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Vidant Health is transforming cancer care in eastern North Carolina. Our vision is to reduce mortality from this dreaded disease and to provide ready access to screenings and prevention, early intervention and quality, coordinated patient care.
At Vidant Health, we take every step of the cancer journey with you. We treat all types of cancer with the most current technology and highest clinical standards. Our holistic approach to care also includes preventive measures, educational resources, clinical trials and support and survivorship services.
We also believe in the power of early. Early detection through cancer screenings and early treatment of cancer can make a big difference in your life and the lives of those you love. Knowing your risk can give you the power of early.
No matter what you need, it's all here.
Why Vidant?
We offer a comprehensive team approach. When you become a Vidant Cancer Care patient, your case is thoroughly reviewed by providers with expertise in your specific condition – including oncologists, surgeons, nurses, therapists and more. They work together to understand every aspect of your case and develop the best treatment plan for you.
We keep you involved. We never forget the most important person on your cancer care team – you. We'll keep you and your loved ones informed every step of the way. We will explain your diagnosis and treatment options in ways that everyone can understand.
We stay on the cutting edge. Vidant Health is proud to offer many of the newest screening tests and treatments, including minimally-invasive surgical techniques and other breakthrough technologies – often before other health care providers have access to them. We actively participate in and promote clinical trials, giving many patients access to treatment options that would not otherwise be available.
You receive expert care close to home. No matter where you live in eastern North Carolina, you have access to the knowledge and expertise of providers who have dedicated their lives to treating cancer. The network of Vidant-supported cancer care services spans across eight hospitals, five radiation oncology sites, three joint ventures and numerous outpatient clinics. The center of these resources is the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Tower on the Vidant Medical Center campus in Greenville. The 418,000 square foot facility is home to both inpatient and outpatient cancer services under one roof, making treatment for patients much more convenient.
You can get a valuable second opinion. Many patients come to Vidant Health seeking a second opinion after receiving a cancer diagnosis from another provider. This can help them make a more informed decision about their treatment and care. At Vidant, we provide patients exploring second opinions with the same comprehensive evaluation process that we use for new cancer patients.
We're with you every step of the way. Vidant Cancer Care offers every patient access to a cancer care navigator who will oversee your care. Your navigator will quickly become your new best friend and is always just a phone call away if you have questions or concerns. He or she is closely involved with your care and treatment plan and makes sure that you have access to support services and resources in your community or even on a state or national level.
We're in this together. You won't be treated like just another patient here. Your cancer care team at Vidant Health is made up of real people who take the time to get to know you and your loved ones. We aren't just faces that you see for a few minutes during appointments; we take your care as seriously as we would someone in our own family. Vidant Medical Center's Symptom Management Clinic offers same-day appointments for cancer patients who experience acute or severe symptoms. Learn more about the clinic.
We're leading the way. We realize there's no time to rest in the fight against cancer. As the leading resource for academic medicine in eastern North Carolina, our partnerships with providers offer advanced treatment options and care plans for patients from Ahoskie to Kenansville. Thanks to new technologies, providers throughout the region are able to collaborate real-time with multidisciplinary teams of experts who work together to develop a customized treatment plan for each patient.
Vidant Cancer Care is not a single place. It is a fierce commitment to turn the tide against cancer for eastern North Carolina. It is a mission to improve the health and well-being of the 1.4 million people who proudly call this region home - because we believe in life without cancer.
Cancer won't win. Not on our watch.
Greenville, North Carolina
A diagnosis of brain cancer is one of the most frightening events imaginable. This vital organ controls and regulates all of our physical processes – vision, speech, breathing, motor skills, etc. The brain also controls the things that make us unique as individuals – our thoughts, memory, behavior and emotions.
When you receive treatment for brain cancer at Vidant Health, you can rest assured that you'll get the best care available, for both the physical and emotional aspects of your condition. Our team of specialists - including neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, nurses and other medical professionals - have the training and experience needed to develop the best treatment plan for you.
Thanks fo advances in minimally-invasive procedures and radiosurgery, we can now treat many brain lesions that were once considered inoperable. Vidant Medical Center in Greenville is one of only two hospitals in North Carolina to offer Gamma Knife® radiosurgery, considered to be the "gold standard" of non-invasive treatment for brain disorders.
The most common brain cancers that we treat include:
You can learn more about brain tumors by visiting our online health library.
Treatment options for brain cancer include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Many patients will receive a combination of treatments. Your specific treatment plan will depend on several factors such as the type and grade of tumor, its location and size, and your age and general health.
As mentioned above, Gamma Knife radiosurgery is one of the most precise, proven and powerful treatments available for brain disorders. Your doctor can advise if this technology - available at Vidant Medical Center - is right for your situation.
Just the thought of breast cancer can be terrifying. It's more than just a physical diagnosis. This is a very personal cancer. And all women are at risk, so it is critical to be vigilant in detecting the disease early, when it can be treated with greater success.
Women at average risk for breast cancer should practice preventive care to optimize their breast health. This includes breast awareness, clinical exams and mammograms.
For patients with family history or other known risk factors, we provide specialized services like genetic counseling and testing, as well as individualized screening and/or chemoprevention plans.
If you or someone you know has received a breast cancer diagnosis, rest assured that Vidant Health offers the high quality of care you need for the best possible outcome.
Your multidisciplinary breast cancer team is made up of highly-trained specialists, including breast surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, nurse navigators, nutritionists, genetic counselors and more.
Our treatment options for breast cancer include surgery, radiation and systemic therapies including: hormone therapy and targeted agents. You may receive one or a combination of all of these therapies.
We specialize in minimally invasive techniques for biopsies and surgeries that work to remove the cancer while conserving healthy breast tissue.
We perform both lumpectomy and mastectomy procedures, including total nipple sparing mastectomy. Your physician team will determine which treatment is best for you.
We provide partial breast radiation, hypofractionation or standard whole breast radiation.
To learn more about breast cancer, visit our online health library.
Gastrointestinal cancer refers to a group of cancers that affect the digestive system. As a group, these are the most common types of cancer.
Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are all treatment options for gastrointestinal cancer. Our team of specialists will first work with you to determine exactly which type of cancer you have and what stage it has reached, as well as if it has spread to lymph nodes or other organs. These cancers can differ greatly in their symptoms and how fast-progressing they are, and your course of treatment depends on these and other factors.
At Vidant Health, you'll find innovative diagnostic and treatment tools and technologies. Your care team will include experts from a variety of disciplines who will take the time to make sure you and your family have all the facts about your condition and exactly what your treatment will entail.
Gastrointestinal cancers include:
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Many people are reluctant to seek medical attention for symptoms related to these disorders because of the personal and private nature of the affected regions of the body. But these cancers continue to be a significant cause of illness in the US, with an estimated 26 million Americans affected by kidney and urologic disease and millions more at risk. (Source: National Kidney Foundation)
The good news is that these are also some of the most treatable forms of cancer when caught early, so regular screenings as recommended by your doctor are very important, as is proactively seeking care if you experience any symptoms.
At Vidant Health, we offer the latest screening, diagnostic and treatment services for these cancers. Once your particular condition has been fully diagnosed – including determining the type and stage – your treatment may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of these. Our urological specialists are located throughout the region and are ready to provide the expert care you and your family need to deal with this type of cancer. Genitourinary cancers include the following:
We realize that with these cancers, it's not only about treating the specific disease. It's also about getting you back to some of the most basic and personal functions of life. Our team of doctors, surgeons, oncologists, navigators and more understand your fears and concerns. And we'll make sure to give you all the information and support you need as we provide the best treatment for the best outcome and future.
A woman's body is designed to do amazing things, like bearing children. Her reproductive organs are complex and will undergo many changes during her lifetime, from before puberty to well after menopause.
Like breast cancer, this disease can be very emotional for a woman, particularly if she is diagnosed during child-bearing years.
The main types of gynecological cancer include:
At Vidant Health, our specialists offer comprehensive care for women with gynecological cancer. There are many surgical options, from minimally invasive techniques like cryosurgery or laser surgery to hysterectomy if the cancer is in a more involved or advanced state. Radiation and chemotherapy are also treatment options.
Our mission is to provide the best possible care for our patients by using the latest proven techniques and working to find new treatments. We are part of the Gynecologic Oncology Group, a national cooperative organization that develops new therapies for gynecologic malignancies through the highest standards of scientific research and clinical trials.
There are several types of cancer that start in the head and neck region. Every case — and every patient — is different. At Vidant Health, we know this is a serious diagnosis for you and your family to deal with. Rest assured that we have the knowledge and the experience needed to diagnose and stage your condition, as well as develop a treatment plan that's best for you.
Head and neck cancer can be local, recurrent or metastatic. As with many other cancers, these cancers may be treated with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Your care team will determine which options are best for you based on your exact cancer type and its stage.
Your case may be reviewed by a multi-disciplinary tumor board for head and neck cancer that meets regularly to share their expertise and discuss potential treatment options for specific patients. These discussions are confidential and give you and your doctor even more information to work with when deciding on your treatment plan.
