Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, a month to raise awareness, shine a light on ovarian cancer, and amplify the voices of those in the community who have experienced this disease.

Ovarian cancer is a growth of cells that forms in the ovaries. The cells multiply quickly and can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. It is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers.

Types of ovarian cancer include:

Epithelial ovarian cancer- this type is the most common. It includes several subtypes, such as serous carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma.
Stromal tumors- this type includes rare tumors that are usually diagnosed at an earlier stage than other ovarian cancers.
Germ cell tumors- these types of rare ovarian cancers tend to occur at a younger age.

When ovarian cancer first develops, the signs and symptoms are subtle, which makes the disease difficult to detect in the early stages (I-II). This is why only 20% of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in the early stages. Often, symptoms don’t appear until the disease is in its advanced stages (III-IV). When ovarian cancer symptoms do occur, they’re usually attributed to other, more common conditions. Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:

Abdominal bloating or swelling
Quickly feeling full when eating
Weight loss
Discomfort in the pelvic area
Fatigue
Back pain
Changes in bowel habits
A frequent need to urinate

Several factors can increase your risk of ovarian cancer, including:

Older age
Inherited gene changes
Family history of ovarian cancer
Being overweight or obese
Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy
Endometriosis
Age when menstruation started and ended
Never having been pregnant

There is no sure way to prevent ovarian cancer. However, there may be ways to reduce your risk, including:

Considering taking birth control pills
Discussing risk factors with your healthcare provider

Several tests and procedures can be performed to diagnose ovarian cancer. They include:

A pelvic exam
Imaging tests
Blood tests
Surgery
Genetic testing

The type of cell where the cancer begins determines the type of ovarian cancer you have and helps your healthcare provider decide on the best treatment options for you.

Once it is confirmed that you have ovarian cancer, your healthcare provider will use the information from your tests and procedures to assign your cancer a stage. The lowest stage, stage I, indicates that the cancer is confined to the ovaries. By stage IV, the cancer has spread to distant areas of the body.

Treatment of ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Other treatments may be used in certain situations.

Surgical operations to remove ovarian cancer include:

Surgery to remove one ovary
Surgery to remove both ovaries
Surgery to remove both ovaries and the uterus
Surgery for advanced cancer

Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that might remain, but it can also be used before surgery.

Other therapy treatments for ovarian cancer can include:

Targeted therapy
Hormone therapy
Immunotherapy

Palliative care is another treatment option as it focuses on providing relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness and can be used while undergoing other aggressive treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy.

To schedule an appointment with an oncologist at our MediSys Health Network Cancer Center, or to learn more about our cancer care program, please call (718) 206-6742.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

National Breastfeeding Month

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

August is National Breastfeeding Month. It is a time when communities and health organizations work in tandem to share the many health benefits of breastfeeding for the nursing mother and baby and to celebrate the natural and healthful bond between a new mother and her infant.

There are five great health benefits of breastfeeding, including:

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies. As the baby grows, the mother’s breast milk will change to meet the baby’s nutritional needs.

Breastfeeding can help protect babies against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, Type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs.

Breast milk shares antibodies from a mother to her baby. These antibodies help babies develop a strong immune system and protect them from illnesses.

Mothers can breastfeed anytime and anywhere. Mothers can feed their babies on the go without worrying about having to mix formula or prepare bottles. Breastfeeding can also provide a source of comfort for babies whose normal routine is disrupted while traveling.

Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother as well. Breastfeeding can reduce the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Ways you can celebrate National Breastfeeding Month include:

Learn more and educate others about breastfeeding

Support breastfeeding mothers

Advocate for better breastfeeding policies

Donate to relevant breastfeeding advocacy organizations

Share stories and experiences about breastfeeding

Volunteer during National Breastfeeding Month

Participate in breastfeeding events

Express gratitude for those who are breastfeeding

At Jamaica Hospital’s Baby Friendly USA-designated Department of Women’s Health Services, we are passionate about meeting the various needs of women in our community. We proudly treat women from all walks of life, and we provide a warm and welcoming environment. To learn more about our OB/GYN services, such as breastfeeding, please contact us at 718-291-3276 for more information.

