October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we’d like to talk a bit about breast cancer risk factors and risk reduction. Studies have shown that breast cancer is due to a combination of factors and some of these – like getting older – are unavoidable. Some women have risk factors and never develop breast cancer,…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Bloom Ob/Gyn is your go-to for breast cancer gene testing Knowing your genes helps you understand your risk Knowing your genes helps us individualize your breast cancer screening plan First, a bit of history The first breast cancer gene – BRCA1 (for BReast CAncer gene) – was discovered…
“If our goal is to be tolerant of people who are different than we are, then we really are aiming quite low. Traffic jams are to be tolerated. People are to be celebrated.” -Glennon Doyle Pride Month 2021: Exploring LGBTQ+ Health Disparities Pride Month is celebrated in June, a nod to the June 1969 Stonewall…
The recent COVID19 pandemic has us all thinking about vaccination as an essential part of how we protect ourselves and the people around us from disease. Despite some worries about adverse effects, vaccines are used around the world to combat a variety of diseases and infections which saves countless lives. Vaccine access varies considerably: where…
Thanksgiving is here! A day of indulgence, packed with calories from start to finish A diet destroyer and gut buster In spite of all the grief this holiday gets, the traditional Thanksgiving feast offers a great deal of health benefits. Staple items like turkey, potatoes, and stuffing all have their share of core nutritional values,…
Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month? And are you looking for information and resources about breast health? In this post, we keep you up-to-date and educated about breast health, including breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment. You need javascript enabled to view this content or go to source URL. You need…
Everyone should know how to start a conversation about STD testing with their partner or provider and everyone who is sexually active should be screened at some point. Sometimes testing isn’t necessary (sometimes it is) and sometimes it’s just best practice to make sure you’re healthy. But if it is recommended, and you do get…
There are moments in scientific discovery that are undeniably important in modern medicine and research. Take Andrew Fleming, for example, who mistakenly discovered Penicillin in 1928. Dr. Fleming returned from a two week vacation to find mold contaminating one of his bacterial culture plates. But he also noticed that this mold prevented the growth of…
Physical Therapist and guest blogger Jennifer Chu from ITR Physical Therapy weighs in: Have you heard of Kegel exercises? Gynecologists recommend them. Maybe you saw an evocative article in a women’s magazine. Have you ever discussed Kegel exercises among friends over a glass of wine? Maybe you’ve heard of these exercises, but what are they…
Should I Be Tested for Genetic Mutations Linked to Cancer? A Real-Life Example of Someone Who Said Yes – Kathleen Flynn O’Neill, NP This is the story of Megan. Megan has a family history of breast cancer. Her grandmother was diagnosed at a young age and passed away at 41 years old. In 2017, we…
Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) What is it? The Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) screens for certain conditions caused by an abnormal number of chromosomes in a developing pregnancy. It also commonly known as a cell-free DNA (cfDNA) prenatal screen. What is the difference between a screening test and a diagnostic test? Screening tests are used to…
What are uterine fibroids? Uterine fibroids – also known as leiomyomas or myomas – are benign (not cancer) growths that develop from the muscle part of the uterus. The size, shape, and location of fibroids can vary greatly. They may be inside the uterus, on its outer surface or within its wall, or attached to…