Head and neck cancer can include and affect these areas:
Our body's blood and lymphatic systems are complex, and so are these cancers. This is also an area where new treatments and therapies are being discovered frequently, and the talented specialists at Vidant Health work to stay on top of developments every day.
Blood cancers affect the production and function of your blood cells. Most of these conditions start in the bone marrow, where blood is produced. The three main types of blood cancers include leukemia (caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells), lymphoma (which starts in cells that are part of the body's immune system) and myeloma (a disease that targets plasma cells).
Some of the specific hematology-related cancers that we treat include the following:
Most of us take the ability to breathe for granted. But our lungs do important work as they move air in and out of our bodies.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Smoking significantly increases the chance of developing lung cancer, but peopole who have never smoked may also get it.
Early detection is critical for treatment and survival. That's why Vidant Health has developed a screening tool for current and former smokers ages 55-77 who qualify. It's available at each of our hospitals and is allowing us to detect lung cancer at a higher rate than the national average.
Fighting lung cancer can be stressful and challenging. We are prepared to help you.
The Vidant Health team is dedicated to providing timely and aggressive treatment for lung and thoracic cancer. Treatment options for these conditions include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Your specific plan of care may include only one or a combination of therapies. Learn more about our thoracic team..
We offer a multidisciplinary approach to lung cancer care. You have access to physicians and surgeons, pulmonologists, oncologists, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, nutritionists and other professionals who work not only with you but also with each other to create the best treatment plan for your individual case.
Our Thoracic Oncology Clinic patients benefit from the latest diagnostic and treatment tools, including:
The main types of lung and thoracic cancer include:
We invite you to take a free online lung cancer assessment to learn more about your risk factors.
There are many types of cancer that can start in virtually every part of your body. This website discusses many common types in greater detail, but if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with another form of cancer, you can count on Vidant Health to provide the same level of clinical expertise and comprehensive support for your situation as for any other.
In fact, for these less common cancers, our offerings of multidisciplinary consultations, team case reviews, navigator partners and personalized treatment plans become even more important. We use the latest treatment protocols and technologies to give you the most advanced treatment for a full range of cancer diagnoses. Your team consists of specialists from multiple areas who not only provide outstanding clinical care, but they also work well together to provide the best for you and your family – involving you every step of the way.
Some of these conditions include:
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world. It's quite possible that you or someone in your family will experience a skin cancer diagnosis sometime during your life, so it's important to know the facts.
Skin cancer treatment at Vidant Health involves close collaborations between all of the physicians involved in your case – including dermatologists, oncologists and sometimes plastic surgeons. Every pathology case from outside is reviewed closely by our team.
Your treatment plan is personalized based on your specific condition and other contributing factors like family situations and geographic location. We want to know about everything that might be a source of support or even a possible barrier to receiving the best care possible.
Surgery is often the first line of treatment for skin cancer. Some types of skin cancer lesions can be removed very easily and others may require a more extensive procedure. Laser therapy, radiation and chemotherapy are also common treatment options for shrinking tumors and killing cancer cells. Other treatments like immunotherapy and targeted therapy may also be used.
Since the main cause of skin cancer is ultraviolet radiation, it's important to make avoiding sun overexposure a lifetime habit. Routine self-examinations and skin screenings mean earlier detection, which provides a better chance for successful treatment.
Since every skin cancer – and skin cancer patient – is different, it's important to know exactly which type you've been diagnosed with. Types of skin cancer include the following:
Learn more about skin cancer in our online library.
Soft tissues are what hold the body together. They include muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, nerves and more. There are many kinds of lumps in the body's soft tissues, and most are not cancerous. Even though these cancers are rare, it's very important to be aware of any lumps and changes in your body. If you notice any changes, you should seek medical care.
There are many different types of soft tissue cancers because of the variety of locations in the body where they can develop. Two of the specific types of soft tissue cancer that we treat at Vidant Health include Ewing Sarcoma (which can start in either the bone or in non-bony soft tissue) and Leiomyosarcoma (which starts in the involuntary smooth muscles like those in the stomach, intestine and blood vessels).
Treatments for soft tissue cancer depend on the type and stage of the cancer, as well as the size and location of the tumor. Your doctor will also consider factors such as your age and general health when recommending a treatment plan. Surgery and radiation are considered "local" treatments designed to remove, destroy or control cancer cells in one part of the body. Chemotherapy may also be used as a "systemic" treatment aimed at cancer cells throughout the entire body. Targeted therapies – special drug compounds designed to block certain types of cancer – may also be helpful in treating these conditions.
Rest assured that no matter how rare or complex your cancer is, Vidant Health gives you access to the latest diagnostic and treatment tools. We have specialists throughout our region who will work with you and with each other to make sure the best plan is in place to deal with your unique situation. In fact, each soft tissue cancer case is presented to our multidisciplinary team for review and collaboration.
When you become a Vidant Cancer Care patient, you gain a cancer care team. Not a doctor for this and a doctor for that – you have a true team of medical professionals who work together to find the very best way to treat you and your cancer. And the best part – you and your family are the most important members of the team. You know what's going on. You help make decisions. And you can ask all the questions you want.
Our cancer care physicians and providers have dedicated their lives to treating cancer. They've studied the disease for years and keep up-to-date with the latest research and technology surrounding cancer treatments. Working with you, we will examine all options. We will take time to explain available treatments, talk about the pros and cons and provide you with the support you need throughout the entire process. We aren't just faces that you see for a few minutes during appointments. We'll be here every step of the way.
We treat cancer with a multidisciplinary approach, which means that you have access to a full range of specialists, working together to deliver the best care for you. Your team may consist of surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and other providers.
This approach is considered best practice by the National Cancer Institute and features leading-edge therapies, compassionate care, expert second opinions, support services, clinical trials and other resources.
With You Every Step of the Way
The Vidant Health team of cancer care physicians and providers have dedicated their lives to treating cancer.
Head and Neck, Genitourinary
Lung & Esophageal
Brain Navigator, Gamma Knife Coordinator
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Washington, North Carolina
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Nags Head, North Carolina
Tarboro, North Carolina
Edenton, North Carolina
Kenansville, North Carolina
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
Ahoskie, North Carolina
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, you probably have a lot of questions and are feeling overwhelmed by all of the information you're receiving at the same time.
Relax. You don't have to figure out everything all at once. When you have a question, we hope you'll feel free to ask a member of your care team. But we've also gathered a lot of valuable resources here that you can review any time there's something on your mind.
If you can't find what you're looking for on these pages, we're here to help you with the answers you need. We'll be happy to answer your questions.
At Vidant Health, we know that a diagnosis of cancer is one of the most frightening, life-changing moments in your life. And we understand that every person and every situation is different. In the midst of so much uncertainty, you can rest assured that we will surround you with an entire team of professionals who are committed to providing the best clinical treatment available and compassionate support to get you and your family through this stressful time.
No matter where you live in our care area, you're never far away from the highest quality medical, education and emotional resources you need to treat your illness. Most of all, we're here to provide help and hope to cancer patients, survivors and their families.
With Vidant Health, you have access to the latest testing and screening tools and technology. We will work with you, your primary care physician and other members of your current health care team to quickly diagnose your condition, including the proper staging. Rest assured that we will do what it takes to know what we're dealing with before moving on to recommending treatment options.
Our team of cancer specialists is ready to treat your cancer with the latest technology and the highest standards of clinical quality available. From cutting-edge surgical practices – including minimally invasive and radiosurgery treatments – to advanced radiation and chemotherapy regimens, we have access to and experience with many different treatment options.
We even offer alternative therapies such as genetic testing, immunotherapy and clinical trials to make sure that you receive every possible treatment that makes sense for your particular case.
You'll also benefit from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, therapists and many other specialists who will work with you and each other to ensure that there are no gaps in your care and that everyone involved is familiar with every aspect of your situation.
When a friend or family member is diagnosed with cancer, you may find yourself in the role of caregiver. This can mean many different things, depending on the situation. While it will likely deepen the bond you have with your loved one who is sick, it will also mean many changes for your life. We have included some information and practical tips on this page to help you cope with what lies ahead.
Caregiving can mean helping with day-to-day activities such as accompanying the patient to doctor visits, preparing food, assisting with personal care, helping with personal business and more. You may find yourself increasingly involved in important health care decisions as time goes by. And you will most likely always be giving emotional support.
It's important during this time to recognize your own needs as well. In addition to getting physical breaks and rest from the caregiving tasks, it's also vital that you take care of your own emotional needs – the fears and sadness that your loved one's sickness has also brought to your life.
As a caregiver, some questions you might want to discuss with the care team include the following:
If you will be involved in your loved one's medical care, it's important to get his or her consent to talk with their medical team. Because of laws protecting private health information, providers cannot discuss details of a patient's condition or treatment without consent. Talk to the patient's doctor about what steps you need to take so that the health care team can share information with you. The simplest thing to do is usually to have the patient sign a release form. Make sure that a copy is in the patient's records and is kept up to date. You should also keep a copy for your files.