Menopause and Memory Issues

Posted on July 18, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Menopause occurs when a person goes 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Memory lapses and trouble concentrating are common symptoms of menopause and even perimenopause. These menopausal symptoms are caused by the female sex hormone estrogen, which is necessary for maintaining sexual and reproductive health.

Low estrogen levels can cause temporary bouts of brain fog and impact verbal memory, including the ability to recall words and names. However, this type of menopause-related forgetfulness isn’t the same as the early signs of dementia.

Dementia is a general term that represents a group of diseases and illnesses that cause a decline in cognitive functioning to the point that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. It is caused by damage to the brain, affecting its nerve cells and destroying the brain’s ability to communicate with its various areas.

The first signs of dementia are typically things like getting lost in familiar places or confusion about how to perform everyday activities, such as driving home from the store, and inability to remember names.

Another key factor in someone affected by dementia is age. Alzheimer’s disease mainly affects people over the age of 65. Less than 10% of cases occur in people younger than 65, especially those without a family history of early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Menopause, on the other hand, usually happens in your mid-40s to mid-50s, and perimenopause can start years earlier.

Midlife “brain fog” can be frustrating and worrisome at times. However, with some extra care and attention to your health, it can be managed and controlled.

Here are some ways to cope with menopausal memory issues:

Get enough sleep

Eat a balanced diet that includes brain-enhancing foods, such as cruciferous vegetables rich in color, to serve as antioxidants

Create and stick to a regular exercise routine

Stop multitasking, as it can drain the brain’s abilities

Exercise your brain by doing activities that can improve your mental fitness, such as:

Doing crossword puzzles, board games, or chess

Going for a vigorous walk

Reading a novel

Taking up a new physical activity, such as ballroom dancing or boxing

Meditating

Starting a journal about positive experiences

Learning a foreign language

Trying tai chi

If you are experiencing symptoms of menopausal memory loss, you can visit Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center or contact us at 718-291-3276 to make an appointment.

Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Cardiovascular disease can be deadly for anyone. However, women face unique risks, largely due to differences in anatomy and hormones. They are more likely to have other heart attack symptoms and have a higher chance of developing symptoms from heart failure.

Over 60 million women (44%) in the United States are living with some form of heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States and can affect them at any age.

There are three types of heart disease. They include:

Coronary artery disease is the most common heart disease, caused by plaque in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body. After menopause, women are at a higher risk of coronary artery disease because of hormonal changes.

Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats too slowly, too fast, or irregularly. A common example is atrial fibrillation.

Heart failure happens when the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to support other organs in the body. This condition is serious, but it doesn’t mean the heart has stopped beating.

Although some women have no symptoms, other women may experience:

Angina is usually felt as a dull or heavy chest discomfort or ache

Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat

Pain in the upper abdomen or back

These symptoms may happen when you are resting or active. Women may also have other symptoms, including:

Nausea

Vomiting

Tiredness that won’t go away of feels excessive

In some women, the first signs and symptoms if heart disease can be:

A heart attack

Palpitations

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced or blocked. The amount of damage to the heart muscle depends on the artery and the treatment.

The warning signs of a heart attack include:

Chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or doesn’t go away and returns

Pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, and stomach

Shortness of breath

Other signs can include:

Breaking out in a cold sweat

Nausea

A rapid or irregular heartbeat

Unusual tiredness

Lightheadedness

Medical treatment for a heart attack is based on the type of heart attack and where the blockage in the coronary artery is.

