Story

Shahin Shelechi, 72, is incredibly optimistic–so much so that it’s difficult to comprehend the magnitude of what she has endured throughout her 30-year cancer journey. “You have to have hope,” she said. “And whatever I can do to help even one person, I will do it.” First diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, the disease … Read More

For Larry Arvin, a routine physical in 2013 ended with a unique and troubling diagnosis: He had breast cancer. “Initially, I was pretty shocked,” he said. “The fact that nobody really knows what’s going on with men’s breast cancer, that’s the challenge. The serious aspect is the effects of breast cancer when it metastasizes into … Read More

By Lauren Bennett, Ph.D. Like a flower growing in a garden, the human brain benefits from the great outdoors. Nature walks. A jog around the neighborhood. Tai Chi at the park. Studies have found that the aging brain shrinks less when a person spends time outdoors. The same protection against brain shrinkage occurs when a … Read More

We all know regular breast cancer screenings are important, but it’s easy to become confused by the multiple tools and protocols used to detect the disease. Whether you’re new to screenings, or just need a refresher, here are some key insights to help you stay informed. What you (still) need to know about mammograms Mammograms … Read More

You probably know that mammograms are the gold standard for breast cancer detection, and that they save lives. But did you know that about 40% of breast lumps are detected by women during a breast self-exam? In addition to mammograms, breast self-awareness is an important part of breast health. What should you be looking for? … Read More

When Tricia Takasugi first discovered a lump in her breast, she knew she had to act quickly. A close friend, a breast cancer survivor who was treated at Hoag, urged her to seek care without delay. “She said, ‘You cannot wait two months or three months to see a doctor.’” Following that advice, Tricia called … Read More

We have a choice about how to react to the heartaches of life. We can wallow in the dark places. Or we can, as Christine Lucas has, place the hummingbird feeder in the sunniest part of the garden, find a comfortable chair and enjoy the gift of being human. After losing two partners to cancer, … Read More

Fall 2023, Jennifer Drinkwater scheduled an appointment with the Hoag Breast Center to get a second opinion on her small, non-invasive breast cancer diagnosis. Upon further screening, board certified fellowship-trained breast surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Kraft, discovered Jennifer had been misdiagnosed. Jennifer was diagnosed with HER2-positive invasive breast cancer, which had spread to her lymph node. … Read More

There have been so many health decisions to make in her life, and though she had the moral support of her family and friends, Jacqueline Ellis felt somewhat alone in making them. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four, Jacqueline grew up learning to read ingredients labels, plan errands around medication doses, … Read More

James Chao is an athlete, so he knows how to strive for something better. A better time in the bike races in which he’s competed. A better level of fitness in his training. So when his energy started to wane, it is unsurprising that he wanted to address it right away in the best way … Read More