Going to doctor visits with the patient is a good way to learn more about his or her condition and how it is being treated. Use this time wisely to let the care team know of any new symptoms, to ask questions you've come up with and to be sure you know all the facts about the patient's medications, especially if a new one is being prescribed. Never leave the office until your questions have been answered and you're comfortable that you understand what happens next.
There is a lot to keep up with when you're dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. You'll be receiving a lot of information, and much of it will be hard to understand. It helps to be organized, so consider using a notebook that you can take to each appointment and treatment session. This will allow you to keep everything together in one place. You'll want to take detailed notes on topics like the exact type and stage of the cancer, the recommended treatment plan and medications (name, dose, purpose, etc.).
In addition to obtaining consent to receive information about your loved one's diagnosis and treatment plan, there are other legal issues to consider. These are sometimes the most uncomfortable to talk about, but are vitally important. It's a good idea to discuss these matters early on in the process, both to get it over with and to make sure it's done while the patient is clearly able to make his or her own choices.
The two most important legal considerations are who will manage the patient's money and who will make important health care decisions if he or she is unable to do so. If this happens, it is very helpful to have surrogate decision-making tools already in place.
A durable power of attorney allows another person (of the patient's choosing) to make financial decisions on his or her behalf. It is strictly for financial and business matters, not health care decisions. Sometimes the caregiver who is primarily responsible for medical issues prefers to have their loved one choose a different person to handle financial matters.
A durable power of attorney for health care allows the patient to designate someone to make health care decisions if he or she becomes unable to do so. It is usually bestowed on a close family member or friend. It should be someone who completely understands the patient's condition and wishes, and who will be able to honor those wishes even if they are different from what the designee would choose for themselves.
When a person is diagnosed with a potentially terminal illness, certain matters are important to consider and make decisions about. A few examples include the right to refuse treatment, documents like advance directives and living wills, palliative care and organ donation. There are many online resources to help you with these sensitive issues, and you may wish to consult an attorney to help guide you and your loved one through them.
Cancer Basics
Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide and grow out of control. Cancer cells can invade other tissues and spread across the body.
About half of all men and one-third of all women in the United States will develop cancer at some point in their lifetime. The risk increases with age; about 77% of all cancer is diagnosed in people age 55 and older. Cancer occurs in people of all racial and ethnic groups.
All cancer begins in cells. Normal cells grow, divide to make new cells and then die. Cancer starts when cells in part of the body start to grow out of control. Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form abnormal cells. These extra, damaged cells often form a mass of tissue called a tumor. It is important to remember that not all tumors are cancerous. In other cases, such as leukemia, the cells don't form tumors but attack the blood and blood-forming organs and spread through other tissues.
There are more than 100 different types of cancer. The main categories of cancer include:
Cancer is not contagious. You cannot "catch" it from someone who has it. In fact, cancer patients need the support of family and friends, so don't be afraid to visit and provide care to them.
Cancer is diagnosed frequently enough that many families have at least a few members who have had the disease. Certain types of cancer do seem to be linked to genes that run in families, but only a small portion – about 5% to 10% - of all cancers are believed to be inherited.
Cancer Prevention & Detection
The risk of developing many cancers can be reduced by making healthy lifestyle choices. For example, avoiding tobacco, limiting sun exposure and alcohol consumption, eating healthy foods and being physically active are all ways to decrease your risk.
Cancer screening tests are important to help find cancer early, before it has spread and is most likely to respond to treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends these screening guidelines for most adults. Check with your doctor to see what he or she thinks is best.
If a patient is showing possible symptoms of cancer, their doctor will order more tests, such as x-rays, blood tests or a biopsy.
Signs & Symptoms of Cancer
Sometime cancer will not cause any symptoms, especially early on. And even if you are exhibiting some of the symptoms below, remember that it does not mean that you have cancer. Many other conditions can cause the same signs and symptoms. General signs and symptoms of cancer:
Unusual signs and symptoms can indicate that something is not quite right in the body and should be evaluated by a doctor. If these symptoms are in fact warning signs of cancer, your chances of successful treatment and cure are much better if the disease is found early. Cancer that is still small and has not spread to other parts of the body is simpler to treat, especially if it can be removed with surgery.
The most common treatment options for cancer are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Someone with cancer may receive any or all of these treatments. A patient's specific treatment plan will depend on many factors, such as the type of cancer they have, its stage and the patient's overall health. Other types of treatment include targeted therapy, stem cell or bone marrow transplant and immunotherapy.
Each type of cancer treatment has the possibility of different side effects. Some may be fairly mild and some rather severe. Different people receiving the same treatment often respond in totally different ways. It's important to remember that most cancer treatment side effects can be treated. The most common side effects are fatigue, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss and mouth or skin irritation.
To say that a cancer is cured means that treatment has successfully eradicated all traces of cancer and that it will never return. It does not mean that the person will never have cancer again. It is possible that another cancer – even the same type – will develop again at some time in the future. Remission means that the cancer is responding well to treatment or is under control. In a complete remission, all signs and symptoms of the cancer disappear and no cancer cells can be detected with testing. In a partial remission, the cancer shrinks but doesn't completely disappear. If a patient remains in complete remission for 5 years or more, some doctors will say that the patient is cured.
Myth: Indoor tanning is safe.
Fact: There is no such thing as a safe tan. Indoor tanning is just as dangerous as tanning outside in the sun. In fact, indoor tanning causes thousands of injuries each year, causing patients to seek emergency care. Indoor tanning can also cause sunburn, eye damage and premature skin aging. Most dangerous is the fact that indoor tanning is a recognized cause of skin cancer, including deadly melanoma.
Myth: Cancer is an automatic death sentence.
Fact: In the United States, the likelihood of dying from cancer has dropped steadily since the 1990s. Five-year survival rates for some cancers – including breast, prostate and thyroid – now exceed 90%. The 5-year survival rate for all cancers combined is currently about 66%.
Myth: Artificial sweeteners cause cancer.
Fact: Researchers have conducted many studies on the safety of sugar substitutes and found no evidence that they cause cancer in humans.
Myth: Cancer surgery – or a biopsy – can cause cancer to spread.
Fact: The chance that a surgical procedure will cause cancer to spread to other parts of the body is extremely low. Surgeons follow strict protocols and use special techniques to guard against this, including using separate tools for each area.
Myth: Cell phones cause cancer.
Fact: According to the best studies completed so far, cell phones do not cause cancer. Cancer is caused by genetic mutations of a cell, and mobile phones emit a low-frequency energy that does not damage genes.
Myth: Antiperspirants or deodorants cause breast cancer.
Fact: After many studies, no evidence has been found linking the chemicals found in antiperspirants and deodorants with changes in breast tissue, including the formation of cancer cells.
Myth: You must have a family history of breast cancer to be at risk for the disease.
Fact: Only about 5-10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be inherited. Having a close relative with the disease does increase a woman's risk, but most women who get breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease. All women must remain vigilant.
Myth: Cancer is always painful.
Fact: Some cancers never cause pain, especially in the early stages. Just as pain is not an automatic sign that something is cancerous, the absence of pain is not a foolproof sign that it is not.
Myth: An injury can cause cancer.
Fact: Falls, bruises, broken bones, etc. have not been linked to cancer. It's true that sometimes cancer is discovered when a patient seeks medical care for an injury. But the injury did not cause the cancer; it was already there.
Myth: Cancer treatment is worse than cancer.
Fact: This is one of the most dangerous cancer myths. People who believe that treatment is worse than cancer might not get treatment that could save their lives. It's true that some patients will experience uncomfortable side effects from surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. But there are many options for treating these symptoms. It is important to remember that cancer treatment often saves lives and side effects fade after the treatment has ended.
Treatment to remove or destroy all or part of a cancer. It can also mean removing or stopping the function of an organ. Besides surgery and drug treatment, other ways of ablating body tissues and tumors include using extreme heat, freezing, and chemicals.
Adjuvant therapy
Treatment used in addition to the main treatment. It usually refers to hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other treatments given after surgery to increase the chances of curing the disease or keeping it in check.
Hair loss, which can include body hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes as well as scalp hair. This often happens with chemotherapy treatment or radiation therapy. In most cases, the hair grows back after treatment ends.
Alternative therapy
Treatments that are used instead of standard treatments. Less research has been done for most types of alternative medicine. Alternative medicine may include special diets, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, and magnet therapy.
Low red blood cell count.
A protein made by immune system cells and released into the blood to help defend the body against foreign agents, such as bacteria.
Ascending colon
The first of the 4 sections of the colon. The ascending colon begins at the end of the small intestine and extends upward on the right side of the abdomen to connect with the transverse colon.
Autologous stem cell transplant
A type of stem cell transplant that uses blood stem cells that are taken either from the patient's bone marrow or bloodstream and are frozen, stored, and given back to the patient later.
Basal cell carcinoma
The most common type of skin cancer. It begins in the lowest layer of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin), called the basal cell layer. It usually develops on sun-exposed areas, especially the head and neck. Basal cell cancer grows slowly and is not likely to spread to distant parts of the body.
Not cancer; not malignant.
The removal of a piece of body tissue to see if cancer cells are present.