A complete blockage of the artery of the heart is a STEMI or ST-elevation myocardial infarction. A partial blockage is an NSTEMI heart attack or a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The different ways to restore blood flow to the affected heart muscle during a heart attack include:

Clot-dissolving medications

Balloon angioplasty and stenting

Surgery

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911 right away. If you are experiencing heart attack symptoms, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-1700.

Robot-assisted Hysterectomy

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the uterus.

Depending on the reason for the surgery, a hysterectomy can involve removing surrounding organs and tissues, such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Your healthcare provider will discuss the type of hysterectomy you need depending on your condition. This will determine if your fallopian tubes and/or ovaries will be removed.

The different types of hysterectomy surgeries include:

A total hysterectomy removes the uterus and cervix but leaves the ovaries. Since you still have ovaries, you won’t enter menopause immediately after surgery.
A supracervical hysterectomy removes just the upper part of the uterus while leaving the cervix. You can also have your fallopian tubes and ovaries removed at the same time. Since you still have a cervix, you will still need pap smears.
A total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy removes the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Since your ovaries are removed, menopause will start immediately if you haven’t already completed it.
A radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy removes the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, the upper portion of the vagina, and some surrounding tissue, and lymph nodes. Healthcare providers use this procedure when cancer is involved. Since your ovaries are removed, you will enter menopause.

A healthcare provider may suggest alternative treatments before recommending a hysterectomy, depending on the reason for needing one. Sometimes, those treatments don’t help, or surgery is the only option to treat the condition.

Surgeons perform hysterectomies to treat the following:

Abnormal or heavy vaginal bleeding
Severe pelvic pain
Uterine fibroids and other noncancerous tumors
Severe endometriosis
Uterine prolapse that can lead to urinary incontinence or fecal incontinence
Cervical, ovarian, or uterine cancer
Conditions with the lining of your uterus, such as hyperplasia or adenomyosis
Serious complications of childbirth such as uterine rupture

Many people have a hysterectomy to prevent cancer. For people at high risk for certain types of cancer, removing the uterus and/or surrounding reproductive organs can reduce the chances of developing cancer.

Healthcare providers can use several different surgical approaches to perform a hysterectomy. A surgical procedure that is performed is a robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy.

A robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy is similar to an abdominal laparoscopy, however, a surgeon performs the procedure with the help of a robotic machine.

A surgeon inserts a laparoscope through the abdomen incisions. They insert small, thin surgical tools through three to five other small incisions around your belly button. The surgeon controls robotic arms and instruments.

The recovery is similar to a laparoscopic hysterectomy.

There are many potential advantages of robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy including:

Robot-assisted surgery provides the surgeon with 3D images of inside your abdomen and pelvis that create a clearer picture for them to reference as they operate.
Under the surgeon’s direction, the robot can move more freely and with more versatility than a human hand
Minimal scarring
Less pain
Faster recovery times
Less risk of wound infection,
Shorter hospital stays
Less blood loss

For more information about robotic surgery at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center or to learn more about other surgical options, please call (718) 206-7001 to make an appointment.

Elevate Her- Gestational Diabetes

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops exclusively in pregnancy when blood sugar levels are too high.

Gestational diabetes develops when hormones from the placenta interfere with your body’s ability to make or use insulin. Insulin breaks down the glucose from food and delivers it to your cells. It keeps the glucose levels in your blood at a healthy level. If insulin doesn’t work right or you don’t have enough of it, sugar builds up in your blood and leads to diabetes.

