Linda Chiarella, a mother of three from Jackson, is living proof of how far science and medicine have come in fighting cancer. Diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer four years ago, her scans are now essentially normal. Interestingly, Linda’s story began when her dog Holly, a Brittany, kept pawing [...]
By Brian Mason, PT, DPT At times, the side effects of cancer treatment can be very debilitating. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and other treatments can affect a patient’s activities, leading to weight loss, cancer-related fatigue and worse. Luckily, there are ways to combat some of these side effects to improve [...]
John Bell is no stranger to skin cancer, having dealt with various forms of it for more than 30 years. A decade ago, the 70-year-old Manalapan resident noticed a red circle that was enlarging on his scalp. It proved to be melanoma that had spread to his lymph nodes—but [...]
After working for 47 years as a lineman with a power company, Gary Balon is enjoying retirement this summer by working part time as a golf course ranger and spending time with his family, including two grandchildren. If you saw him on the course, it would be hard [...]
When Alyce McKinley was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma in a prominent area on her nose, she was apprehensive about having it surgically removed. While this traditional approach, called Mohs surgery, is very effective, it would likely result in scarring that would require plastic surgery. “If the cancer was [...]
Nurses celebrate Adam Fox and Ashley Getta in October 2017. As Winter Storm Niko barreled across the Northeast in February 2017, flights were cancelled and many schools and offices were closed. Suffering from what he thought was the flu, Adam Fox was awaiting blood work results from his primary [...]
It was at the repeated urging of her primary care doctor that Loretta Nunez of Manalapan finally arranged to have a lung cancer screening. As a smoker over the age of 55, Loretta was at risk for lung cancer. She underwent a low dose screening CT scan that detected [...]
Muriel Smith of Freehold stopped getting yearly mammograms at 75. “Who needs them at this age?” she thought. Four years later, the offer of a $50 off spa gift certificate with any mammogram at the Star & Barry Tobias Women’s Health Center at CentraState piqued her interest, and [...]
She says she was fortunate her cancer was detected at all; fortunate to have a dedicated team of cancer experts close to home at CentraState; and fortunate to maintain a positive attitude with the help of family and friends, especially her husband, Fred, who was there for her every [...]
When Deborah Mozak was diagnosed with breast cancer, it had already spread to the lymph nodes in her underarm and neck. “She essentially had inoperable breast cancer when she was diagnosed,” says Bhavesh Balar, MD, a board-certified and fellowship trained hematologist and oncologist on staff at CentraState. “It was [...]