Bone marrow
The soft, spongy tissue in the hollow middle of certain bones of the body. This is where new blood cells are made.
Bone marrow transplant
A treatment that replaces blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow with new stem cells that come from the bone marrow of either the patient or a donor.
Internal radiation treatment that's given by putting a radioactive source right into the tumor or close to it.
Breast cancer
Cancer that starts in the breast.
An exam in which a doctor looks at the inner lining of the bronchi and smaller airways in the lungs using a thin, flexible, lighted tube that goes down the throat.
A group of diseases which cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control.
Any substance that causes cancer or helps cancer grow.
Carcinoid tumors
Tumors that develop from nerve and endocrine cells, usually in the digestive tract or lung.
A cancer that begins in the lining or organs. Most cancers are carcinomas.
Carcinoma in situ
An early stage of cancer in which the cancer cells are only in the layer of cells where they first began and have not grown into nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.
Cervical cancer
Cancer that starts in the cells lining the cervix – the lower part of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina.
Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells. Often called chemo.
The major part of the large intestine. The colon is a muscular tube about 5 feet long, divided into 4 sections – ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid.
A procedure in which a doctor uses a thin, flexible, lighted tube to see inside the colon to look for polyps or cancer.
Colorectal cancer
Cancer that starts in the colon or rectum.
An opening created by surgery that attaches the colon to the skin on the belly to make a new path to get rid of solid body waste. A small pouch is placed at the opening to collect the stool.
Computed tomography scan
Also called a CT or CAT scan. An imaging test in which many x-rays are taken from different angles of a part of the body. These images are combined by a computer to make cross-sectional pictures that show details of internal organs much better than standard x-rays.
Descending colon
The third section of the colon. This section starts at the end of the transverse section and continues downward on the left side of the abdomen before connecting with the sigmoid colon.
A person who plans and calculates the correct radiation dose for each patient's cancer therapy.
Ductal carcinoma in situ
A condition in which cancer cells are in the lining of the (breast) milk passages (ducts) but have not grown through the duct walls into the nearby tissue.
Abnormal cell changes that can be seen with a microscope and may lead to cancer.
Inspection of the inner linings of hollow body organs or cavities by inserting a thin, flexible lighted tube through a body opening such as the mouth or anus.
A hollow, muscular tube through which food passes from the mouth to the stomach. It lies behind the trachea and in front of the spine.
Ewing sarcoma
A type of cancer, usually starting in bone, that's seen most often in children and teens. Most start in the pelvis or hip bones, the chest wall (such as ribs and shoulder blades), or the long bones of the legs.
External beam radiation therapy
Radiation from a source outside the body that's focused on the cancer. Each treatment is much like getting an x-ray, but the radiation doses are much higher.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Tumors that grow from special cells on the gastrointestinal wall. Most GISTs start in the stomach or small intestine. These tumors may or may not be cancer.
Gastrointestinal tract
Also called the GI tract or the digestive tract. It's made up of the organs and structures that process and prepare food to be used for energy, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.
Gene therapy
A type of treatment being studied in which defective genes would be replaced with normal ones. The new genes could be delivered into the cells by viruses or proteins.
Genetic testing
Tests that can be done to see if a person has certain gene changes known to increase the risk of cancer or other diseases. Such testing is not recommended for everyone, but for people with certain types of family history.
The grade of a cancer tells how abnormal its cells look under the microscope. There are different grading systems for different types of cancers. Grading is done by a pathologist who looks at sample tissue from the biopsy. Cancers with higher grades tend to grow and spread more quickly and have a worse outlook.
Hodgkin disease
A type of lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) that's often curable.
Hormone receptor
A protein on a cell's surface or within the cell that binds to a hormone. Some tumors can be tested for hormone receptors to see if they can be treated with hormones or anti-hormones.
A special kind of care for people in the final phase of illness, as well as their families and caregivers. The care usually takes place in the patient's home or in a home-like facility.
Human papilloma virus (HPV)
A common virus with more than 100 types, some of which cause changes in cells that can grow into cancer or warts. Nearly all cervical cancers are related to HPV, as are some cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva, and urethra and some head and neck cancers.
The last part of the small intestine, which normally connects to the start of the large intestine (cecum).
Study of the immune system, including how the body responds to infection and other foreign challenges. Knowledge gained in this field is important to cancer treatments that activate the immune system and/or substances that behave like parts of the immune system to help fight cancer.
A process in which the immune system becomes weak and unable to respond the way it should. This condition may be present at birth, or it may be caused by certain infections (like HIV), cancer, or cancer treatments (such as chemotherapy and radiation).
Treatments that use the body's immune system to fight cancer. This is done by boosting the patient's own immune system or giving man-made immune system proteins.
A small amount of radioactive material placed in or near a cancer. Also, can mean a natural or artificial structure (called a prosthesis) put into the body to restore the shape or function of an organ after surgery; for example, a breast implant.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
A chronic condition (either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) in which parts of the intestine, including the colon, are inflamed over a long period of time and might have ulcers in the lining. IBD increases a person's risk of colorectal cancer. Starting colorectal cancer screening earlier and doing the tests more often is recommended for people with IBD.
Inflammatory breast cancer
Also called inflammatory carcinoma or IBC. A type of invasive breast cancer with spread to lymphatic vessels in the skin covering the breast. The skin of the affected breast is red, feels warm, and may thicken to look and feel like an orange peel.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
An advanced method of conformal radiation therapy in which the beams are aimed from several directions, while the intensity (strength) of the beams is controlled by computers. This lets more radiation reach the treatment area while reducing the radiation to healthy tissues.
Proteins produced by cells that help regulate the body's immune system, boosting activity when a threat, like a virus, is found. Man-made versions of interferon are used to treat some types of cancer.
Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma
A cancer that starts in the milk passages (ducts) of the breast and then breaks through the duct wall, where it grows into the fatty tissue of the breast. At this point, it can spread elsewhere. It's the most common type of breast cancer, accounting for about 80% of all invasive breast cancers.
Invasive cancer
Cancer that has spread beyond the layer of cells where it first began and has grown into nearby tissues.
Kaposi sarcoma
A type of cancer that grows from cells lining the blood vessels or lymph vessels. It can affect many tissues and organs, and often forms brown, purple or red blotches on the skin. It is caused by infection with a virus in the herpes family and is most often seen in people with weakened immune systems.
Laparoscopic surgery
Surgery using a narrow tube-like instrument called a laparoscope that's put into the body through a small incision. Other tubes are put in other nearby incisions to allow the surgeon to work inside the body. A surgeon might use this method to remove tissue or an organ while watching the procedure on a TV screen. The small incisions led to the name "minimally invasive surgery."
An examination of the inside of the abdomen using an instrument called a laparoscope that's put in through a small incision.
Large intestine
The lower part of the intestine, running from the small intestine to the anus, which absorbs most of the fluid from the stool. It's wider (but not longer) than the small intestine. The large intestine contains the cecum, colon, and rectum.
Surgery to remove the voice box (larynx), usually because of cancer.
An area of abnormal body tissue. May be used to describe a lump, mass, or tumor; also a spot or change in the way the skin looks or feels.
Cancer of the blood or blood-forming organs. Leukemias are often classified based on the types of cells in which they start (myeloid versus lymphoid) and by how quickly they are likely to grow (acute versus chronic).
Linear accelerator
Also called a linac. A machine used to create high-energy radiation beams for use in external-beam radiation therapy to treat cancer.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
A non-invasive type of breast cancer. It starts within the milk-producing glands (lobules) of the breast but does not grow through the wall of the lobules. It's not a true pre-cancer because it's not thought to go on to become an invasive cancer. But if a woman has LCIS, she is at higher risk of developing an invasive cancer in either breast later in life.
Local therapy
Treatment of cancer at its site, so that the rest of the body is not affected. Surgery and radiation are examples of local therapy.
Local transanal resection
Surgery for some small, early rectal cancers that is done with instruments put in through the anus, without cutting the abdomen.
Localized cancer
A cancer that has not spread to distant parts of the body. It's still only in the organ where it started.
Low anterior resection
A surgical approach used for some cancers in the upper third of the rectum, close to where it connects to the colon. The incision is made through the abdomen, and the cancer is removed along with a margin of normal tissue, lymph nodes, and fatty and fibrous tissue around the rectum. The colon is re-attached to the part of the rectum that's left so that a colostomy is not needed.
Low-dose rate brachytherapy (LDR)
Treatment in which pellets or seeds of radioactive material are placed inside cylinders or thin needles, and put into the cancerous area. They are left in place for days at a time, and sometimes permanently.
Any kind of mass in the body, especially on the body surface.
Surgery to remove a breast lump and a margin of normal tissue.
Lung cancer
Cancer that starts in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. There are 2 main types of lung cancer
Clear fluid that flows through the lymphatic vessels and contains white blood cells called lymphocytes. These cells are important in fighting infections.
Lymph node
A small, bean-shaped collection of immune system tissue found throughout the body along lymphatic vessels. They remove cell waste, germs, and other harmful substances from lymph. Cancers often spread to nearby lymph nodes before reaching other parts of the body. Sometimes called "lymph glands."
