HPV and the HPV Vaccine: What You Need to Know

There are more than 100 strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Most are harmless, but some can lead to genital warts and cancer. But by getting routine pap smears and making sure you are vaccinated against HPV; you can significantly reduce your risk. Unfortunately, in recent years, the misinformation about HPV and the vaccine has increased thanks to social media, so it's important to distinguish truth from fiction. So here is what you need to know about HPV, how to prevent it, and whether the vaccine is right for you…

Medicine-Science, HealthJanelle KingJanuary 6, 2023HPV, SCIENCE, MEDICINEComment

Advice from Veteran Breast Cancer Specialist, Dr. Johnson-Miller

Recently, I had the privilege of talking to Dr. Denise Johnson-Miller, medical director of the breast program of El Camino Hospital in Northern California. As a leader in her field for more than thirty years, Dr. Johnson-Miller has practiced as a surgical oncologist, professor, and program director at many distinguished programs across the country including Rutgers and Stanford….

Medicine-Science, MedicineSarah ZimmermanNovember 16, 2022SCIENCE, MEDICINE, FEATUREDComment

The SEAM Guide to Contraception: A Comprehensive List of Your Options and Everything You Need to Know

In the United States, 99 percent of women who have been sexually active report having used some form of contraception at some point in their lives. As a result, birth control is championed as a groundbreaking innovation that provides women with reproductive freedom to prevent pregnancy or manage period symptoms. But with the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the landscape for reproductive liberties has shifted….

Medicine-Science, MedicineJanelle KingOctober 23, 2022MEDICINE, HealthComment

How to Communicate as a Healthcare Provider: 3 Patients Weigh In

For those who have received a diagnosis of cancer, or were present when someone else has, the memory of that moment sticks in strangely specific ways. We might recall the color of the wallpaper or the music on the radio, what we’d eaten that morning, or the smell of the hand sanitizer. And it’s common for the overwhelm of emotions in that moment to make it difficult to retain important information….

Medicine-ScienceSarah ZimmermanAugust 10, 2022MEDICINE, breast cancer, FEATUREDComment

What It's Like Getting a Preventive Mastectomy to Stop Breast Cancer Before It Starts: Living with BRCA

Elizabeth “Brianne” Lovin underwent a double mastectomy with breast reconstruction, a hysterectomy and a removal of both of her ovaries and fallopian tubes at age forty-one, not because she had cancer, but in order to prevent cancer. She is one of the approximately 0.25% of the population that carries a BRCA gene, a hereditary gene mutation that prevents normal tumor suppression…

Medicine-Science, Medicine, Her-Story, HealthSarah ZimmermanJuly 7, 2022HEALTH & WELLNESS, breast cancer, MEDICINE, mastectomy, BRCAComment

How to Advocate for Yourself when You Feel Unheard: The Truth about Medical Gaslighting

You trust your healthcare provider to help with your medical concerns. You rely on their experience and expertise to manage your symptoms. And you expect them to offer answers to your questions. But what happens when your questions go unanswered? Or worse, your provider dismisses your symptoms or tells you that you are fine — but you know something is wrong…

Health, Medicine-Science, Mental Health, LifeJanelle KingJuly 5, 2022MEDICINE, HEALTH & WELLNESS, FEATUREDComment

For Those with Long-Haul COVID, the Virus Was Just the Beginning

“I wish people understood the reality of long-haul COVID. It’s hard to fathom going from perfectly healthy to completely debilitated in a few short weeks or months, but it is happening all over the world. This is going to pose such a challenge to health care and economies for many years to come”…

Mental Health, Medicine-Science, MedicineSarah ZimmermanMay 30, 2022COVID, SCIENCE, MEDICINEComment

Five Birth Control Myths Debunked

There are so many myths and inaccuracies when it comes to contraception. Even though various methods are available and 72 million women in the United States use birth control, rumors about their safety and effectiveness persist. If you are hoping to delay pregnancy for a few more years or avoid it altogether, you should understand all of your choices. Unfortunately, this can be a little more than challenging when separating fact from fiction. So, let's set the record straight. Here are some common birth control myths and the truth behind them….

Medicine, Health, Health-Wellness, Medicine-ScienceJanelle KingJanuary 21, 2022HEALTH & WELLNESS, MEDICINE, ScienceComment

Have You Ever Wondered About Sarcomas? Meet: Dr. Brittany Siontis, Sarcoma Medical Oncologist at The Mayo Clinic

Dr. Brittany L. Siontis is a medical oncologist with a specialty interest in sarcomas. What are sarcomas? Sarcomas are a rare, insidious, and little-understood cancer that can affect adults and children alike. Often misdiagnosed, sarcomas can begin either in the bones or in the soft tissue. For that reason, they are very difficult to catch in their early stages. Dr Siontis currently serves as the Principal Investigator of several active clinical trials at Mayo Clinic through the Sarcoma Medical Oncology Group and works closely with the non-profit Rein in Sarcoma, a resource for patients and families touched by this disease….

Health, Medicine-Science, MedicineThe Seam Editorial StaffJanuary 18, 2022SCIENCE, MEDICINEComment

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