Radiation therapy is a common component of breast cancer treatment for patients. The high-powered beams of intense energy kill cancer cells and reduce the risk of the cancer recurring.

Dr. Laura Vallow, chair of the Radiation Oncology Department at Mayo Clinic in Florida, explains how innovation is transforming radiation treatments.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:05) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Patients with breast cancer now have more options when it comes to radiation treatments. The goal is to remove any remaining cancer cells following chemotherapy or surgery. 

"In other situations, we use radiation if the cancer is more advanced, or spread to the lymph nodes," says Dr. Vallow.

Advancements in technology allow healthcare professionals to treat patients more safely. One technique called "prone positioning" reduces the chance of beams targeting other organs. For this procedure, patients lie on their stomachs.

"We take advantage of gravity, the breast pulls away from the body, and we can treat the breast without exposing the underlying lung and heart to unnecessary radiation," explains Dr. Vallow.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is cutting-edge. Unlike traditional radiation, this procedure delivers X-rays directly to the targeted area from multiple angles, allowing for higher, more effective doses.

"Before intensity-modulated radiation therapy, we were not able to conform the dose around the chest wall," says Dr. Vallow.

For patients undergoing radiation therapy, it's crucial to stay hydrated and try to sleep well to fight fatigue. It's also important to use sunscreen after treatment.

Related Posts:

• Mayo Clinic leads 4 decades of advances in breast cancer care
• Mayo Clinic research improves dense breast cancer screening and early detection
• Top 10 questions about breast cancer answered
• Mayo Clinic treats first person in the US with a novel radiopharmaceutical therapy for breast cancer
• Mayo Clinic Minute: MRI for dense breasts — what to know
• Mayo Clinic Q&A: How to decide which breast cancer surgery is right for you
• (VIDEO) Back on the bench: Judge’s metastatic breast cancer journey inspires hope
• Mayo Clinic Q&A: What do you need to know about dense breasts?

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Radiation therapy for patients with breast cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

As respiratory infections rise in the fall months, washing your hands with soap and water is more important than ever. Regular hand-washing stops germs from spreading and lowers your chances of getting sick. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, before eating or cooking, and after coughing or sneezing.

Washing your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap is simple yet effective. It can prevent 1 in 3 cases of diarrhea and 1 in 5 respiratory infections. 

Dr. Summer Allen, a family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic, says staying healthy means fewer missed days from school, work and activities. Here are tips for good hand hygiene.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:03) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Twenty seconds. That's how long you should be using soap and water to wash your hands each time, says Dr. Allen.

"Using that lather and that soap and that time to scrub between each of their fingers on the insides and the backsides of their hands, and taking time — not just one or two seconds — and then rinsing your hands off again," she says.

When to wash your hands

There are some key times when you should wash your hands.

"When you're leaving the bathroom. Another important time would be if you cough or sneeze. We try to tell people to try to sneeze into your elbow or not into your hand," says Dr. Allen.

And when handling food like uncooked meat, poultry, seafood, flour and eggs, unwashed hands can spread germs and lead to foodborne illnesses.

"When you're touching and handling that food, it's important to wash your hands and wash surfaces when you're done so that you don't pick up one of those infections," she emphasizes.

If soap and water aren't available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is a second choice.

To properly wash your hands, follow these steps:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water.
• Apply any kind of soap, and lather well.
• Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, palms, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
• Rinse well.
• Use a clean towel to turn off the faucet and dry your hands.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Wash your hands for better health appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Dr. Richard Sharpe Jr., a Mayo Clinic radiologist, says it's crucial to talk with your healthcare team to find the screening method that is right for you. An MRI is one option. Reporter Jason Howland has more.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:00) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"The first thing to know if you get notified is that dense breast tissue is completely normal. 

Half of all women will have dense tissue," says Dr. Sharpe.

He says dense breasts are identified through a mammogram. Additional testing is the next step.

"The most widely available supplemental screening test for women with dense tissues is probably an ultrasound of the breast or an MRI," says Dr. Sharpe. "There have been lots of studies showing that MRI is the most sensitive test for finding breast cancer."

An MRI is meant to be used along with a mammogram, not instead.

"MRI is the most sensitive test we have for finding breast cancer. It can see through density. It can find hard-to-see, small cancers," says Dr. Sharpe.

But it's not for everyone. You'll lie face down on a table and then guided into the MRI machine."Some patients that have challenges with claustrophobia might struggle to be comfortable in the smaller space of the MRI scanner," explains Dr. Sharpe.

The benefit is clear, he says.

"Women with dense tissue or high risk for breast cancer that undergo breast MRI, we are able to see cancers that would be hiding from the mammogram."

Supplemental screening options

Other supplemental screening options include molecular breast imaging (MBI), ultrasound and contrast-enhanced mammography. 

Dr. Sharpe says choosing what screening method works for you is an individual decision that should be made with your healthcare team, but he says it's important to start with your annual screening.

