Most women in labor have choices about what they want their birth experience to be. At the Family Birth Center at Maine Medical Center, the patient's safety and desires come first. Whether it is a natural child birth with little to no medical i

What to Expect When You Are Admitted to the Hospital

Dec 6th, 2016

No one wants to be admitted to the hospital but knowing what to expect can help make it easier. Dr. Elizabeth Herrle is a hospitalist at Maine Medical Center. Hospitalists are doctors who specialize in the care of patients in the hospital, and

The Genetics of Breast Cancer

Sep 15th, 2016

About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary, caused by abnormal genes passed from parent to child. Most inherited cases of breast cancer are associated with two abnormal genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2; however, there are other genes

Shorter Course Radiation for Patients With Early Stage Breast Cancer

Sep 6th, 2016

National news stories have drawn attention to the shorter course of radiation therapy now recommended for many women with early stage breast cancer, but not widely practiced.Listen in as Ian Bristol, MD explains that earlier trials confirmed th

Clinical Trial at MMC Gives Hope to Patients with Brain Tumor

Jul 27th, 2016

Recurrent brain cancer, called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) can be a life threatening condition, however, immunotherapy – which is showing tremendous promise for many cancers – is now being tested against this cancer. The trial is testing a va

New Technology for Diagnosing & Monitoring Prostate Cancer

Jul 7th, 2016

At Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute in Portland, Maine, prostate cancer represents one of our largest volumes of cancer patients. High-tech prostate imaging gives men with suspicious prostate lesions more targeted and accurate biopsies. MM

Know the Facts about P.A.D. (Peripheral Arterial Disease)

Jun 28th, 2016

Peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.) is a disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to your head, organs, and limbs. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, fibrous tissue, and other substances in the blood. P.A.D

New Research for Babies with Congenital Heart Defects

Jun 8th, 2016

Each year, 40,000 babies in the United States are born with Congenital Heart Disease, and one or more surgeries are typically required during the first year of life to correct their heart defects.Dr. Alexa Craig was recently awarded a KL2 Caree

Breast Imaging: Better Than Ever

May 4th, 2016

The latest advanced technology in breast cancer screening and diagnosis, called DBT (digital breast tomography), 3D or Tomosynthesis, creates a layered, 3-dimensional image. While the patient experience is very similar to traditional digital ma

Erectile Dysfunction: What’s Plan B?

Apr 26th, 2016

The year 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the patent for Viagra, a pill which changed the world’s perspective of erectile dysfunction almost overnight and started a multi-billion-dollar subindustry. Since that time, as our population ages, d

Home Safety Tips for Children

Apr 23rd, 2016

Keeping kids safe at home is a top priority.As a parent, it is important that you know what dangers to look out for that could be harmful to your children. From TV tipovers, and window falls, you can prevent some of the scariest dangers to our

Mosquito-borne Disease Prevention

Mar 9th, 2016

The Vector-borne Disease Laboratory at Maine Medical Center Research Institute is dedicated to the control of emerging tick-and mosquito-borne diseases. We seek to understand the environmental interactions of vectors, hosts, habitats, and clima

Facts About Living Kidney Donation

Mar 3rd, 2016

101,000 people in the US are waiting for kidney transplants. Due to the kidney organ shortage 5000 of them won’t make it to the end of this year. Living kidney donors provide recipients better chances for survival as the kidney’s usually last

Tick-borne Disease Prevention

Feb 10th, 2016

The Vector-borne Disease Laboratory at Maine Medical Center Research Institute is dedicated to the control of emerging tick-and mosquito-borne diseases. Chuck Lubelczyk, Vector Ecologist, is here to help understand the environmental interaction

Women and Heart Disease: Know Your Risk!

Feb 2nd, 2016

Heart disease, not cancer, is the number one cause of death for women in America. Nearly every minute of every day each year, a woman dies of heart disease.What are the risk factors?How can we lower our risk?Dr. Lynette Weeman is here to explai

Keeping Your Family Safe During Summer Activities

Jan 27th, 2016

Summer is a time for being carefree and outdoors as much as possible. Unfortunately, summer activities can lead to injury or worse if you aren’t careful when doing those activities. Learn how to keep your family safe when enjoying all that summ

Keeping Safe Amid The Dangers Of Winter Weather

Jan 27th, 2016

Winters can be tough. Months of frigid temperatures and heavy snow fall can make daily life difficult. You can, however, safely maneuver through winter weather by taking proper precautions, whether you are walking, driving or shoveling.Suzanne

Cardiac Arrest: Can We Improve Outcomes for These Patients?

Jan 18th, 2016

People who arrive at a hospital in cardiac arrest (heart has stopped) have poor chances of full recovery. The PEARL Study is looking at improving those outcomes. Currently some of these patients undergo heart catheterization, while others do n

What is a Hospitalist?

Dec 8th, 2015

Many people come to the hospital and don’t have a clear understanding of the roles of their care team. Hospitalists play a key role in that care team during a patients stay. Dr. Dan Meyer, Hospital Medicine at Maine Medical Center will explain

Work: A Social Determinant of Health

Nov 30th, 2015

The Department of Vocational Services is a leader in the field of employment for people with disabilities. There are only a few hospitals in the US that have this as a service and MMC is the only one in the State. It is a unique service and one

Reading To Your Child Has Benefits That Last a Lifetime

Nov 23rd, 2015

We all know reading to our kids is a good thing—but do you know the specific advantages your toddler or preschool-age child can receive by being exposed to reading? Some of the benefits that highlight the importance of reading to your child are

Lead Poisoning: Do You Know The Causes, Are You At Risk?

Nov 17th, 2015

Lead poisoning happens when lead builds up in the body, often over a period of months or years.Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are the most common sources of lead poisoning in children.At very high levels, lead po

Importance of Vaccination Against Human Papilloma Virus

Nov 9th, 2015

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is a virus that can be spread through skin-to-skin genital contact. There are many different types of HPV. Some types cause genital warts and are ca

The Importance of Oral Health at a Young Age

Nov 8th, 2015

We recognize that many parents in Maine view tooth decay as an inevitable childhood disease and yet it is nearly completely preventable. The three things that parents can do to help prevent dental problems are:1. Improve the oral health of thei

Does Your Child Have Sleep Issues?

Oct 8th, 2015

All kids experience sleep problems every now and then, but for those that are affected repeatedly, it can create issues during the awake hours. Their school work can suffer, as well as their extracurricular activities. Dr. Thomas Mellow, Divisi