News

Your doctor may recommend genetic counseling if you have a personal or family history of cancer that could be hereditary (run in families). The information it reveals can be helpful for you, your family members, and even your doctors.

As sunny days and summer approach, skin care and sunscreen are more important than ever. Avoiding ultraviolet light can potentially prevent nearly 3 million cases of skin cancer annually.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, and the number of Americans living with the disease continues to rise. Fortunately, melanoma survival rates at all stages have increased greatly due to treatment advances, but prevention and early diagnosis still offer the best chance for survival.

For those looking to nick nicotine out of their lives, Megan Princewill, a tobacco treatment specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, shares the how and why you should quit smoking.

With an estimated 53,000 deaths from colon cancer in 2024, one University of Alabama at Birmingham physician explains what people in their 20s and 30s need to know about risk factors and warning signs of the disease. 

Mark your calendar for this year's Colon on the Corner event on Thursday, March 7, and check out additional event details.

According to the American Cancer Society, it was estimated that nearly 115,000 new cases of gynecologic cancers were diagnosed in American women in 2023. However, many women are unaware of their potential risk for developing a gynecologic cancer and the symptoms that indicate they may have cancer.

Each January, Cervical Cancer Awareness Month calls attention to important facts about a type of cancer that is diagnosed in about 14,000 women in the United States annually and is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide.

This year, the American Cancer Society predicts approximately 1,000 Alabama residents will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. With a trending increase in cases for patients under the age of 55, an expert from the University of Alabama at Birmingham is sharing common signs and symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer to help people reduce risk and identify key indicators.

In spring 2023, the United States Preventive Services Task Force announced a new draft recommendation saying that all women should get a mammogram every other year starting at 40 years of age. Before a woman begins to receive mammograms, she can stay aware of breast cancer by completing self-exams.

Thanks to the efforts of Devika Das, M.D., and her team, lung cancer screening among veterans in Birmingham rose to 18.5 percent, well above the national six percent average. An expansion of an existing screening program used by the Department of Veterans Affairs, her program began as a pilot in late 2021 before beginning a full year of testing in 2022. The results were impressive; despite being new to the other participating cities in the same Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN), including Charleston and Atlanta, Birmingham’s results quickly surpassed them.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is highly treatable, especially in early stages, but it remains a leading cause of cancer death. Learn more about our comprehensive approach to breast cancer.

It is estimated that nearly 288,300 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023. Second only to skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in American men.

As with other cancers, the earlier the diagnosis of ovarian cancer is given, the greater the chance can be for a good outcome. However, as one University of Alabama at Birmingham doctor explains, an early diagnosis can be hard to achieve as most women have few if any symptoms.

Nearly 115,000 new cases of gynecologic cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2023. Learn about the signs and symptoms, along with some tips for prevention and early detection.

Your family health history may seem like a gloomy topic to bring up with relatives, but gathering this information could help you lower your and your immediate family’s risk of developing or dying from diseases such as cancer.

While it is considered a rarer cancer diagnosis, the American Cancer Society says that sarcoma still impacts over 13,400 individuals each year across the United States.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health and the American Cancer Society, recently launched Wipe Out Cervical Cancer ­— a statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Alabama.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is joining the fight this National Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month by providing free cancer screenings the week of April 24-28.

In observance of National Cancer Prevention Month in February, three UAB patients share their experiences about how getting recommended prostate screenings helps save lives.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Digestive Health Center will offer free colonoscopies to select patients of Cooper Green Mercy Health Services Authority through a grant from the Alabama Department of Public Health during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States after skin cancer.

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, so it’s a good time to learn about the risks of these types of cancer and options for prevention and screening. All women are at risk for gynecologic cancers, and those risks increase with age. The information below outlines basic facts every woman should know.

Schools are out, and summer fun has begun. Between pool days and beach trips, people are outside enjoying nature and soaking in the bright summer sun. While spending time outside has positive health benefits, the sun can be a short- and long-term enemy.