October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase education and awareness around a disease that affects women of all ages and ethnicities. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S., second only to skin cancer. Close to 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. 

Joelle Jakobsen, MD, FACS, a general surgeon and breast cancer specialist with Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group in Folsom, and Carmichael Calif. and Daniel Herron, MD, director of Women’s Imaging at Dignity Health Advanced Imaging, shared helpful information on breast cancer and mammograms.

The flu virus infects millions of people and hospitalizes hundreds of thousands each year. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more important to protect against the flu. It is possible to contract both COVID-19 and the flu simultaneously, and recent studies show that up to 20% of people who test positive for coronavirus, also have the flu or other respiratory illnesses. The flu shot decreases the likelihood of getting these viruses together.

Sudershan Singh, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Woodland Clinic shared some insightful tips on the symptoms you should know, and preventative measures you can take to protect you and your family this flu season.

One in five women in California will experience distressing emotions, anxiety or depression during their pregnancy or up to a year after giving birth. This time can be difficult for the entire family. Early identification and treatment are vital to the health of not only the mother, but also her infant, partner and family. The pandemic has only increased new parents’ need for support. 

Health officials in California are concerned about this year’s flu season as vaccinations among children up to 18 years of age have plummeted by more than 40% since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, now more than ever, parents should consult their child’s pediatrician to ensure their child is vaccinated and protected.

Danton Kono, MD, a pediatrician with Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group in Citrus Heights, shared some valuable information on vaccines and why a flu shot is especially important this year.