Anyone can get gestational diabetes during pregnancy. However, certain factors can increase your risk, including:

Heart disease
High blood pressure
Being obese or overweight before pregnancy
Personal history of gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies
Family history of Type 2 diabetes
Having prediabetes
Having polycystic ovary syndrome
Having previously delivered a baby weighing more than nine pounds
Being of a certain race or ethnicity, such as Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian American
Being of an advanced maternal age

There are usually no obvious warning signs of gestational diabetes. Symptoms are too mild and often go unnoticed until your pregnancy care provider tests you for the disease. If you do have symptoms, they can include:

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Tiredness
Nausea

Gestational diabetes that isn’t carefully managed can lead to high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar can cause problems for you and your baby, including an increased likelihood of needing a C-section to deliver the baby. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby may be at an increased risk of:

Excessive birth weight
Preterm birth
Serious breathing difficulties at birth
Low blood sugar
Obesity and Type 2 diabetes later in life
Stillbirth

To diagnose gestational diabetes, your healthcare provider will test your blood sugar during pregnancy with a blood test. Often the first test is a screening. If you don’t pass the screening, a provider will order a second blood test which is more comprehensive and includes:

Glucose challenge test
Glucose tolerance test

If you have gestational diabetes, you will need more frequent checkups during your pregnancy. Treatment for gestational diabetes includes:

Lifestyle changes
Blood sugar monitoring
Medication, if necessary

Managing your blood sugar levels helps keep you and your baby healthy. Close management can also help you avoid complications during pregnancy and delivery.

Gestational diabetes isn’t entirely preventable. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Eating balanced and nutritious meals and getting regular exercise before and after your pregnancy are the best ways to reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes.

To learn more about the OB/GYN services at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Women’s Health Services or to make an appointment, call 718-291-3276.

Understanding Menopause

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

The life stages of women’s reproductive health begin with puberty (menstruation) and end with menopause. Menopause marks the time when a woman stops having her period and is no longer able to reproduce. While this stage is a normal part of life it has its challenges as women may experience several, physical and emotional changes. Here are six simple facts to educate and help prepare you for potential changes ahead.

What is menopause?

Menopause is medically defined as the time in a woman’s life when she has not had her period for 12 months after her last menstrual cycle. Her ovaries will cease to further produce eggs.

When does it happen?

The average age for women living in the United States to experience menopause is 51 years old. However, in some cases, it can occur as early as a woman’s 30’s or as late has her 60’s. Symptoms can begin to present a few years earlier before the actual onset of menopause. This stage of your reproductive health is referred to as perimenopause.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of menopause may vary from person to person; they may include:

Hot flashes
Night sweats
A slowed metabolism and weight gain
Vaginal dryness
Mood swings
Trouble sleeping
Thinning hair
Incontinence

How to treat or cope with symptoms?

There are several treatments and lifestyle changes you can apply to help relieve symptoms, some of which are:

Hormone replacement therapy
Getting enough sleep
Strengthening pelvic floor muscles by doing Kegel exercises
Eating a balanced diet
Taking calcium and Vitamin D supplements, as recommended
Exercising regularly
Taking low-dose anti-depressants as prescribed

Can menopause lead to further complications?

Your risk for developing certain health conditions may increase after menopause. Examples of these include osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease

When should I speak to my doctor about menopause?

If you are experiencing unusual pain, other extreme physical or emotional symptoms which affect your quality of life, it is advised that you speak with your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor may explore treatment options or suggest lifestyle changes. It is also recommended that you begin the conversation about menopause during perimenopause (early menopause symptoms). Your doctor can offer guidance on what to expect.

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month.

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Michael Hinck

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. Jamaica Hospital would like to join the national effort to increase awareness about birth defects and what can cause them.

While not all birth defects are preventable, there are certain healthy behaviors that can be practiced to increase your chances of having a healthy baby.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following tips for preventing birth defects:

Take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. Folic acid is important because it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine. Most vitamins contain the recommended amount of folic acid, but women should check the label to be sure it contains 100% of the daily value (DV) of folic acid.
Speak with your healthcare provider before you begin or stop taking any medicine. If you are planning to become pregnant, discuss your current medicines with a healthcare provider, such as your doctor or pharmacist. Creating a treatment plan for your health condition before you are pregnant can help keep you and your developing baby healthy.
Remain up to date with all vaccines, including your flu shot. Vaccines help protect you and your developing baby against serious diseases. Get a flu shot and whooping cough vaccine (also called Tdap) during each pregnancy to help protect yourself and your baby.
Attempt to reach a healthy weight before getting pregnant. Obesity increases the risk for several serious birth defects and other pregnancy complications. If you are overweight (or underweight), speak with your healthcare provider about ways to maintain a healthy weight before you become pregnant.
Avoid harmful substances, such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy can harm the developing baby and can cause certain birth defects. Alcohol can also cause problems for a developing baby throughout pregnancy. Using certain drugs during pregnancy can cause health problems for a woman and her developing baby.