Lymph node biopsy
A test in which all or part of a lymph node is removed and looked at under a microscope to find out if cancer has reached the lymph nodes.
A cancer of immune system cells called lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). It often affects the lymphatic system, a network of thin vessels and nodes throughout the body that helps to fight infection. The 2 main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A method of taking detailed pictures of the inside of the body. Instead of using x-rays, MRI uses a powerful magnet to send radio waves through the body. The images appear on a computer screen as well as on film.
Cancerous; dangerous or likely to cause death if untreated.
Malignant tumor
A mass of cancer cells that may invade nearby tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. Not all cancers form tumors, and not all tumors are malignant.
Having to do with the breast.
Mammary lymph nodes
Lymph nodes that are inside the chest near the breastbone (sternum).
An x-ray of the breast; a method of finding breast cancer that can't be felt using the fingers. Mammograms are done with a special type of x-ray machine used only for this purpose.
Any plastic surgery to rebuild the breast or to change the shape, size, or position of the breast.
In cancer surgery or biopsy, the tissue beyond the visible edge of the tumor or abnormal tissue that's removed along with the tumor or area of concern in an effort to get all of the cancer.
Any sort of lump, which may or may not be cancer.
Surgery to remove all or part of the breast and sometimes other tissue.
Medical oncologist
A doctor who is specially trained to diagnose and treat cancer with chemotherapy and other drugs.
A cancerous tumor that starts in the cells called melanocytes that make the skin coloring. It's almost always curable when found early, but it can spread quickly if not treated.
A rare cancer that starts in the covering of the lungs, heart, or the lining of the abdomen. An extremely rare form can affect the inner covering of the testicles.
The spread of cancer cells to one or more sites elsewhere in the body, often by way of the lymph system or bloodstream
Monoclonal antibodies
Man-made antibodies that are designed to lock onto certain antigens (substances that can be recognized by the immune system). Monoclonal antibodies have several uses in diagnosing and treating cancer. Research is still going on to learn more ways they can be used to find and treat cancer.
Multiple myeloma
A type of cancer that starts in the plasma cells.
A change in the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of a cell. Most mutations do not cause cancer, and a few may even be helpful. But all types of cancer are thought to be due to mutations that damage a cell's DNA.
Myeloablative treatment
Treatment that destroys the bone marrow. It's often used before a stem cell transplant.
Myelodysplastic syndrome
A type of cancer in which damaged cells in the bone marrow make defective blood cells. Can sometimes progress to leukemia.
Myeloid leukemia
A type of cancer that starts in cells in the bone marrow that are supposed to mature into different types of blood cells. Myeloid leukemia can be chronic (CML) or acute (AML).
Needle aspiration
A procedure in which a thin, hollow needle is used to reach a cyst or tumor draw up bits of tissue or fluid to be looked at under a microscope.
Needle biopsy
A procedure to remove fluid, cells, or tissue with a hollow needle so that it can be looked at under a microscope.
Nerve abnormality or damage which causes numbness, tingling, pain, muscle weakness, and/or swelling. It may be caused by injury, infection, disease, or by drugs.
A doctor specializing in operations to treat nervous system disorders, which includes problems in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
A small, solid lump that can be felt or seen on an imaging test.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
A large group of cancers that start in immune system cells called lymphocytes.
Non-small cell lung cancer
One of the main classes or categories of lung cancer, based on how the cells look under the microscope. Non-small cell lung cancer includes 3 major types
A doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Palliative treatment or palliative care
Treatment that relieves symptoms, such as pain or nausea, but is not expected to cure disease. The main purpose of palliative care is to improve the patient's quality of life, whether or not the patient is getting other treatment.
Pap test
A test in which cells are scraped from a woman's cervix and looked at under a microscope to see if abnormal cells are present. Human papilloma virus (HPV) testing is often done at the same time.
A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and classifying diseases in the lab by testing and looking at cells under a microscope. The pathologist determines whether a tumor is cancer, and if cancer, the exact cell type and grade.
A growth from a mucous membrane on the inner lining of an organ such as the colon, rectum, uterus, or nose. Polyps may be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Surgery or procedure to remove a polyp.
Positron emission tomography (PET scan)
An imaging test in which a small amount of a radioactive substance is injected into a vein, and a scanner is used to make computerized pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures can be used to find cancer cells in the body. PET scans can help find tumors or see how well a known tumor is responding to treatment. The pictures are not very detailed, but they show the whole body at once.
Refers to a condition that might, but does not always, become cancer.
A prediction of the course of disease; the estimated outlook for survival.
The spread or growth of a disease, with or without treatment.
A gland found only in men. It's just below the bladder and in front of the rectum.
Prostate cancer
Cancer that forms in tissues of the prostate. Prostate cancer usually occurs in older men.
Surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
A protein made by the prostate gland. Levels of PSA in the blood often go up in men with prostate cancer as well as other conditions. The PSA test is sometimes used to help screen for prostate cancer, and PSA levels are part of what determine the stage of a prostate cancer. The test can also be used to check the results of treatment, to look for cancer that has come back, and to help monitor advanced prostate cancer.
Radiation oncologist
A doctor who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer.
Radiation therapist
A person with special training to use the equipment that delivers radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy
Treatment with high-energy rays or particles to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The radiation may come from outside the body (external radiation) or from radioactive materials placed in the body (brachytherapy or internal radiation).
Radiofrequency ablation
Treatment that uses high-energy radio waves to heat and destroy abnormal tissues.
A doctor with special training in diagnosis of diseases by interpreting or reading x-rays and other types of imaging tests.
Rectal surgery
Surgery to remove cancer in the rectum, which is often the main treatment for this cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy may be given before or after surgery.
The last part of the large intestine, between the sigmoid colon and the anus.
The return of cancer after treatment.
Complete or partial disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer in response to treatment.
Having to do with the kidneys.
A cancer that starts in connective tissue, such as cartilage, fat, muscle, or bone.
A test that uses x-rays, magnets, sound waves, or radioisotopes to make pictures of the inside of the body.
The search for disease, such as cancer, in people who do not have any signs or symptoms.
Side effects
Unwanted effects of treatment such as hair loss caused by chemotherapy or extreme tiredness (fatigue) caused by radiation therapy.
Sigmoid colon
The fourth and last section of the colon. The sigmoid colon attaches to the rectum, where waste matter is stored until it leaves the body through the anus.
A thin, flexible, hollow, lighted tube with a small video camera on the end. It's put in through the rectum and advanced into the lower part of the colon. The sigmoidoscope is connected to a monitor so the doctor can look at the inside of the rectum and the lower part of the colon for cancer or for small growths that can become cancer (polyps).
A procedure in which a doctor uses a thin, flexible tube to look into the rectum and the last part of the colon to check for polyps or other abnormalities
Small cell lung cancer
One of the 2 main types of lung cancer grouped based on how the cells look under the microscope. Small cell lung cancer tends to grow and spread faster than the other type, non-small cell lung cancer.
Small intestine
The longest section of the intestinal tube. It breaks down food and absorbs most of the nutrients. The small intestine starts at the end of the stomach and leads into the large intestine.
Social worker
A health professional who helps people find community resources and support services, and provides counseling and guidance to help with issues like insurance coverage and nursing home placement.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Cancer that begins in the flat, non-glandular cells of the body, for example, the skin or the lining of some of the body's organs.
The extent of a cancer, which is usually assigned a number from I to IV.
The process of finding out whether cancer has spread and if so, how far.
Stem cells
Any type of cell that can mature into different types of cells. In cancer treatment, the term usually refers to the immature blood cells found in the bone marrow and blood.
Stereotactic needle biopsy
A method of needle biopsy that may be used when a mass can be seen on imaging tests but can't be felt. A computer maps the location of the mass and is used to guide the needle to the area of concern.
Stereotactic radiosurgery
A type of radiation therapy that focuses a single high dose of radiation at a tumor from many different angles, which limits the damage to nearby normal tissues. Though it's called surgery, there's no cutting. The treatment may be useful for tumors that are in places where regular surgery would harm essential tissue, for instance, in sensitive parts of the brain or spinal cord, or when the patient is not well enough to go through regular surgery
A doctor who repairs or removes parts of the body during operations.
Surgical biopsy
Removal of tissues using open surgery so that they can be looked at under a microscope to find out if they contain cancer cells.
Surgical margin
Edge of the tissue removed during surgery. A negative surgical margin means no cancer cells were found on the outer edge of the removed tissue, and is considered a sign that none of the cancer was left behind. A positive surgical margin means that cancer cells are found at the outer edge of the tissue removed and is usually a sign that some cancer remains in the body.
Surgical oncologist
A doctor who specializes in using surgery to treat cancer.
Targeted therapy
Treatment with drugs that attack some part of cancer cells that's different from normal cells. Targeted therapies sometimes work when standard chemotherapy drugs don't, and they tend to have fewer side effects than chemotherapy drugs.
Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT)
Treatment that uses computers to very precisely map the location and the depth, width, and height of the cancer within the body. The patient may be fitted with a plastic mold much like a cast to keep them still and in the same position for each treatment so that the radiation can be aimed precisely. Radiation beams are then focused on the tumor from several directions. This reduces damage to normal tissues and allows higher doses of radiation to be used.
Transverse colon
The second section of the colon, a part of the large intestine. It's called transverse because it goes across the body from the right to the left side.
An abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors can be non-cancers (benign) or cancer (malignant).
Tumor markers
Substances made by cancer cells and sometimes by normal cells. Tumor markers may be useful in watching for a response to treatment after cancer is diagnosed, looking for cancer that has come back (recurred), or monitoring the progression of advanced cancer.
An imaging test in which high-frequency sound waves are used to make pictures of the inside of the body. The sound wave echoes are picked up and displayed on a computer screen.
A doctor who specializes in treating problems of the urinary tract in men and women, and problems in the genital area in men.
One form of radiation that can be used at low levels to make an image of the body or at high levels to kill cancer cells.
Vidant Edgecombe Hospital
Vidant Medical Center
The Outer Banks Hospital


text:
Was an ETF.com interview on Tuesday with John Bogle some sort of April Fool's joke?
With all apparent seriousness, the 84-year-old investor famed for the simplicity and parsimony of his stay-the-course indexing approach encourages investors to tactically allocate 15% of their portfolios from stocks to corporate bonds.
And that was enough to provoke a withering critique from market blogger Eric Nelson, an Oklahoma City-based registered investment advisor and principal of Servo Wealth Management.
The first of three main criticisms in the new blog post, "Befuddled by John Bogle's Advice," is Bogle's recommendation that investors increase their risk exposure for what amounts to a mere sliver of higher expected returns.
Nelson faults Bogle for emphasizing the return advantage of corporate bonds relative to low-yield government bonds without mentioning the higher risk.
"A discussion of possible write downs or defaults in corporate bonds… is noticeably absent," he writes, adding:
"Mentioning the fact that for over 80 years (since 1927), the realized return difference between higher-risk corporate bonds compared to lower-risk government bonds … hasn't even been 0.5% per year? No mention of that either."
Nelson also points out that corporate bonds tend to significantly underperform when the stock market declines (so in 2008, for example, corporates lost 3.1% when government bonds were up 12.4%), adding this coup de grace:
"I imagine that is something the market-timing bond investor may want to be reminded of before they decide to reach for that extra 0.5% of potential return."
Bogle's reach for yield in fixed income is bitter irony for Nelson, a value-oriented Dimensional Fund Advisors proponent, since Bogle is adamant in his rejection of Nobel Prize winner Eugene Fama's view that small-cap and value stocks deliver higher expected returns than the plain-vanilla total stock indexes Bogle favors.
But Nelson points out that in that same time period since 1927, value stocks beat a total stock index by more than 2% annually, small-cap stocks did the same, and a combined small-value portfolio outperformed a total stock index by more than 5% per year.
What's more, Nelson says the same pattern is observed in both developed and emerging markets in recent decades.
"Think you need highly engineered institutional class mutual funds inspired by Fama to achieve those results?" the DFA advisor asks. "$1 invested in Vanguard's own Small Cap Value Index Fund (VISVX) since its inception in 1998 has grown to almost $4 vs. barely $2 for the Vanguard Total Stock Index fund (VTSMX)."
But while tilting a portfolio for corporate bond crumbs at higher risk yet refusing to reach for more substantial equity returns seems unwise to Nelson, it's the apparent abandonment of stay-the-course investing that constitutes his third criticism of Bogle's April 1 interview.
Asked whether investors should protect their gains after a five-year bull market (presumably by exiting the market), Bogle offers a nuanced, or perhaps contradictory, response:
"People aren't going to know how to do that — it's market timing," Bogle is quoted as saying. "I'd say, never be out of the stock market. It just makes no sense to me whatsoever. But maybe you can trim taking 15 percentage points off the table or something like that."
To which Nelson responds:
"A dramatic 15% shift goes well beyond rebalancing into the realm of tactical allocation — making sizable portfolio bets in reaction to past events or based on forecasts about the future," he writes.
The lesson Nelson learns from the interview with Bogle, whose "cult-like following" has "hundreds of thousands of individual investors hanging on his every word," is to "trust a philosophy, not a person" who "can easily be swayed by prevailing market sentiments."
That is why fiduciary advisors typically require their clients to establish investment policy statements (IPS).
"When urges to make changes or follow the crowd present themselves, revisit your IPS and remember that your portfolio is based on your unique goals, objectives and risk tolerance, not off-the-cuff comments or market-timing calls from prominent industry professionals," he writes.
Ignore the temptation to "just do something," his blog concludes.
Reached by ThinkAdvisor, Nelson acknowledged some reluctance to taking on Bogle but for the overriding investment principles at stake:
"I really don't mean to be nit-picky with this stuff, but sticking with a long-term investment plan ain't easy," he said. "And when those we perceive to be pillars of discipline are wavering, suggesting tactical moves and wholesale asset class changes without a full description of the risks involved, I think we need to call them out. Even if this causes a few of his devout followers to think twice about his advice and think a bit more critically about their own situation, I think it's worthwhile."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
欢乐童年系列 (8本书)
1. 我要飞上青天
2. 想飞的乌龟
3. 长耳朵的孩子
4. 猴小子穿鞋子
5. 美丽的图画
6. 大力士赛跑
7. 披着狼皮的狼
8. 月亮娘娘做衣裳
Ages 5 and up
Series that bring joy and laughter
and help children to understand life better.
A well-developed series, the Happy Readers Series is a favourite with teachers. Used in Chinese language classrooms, and as a support to moral education lessons, the stories are value-based and themes including generosity, friendship, and civic responsibility. The questions posed at the end of each story guide the independent reader and the teacher to bring about a deeper understanding of the messages being conveyed.
18cm x 25.5cm, 16pp, full colourS$53.80


text:
Marietta-Cobb County
Marietta-Cobb County
Make Democracy Work!
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Looking to get more involved with the Marietta-Cobb communities? Want to learn about government and current events? Interested in voter registration and protection? Consider becoming a member of the League of Women Voters of Marietta-Cobb. We are looking for dedicated individuals to join our cause!


text:
The goal is to get over the past and move forward into the present and accept it; Not expect anything from the past or the loss of the past. What does this feel like; I feel like Id be on my own to move forward to have success regardless of where I came from or what type of background I came from.
The key is to understand that " I love knowing Im not holding anyone responsible for the way my life unfolds"
When I start out; who am I?; Im just me starting with no support or notice of those from the past.
I was abandon when young; completely; someone folded up shop; got rid of me and the world I came from; and that was that; when I saw them again or had to live with them again; they acted as if I was not related to them; as if I was a stranger. A complete stranger; an unwanted stranger; because I had always been a stranger to them; I was not connected to them when young. to bad. They got rid of me because of hypergamy and monkey branching; but this was a psychopath; so; nothing good would be to come from this for me; either way; I was to be gotten rid of.
The point is; I have to move on and build a new life; whats left of it and the remain time I have on planet earth; this is not what I expected; any of this. non of this. and it gets worse; the brothers I had; were no brothers; turned out to be against me from the beginning; no brothers; no connection; nothing; never knew this. They are my enemies; completely. They are on the opposite side of the world then me; on the other extreme. Better yet; they dont exist at all; complete strangers. I have no one from what I started with; all of it destroyed and parished and gone; as if a bomb exploded and all was evaporated. I literally came from nothing. Now; Im trying to silently get on my feet again.
And when I was hit with this abandonment; it was thought out by the psychopaths that did it; it was times perfectly at a specific position or pendulum swing; hitting the mark at the exact moment it would do the most damage; slicing of my head; or my identity; my life completely; a solid smashing blow against an innocent unassuming child. And the psychopath is obsessed with destroying children because they are easy prey.
I dont tell others who I really am or my real motives; I dont want them stopping me from my goals. Im in social situations where Im an underDog; people think they are above me; However, Working with the universe; This is giving me opportunities to be around people and not alone; Im being taken care of in a way; and Ill allows those around me to think this as I play a lowly social position and not let on that Im of anymore ability strength or intelligence; and I must do this right now to survive. its not bad; its a social beginning. I allow the leaders to think they are real leaders; by doing this; I get perks I need for social development. All is going fine under the universe; I must get my strength back.
PTSD; PTSD is always a big big problem; its the biggest problem Ive got; its a challenge to see things positively when I have fear and horror running through my mind all day long; but I know those landscapes are only movies running in my head. I say I know their only movies running in my head; thats to true; They still effect me as if real or I would not be writing about them. However, Im willing and believing in the ability to plant new thoughts in my head through my imagination. Im working with this and learning how to be dedicated to this.


text:
New drug shows promise in the fight against malignant melanoma
New drug shows promise in the fight against malignant melanoma
Gavin Robertson is not a man who uses the word hate' lightly, but he makes no secret of his desire to slay the dragon that is malignant melanoma. "This is the deadliest form of skin cancer," he says. "There's an approximately four percent increase per year in new cases and no effective treatment available for metastatic disease. The worst thing is getting calls from patients and their families who are desperate for a cure, for some good news. It's so hard telling them we're not there yet."