"The most important thing for women to know is that you should get your annual mammogram, starting at age 40. Also, if you have dense tissue, consider a supplemental screening, another imaging test looking at the breast tissues in a different way — and you should get that exam regularly as well," he says.

"The most important thing for women to know is that you should get your annual mammogram, starting at age 40. Also, if you have dense tissue, consider a supplemental screening, another imaging test looking at the breast tissues in a different way — and you should get that exam regularly as well," he says.

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic leads 4 decades of advances in breast cancer care
• Mayo Clinic research improves dense breast cancer screening and early detection
• Top 10 questions about breast cancer answered
• Mayo Clinic treats first person in the US with a novel radiopharmaceutical therapy for breast cancer

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: MRI for dense breasts — what to know appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Dr. Shennen Mao, a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon, says having a diverse pool of organ donors will help serve a growing wait list of those in need.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:07) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

In the U.S., about 17 people die every day while waiting for an organ transplant.

Nearly 60% of people on transplant waiting lists come from minority communities, while about 30% of donors are people of color.

"Blood types and certain HLA, or antibodies, tend to correlate with various ethnic groups," says Dr. Mao. "So it is not directly related to a particular minority group; however, organs will end up with someone of a similar background because the better matched an organ is, the more longevity that organ has."

Higher rates of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are present in minority communities, contributing to more organ failures.

"The more people we can help the sooner through transplant, the better," says Dr. Mao.

She says living donors do not experience a change in their quality of life after surgery, but a recipient's life can change for the better almost immediately.

"If somebody is approved to be a living donor, we expect they will live a full and normal life following their donation process," says Dr. Mao.

In most states, signing up to be a donor after death can be done online or when registering for a driver's license or identification card. For a living donation, contact the recipient's care team or a transplant center for more information.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Why diverse organ donors are needed appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Bicycling is a great way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. Whether you're a recreational rider or a daily commuter, it's important to protect your hands and wrists. Dr. Sanj Kakar, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon specializing in hands and wrists, shares practical tips to prevent injuries while biking.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:08) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Whether you're a pro or biking for fun, there are common injuries all cyclists might experience.

"The first one is a traumatic injury if somebody falls off a bike," says Dr. Kakar. 

Common breaks from traumatic injury include wrist fractures.

"We also see overuse-type injuries. So, for example, we see patients where they're pressing on the brakes for too long, squeezing hard, putting pressure on their palm, and their hands sometimes fall asleep — called numbness and tingling," Dr. Kakar says.

He says it could be carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition you don't want to ignore.

"If you have numbness and tingling in the fingers, it is something I wouldn't ignore because if you have carpal tunnel, we worry about that," Dr. Kakar explains.

The numbness and tingling can become permanent and result in the loss of muscle strength

Prevent bike injuries

"There are simple preventive measures you can take," says Dr. Kakar. "Having thicker grips so you're not squeezing as hard can also help. Bike gloves help as well and sometimes puts your wrist in a better position than putting pressure on your palm."

You can't always avoid an accident, but you can make your ride safer by always wearing a bike helmet.

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Keeping kids safe outside during summer play
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Ultrasound therapy for pain following carpal tunnel surgery

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Tips to prevent injuries while biking appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:00) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Preventing a stroke is a crucial aspect of healthcare, as about 80% of all strokes are preventable. The focus is on managing risk factors to reduce the long-term risk of stroke.

A stroke results from a blocked or torn blood vessel that decreases blood flow to the brain. In the U.S., stroke is a leading cause of death and disability.

“Because about 80% of all strokes are preventable, we really focus on prevention,” says Dr. Stephen English, a Mayo Clinic neurologist.

Preventing stroke risks

Tips for lowering stroke risk include maintaining blood pressure under 130/80 and keeping cholesterol and blood glucose at appropriate levels.

"(Other modifiable risks include) things like smoking cessation, treatment of sleep apnea with a CPAP device, and some other potential treatments," he says. "We want to make sure that the risk factors are mitigated to help reduce the long-term risk of stroke."

There are risk factors for stroke that cannot be changed. These include age, sex, race and family history. “There are four nonmodifiable risk factors we typically think about. The first is age, so age greater than 55; males; people that have a family history of prior stroke; and then people that are of African American descent,” says Dr. English.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Preventing stroke appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

This dual procedure is especially helpful for patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. MASLD happens when fat builds up in the liver, often without symptoms. It's mostly caused by obesity — defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. In advanced stages, MASLD can lead to serious liver damage that requires a transplant.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (01:09) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease is the most common liver disease, not only in the United States but worldwide," says Dr. Heimbach.

As obesity rates rise, so does the need to treat patients with MASLD.

"When we have excess fat that builds up in the liver, this can lead to inflammation and scarring and even advanced liver disease," she says.

It won't cause complications for everyone, but, for some, it can progress to cirrhosis.

"When a patient develops cirrhosis, they can then need a liver transplant," Dr. Heimbach says.

