In The News
Early Stage Breast Cancer Does Need Treatment, Study Finds
Early stage breast cancers known as DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) should be treated with surgery, not a “wait-and-watch” approach, according to new research. Experts have debated whether to treat early DCIS or simply monitor it to see if it progresses. The new study suggests excision of DCIS — cancer confined to the milk ducts … Read More
Thinking about a C-section? Here's why your hospital may say no.
At hospitals across California, administrators are pushing doctors to perform fewer cesarean deliveries, hiring birth coaches and asking pregnant women to stay in labor longer. For years, medical experts have said that C-sections — a surgical procedure in which a doctor makes an incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus to remove the baby — … Read More
Reducing Unnecessary C-Section Births
You are about to give birth. Pregnancy has gone smoothly. The birth seems as if it will, too. It’s one baby, in the right position, full term, and you’ve never had a cesarean section — in other words, you’re at low risk for complications. What’s likely to be the biggest influence on whether you will … Read More
Hoag Opens Womanology Center
Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach recently opened a Womanology center, a specialty clinic for pelvic floor disorders. “What's so special about Womanology is that it serves women of all ages, starting with the teen years all the way to menopause and beyond,” Salpi Salibian, director of clinical operations and program development for women's outpatient health … Read More
Take two tweets and call me in the morning
If you’re reading this on your phone (or your watch), I don’t need to tell you how much technology has changed our lives. But while many people list the ways in which gadgets are ruining our lives, I would like to make the case in favor of technology as helpful, hopeful and even curative. From … Read More
Annual mammograms after age 40 remains a good protocol
Despite new recommendations, the facts remain clear: breast cancer kills and screening saves lives. Self breast exams, clinical breast exams and yearly mammograms — for many women these tests are a mainstay of their breast care. These long-standing recommendations are now threatened, leaving many women wondering how to be proactive about their breast health. The … Read More
Coming Soon to A Hospital Near You: Fewer Cesarean Sections
California is preparing to launch an ambitious plan to reduce C-sections rates. If successful, that reduction will save taxpayer money and keep both mothers and babies healthier. Kicking off in early 2016, the plan funded by the Oakland-based California HealthCare Foundation is meant to financially reward hospitals for vaginal births and reduce the pressure on … Read More
Make a resolution to care for your mental health too
New Year's resolutions tend to center around our waistlines. While our physical health is important, this year I hope more of us will resolve to take better care of our mental health too. Mental health issues can sometimes be easy to conceal, but they have wide-ranging implications for our health. That is why I hope … Read More
Proposed breast screenings may put women at risk
There is much we know about breast cancer. We know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with the disease in her lifetime. We know that mammograms can detect cancer in its earliest stages and that this is key to effective treatment and survival. Early intervention saves the lives of thousands of women in … Read More
643 babies set a one-month birth records in July at Hoag
In July, the labor and delivery unit of Newport Beach’s Hoag Hospital was a busy place. It was so packed, in fact, that Hoag officials say last month broke a record for babies born in a one-month period: 643. The milestone far surpasses the previous one, set in September, of 583 births. “This was a … Read More