Holiday Season Tips to Protect Yourself from COVID-19

Family eating a meal during a holiday gathering

Are you getting together with family and friends this holiday season? It’s still important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infections. Attending holiday events can increase the chance of being in close contact with people outside of your household. If you are receiving cancer treatments or have had cancer, take steps to protect yourself. People with cancer who are treated with chemotherapy are more likely to get an infection because of their weakened immune system. Learn about safer ways to celebrate the holidays.

Learn More

Be a Winner in the Fight Against Flu

Flu vaccine graphic showing a woman smiling

National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 5–11) raises awareness about preventing flu illness. CDC recommends a flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. Getting a flu shot every year is the best way to help protect against flu viruses. The flu vaccine is very important for people who are more likely to become seriously ill from the flu such as cancer patients and survivors. Cancer and chemotherapy can damage the immune system and make it harder for the body to fight infections. Getting a flu shot is also important for family members or caregivers of cancer patients to prevent flu from spreading. If you haven’t had your flu shot yet, it’s not too late. Get your flu shot!

Learn More

New Resource Answers Your Questions About Mesothelioma

Man reading information on a laptop

Mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the thin tissue that lines many of your internal organs. CDC’s new mesothelioma page shares the causes, symptoms, treatment options, and more. The most common kind of mesothelioma forms in the tissue around the lungs. Most cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos, minerals that form long, thin, very strong fibers. Not everyone who is exposed to asbestos will get mesothelioma or other cancers. If you’re concerned, talk with your doctor about regular checkups or tests for asbestos-related diseases.

Learn More

An Inner Voice and Family Health History: A Breast Cancer Survivor’s Story

Breast cancer survivor, Celeste with her daughter.

Some people call it an inner voice and others refer to it as a gut feeling. For cancer survivor Celeste Smalls-Sumpter, it was the beginning of her lifesaving journey with cancer. After listening to her inner voice, Celeste found a lump in her breast. She was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer at 29 years old. Knowing her family history of breast cancer among her late mother, sister, and late grandmother, Celeste took action to get the care she needed. She also had genetic testing for the BRCA gene mutation, which raises a person’s risk for certain cancers. Throughout her journey, Celeste played an active role in her health. “Don’t just take what the doctors say if it doesn’t sit well in your spirit! Listen to your inner voice, whatever you may call it,” says Celeste.

New Data Brief on Cancer in American Indian and Alaska Native People

United States Cancer Statistics Data Graphic.

Screening tests can find colorectal, lung, female breast, and cervical cancers early. They make up 39% of the cancers that affect non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people. A new U.S. Cancer Statistics (USCS) data brief looks at new cases of these cancers among American Indian and Alaska Native people in six geographic regions. Between 2014 and 2018, lung cancer and female breast cancer were the most common cancers. Colorectal cancer rates were highest in Alaska.

Research Spotlight

Gynecologic Oncologist Impact on Adjuvant Chemotherapy Care for Stage II-IV Ovarian Cancer Patients examines the cancer care and outcomes, including chemotherapy and surgery, for ovarian cancer patients in rural and urban areas. The study focuses on the benefits and barriers of having a gynecologic oncologist involved in chemotherapy care.

Did You Know?

An infection can become a life-threatening emergency for people with cancer who are treated with chemotherapy. Fever, a temperature of 100.4⁰F (38⁰C) or higher, is a sign of infection. Call your doctor right away.
All alcoholic drinks, including red and white wine, beer, and liquor, can raise the risk of getting cancer. The less alcohol you drink, the lower your risk for cancer.