CMedEd

05/12/2026

The month of May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month. According to the National Cancer Institute, doctors are expected to diagnose about 24,740 people in the United States with cancers of the brain or central nervous system in 2026.

Here are the main parts of the brain:
Cerebrum - The cerebrum is the large, superior part of the brain. It has two halves called hemispheres. The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and the right hemisphere controls the left side. The cerebrum controls emotions, thoughts, speech learning, senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, touching), and voluntary muscle movement.
Cerebellum - The cerebellum is located underneath the cerebrum at the back of the brain. The cerebellum controls balance and coordination.
Brain Stem - The brain stem is located at the base of the brain, and connects the brain and spinal cord. It contains nerve fibers that transmit signals between the cerebrum, cerebellum, and the rest of the body. It controls basic body functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.
Basal Ganglia - The basal ganglia are located deep within the brain and also help control muscle movement.
Spinal Cord - The spinal cord also has nerve fibers that carry signals coordinating muscle movement, feeling, sensation, bladder function, and bowel function.
Cranial Nerves - The cranial nerves come out of the brain stem rather than the spinal cord.

04/21/2026

April is Testicular Awareness Month

Types of Testicular Cancer
There are two main types of testicular cancer: germ cell tumors and stromal tumors.
Germ Cell Tumors
Germ cell tumors are the most common form of testicular cancer, making up over 90% of all testicular cancer diagnoses. These tumors develop in the s***m-producing germ cells of the testicles. There are two primary types of germ cell tumors:
Seminoma
Seminomas are the most common form of germ cell tumor and make up about half of all testicular cancer diagnoses. Seminomas are usually slow-growing and rarely spread (metastasize) beyond the testicle, so they can be treated and removed in an early stage.
Nonseminoma
Nonseminomas are a more aggressive form of testicular cancer and are more likely to invade healthy tissue and spread beyond the testicle. These tumors usually occur in men between their late teens and early 30s.
Stromal Tumors
Stromal Tumors form in the stromal tissues of the testicle that produce testosterone and other male hormones. These tumors make up about 20% of pediatric testicular cancers and occur more frequently in children.
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Stop, take a breath Dealing with a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. In addition to choosing a cancer specialist, having clear, reliable and

04/21/2026

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
Around 9,810 to 9,976 new cases of testicular cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2026. It continues to be the most common cancer among men aged 15–44, with an estimated lifetime risk of about 1 in 250. Encouragingly, more than 95% of cases are curable, particularly when identified at an early stage.
Questions to Ask the Doctor
One of your biggest allies in battling cancer is your urologic oncologists, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist. Questions are your primary resource to gain a better understanding of your disease and enhance your quality of care. Well-thought-out questions can help you get the most out of your appointments and can make all the difference. When being treated for testicular cancer, it is important to have a treatment team that treats a lot of patients with the same cancer you have. Look for cancer centers that have been designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Here are some important questions you may want to ask:
What type of testicular cancer do I have?
Has the cancer spread beyond the testicles?
What stage is my cancer? What is my prognosis?
What are my treatment options?
How long will treatment last?
How long will it take to recover from treatment?
Will I become sterile? Should I deposit s***m in a s***m bank?
What should I do to prepare for treatment?
For more information, please view

04/14/2026

Proton Therapy vs. Conventional Radiation Therapy
Conventional radiation therapy uses X-ray photon beams to deliver radiation to the tumor. These photon beams gradually release radiation as they pass through the body’s healthy tissues and organs and move towards and through the tumor. This excess radiation can damage these healthy tissues and cause side effects, which may limit the dose of radiation a patient can safely receive.

With proton therapy, doctors can deliver much higher levels of radiation to the tumor, with a lower risk of side effects. Unlike photons, which release energy gradually, protons travel to a precise point where they then release the majority of their energy. Doctors can control the proton beam so that most of the radiation is deposited directly at the tumor site, and healthy tissues beyond the tumor are spared as the beam move through the body. Doctors can also control the shape of the proton beam to conform to the shape and depth of the tumor. After the radiation is released at the tumor site, no more radiation is released beyond the range of the proton particles. For more information please visit www.cmeded.com

04/14/2026

April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month: A new proton therapy study shows survival benefit for patients with head and neck cancers
A Phase III clinical trial led by researchers at UT MD Anderson found that proton therapy improved survival for patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer compared with traditional radiation therapy. The results represent the largest randomized trial to date comparing the two approaches. Among 440 patients treated across the United States, five-year overall survival was 90.9% for those receiving proton therapy, compared to 81% for traditional radiation. Proton therapy was associated with less difficulty swallowing, lower feeding tube dependence and reduced dry mouth. These findings suggest proton therapy may offer meaningful survival and quality-of-life benefits for selected patients.

What is Proton Therapy?
Proton therapy is an advanced type of radiation therapy that uses “protons” rather than X-ray “photons” to deliver radiation to the tumor. In conventional radiotherapy, the photon beams can deposit radiation and damage healthy cells as they pass through the body. Proton therapy deposits most of the radiation directly at the tumor site, resulting in less damage to healthy tissue and fewer side-effects.
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Stop, take a breath Dealing with a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. In addition to choosing a cancer specialist, having clear, reliable and

04/13/2026

03/26/2026

April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month 💙
While esophageal cancer accounts for only about 1.1% of new cancer cases, it is often aggressive and diagnosed at a later stage—making awareness more important than ever.
Know the signs. Support early detection. Share to spread awareness.