And having extra weight can be a reason patients might not be eligible for transplant. At Mayo Clinic, the approach is to help patients with obesity as well as transplant.

"We consider both liver transplant and what's called a sleeve gastrectomy, which is a type of weight-loss operation that can be used as a tool to help patients be successful in managing not only their liver disease with a liver transplant, but their obesity with the sleeve gastrectomy," Dr. Heimbach explains.

The procedures are done simultaneously with multiple teams working together. Dr. Heimbach says it's about providing patients the care they need.

"I'm excited about what transplant offers to all of our patients, which is to be able to return to the life that they had before they got sick. And for patients who were carrying extra weight, not only are they healthy again, but now they're able to really fully enjoy and be fully participating in their life," she says.

Additional Resources:

• Study finds long-term health benefits from bariatric surgery and liver transplant

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Dual procedure combines liver transplant, bariatric surgery appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:00) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Imagine if your one life could help save the lives of many. Organ donation has the power to transform a single act into the gift of life for countless people in need.

"This tremendous gift of organ donation can make a new life possible for patients who are waiting for transplant, and there is a critical shortage of available donor organs," says Dr. Heimbach.

The need for living organ donors

As the need for kidneys and livers grows, living donation is becoming an increasingly important option for patients waiting for a transplant.

"The primary benefit of living donor transplant is to be able to go ahead to transplant sooner, so patients don't continue to wait on the list, become more sick, have a risk of dying on the list," she says.

Whether you consider being a living or a deceased donor, it's important to ask questions and plan ahead. 

"It's very important to make your wishes known, talk it through with your family and recognize that all of this is possible because of this remarkable altruism," Dr. Heimbach says.

If you want to be an organ donor, you can sign up for your state's donor registry, mark your choice on your driver's license when you get or renew it, and make sure your family knows you want to be an organ donor. 

Read more about living donor transplants.

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Liver transplant for patients with advanced colorectal cancer
• Mayo Clinic Minute: What to expect as a living kidney donor

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Become an organ donor and save lives appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

In the U.S., it’s estimated that 4.5 million adults are diagnosed with chronic liver disease. It develops over time and may be caused by a number of conditions including, hepatitis, genetics, alcohol overuse or cancer. Chronic liver disease is different than acute liver disease, which can come on quickly and may be the result of an injury or a virus.

Regardless of the cause, Dr. Bashar Aqel, a Mayo Clinic transplant hepatologist, says when the liver can no longer function, a life-saving transplant may be needed.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:17) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

The liver is the largest internal organ of the body. It is essential for metabolism, digesting food and ridding the body of toxic substances. Liver failure can happen quickly, or over time.

"Once liver disease advances, the only way we can reverse the process and give the patient their life back is by replacing the liver, " says Dr. Aqel.

When patients become a candidate for a liver transplant, they are added to a waitlist. Unfortunately, there are more people waiting for a liver than there are available organs.

"As the patient is waiting on the list, they usually are anxiously waiting for that call when a donor becomes available. And that's what we call the deceased donor liver transplantation."

Another option is a living liver transplant. It's a major surgery where a person donates two-thirds of his or her liver. Donors needs to go through an extensive evaluation to make sure they can donate safely.

"A healthy liver is able to regenerate, and you will be surprised to know that with living donor liver transplantation, both segments of the liver will grow back to almost the normal size within 90 days after transplantation."

Being a living organ donor may not be an option for everyone, but there are ways to people can sign up to be an organ donor. It can be as easy as checking a box on your driver's license.

"Donating your organs is really donating the gift of life to people who are in urgent need for organ transplantation," Dr. Aqel says.

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a nonpatient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

The post (VIDEO) Why more liver donors are needed appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Dr. Denise Harnois, a Mayo Clinic transplant hepatologist, explains how this innovative strategy is expanding treatment options and improving outcomes.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:13) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Learning you have advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver can be scary. In some cases, a liver transplant may offer hope, providing better outcomes when other treatments aren't an option. 

"In those circumstances where patients have colon cancer that's gone to the liver that doesn't seem to be anyplace else within the body, but they're not eligible for consideration of doing a surgical resection — in those circumstances, we can consider replacing the entire liver, and that involves a liver transplant," explains Dr. Harnois.

It's a complex surgery requiring experts from multiple teams working together.

"We're working together as a team to make sure we are offering the best options for the potential for cure for these patients," she says.

Liver transplants have greatly improved survival rates. One-year survival is 80% to 100%, three-year survival is around 80%, and five-year survival is between 60% and 80%.

"Without consideration of liver transplant, their five-year survival rate would have been 15%. So we can offer a dramatic improvement in survival rates in patients that undergo liver transplant," says Dr. Harnois.

Related posts:

• Liver transplants offer new hope for colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis
• Mayo Clinic Q and A:  Understanding colorectal cancer
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Warning signs of colorectal cancer in younger adults
• Innovative treatments for rectal cancer

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Liver transplant for patients with advanced colorectal cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.