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Common Benign Lumps What are some common types of benign breast lumps? Noncancer (benign) breast lumps can have many causes. Two of the most common causes of benign single breast lumps are cysts and fibroadenomas. Several other conditions can also appear as lumps. These are fat

Work and Pregnancy Congratulations on your pregnancy! If you work, you might be wondering if you can continue working throughout your pregnancy. Many women do so without any problems. Pregnancy causes many changes in your body. Your ability to keep working depends on your overall

Cystic Fibrosis Overview What is cystic fibrosis? Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease of the glands that make mucus and sweat. People with CF get a defective gene from both parents. People who have one defective gene from one parent are called carriers. They don't have

Pregnancy and Skin Changes For many people, pregnancy brings glowing skin, rosy cheeks, and shiny hair. But others may experience skin changes that aren’t so attractive, including acne, dark spots, and stretch marks. Here are some of the common skin conditions in pregnancy, along

The Child's Immune System What is the immune system? The immune system protects your child's body from outside invaders. This includes germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and toxins (chemicals made by microbes). The immune system is made up of different organs, cells

Anatomy and Function of the Heart Valves What are heart valves? The heart has four chambers: two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). Blood passes through a valve before leaving each chamber of the heart. The valves prevent the backward flow of blood

Reducing Your Health Risks with Vaccines Vaccines are one of the best ways to reduce your risk of certain major illnesses called infectious diseases. Avoiding certain infectious diseases or their complications will help to keep you healthier so you can continue be active in life

Polycystic Kidney Disease What is polycystic kidney disease (PKD)? Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a rare genetic disorder. It causes many cysts filled with fluid to grow in the kidneys. PKD cysts can impair how the kidneys work. It can lead to kidney failure. PKD is the

Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome and Cancer Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare, inherited condition. It's passed to a child from a parent. PJS is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. This means you need only one copy of the altered (mutated) gene to have PJS. About 3 out of every 4

The Digestive System: An Overview What is digestion? Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients to be absorbed into the blood and carried to cells throughout the body. Digestion is the process by which food and liquid are broken down into smaller parts