Catching breast cancer early is key to making it easier to treat and survive, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The organization aims to highlight early detection, noting that screening with mammography has helped breast cancer death rates drop 43% since 1989. “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women (after skin cancer)…  read on >  read on >

It’s time to get the flu shot. They’re important not just for adults, but also for children, and keeping the whole family safe, according to an expert in pediatrics. “You never know how bad a flu season will be,” said Dr. Mona Patel, attending physician in the department of general pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los…  read on >  read on >

Should Fluffy and Fido go vegan? A new study says yes — for the environment. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that livestock are responsible for 14.5% of the greenhouse gas emissions. In response, some experts say eating vegan — meaning a nutritionally sound diet without animal proteins or products — for two-thirds…  read on >  read on >

Wallet-friendly cards showing proof of COVID vaccinations served a purpose early in the pandemic, but they’re on their way out. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stopped printing the cards, likely changing how people track their shots in the future. The cards people have at home can still be used as proof…  read on >  read on >

More than 80% of eligible Americans did not get a COVID-19 booster shot last fall. Now, a new study reveals the reasons for the hesitation. Nearly 40% of survey participants said a prior COVID-19 infection factored into their decision to not get the booster. Another 31.5% were worried about side effects. And an additional 28%…  read on >  read on >

Going vegetarian is trendy and popular, along with being a healthy choice, but a large portion of those who say they want to stick with a plant-based diet don’t. It might come down to your DNA, suggests new research that has uncovered three genes that seem to be strongly linked to vegetarianism. “It seems there…  read on >  read on >

Breast cancer patients who undergo a mastectomy can probably benefit from a shorter course of more intense radiation therapy, a new study indicates. Hypofractionated radiation therapy — which provides a higher dose each session over three weeks — provides the same protection against breast cancer recurrence and post-surgical complications as a standard course of lower-dose…  read on >  read on >

Federal regulators on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to an updated Novavax COVID vaccine, giving Americans a more traditional alternative to two recently revamped mRNA vaccines. Adolescents and adults who have previously received a COVID vaccine, but who haven’t gotten the newly updated Pfizer or Moderna shots, now have this non-mRNA choice. “The COVID-19 vaccines have…  read on >  read on >