By following these recommended tips, you will be doing what is best for you and your baby.

Speak to your doctor about other ways to increase your chances of having a healthy baby. To make an appointment at Jamaica Hospital’s Women’s Health Center, please call 718- 291-3276.

Shingles and Pregnant Women

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Zakiya Hazel-Jemmott

Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles. Shingles is the term used for a skin rash that is caused by the herpes-zoster (varicella) virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. In some cases it can reactivate and cause shingles. Anyone who has had chickenpox may develop shingles, including pregnant women and even children.

As a new or expecting mother there are a lot of concerns for staying as healthy as you can for you and your baby during pregnancy. Although you can’t give anybody shingles, you can pass the virus on as chickenpox. Whereas shingles is harmless in pregnancy, chickenpox can cause problems for an unborn baby. For this reason, stay away from other pregnant women while you have shingles.

If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant:

First, get a blood test to find out if you’re immune to chickenpox. If you’re not immune, you can get a vaccine. It’s best to wait 1 month after the vaccine before getting pregnant.
If you’re already pregnant, don’t get the vaccine until after you give birth. In the meantime, avoid contact with anyone who has chickenpox or shingles.
If you’re not immune to chickenpox and you come into contact with someone who has it, tell your doctor right away. Your doctor can treat you with medicine that has chickenpox antibodies.
Tell your doctor if you come in contact with a person who has shingles. Your doctor may want to treat you with an antiviral medication. Antiviral medication will shorten the length of time that the symptoms will be present.

There isn’t a cure for shingles but a physician will usually prescribe medications to make the symptoms less intense. If you have questions about shingles send them to

To learn more about prenatal treatments please call the Women’s Health Center at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center at 718-291-3276.

Birth Defect Prevention

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Zakiya Hazel-Jemmott

Every four minutes, a baby is born with a major birth defect in the United States. Babies born with birth defects have a greater chance of illness and long term disability than babies without birth defects. They are a leading cause of death among infants, accounting for about 20% of mortality in the first year of life. To raise awareness about the impact of birth defects and the steps taken to prevent them, January is National Birth Defect Prevention Month. Although every birth defect cannot be prevented, there are things a woman can do to prepare for a healthy pregnancy, such as:

Maintain a healthy diet by eating well balanced and nutritional meals. Consult with your doctor about taking a multivitamin to gain more nutrients for mother and baby.
Avoid consuming harmful toxins that lead to birth defects, including alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and caffeine.
Obtain genetic counseling and birth defect screening, particularly if you have any family history of birth defects.
Stay active and get fit. The babies of overweight women have an increased risk of birth defects.
Treating long-term conditions such as diabetes are the keys to a healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy.

Men are also encouraged to make lifestyle changes when planning ahead for pregnancy with their partner. As some birth defects are genetic, it is important that men participate fully in any family medical history research that takes place.

Steady communication with your doctor is very important to assist with planning ahead. All medications should be discussed with a doctor prior to being taken, including prescription medication, over-the-counter medication and dietary and herbal supplements.

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it also can be stressful. Knowing that you are doing all that you can to get ready for pregnancy, staying healthy during pregnancy, and giving your baby a healthy start in life will help you to have peace of mind.

If you are an expecting mother in need of a physician, the Women’s Health Center at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is open six days a week. Appointments are necessary to see a physician and can be made by calling 718-291-3276.