Whether you're injured or sit at a desk for many hours each day, back pain is common, painful and frustrating. But a new study performed by West Virginia University and reported in the journal Spine shows that yoga can help relieve chronic back pain and improve mood. Ninety study participants with chronic lower back pain were divided into two groups: half performed 90-minute Iyengar yoga twice… Continue

Brian Nelson, a former actor and writer, wrote a piece for the New York Times today that stopped me in my tracks. His article, "When Cancer Changes Your Appearance," documents his long fight with cancer and the many side-effects of treatment. His latest: a very swollen "moon" face. From a cable technician in his home to friends and neighbors, people stare at him, rudely ask if he's… Continue

Those of us who practice yoga regularly know that it can be a tremendously helpful way to reduce stress. And now, scientists have confirmed it. Researchers at Ohio State University conducted a study of sedentary office workers to see if simple yoga poses and breathing exercises could reduce stress. Participants performed 20 minutes of guided meditation and yoga at their desks daily and took part in a weekly one-hour… Continue

Three years ago, a study conducted by the Pine Street Foundation announced something many found surprising: Dogs could determine if humans had cancer simply by smelling their breath, particularly for those suffering from breast and lung cancer. Trained to sit when they smelled cancer in samples, the dogs accurately identified the…

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Healthcare is in the news a lot these days, and for cancer patients, this debate hits home particularly hard. Even with good insurance, the cost of cancer care can be overwhelming. A study performed by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the American Cancer Society in 2009 found that cancer patients with employer-based insurance… Continue