer.

If you notice anything unusual when watching for the ABCs of melanoma, schedule an exam with the expert team at Hunterdon Hematology Oncology as soon as possible, so we can evaluate your skin, diagnose any problems, and recommend an effective treatment plan. Call our office at 908-264-1798 to book an appointment today.

Congratulations Dr. Shah! We are excited to announce that our very own, Dr. Megha Shah, has been published in the Journal Of Endocrine Health. This article contains information regarding the SAT-358 Hypercalcemia-Induced Altered Mental Status as the Primary Manifestation of Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma. If you are interested in learning more, read the article here.

If you were recently diagnosed with breast cancer, your head may be swimming and swirling with questions, that all boil down to this: What’s next? The breast cancer care professionals at Hunterdon Hematology Oncology, a part of the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, are able to answer that question in a uniquely powerful way. Hunterdon Hematology Oncology has an entire practice focused solely on breast cancer detection, treatment and eradication, and part of that charge will focus on answering your questions and putting your worries to rest.

First, a word about cancer survivability. “What are my chances, doctor? Am I going to survive?” And the answer today is very much more positive that it was 30 or 40 years ago. Today, the overall survivability rate for breast cancer is in the neighborhood of 70%. Scientific research and early detection techniques are improving the overall trends of both survival rate and quality of life, particularly for breast cancer.

Second, a few words about the treatment process for breast cancer. You may be confused about what you should do next, but the actual treatment process for breast cancer has a certain regularity about it: it usually requires radiation treatment or hormone treatment to shrink the size of the tumor, or chemotherapy, and/or surgery or some combination of these treatment modalities. It depends on the biology of the breast cancer tumor and varies by stage (I – IV).

A little more about cancer staging: Cancer treatment depends on the stage (severity of the tumor). Clinical stage is based initially on mammogram imaging and ultrasound imaging of the suspected tumor. Pathological staging is determined after surgery; after the tumor has been removed and a sample of lymph node tissue is taken. The cancer’s stage is based on the size of the tumor, and whether the lymph node is involved in (affected by) the cancer, as well as the grade of the tumor.

You also might be wondering whether it would be worth it to go to one of those national treatment centers that advertise on TV. The answer is no. Research data indicate no difference in outcomes between national and local cancer centers. First of all, the therapeutic approach for treating breast cancer is standardized across the entire country. Second, HHO specializes in the treatment of breast cancer. HHO has a team of excellent breast surgeons who are dedicated to treating only breast cancer patients. Patients at HHO are assigned a Nurse Navigator who helps the patient coordinate care, navigate the entire process and answer any questions the patient might have.

Also, getting treated locally at HHO has certain advantages over going to one of these large national centers. While getting the exact same level of care and specialization found at a national center, HHO provides a level of personalized attention and care that is difficult to find at a larger center. Being local means that if any issues arise, if you need to come back to the hospital, we are right here and can see you immediately. We offer genetics counseling, and you can come in and out to see him/her very easily. If you need to come in to get a blood count checked, we are right here. Need extra hydration? Ditto. Feeling extra-nauseous? Come on in. We also offer an oncology-certified dietician, with whom you can arrange a visit pretty much any time you want.

And finally, there are actually certain disadvantages to using a large national cancer center. If anything detrimental were to take place, a patient using a large national center might find themselves needing to go to a local ER, and there will be nobody there who is familiar with the patient’s case or will understand what is going on. This can actually be detrimental to their care.

To learn more about Hunterdon Hematology Oncology’s cancer care treatment center NJ visit our breast cancer care page.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this unprecedented time. While we maintain our commitment and dedication to patients and caregivers, we also continue our efforts to optimize the health and safety of our staff, providers, and patients. As such, we are pleased to announce the introduction of more comprehensive telemedicine visits through OttoHealth that will allow us to continue caring for you from your own homes.

When appropriate, patients can be scheduled for a virtual visit (which will include video) with a designated provider as early as this week. Visit notifications will be sent directly to your email or via text message and will include login instructions.

More information on the login process can be obtained at the OttoHealth Patient Resources page.

Please let us know if there are any concerns or questions regarding telemedicine or your care in general. For more information about our response to COVID-19, click here

We ask that you let us know prior to your appointment if you or a family member are you or a family member are exhibiting or experiencing signs associated with COVID-19 (coronavirus) in which case we may ask that you seek medical attention from your primary care physician. These include:

shortness of breath
fever
cough

If you have traveled to any of the known locations with confirmed cases of COVID-19 or have come in contact with anyone known to have the virus, please call our office prior to your appointment to determine if you need to be rescheduled.

