Raising the voices in colon cancer screening

With proper screening, early detection of colorectal cancer often leads to a cure. Since the 1980s, incidents of colorectal cancer have declined—in fact, from 2011 to 2019, incidents dropped by about 1% each year. These promising statistics demonstrate the power of preventive screening.

Understanding my digestive health: Celiac disease, wheat allergy and non-celiac gluten sensitivity

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes genetically susceptible individuals to react to gluten—a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Individuals with an allergy to wheat have a different type of immune reaction to wheat proteins. For those with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consumption of gluten can cause discomfort and other symptoms, although the causes are not yet clearly identified. Even though the three conditions are quite different, they may be confused because they can all result in some overlapping symptoms after consuming gluten. 

Chronic kidney disease and my journey as a two-time kidney transplant recipient

I’d like to introduce you to Cindy, my kidney transplant. Named after the nurse who tended to me in the hospital, Cindy has been with me since 2007. I tell people that Cindy calls the shots—and I work hard to manage my health, stay connected with my healthcare providers and make sure that she stays happy. It’s not easy, but I’m grateful that I have a functioning kidney, and that’s why I’m sharing my chronic kidney disease (CKD) journey to help both patients and their providers.

How to explain rheumatoid arthritis to those who don’t have it

If you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the first thing you should know is that you are not alone. In the U.S., 41 out of 100,000 people—or an estimated 1.3 million Americans—live with this unpredictable and sometimes debilitating condition.