Get The News You Want

Mayo Clinic Minute: Melanoma misconception -- dark skin tones at risk, too

The myth that people with dark skin are immune to melanoma, a type of skin cancer, has persisted for many years. It's a dangerous misconception that has caused some people not to be diligent about protecting themselves against dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays. Dr. Dawn Davis, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, says people with darker skin tones need to be vigilant about sun protection. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute https://youtu.be/rcsfbWZm6CY Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (0:57) is in the…

Mayo Clinic Minute: Advances in minimally invasive kidney stone surgery

Most small kidney stones can pass on their own. However, kidney stones that are too large to pass on their own or cause bleeding, kidney damage or ongoing urinary tract infections may require surgical treatment. In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Aaron Potretzke, a Mayo Clinic urologist, explains some of the different surgical options for removing kidney stones. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute https://youtu.be/jGO6cb3XT2o Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:10) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic…

Beyond weight loss: Bariatric surgery may reduce cancer risk

When you think about obesity, you may not connect it to cancer. However, researchers long have suspected a link between certain cancers and weight. Among those are endometrial, ovarian, colon, liver, pancreatic and postmenopausal breast cancers, which together contribute to 15 to 20% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. Cancer risk increases with obesity More than one-third of adults in the U.S. are considered obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI is the measure…

Mayo Clinic Minute: Preventing pediatric falls

May is National Trauma Awareness Month. It's a time to spread awareness about injury prevention and trauma. Falls are the No. 1 cause of nonfatal injuries among children up to 14 years old in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health. Many of these pediatric falls happen at home or on the playground. Tom Halada, a Mayo Clinic registered nurse and pediatric trauma coordinator, says some of these injuries can be prevented. Watch:…

Electrospinning biotherapies of tomorrow

The future of healing disease may involve a syringe, a high voltage power supply and polymer solutions coming together to engineer tissue. Mayo Clinic researchers are studying these different elements now using an electrospinner, a device that whips biotherapeutic fibers into a scaffold — or platform — for spinning regenerative biotherapeutics. An electrospinner is almost like a medical spinning wheel or loom. An electrospinner unleashes electrical forces that churn chemical solutions into nano- or microscopic…

Ovarian cancer: New treatments and research

Editor's note: May 8 is World Ovarian Cancer Day. Three cancers — ovarian epithelial cancer, fallopian tube cancer and primary peritoneal cancer — are commonly called ovarian cancer. They arise from the same kind of tissue and are treated similarly. "The ovaries and fallopian tubes are so anatomically close to each other that we sometimes can't tell if the cancer is coming from the ovary or the fallopian tube," says S. John Weroha, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo…

Mayo Clinic Q and A: Can honey help my cough?

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My family's colds are still lingering from the winter season, and I can't seem to kick this pesky cough. I've heard honey can help. Is it true? ANSWER: While we make think of honey as a pantry staple and natural sweetener for our morning tea or breakfast pastry, honey has long been used as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial substance. Topical use of honey can aid in healing burns, and research says that…

5 things to know about stroke

A stroke can happen at any time and to anyone. You might be talking to your loved one and notice they're suddenly slurring their words. Or, while grocery shopping, you realize you can't move your hand to pick up a jar from the shelf. You can go from feeling as usual to feeling sick within a matter of seconds to minutes. Here are five key things to know about stroke: 1. Strokes affect the oxygen…

Mayo Clinic Q & A: Heart failure during pregnancy -- what you should know

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I'm in the first trimester of my pregnancy, and I know that heart disease runs in my family. What are the warning signs of heart failure during pregnancy? How can I safely manage or prevent this? ANSWER: First of all, congratulations on being proactive and voicing your concern for yourself and your baby. There are some specific cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure, which occur during pregnancy. Symptoms from this can overlap…

In case you missed it: This week's Top 5 stories on social media

Check out a few of the most popular News Network stories on @mayoclinic social media this past week. Is emotional eating sabotaging your weight-loss efforts? Emotional eating is eating to suppress or soothe negative emotions, such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness and loneliness. It often leads to eating too much, especially overeating foods that are sweet, fatty and high in calories. And this can sabotage your weight-loss efforts.⁠ Recommendations to begin breast cancer screening…

Enter a US ZIP Code or City, State