Is Cancer Preventable?

According to the Prevent Cancer Foundation, only five percent of cancers are hereditary. Of course, not all cancers are preventable; unfortunately healthy people get cancer all the time. However, there are some actions you can take to reduce your risk of getting certain types of cancers, such as:

• Skin cancer
• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Oral cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Colon cancer
• Prostate cancer

Take Control of Your Cancer Risk

The healthier the lifestyle you follow, the less chance you will have at developing certain cancers. What does “healthy lifestyle” mean? It means more than simply eating a healthy diet. It means being proactive about your health – and your entire family’s health – by:

• Avoiding processed foods – choose “natural, fresh” foods typically found on the perimeter of grocery stores
• Regularly exercising and staying physically active
• Avoiding tobacco and exposure to cigarette smoke
• Keeping your body weight within healthy limits
• Protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays by applying and reapplying sunscreen with UVB and UVA protection – all year long – and wearing protective eyewear when outdoors
• Staying away from tanning beds
• Practicing safe sex by using condoms and limiting your sexual partners
• Never sharing needles
• Getting vaccinated for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for cervical cancer and Hepatitis B (a virus that infects the liver)
• Visiting your doctor and dentist for regular health screenings, especially if you have a family history of cancer – early detection is often vital to surviving cancer
• Performing regular self-checks to identify changes in your own body and immediately scheduling an appointment with your doctor for full testing if you find anything suspicious

The bottom line is that yes, some cancers are preventable. When you follow the lifestyle choices listed above, you may not only reduce your risk for cancer you will also have more energy and will feel better overall. 

To schedule a preventative cancer screening or get on the path toward a healthier lifestyle, contact Dr. Marilyn Kutzscher in San Francisco at 415-923-3560 or marilynkmd.com.

KaChoo! Is it a Cold or the Flu?

You know the feeling. It starts with a slight tickle in your throat, or the feeling that something “isn’t quite right.” Then…boom! You’re sick.

But how do you know if you have a common cold or the full-blown flu?

The flu typically comes on fast, while a cold can start slowly and gradually become worse. The symptoms of each condition are different, too.

Flu Symptoms

• High fever
• Extreme muscle aching over your entire body
• Major fatigue
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Nasal discharge
• Dry cough
• Vomiting or stomach pain (in children)

Flu symptoms can last one to two weeks. Flu complications can lead to pneumonia, dehydration, sinus infections, ear infections, hospitalization or even death.

Cold Symptoms

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Itchy throat
• Fatigue
• Mild cough

A cold typically lasts about three days, but congestion may continue a week or more. Sometimes cold complications develop, which can lead to sinus infections, bronchitis, ear infections or asthma attacks.

The seasonal flu is caused by a flu virus; many colds are also caused by viruses. Antibiotic treatment is not typically prescribed for viruses. However, if your cold develops into a bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment is very effective.

If you’re experiencing cold or flu symptoms, contact Dr. Marilyn Kutzscher in San Francisco at 415-923-3560 or marilynkmd.com to schedule an appointment. While viral infections must typically run their course, Dr. Kutzscher may identify certain illness strains that would respond to medication. 

Here Comes the Flu (Season!)

It is estimated that between 5% - 20% of people in the United States get the flu every year. Flu season starts in the fall and really gains strength in January and February. But this pesky virus can continue wreaking havoc well into the spring months.

Seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness that can lead to other complications: 

• Pneumonia
• Dehydration
• Sinus infections
• Ear infections
• Hospitalization
• Death in severe cases

It is spread when flu germ droplets land on you via coughs, sneezes or by touching a surface that is laced with the virus. These germ droplets can be anywhere: on shopping cart handles, school desks, phones, books, door handles, etc. The flu virus can live on hard surfaces up to eight hours! To minimize your risk of getting the flu, keep your distance from people who are sick, frequently wash your hands and avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

Your best defense against the flu? Get a flu vaccine! Seasonal flu vaccines work by causing antibodies to grow in the body two weeks after vaccination. This year’s vaccines protect against four types of viruses. The type of protection included in each year’s vaccination is different to keep up with the changing flu viruses. The flu vaccine is available as a flu shot or as a nasal spray. 

Don’t fall victim to the old wives’ tale that you’ll get the flu when you get the vaccine! The flu vaccine will NOT cause you to get the flu because the vaccines either do NOT have a flu vaccine virus at all or because the virus has been killed. Some people might feel slightly “under the weather” after the flu shot, but this is not the flu and the symptoms will be short-lived.

If you’re ready to combat the flu this season, contact Dr. Marilyn Kutzscher in San Francisco at 415-923-3560 or marilynkmd.com to schedule your flu shot. If you think you've already contracted the flu, stay home, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and limit your contact with others.