Newsroom

TUCSON, AZ (March 6, 2025) – Colorectal cancer (cancer of the large intestine and lower part of the digestive system) caused about 53,000 deaths in America in 2024. It is a leading cause of all cancer-related deaths nationwide, for both men and women. Colorectal cancer is increasingly more common in younger adults. Since 2011, the incidence of this disease has increased by 2 percent in people ages 50 to 54 – and it has also increased in those younger than 50. The American Cancer Society recommends a rou... ... Read More

Two years ago – a few days after her diagnosis of Stage 3 breast cancer – Christi arrived at Northwest Medical Center’s radiology department alone, on a Saturday, for a scan to determine if her disease had advanced to Stage 4, or metastatic, breast cancer (MBC). Christi herself was trained as a radiology tech, so she understood the stakes that day. MBC means that breast cancer has spread to other, distant parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver, or brain. According to the American Center Soci... ... Read More

Each time Joseph hikes up – and then down – Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, he takes a few moments to be grateful for his healthy body, as well as for the exercise and fresh air. For 10 years, due to his weight – plus hypertension and diabetes – Joseph wasn’t able to hike Tumamoc at all. “I struggled with my weight since the get-go, when I was born at 9 pounds, 10 ounces,” Joseph says. “I’ve gone down from 330 pounds to 224, and my goal is to be under 200.” Joseph regained his health by changing his diet, walki... ... Read More

Tom, of Avra Valley, loves to golf – and he’s usually a good hitter. But one day last summer, at the very first tee, he noticed his swing was off. By the second tee, Tom felt lethargic and nauseous, and was sweating far more than was normal for him on the golf course, even in the summertime. By the third hole, Tom’s joints were hurting. He knew his golf game was over. “It was taking a long time for me to walk back to the pro shop,” he remembers, “and I knew there was something big wrong.. I thought, ‘Th... ... Read More

Kathy came to Northwest Medical Center’s emergency department last December after her dog found her unconscious on the bathroom floor. “I thought I had a bad flu,” Kathy remembers. “I was crying with no tears because I was so dehydrated – but I didn’t know how sick I was.” As it turned out, she was very sick. Kathy lives with type 2 diabetes, and she had gone into ketoacidosis – a medical emergency in which a person’s blood glucose, or sugar, level becomes dangerously high. This can cause flu-like sympt... ... Read More

Rare Disease Month – a worldwide initiative to raise awareness, advocate for research and treatments, and support people affected by rare diseases – is observed annually in February. A rare disease (one affecting a very small number of people) can be debilitating and/or life-threatening, and many have no known cure. Some rare diseases – like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell disease – are better known than “ultra-rare” diseases, including hemophilia and certain forms of anemia. These d... ... Read More

Manuel (“Manny”), a custom car professional with a love for road trips, was having a pleasant Thanksgiving Day in his backyard when, he says, he felt the “first hit” of his sudden heart attack. “It felt like something was stuck in my throat; like I was having some acid reflux,” he remembers. “I went inside to get some water when the second hit came – like an elephant on my chest. I was sweating. My jaw was locked and my teeth were hurting.” Manny couldn’t really breathe or talk, but he managed to drive ... ... Read More

Sabrina recently had a baby via a C-section – her third – at Northwest Women’s Center. She credits her great experience to the extraordinary care she and her baby received from their nurse, Nikki, during their postpartum stay. “Nikki went above and beyond to ensure both my baby and I had the best experience possible,” Sabrina says. “She made my baby’s first bath a special and memorable moment, taking the time to make it gentle and enjoyable. She also ensured that all my needs were met, prioritizing my c... ... Read More

When our “Brain Attack Team” saves another life from the devastating effects of stroke, their quick actions can mean the patient walks out of the hospital a few days later – rather than suffering permanent brain damage, disability, or death. The most common type of stroke, ischemic, occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a blood clot or plaque buildup. After this happens, every second that passes can cost the patient precious mental and physical function. Some risk factors for stroke – includ... ... Read More

Jenny’s feet – with their arthritis, hammertoes, bunions, joint deformities and dislocations – were keeping her from wearing sandals and flip-flops, but they were also keeping her from more important things, like living without pain. “I keep a separate file on each foot,” Jenny says with a laugh. She had to be very organized about her feet, because they presented different anatomical problems. Also, she needed two surgeries – one on her left foot in the summer of 2023 and the other on her right foot at ... ... Read More