When Nancy Webb received her breast cancer diagnosis at the start of 2025, she didn’t panic. She didn’t freeze. She didn’t even cry. Instead, she asked one simple question: “What do we do now?”
That calm, determined response set the tone for her journey — a path marked by faith, resilience and the support of a compassionate...
Read More »
Routine health screenings are a critical component of preventive care. They allow for the early detection and management of potential health conditions, often before symptoms arise. While lifestyle choices such as regular exercise and a balanced diet are essential, they do not replace the need for medical evaluations that can identify underlying issues.
Below is a summary of recommended screenings and the age or circumstances under which they should be considered. Patients are encouraged to consult with their healthcare provider to determine the screenings most appropriate for...
Read More »
As the sun climbs higher every day over the East Texas plains, many will turn their attention to preventing one thing: skin cancer.
Since May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we asked Marc Usrey, MD, a hematology/oncology specialist at UT Health East Texas HOPE Cancer Center, to answer a few questions about skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in America, affecting nearly one in five people during their lifetime...
Read More »
Choosing the best childbirth center to welcome your baby into the world is a big decision, and let's be honest—it can...
Read More »
Obesity is a chronic disease influenced by sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary choices, environmental factors and genetic predispositions. The consumption of fast and processed foods, combined with unhealthy habits, accelerates the prevalence of obesity. Additionally, certain genetic factors can increase the risk.
Having excess fat tissue, also known as adipose tissue, can cause the body's immune system to overreact and release excessive inflammatory substances. This overreaction, called a cytokine storm, can result in widespread damage to the body...
Read More »
Many people believe flu season only lasts a few months, but it can stretch through seven months of the year. Learn tips on what to do if you think you may have the flu.
Johnny Skelley was nearly at his wit's end because he didn’t feel right.
He had moved from Arlington to Lindale, Texas to be closer to family and improve his health. “Not only was I closer to my sister and brother-in-law,” said Skelley, “every time I visited Lindale, I could feel myself relax and my blood pressure drop. It felt great!”
A former service manager for a large car dealership, the 66-year-old retiree had been careful to notice small changes in his health. He had experienced three strokes and ongoing struggles with his weight, diet and high blood pressure, which...
Read More »
Brian Ballard knows his property has more sidewalks to trim and edge than most, but he doesn’t mind. The yard work gets him off the couch and outside.
The 74-year-old retired power generation executive, who lives in Henderson, Texas with his wife Margaret, was always careful to wear safety glasses while working in the yard, except once.
“I ran out of line in my grass trimmer, so I stopped and...
Like nearly half of all people over the age of 50, Bonnie Geddie, 67, has diverticulosis, a condition in which small pockets form in the normally smooth inner wall of the intestines. Most people don’t develop symptoms or complications from this condition, but some get diverticulitis – an inflammation of the small pockets that form when food particles become lodged in the stomach lining.
Geddie has treated her diverticulitis with anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics. However, consistently taking medications is key to managing this condition.
...
Read More »
A new vaccine that fights three strains of influenza is now available from health care providers across the U.S.
The most effective way to fight the flu is to get vaccinated, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the virus can spread among the population during the entire year, the flu season is generally in the fall and winter. The peak months for the flu are December through February.
While the CDC recommends you get an annual flu vaccine by the end of October, any time you get it before the peak months will help.
Everyone 6 months...
Read More »