SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS – Head and neck cancer can be a devastating diagnosis, but if found at an early stage, there is an 80 percent survival rate, according to the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU will offer free head and neck cancer screenings on two Mondays, April 8, and April 22, 2019 from 4 - 6 p.m. at SCI, 315 W. Carpenter Street, Springfield. To register, please call 217-545-7493 and leave a message, or submit your request online . Parking for the screenings is available in the parking lot adjacent to Simmons Cancer Institute which is accessible from West

Dr. Clasina Leslie Smith , director of integrative medicine and culinary medicine, answers some questions about SIU's new Integrative Medicine Clinic. What is integrative medicine? The term “integrative medicine” gets thrown around a lot, and it is often unclear what it means exactly. It is easiest to understand it in the context of two other terms: “alternative medicine” and “complementary medicine.” “Alternative medicine” is a term that means that someone has chosen to use therapies that are outside the scope of biomedical medicine, often as an alternative to or instead of “regular,” western

Dr. Clasina Leslie Smith , director of integrative medicine and culinary medicine, answers some questions about SIU's new Integrative Medicine Clinic. What is integrative medicine? The term “integrative medicine” gets thrown around a lot, and it is often unclear what it means exactly. It is easiest to understand it in the context of two other terms: “alternative medicine” and “complementary medicine.” “Alternative medicine” is a term that means that someone has chosen to use therapies that are outside the scope of biomedical medicine, often as an alternative to or instead of “regular,” western

The Regional Cancer Partnership of Illinois will distribute free colorectal cancer home screening test kits on several dates and locations during March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, to raise awareness about colorectal cancer. FIT kits, or Fecal Immunochemical Tests are a test kit requiring one specimen, compared to fecal occult blood tests which require three on three separate days. FIT kits do not substitute for a colonoscopy, which is the best method to detect colorectal cancer. The test kits can detect the presence of blood, which can be an indicator of several different medical

The Regional Cancer Partnership of Illinois will distribute free colorectal cancer home screening test kits on several dates and locations during March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, to raise awareness about colorectal cancer. FIT kits, or Fecal Immunochemical Tests are a test kit requiring one specimen, compared to fecal occult blood tests which require three on three separate days. FIT kits do not substitute for a colonoscopy, which is the best method to detect colorectal cancer. The test kits can detect the presence of blood, which can be an indicator of several different medical

SIU surgeon John Mellinger, MD, FACS, is the 2019 recipient of the SAGES Foundation’s Ponsky Master Educator in Endoscopy Award. The Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) will present Mellinger with the award at the 13 th Annual SAGES Foundation Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 during the organizations' meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ponsky Master Educator in Endoscopy Award was established in 2009 by Dr. Jeffrey Ponsky to recognize a distinguished SAGES leader who exemplifies a pioneering leadership spirit and a strong dedication to surgical

SIU surgeon John Mellinger, MD, FACS, is the 2019 recipient of the SAGES Foundation’s Ponsky Master Educator in Endoscopy Award. The Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) will present Mellinger with the award at the 13 th Annual SAGES Foundation Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 during the organizations' meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ponsky Master Educator in Endoscopy Award was established in 2009 by Dr. Jeffrey Ponsky to recognize a distinguished SAGES leader who exemplifies a pioneering leadership spirit and a strong dedication to surgical

Doctors from Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU will provide free cancer screenings from 9 a.m. – noon on Saturday, March 9, at Hillsboro Area Hospital, 1200 East Tremont. “Early detection of cancer is so important in treating the disease,” said Aziz Khan, MD, executive director of Simmons Cancer Institute and chief of hematology/oncology at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield. “We are very glad to partner with Hillsboro Area Hospital to offer a second year of free screenings for area residents.” The Montgomery County Cancer Association is sponsoring the free event. Skin cancer screenings, home

Doctors from Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU will provide free cancer screenings from 9 a.m. – noon on Saturday, March 9, at Hillsboro Area Hospital, 1200 East Tremont. “Early detection of cancer is so important in treating the disease,” said Aziz Khan, MD, executive director of Simmons Cancer Institute and chief of hematology/oncology at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield. “We are very glad to partner with Hillsboro Area Hospital to offer a second year of free screenings for area residents.” The Montgomery County Cancer Association is sponsoring the free event. Skin cancer screenings, home