What is Esophageal Cancer?
The esophagus is a long muscular tube that transports the food you swallow to the digestive system. The inside lining of the esophagus is composed of cells that are able to renew themselves in a controlled fashion. Certain conditions can alter the genetic make-up of these cells and cause them to grow uncontrollably, producing a cancer. Esophageal cancer usually starts in the cells lining the inside of the esophagus and grows toward the outer wall.

For more information, please visit www.cmeded.com

03/18/2026

Understanding Your Kidney Cancer Pathology Report

Kidney Cancer Pathology Report
A pathology report is a document that describes a patient's diagnosis and tumor features based on naked-eye (gross) and microscopic examination of tissue samples by a pathologist. These tissue samples may be obtained by biopsy and/or surgery.

For kidney cancer, imaging tests, such as CT scan and/or MRI, may show enough detail to diagnose the tumor type. However, if imaging tests are inconclusive, the doctor may perform a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue from the kidney. This can be done either with a small needle that extracts cells from the tissue and is called a Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) biopsy; or it may be done using a needle core biopsy gun, where the needle cuts a thin core (sliver) of tissue. This biopsy specimen is examined under a microscope by a pathologist, who determines whether the tumor is benign or malignant, as well as specific features of the patient's disease.

In some situations, your doctor may not biopsy the tumor and may proceed to surgery based on the imaging report. After a diagnosis is made, the doctor may perform surgery to remove either all or part of the kidney where the tumor is located (radical or partial nephrectomy). The surgeon may also remove nearby tissues and lymph nodes as part of these procedures. Further pathologic analysis will be conducted to determine additional features of the disease, such as the tumor type, the extent of invasion and lymph node involvement. All information obtained from the biopsy and surgical specimens will be included in the pathology report, which you may obtain from your doctor’s office.

For more information on Understanding you Pathology Report, please visit cmeded.com

03/17/2026

March is Kidney Cancer Awareness Month

Types of Renal Cell Carcinoma:
Clear cell: Makes up about 70% to 80% of renal cell carcinomas. Cancer cells appear clear under a microscope.
Papillary: Makes up about 10% of all renal cell carcinomas. Tumors form finger-like projections called papillae and can develop in one or many locations.
Chromophobe: Makes up about 5% of all renal cell carcinomas. This is one of the least aggressive forms of kidney cancer.
Collecting Duct: This is a very rare (less than 1%) form of renal cell carcinoma in which the cells form irregular tubules. It primarily occurs in young adults, is aggressive, and does not respond well to conventional treatments.
Unclassified: Makes up 3% to 5% of all renal cell carcinomas. These tumors look different than any other subtype and may be a combination of subtypes. Unclassified renal cell carcinomas are usually very aggressive.
About 5% to 10% of kidney cancers are transitional cell carcinomas, which start in the cells lining the renal pelvis. These cells are the same type of cell found in the ureters and bladder. This means transitional cell tumors behave more like bladder tumors than renal cell carcinomas. Renal sarcomas that start in the connective tissues or blood vessels are also a rare type of kidney cancer.

For more information on Kidney Cancer, please view cmeded.com

03/17/2026

March is Kidney cancer Awareness Month

In the Unitrd States, more than 600,000 people are living with kidney cancer. Each year, the disease continues to affect thousands of newly diagnosed patients — with an estimated 80,450 new cases of kidney and renal pelvis cancers in 2026. This figure highlights the ongoing prevalence of these cancers, with renal cell carcinoma being the most common type, affecting men approximately twice as often as women
Ongoing advances in screening, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy are helping improve survival and long-term outcomes for many individuals living with kidney cancer.

For more information about kidney cancer, please visit cmeded.com.

03/11/2026

Multiple Myeloma

Questions to Ask the Doctor
One of your biggest allies in battling Multiple Myeloma is your oncologist. Questions are your primary resource to gain a better understanding of your disease and enhance your quality of care. Well-thought-out questions can help you get the most out of your appointments and can make all the difference. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor:

What is the stage of my disease? What is my prognosis?
What are my treatment options?
Will my case be discussed in a multi-disciplinary planning conference before any irrevocable treatment decisions are made?
What are the benefits of each treatment?
What are the risks and side effects of each treatment? Will I get "sick" from treatment?
Do you have any advice on managing side effects? What can I do to take care of myself during treatment?
Are there any clinical trials available for my disease? Would you recommend that I participate in one?
Would I be a good candidate for a stem-cell transplantation?
Will I receive medicine to strengthen my bones?
What should I tell other people (kids, parents, siblings, friends, etc.) about my cancer when they ask?
Can I be treated at home, or do I have to be treated at the hospital?
Will you help me arrange for second opinions if I feel unsure about a next step in my treatment program?

Please view www.cmeded.com for more information on Multiple Myeloma

Stop, take a breath Dealing with a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. In addition to choosing a cancer specialist, having clear, reliable and