Be assured that your health and well-being are extremely important to us, and we are taking all the necessary steps to ensure a safe environment for your care. Our staff will be screening all patients and visitors for any of the above symptoms, travel, and exposure history prior to being allowed into the waiting area.

The CDC is recommending the following preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including COVID-19 (coronavirus):

Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Stay home when you are sick
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular houseful cleaning spray or wipe

We will continue to monitor and update health advisories and policies as they are available.

We encourage you to visit these sites for information as well:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml

Our commitment to the safety of every staff member within our practice is unwavering. We will take care of COVID-19 patients and all patients following all the appropriate policies and procedures to keep them and our staff safe. That includes following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) evidence-based guidance for personal protective equipment. The WHO guidelines have been endorsed by the New Jersey State Department of Health and local health departments.

If you have a fever, cough, runny nose or respiratory infection please call our clinic to speak with a nurse and you will be given further instructions and precautions. You may need to be rescheduled or be seen for further evaluation.
If you have traveled to any of the known locations with confirmed cases of COVID-19 or have come in contact with anyone known to have the virus, please call our office prior to your appointment to determine if you need to be rescheduled.
Staff members at Hunterdon Hematology Oncology will screen visitors for symptoms, travel history and contact with others before they are allowed to remain in the waiting area.
As a reminder, to ensure the ongoing safety of our patients and staff, HHO has decided to begin visitor restrictions.
One caregiver or companion will be allowed with patients who require one as long as they pass our screening protocol.

Please recognize that these policies and practices may require alterations to adapt to new developments in the community and guidance coming from our advisory bodies for this rapidly changing situation.

For the most up to date information you can go to:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

https://www.tpchd.org/healthy-people/human-coronavirus

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml

Iron deficiency anemia is a condition where the blood has an insufficient number of red blood cells; it occurs when there is not enough iron in the body to produce them. The body uses iron to make hemoglobin, which is the primary carrier of oxygen within red blood cells. Since red blood cells are the carriers of oxygen throughout the body, not enough oxygen reaches the tissues of the body. This results in the two most common symptoms: tiredness and lethargy (lack of energy). The primary natural sources of iron are meat, dried fruit, and some vegetables.

What Are The Symptoms?

The most common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include:

tiredness
lethargy (lack of energy)
shortness of breath (dyspnoea)
palpitations (irregular heartbeat)

Less common symptoms include:

tinnitus, the perception of a noise in one or both ears, such as a ringing in your ears or in your head
a sore tongue
headache
pica, a desire to eat non-food items, such as ice or clay
an altered sense of taste
difficulty swallowing
feeling itchy

You may notice additional signs of iron deficiency anemia, such as:

painful open sores in the corners of your mouth
a pale complexion
dry, flaking nails
spoon-shaped nails
an abnormally smooth tongue

What causes iron deficiency anemia?

As mentioned above, iron deficiency is a condition where the body (the blood) does not contain enough iron to effectively convey oxygen to the body’s tissues.

There are several potential causes for this condition.

Blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract.

The most common cause of iron deficiency anemia is bleeding in the stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract). There are several causes of gastrointestinal bleeding:

Heavy, prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain-killing drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
Bleeding stomach or intestinal ulcers. An ulcer is an open sore in the lining of the stomach or intestines, caused when the acid in the stomach eats into and through the stomach or intestinal lining. This can cause significant blood loss, leading to iron deficiency anemia.
Cancer. Rarely, gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by cancer of the stomach or colon.

Causes in women

The most common causes of iron deficiency anemia in women are:

Menorrhagia, which is the name for a condition whereby women experience unusually or particularly heavy menstrual bleeding over several consecutive cycles. The heaviness of the bleeding causes the overall blood level to decline, triggering iron deficiency anemia.
Pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body requires extra iron to deliver the required amount of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the baby. Many women experience iron deficiency anemia because of this diversion of blood to the baby.

What complications can arise from iron deficiency anemia?

Generally, most people do not develop any serious complication from their iron deficiency anemia. But some people do, and here are the most common complications:

Tired/lethargic: Iron deficiency anemia can make you feel tired, weak and lethargic, making it more difficult to be productive and effective in the workplace. You might feel abnormally sleepy, and find it difficult to exercise normally.
Weakened immune system. Severe iron deficiency anemia can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to colds, the flu, and other illnesses, as well as infections.
Heart/lung complications. Severe anemia cases are at risk of developing tachycardia, which is an abnormally fast heartbeat, or heart failure, where the heart becomes unable to pump blood at its peak level of effectiveness. It has to work overtime to get the levels of oxygen where they should be.
Pregnancy complications. Women with severe iron deficiency anemia who become pregnant increase their risk for developing pregnancy complications during pregnancy and have a higher risk for post-natal depression.

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