Robertsonassociate professor of pharmacology, pathology, dermatology and surgery at the Penn State College of Medicinehas new reason to believe that hopeful treatment news is ahead.
Tests in mice suggest that the new drug he and colleagues have developed is both safer and more potent than conventional therapies in targeting melanoma tumors. Based on the anti-cancer compounds in cruciferous vegetables, the new drug called isoselenocyanate "got a 60 to 70 percent response rate in mice," says Robertson. "That's significant."
For Robertson and his research team, including professor of pharmacology
Shantu Amin, the goal has been to unravel the signaling pathways involved in tumor development and identify drugs to target them.
In all life formsfrom single-celled bacterium to multi-cellular humanscells communicate with each other through chemicals, such as hormones and neurotransmitters. Protein molecules on the surfaces of cells, called receptors, recognize these incoming chemical messages, andwhen all goes rightthey react by initiating the requested change in some aspect of cell behavior, from activating the immune system to fight infection to turning a fertilized egg into a fully-formed baby.
But things don't always go right. Sometimes when complex sequences of proteins are activated, a new &39;abnormally active signaling pathway' is createdand researchers believe that communication glitches in these pathways can give rise to cell changes, and ultimately to cancer.
"We set out to target the proteins that trigger melanoma," Robertson explains. "Ninety percent of normal skin moles contain a mutant protein called B-Raf, but don't proceed to become melanomas. We wanted to know why some do and how to turn off that mechanism."
Robertson and colleagues discovered that in about 70 percent of melanoma tumors there is another protein at work alongside B-Raf called Akt3, which is ten times more active in malignant cells than in normal ones.
For cancer to start, the activity in the B-Raf pathway has to be in a particular narrow range, says Robertson. "When this pathway is too active, it actually inhibits cancer and a mole develops that does not become cancerous. But when the A protein, Akt3, holds hands with the B protein, the B-Raf, and transfers information to it, it adds a phosphate to the mix and the pathway activity then drops into just the right range, and melanoma develops."
Knowing that you'd have to eat "impractical amounts" of cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and kale to obtain a therapeutic level of their cancer-fighting nutrients, sulforaphane and selenium, Robertson and colleagues sought to develop a drug using these nutrients that could deactivate the Akt3 pathway.
"We modified the chemical structure, increased the carbon chain length to make it more soluble, then popped out the sulfur and replaced it with selenium," explains Robertson. ("We knew from studies that selenium deficiency is common in cancer patients, and selenium has also been shown to destabilize Akt proteins in prostate cancer," he adds.)
The result? "When we tried the sulfur version, it had no effect on the melanoma tumors in mice," Robertson notes. "But when we used the selenium version of the drug, up to 70 percent of the mice showed tumor regression." The selenium-enhanced compounds "significantly reduced the production of Akt3 protein and shut down its signaling network," Robertson adds with a grin.
Though still years away from human trials, Robertson envisions a drug that could be used intravenously by melanoma patients, as well as preventively in sunscreen by the general public. (Some of the research on topical applications was done by Hershey High school senior Natalie Nguyen, an intern in Robertson's lab. Nguyen's project took Third Place in the 2009 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.)
"I think we're finally figuring out how to treat cancer," Robertson says. "Where today's cancer drug &39;cocktails' sometimes poison non-specifically, I think tomorrow's treatments will target several specific proteins.
"This is where I see us going, long term," he says. "The patient will come into the clinic with metastatic melanoma and we'll take a blood sample to profile what the &39;bad genes' are for that particular person. Then we'll be able to choose from an arsenal of drugs to give them a personalized treatment based on their own cancer. We'll see better efficacy and lower toxicity."
"It's my belief," Robertson adds, "that our new drug will be in that arsenal."
Gavin P. Robertson, Ph.D., is associate professor of pharmacology, pathology, dermatology and surgery at the Penn State College of Medicine, firstname.lastname@example.com.


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In 2006, just as the first tweet was being Twittered, BT Global Services launched an effort to keep its customers and 112,000 employees safe in a new world of Web-based communities and other interactive sites.
BT's security initiative started early, paralleling the emergence of collaborative Web 2.0 applications such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
"We see social networking sites as an enablement tool" to help extend BT Group PLC's reach to prospective customers while helping employees build new business relationships online, says Ray Stanton, global head of BT's business continuity, security and governance practice.
But while BT stands apart from many companies in that it lets employees visit social media sites within the constructs of its Internet usage policy, it still needed a way to protect the company and its staffers from potential security threats lurking in cyberspace. For instance, the vulnerability of mashups to data leakage "has been one of our critical concerns," says Stanton.
A user might, for example, gain access to a mashup that combines a service for finding local restaurants with information from a social networking or mapping site, says Stanton. "There is the opportunity if the information is not secured across all the boundaries [that] residual information could be left or leaked at any point in the process," he says.
A criminal could figure out where the employee lives based on the restaurant's location and the mashup of the mapping system, adds Stanton. "And yes, if you book online, then guess what, we know where you live [and] what time you're out," he says.
In addition to keeping its employees safe, BT also wanted to apply technologies that would enable it to enforce its Internet usage policies. After holding a series of technical workshops with a number of security software vendors, Stanton and his team decided to use a set of URL filtering and security technologies from Blue Coat Systems Inc. about three years ago.
The systems include Blue Coat's ProxySG appliance, which BT uses to categorize URLs as either business productivity sites, such as LinkedIn, or sites that might be deemed improper, such as the Web pages of hate groups, says Steve Schick, a spokesman for the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based vendor. Depending on a customer's usage policies, the rackable ProxySG appliance can be configured to block access to certain sites or issue a warning when an employee is in violation of the company's acceptable-use policies, Schick says.
The appliance can also be configured to enforce usage policies for single users or groups of users. For example, a company that doesn't allow most of its employees to watch YouTube at work can program the ProxySG appliance to permit access only to employees of its marketing department who might use the site while developing marketing campaigns, says Schick.
BT is also using Blue Coat's ProxyAV, which enables the telecommunications giant to scan its network for viruses, worms, spyware, bots and other forms of malware.
While BT has taken a progressive approach toward employees' Internet use, it's important for it and other companies to also adopt practical usage policies, says IDC analyst Melanie Posey. "You have to know on some level what people are doing on the Internet and what impact it's having on network performance," she says.
Stanton declined to quantify BT's investment in the security tools. Schick says pricing for the ProxyAG appliance starts at $2,000, depending on the number of end users being monitored.
At a Glance
BT Group PLC
Headquarters: London
Company charter: One of the world's leading providers of communications services, operating in more than 170 countries.
Revenue for the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2009: $35.3 billion
Project champion: Ray Stanton, global head of BT's business continuity, security and governance practice, which has total oversight for BT's commercial security business.
Project payback: A return-on-investment study that's expected to be completed by year's end will examine the operational man-hours saved as well as capitalized IT infrastructure cost savings achieved.
Hoffman is a freelance writer in New York. You can contact him at email@example.com.


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Greetings wonderful bloggers. How have you been? I am feeling great. Back on my feet, so to speak, but i still wanted to give a little boost to myself , especially towards my healthiness goals. I have been meaning to write this post a little earlier but with all that buzz going around the internet about obese pagans, it did n't feel right to me. As i already told you before i got really frustrated about close minded people being unaccepting and judgemental towards one another, whether it had to do with weight or veils or fashion choices for that matter.
I truly believe that Paganism as a religion or more like it as a philosophy, has the rare quality of being a mosaic of beliefs and practices and the common ground is most of the time the love of the Earth and the love of the Mother and Father. Individuality is a big part of our faith and acceptance should be a given. Let me say that i believe all bodies are sacred, all bodies are beautiful no matter the age, the height, the weight, the colour of the skin, hair, eyes.
As long as i can remember i battled with extra pounds. In the past they used to be imaginary until they became very real. And then from being skinny i got to be obese. Then after the Goddess's help doctors found what was wrong with me and fixed some hormonal imbalancies and weight loss was possible again. I lost a lot of weight since and now have less but still a lot to go. It takes a lot of hard work but now i do not stress about it, because losing weight is something that comes naturally and is not forced.
The Autumn Equinox is almost here, one of my favorite celebrations and the quest for balance is emphasised by nature Herself. If one of your balance goals is losing weight this spell has helped me a lot in the past. It falls into the category of sympathetic magick, because you will make a poppet of yourself from flour and water. This is one of the reasons why this spell is so fitted for a Mabon celebration. You will need except for flour and water, a candle, a piece of beautiful red fabric, a piece of belladonna root, a few red rosepetals, some sandalwood and a few mandrake flakes.
