Cancer Library

Leukocoria is when your eye’s pupil reflects white, silvery, gray or yellowish instead of red. The color difference is because light is reflecting off something other than the red-reflecting retinal tissue at the back of your eye. It can be a sign of serious or dangerous eye conditions. In children, 1 in 5 instances of leukocoria are due to cancer.

Your sense of taste and smell work together to help you enjoy foods and drinks. When you lose your sense of smell — due to age, a health problem or a medicine — foods can seem tasteless or bland. Losing taste and smell can be an early symptom of a COVID-19 infection. A complete loss of smell (anosmia) or loss of taste (ageusia) is rare.

Many things can cause muscle pain (myalgia), including injuries, infections and diseases. Muscle pain can be short-term or chronic. Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) occurs after exercise. You can take steps to prevent and manage muscle pain and the conditions that cause it.

Armpit lumps happen in men and women for various reasons, including infections, skin irritations and chronic diseases. They may be as small as a pea or as large as a golf ball. Armpit lumps typically go away on their own. On rare occasions, they’re a sign of cancer.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that happen between ages 1 and 17. These negative experiences affect a child’s brain and health as they grow into adults. ACEs can lead to mental health or chronic health conditions. Lifelong treatment and management of ACEs help a person lead a fulfilling life.

A bloated stomach feels tight, full and often painful. You might feel bloated even if you don’t have a distended abdomen. Bloating is usually a digestive issue, though hormones and stress also play a part. Sometimes there is an underlying medical condition.

Cancer or cancer treatment often causes cancer pain. Cancer pain affects your quality of life. It can make certain cancer symptoms feel worse. It may increase the impact of treatment side effects. Cancer pain management is an essential part of cancer treatment.

Dysuria means you feel pain or a burning sensation when you pee (urinate). Men and women of any age can experience dysuria, but it's more common in women. Urinary tract infections are commonly associated with dysuria. Treatment depends on the cause and ranges from antibiotics, to avoiding irritants to treating the underlying medical problem.

Scar revision is a cosmetic or medical treatment to reduce the appearance of or pain associated with a scar. There is a variety of scar revision techniques, ranging from topical skin therapies to scar revision surgery.

Adults with rectal prolapse need surgery to put rectal tissue that slips into their anus back where it belongs. Rectal prolapse surgery (rectopexy) may take place through your abdomen or perineum (a perineal rectosigmoidectomy). Without surgery, rectal prolapse can worsen fecal incontinence and lead to more serious issues.

Cystectomy is bladder removal surgery. With robotic instruments, a cystectomy can be performed less invasively than traditional surgery, with smaller cuts and shorter hospital and recovery time.

Shoulder arthroscopy is a type of surgery used to diagnose and treat shoulder problems. Your healthcare provider repairs your shoulder through tiny incisions. Shoulder arthroscopy is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day. Though full recovery can take weeks or months, exercise and physical therapy can help with healing.

When you have back pain that won’t go away, you might find relief with spinal decompression. This group of treatments includes alternative therapies and surgery. Your healthcare provider will help you find the right option for you.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses low-voltage electrical currents to relieve pain. A TENS unit is a small device that delivers the current at or near your nerves to block or change your perception of pain. Healthcare providers use TENS to treat a range of conditions, including osteoarthritis, tendinitis and fibromyalgia.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are a kind of targeted therapy. They work by blocking tyrosine kinase enzymes. TKI enzymes help manage how cells work, including cell signaling and growth and how often cells divide. Some tyrosine kinase inhibitors are used to treat cancer. TKIs work by blocking enzymes and keeping cancer cells from growing.

Ureteroscopy is a procedure performed to examine or treat problems in the urinary tract. There are two ureteroscopy methods to treat a stone in the ureter. The treatment option depends on the location, size, and composition of the stone in the ureter.

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) uses high-energy sound waves to create images of organs and tissues. Providers use TRUS to diagnose and treat prostate conditions. TRUS can also help diagnose cysts, infertility and tumors. Providers often combine needle biopsy with TRUS. This procedure usually takes 15 to 30 minutes and you can go home the same day.

Wrinkles are a normal part of your body’s aging process. If you don’t like how wrinkles look on your skin, treatment options are available to help you improve your appearance. Most treatment options are outpatient procedures that don’t require a hospital stay and provide high rates of satisfaction.

Triple bypass surgery is a treatment for people who have multiple blockages in their coronary arteries, which supply blood to their heart muscle. Using a blood vessel from another part of your body, a surgeon creates a bypass route for blood to go around blocked artery sections. This allows blood to keep flowing to your heart muscle.

During an upper endoscopy, a digestive tract specialist (gastroenterologist) uses a scope to view the inside of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum (upper part of the small intestine). Doctors use the procedure to diagnose and treat acid reflux, stomach ulcers, celiac disease, gastrointestinal disorders and other digestive tract problems.