One of the first places to seek high quality cancer care is the National Institutes of Health’s list of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers. These centers offer some of the world’s best cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as conducting groundbreaking research. There are 72 hospitals on the list, so you can search for the experts in your type of cancer. This can be especially important if you have a rare or more advanced cancer, or are seeking clinical trials.

While many of us would like to be proactive at spotting potential skin cancer, images and descriptions alone are not enough. You’re not a dermatologist or oncologist with the expertise to look at a mark or rash on the skin and determine if it’s of concern. If you see a new mark that persists for a long time, or if an existing mark changes shape, size, color, texture, or bleeds, you should make an appointment with your dermatologist to get it checked. In addition, you should schedule a yearly skin check to have your dermatologist check you all over for any areas that could be problematic.

A cancer diagnosis triggers panic, and panic causes the part of your brain that makes critical decisions shut down. Understandably so. But this is no time to stop thinking. You need to take practical steps to inform yourself so you can feel in control of the decisions you make.

Are you having difficulty eating or feeling full quickly? Has it been going on for a while or getting worse? Are you worried this could be a symptom of ovarian cancer? It’s good that you’re paying attention because this can be a symptom of ovarian cancer. It can be difficult to tell the symptoms of ovarian cancer from other types of problems like digestive, so if you have this type of symptom, you want to make an appointment to see your OB/GYN to get checked out. This post will go over these symptoms, causes, and steps you can take to get to the root of the problem.

Abdominal bloating is one of the most common and recognizable symptoms of ovarian cancer. If you experience a feeling of fullness, tightness, or discomfort in your abdomen (belly), go see your OB/GYN to get it checked out. It’s easy to dismiss this symptom as having other causes such as food disagreeing with you, or IBS, or stress. And it’s possible any one of those things is the cause. But it’s also possibly gynecologic in nature. Ovarian cancer is called the “silent killer” because it’s often caught late, when it’s hard to fight. Knowing the symptoms and getting checked early is your best defense against this disease.

Do you know what the common signs are of potential skin cancer? Would you recognize the types of changes to your skin and associated markings Iike moles that could indicate a problem? Are you familiar with the different types of skin cancer and how dermatologists screen patients? As a two-time survivor of a rare form of ovarian cancer, I’ve learned that information and testing are the best weapons we have in the battle with cancer. This post will give you the basic introductory information all doctors would like you to know.

Do you know how to recognize the most common symptoms of ovarian cancer? Abdominal bloating, pelvic pain, urinary urgency… all are hallmarks of ovarian cancer that can easily be confused for something else. The reason ovarian cancer is so dangerous is because the symptoms are hard to recognize or may not be noticed until it’s fairly advanced. This article covers the most common and also rarer symptoms of this disease to help women recognize it earlier.

You don’t have to let the “silent killer” ovarian cancer sneak up on you. By paying attention to symptoms that aren’t so obvious, you can make sure to catch it early. One symptom is increased urinary frequency and urgency. While it may not occur to you at first, since that can have many causes, it’s important to go see your OB/GYN if you’re experiencing this symptom.

A cancer diagnosis is overwhelming for the patient and loved ones. There is so much fear, disbelief, and confusion that you may not know where to start taking steps to deal with it. The first steps are always to get as much information as you can to help make important decisions about selecting doctors, hospitals, and treatment options. This post includes some basic tips for where to get started getting answers—even when your brain feels scrambled or frozen with fear.

Changes in bowel function such as persistent or progressive constipation or diarrhea can be signs of ovarian cancer. While it’s not easy to talk about, and is easy to assume is due to other factors like IBS or digestive sensitivities, these can also be signs of ovarian cancer. If your bowel function has changed it’s important you see your OB/GYN to make sure the cause is not gynecologic in nature. Ovarian cancer is called the “silent killer” because its symptoms are hard to spot and it’s often caught late, when it’s harder to win the battle. Early detection is key, so get anything that’s happening in your abdomen or pelvis checked by an OB/GYN, even if it seem to be related to something else like digestion.

Any time you have persistent (doesn’t go away) or progressive (gets worse) pain, you should go see a doctor, no matter where it is on your body. If that pain is in your abdomen (tummy) or pelvis (lower region below your stomach), you need to see your OB/GYN. Period. End of story. There can be many reasons for abdominal or pelvic pain and you may rule out something gynecologic and go see a different doctor like a gastroenterologist (digestive system doctor). But this could be a symptom of ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, or vaginal cancer, so don’t wait. Get it checked out.

When you or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, you need reliable information fast. This website and The No Bull**** Guide to Dealing with Cancer will help you navigate the overwhelming journey from initial testing through active cancer, remission, and survival with brevity, clarity, honesty, and utility. As a two-time survivor, I know exactly how important that is and I, and my co-author, Dr. Mercedes Castiel, are here to help.