CMedEd

03/26/2026

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

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

For more information, please visit www.cmeded.com

03/18/2026

Understanding Your Kidney Cancer Pathology Report

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

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

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

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

03/17/2026

March is Kidney Cancer Awareness Month

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

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

03/17/2026

March is Kidney cancer Awareness Month

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

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

03/11/2026

Multiple Myeloma

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

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

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

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

03/10/2026

What is a stem-cell transplantation? Why is it performed?

Certain types of cancer and cancer treatments can destroy your bone marrow and deplete your blood cells. Leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma can cause your bone marrow to be taken over by a large number of defective and immature blood cells that can interfere with or even shut down normal blood cell production. Doctors perform stem-cell transplantations in these cases to restore your blood cell counts to optimal levels. In treating other types of cancer, doctors often need to give high doses of chemotherapy (and sometimes radiation) to destroy the malignant cells. These treatments can destroy healthy cells and bone marrow as well as malignant cancer cells, because they target all rapidly dividing cells in the blood. Stem-cell transplantation replenishes stem-cells that are destroyed by these treatments, allowing patients to receive high doses of chemotherapy and radiation to treat their cancer. The major new development in the area of transplantation is the introduction of CAR T-cells for the treatment of selected patients with leukemia and lymphoma. Click here to see introduction of CAR T-cells.

03/10/2026

For more on Complications of Multiple Myeloma, please visit www,cmeded.com

03/10/2026

March is Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month. Each year, more than 35,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

For more information on Multiple Myeloma, please visit cmeded.com

What is Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects the blood plasma cells. Blood cells such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are produced in the bone marrow, which is the soft, spongy interior of bones. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell that produce specific proteins called antibodies to help the body fight disease and infection.

In multiple myeloma, malignant plasma cells multiply uncontrollably in the bone marrow. These myeloma cells can collect in the bones and soft tissues of the body, forming tumors called plasmacytomas, which can cause bone erosion. Myeloma cells can crowd out healthy blood cells in the bone marrow and interfere with normal blood cell production, leading to conditions such as anemia (low red blood cells), leukopenia (low white blood cells), and thrombocytopenia (low platelets). Myeloma cells can also interfere with the cells that keep bones strong and healthy, causing bone pain, weakened bones, and lytic lesions (soft spots on bones). Thus, people with multiple myeloma commonly have weak bones and an increased risk for fracture compared to healthy people. This bone damage may increase the level of calcium in the blood, leading to a condition known as hypercalcemia.

03/04/2026

Detecting Recurrent Colore**al Cancer

After your first course of colore**al cancer treatment, it is very important to keep all scheduled follow-up appointments with your doctor. People who have had colore**al cancer in the past may be at a higher risk of developing another colore**al cancer at a different location. The main goal of follow-up care is to make sure the cancer does not return (cancer that does return is called “recurrent” by doctors), and to catch it early if it does. The earlier you catch recurrent colore**al cancer, the greater your chances of being sent back into remission. Stay in touch with your doctor and keep him or her informed about any changes in your body.

Follow-up care for colore**al cancer is important. Your cancer may never return, but it is better to be on the safe side. If your cancer does return, you will want to catch it as early as possible to have the best chance of beating the disease again.

For more information on symptoms for recurring cancer and the simple tests and procedures used to screen for a colore**al cancer recurrence, please visit www.cmeded.com

https://cmeded.com/gastrointestinal/understanding-colore**al-cancer/diagnosis/

02/24/2026

March is Colore**al Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing public understanding of colore**al cancer and promoting the importance of screening, early detection, and prevention.

Colore**al cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, surpassed only by lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 152,810 people were diagnosed with colon or re**al cancer in 2024. Despite its significant impact, screening can reduce both the incidence and mortality of colore**al cancer by enabling early detection and the removal of precancerous lesions.

Importantly, among individuals younger than 50, colore**al cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death in men and the second leading cause in women within the same age group.

Although there is no sure way to completely prevent colore**al cancer, individuals can help reduce their risk by modifying controllable lifestyle and health-related factors.

Below are some of the risk factors for colore**al cancer. For a complete list of risk factors, please visit www.cmeded.com for more information.

https://cmeded.com/gastrointestinal/understanding-colore**al-cancer/risk-factors/

02/20/2026

National Cancer Prevention Month: According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 1.9 million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year. About half of those cases are breast, prostate, lung, pancreatic, or colon cancers. And more than 40 percent of all cancer cases are linked to causes that could be prevented—almost half.

CMEDED highlights the steps we can take to lower our risk of developing breast cancer. Please see A Guide to Health, Wellness, and Preventive Care for ten of the most important ways to reduce your risk.

Please read our Guide to Health, Wellness and Preventative Care here: https://cmeded.com/breast/a-guide-to-health-wellness-and-preventative-care/

02/20/2026

This presentation shares the personal motivation and future vision behind CMedEd — expanding access to trusted, in-depth cancer education for patients, caregivers, and families across the country. https://cmeded.com/videos/2026-02-02-cmeded-a-vision-for-cancer-education-and-access/