It will seem hard at first and it will probably not come out perfect but you will still put your intent into the poppet. You will shape it into your ideal shape(more or less again you are not going for perfect here) and you will put the hands together to the belly of the poppet as if they hold a bouquet. There you will put the piece of belladonna root(which stands for beautiful lady). Then you will put the poppet into the red fabric and spinkle on top some red rose petals, sandalwood and a few mandrake root flakes. As always in sympathetic magick you have to put a lot of you into the poppet. You will add some hair of yours touching your poppet's top of head, you will take some of your saliva with your finger and put it where the mouth should be and you will drop a drop of your blood at the place where the heart should be. Then you will write on a piece of paper your wish burn it over the candle burning in front of you(although this is clearly a Venus spell i usually burn red candles for these types of spells, its your choice) and put the ashes in the areas you want to transform. Close the fabric around the poppet and bury it, in your garden, in a sacred spot, or even in a pot. Just make sure noone will see it or move it.
Until next time, be blessed, be loved and be very very witchy!


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There's no end to the number of kickstand-equipped iPhone cases you can buy, but most are designed to let you prop up your phone for watching movies. The iFilm, however, is like a tiny tripod for capturing movies instead.
It's designed to slip onto the corner of your iPhone 4 or 4S and uses a mirror, angled at 45°, to prop-up your device so it can capture footage at unique angles. It's dead-easy to use, it guarantees stable footage while your phone is sitting on a flat surface and it can be yours with a pledge of just $US15. Yeah, it's unfortunately still just a Kickstarter project at this point, but I don't think they'll have much trouble raising the $US3000 in funding they're looking for. [Kickstarter via PCWorld]


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Yes I am turning a year older in a few hours. I received the gift from the husband a couple of weeks ago, talk about early, huh. Even if it was not some gold bullion, I really appreciate and loving it up to this moment. I will share more about it in a later post. Anyway, we spent our Tuesday on the road. I had to run an errand in Laguna and I had this brilliant idea to go to Tagaytay afterwards. Very happy that Ane obliged. We even had time to visit Caleruega, a place that has a special place in our lives since the errand was finished in about twenty minutes (could have been shorter if the office people started on time, another story).
Yes, the whole trip deserves a post of its own. Meanwhile, if you are my fb friend, you may check out the pictures that Badz uploaded.
Need to work. Later!


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I am an archaeology Honours student with Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. For the last year I have been undertaking research into contemporary Indigenous graffiti in an Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory. I am due to submit my thesis next Monday.
I am taking time out of my research to post this blog for the Day of Archaeology. Today I have been sitting at my computer, writing about some of the issues I discuss in my thesis, so I will relay them to you here.
To begin, I just wanted to draw your attention to two recent events that are of significance to Australia and will soon find their place in Australian history:
- Australian racehorse, Black Caviar won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at the Royal Ascot; and
- the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2012 passed through the Australian Senate with bipartisan support and is now legislation.
Black Caviar's recent win is significant because with 22 races undefeated (including Royal Ascot), it is the current living racehorse with the most undefeated wins (and it's Australian).
The passing of the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2012 into legislation is significant because it extends the Howard government's controversial Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (NTER) for a further ten years. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights condemned the NTER in 2010, claiming that it stigmatises already stigmatised communities.
Have a guess which of these stories featured more prominently in the Australian media?


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18 October, 2010 | (01 hr)
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This Conference KeyNotes Webcast will include video clips from the Keynote Address entitled, "What the Board Needs/ Wants from HR," delivered by Paul R. Charron, Chairman of the Board, Campbell Soup Company at The Conference Board 2010 Executive Compensation Conference. A panel of experts will discuss the issues raised in Mr. Charron's address.
Nancy Reardon
Nancy Reardon is Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources and Communications Officer and is responsible for overseeing the global human resources and communications functions for Campbell Soup Company and its19,000 employees. Prior to joining Campbell, Nancy served as Executive Vice Presid...Full Bio
Michael J. Berthelot
Michael J. Berthelot is the founding Principal of Corporate Governance Advisors Inc, a provider of corporate governance audits, consulting and evaluation services to public company boards of directors and is also CEO of Cito Capital Corporation, a strategic and financial advisory firm. Mike serve...Full Bio
Robert D. LeBlanc
Bob is a retired Chief Executive Officer with experience in the chemical and manufacturing industries where he executed growth, turnaround, technology and supply chain strategies. He has more than 10 years experience in the consumer packaged goods industry as a Director.
He is Lead ...Full Bio
Larry G. Stambaugh
Mr. Stambaugh is presently the Chairman, President & CEO of Cryoport, Inc. CYRX, a public company commercializing a product that revolutionizes global frozen shipping by eliminating the use of dry ice. Mr. Stambaugh serves also as an advisor to several private and public boards and CEOs...Full Bio
Yale D. Tauber
Yale D. Tauber is the Principal of Independent Compensation Committee Adviser, LLC, and the program director of The Conference Board Executive Compensation Conferences....Full Bio


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My daughter introduced me to Pinterest late last year and my immediate reaction was a negative "Oh no, not another social networking site." I finally did take a look but I didn't see how Pinterest would be of value to the society and I felt we had already had a good mix of social media presence with Facebook, Twitter and Yelp.
Last week I took another look after noticing how many non-profits and genealogists had taken the plunge. I set up a page and some boards and did a little experimenting.
It's important that a social networking site provide unique value before it becomes part of our messaging and Pinterest provides a new service I've been thinking about for quite awhile. Every month we run a member-submitted ancestor photograph in the eNews and I've been wanting to create an online repository of the photos with links back to the archived newsletter for easy access to the original story. Our Pinterest "California Ancestors" board is exactly the solution I've been looking for.
Not all the photos have been pinned yet but I think it looks great already. Please take a look and let me know what you think!
Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library


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Alec Baldwin apologizes to NY gay group for tweets
NEW YORK (AP) — Alec Baldwin has apologized to a New York City-based lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights group for a series of tweets that could be interpreted as homophobic.
Baldwin's messages were directed at a newspaper reporter who accused his wife of tweeting during the funeral for the former star of "The Sopranos" James Gandolfini (gan-dahl-FEE'-nee). Baldwin says in a letter to GLAAD posted on its website Friday his tweets didn't have anything to do with "issues of anyone's sexual orientation."
The former "30 Rock" star says he's done political work with marriage equality groups and insists he wouldn't advocate violence against someone for being gay.
GLAAD spokesman Rich Ferraro says Baldwin's language was improper and his tweets didn't reflect his "history of actively supporting LGBT equality."


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This was published 6 years ago
Green energy: vegetables may help wind, solar stem use of fossil fuels
Rhubarb and other simple green vegetables could be the source of materials for a new generation of batteries with the potential to transform energy systems, according to new research by Harvard University.
The prospect of low-cost storage has long been a nirvana for the renewable energy industry, the intermittent nature of wind and solar energy restraining their competitiveness against fossil fuels such as coal.
Globally, companies and governments are pouring billions of dollars into developing batteries that can store energy safely, cheaply and at scale.
Flow batteries, a type of rechargeable fuel cell using chemical compounds dissolved in liquids, have had some of the biggest advances but development has been held back by the high cost of materials used, such as vanadium.
The research, published in Nature on Thursday, holds the promise of sharply reduced costs, with the material demonstrated to work costing a third of vanadium or less, said Michael Aziz, a Harvard professor of materials and energy technologies and one of the report's authors.
''We've introduced the world of organic chemicals to flow batteries,'' Professor Aziz said.
''The ones we have used are … very abundant. They work really well and they're safe.''
While the molecules used were sourced from crude oil, the material could as easily have been sourced from rhubarb or most other green plants, Professor Aziz said.
The research has ''connected the world of energy storage of flow batteries with small molecules, where there's so many possibilities to fine-tune the properties and get the properties you need'', he said.
Unlike lithium, for instance, there is little chance the batteries will ignite.
''Our molecules are deliberately dissolved in water, so they don't catch fire,'' he said.
The work, funded by the US government, is likely to result in a three-year extension to develop a commercial technology.
The aim is to produce a battery capable of storing 24 kilowatt hours of energy, which is the equivalent output of a typical rooftop solar photovoltaic array over eight hours, before scaling up to much larger units.
''It could enable serious, cost-effective storage of solar and wind and allow us to generate a very large fraction of our electrical energy … without burning fossil fuels,'' Professor Aziz said.
The Nature paper was based on research that demonstrated the battery's effectiveness over 15 runs.
''Now we've done more than 100 with no signs of degradation, which is a very good sign,'' Professor Aziz said, adding that commercialisation would require performance standards being maintained for thousands of runs.
The introduction of low-cost batteries may also contribute to the spread of solar and wind generation, since electricity networks in many parts of the world - including regions of Australia - are reaching limits of how much renewable energy they can absorb without losing reliability.
Peter Hannam writes on environment issues for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.


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Designed by our staff especially for use with hand dyed wools. Our bundle of wool includes exciting marbled solids and textures many dyed here in our Alaskan studio. Base is grey and black herringbone, a classic touch.
Pattern exclusively ours! Made in Alaska!
Finished measurement is approximately 19" x 29.5"
Kit includes top wool fabrics and pattern. In addition there are caribou antler buttons provided for the bottom portion of the wool art! Dark Charcoal herringbone backer included.
A Made in Alaska product!