Article: The first step toward understanding is knowledge. There are many resources, like the Trevor Project, that will aid in becoming familiar with sexual orientation and the general concerns of queer communities. Understanding that everyone is different and admitting that you don't know or understand a gay teen's experience is a key place to start and begin to move forward. Keep in mind that it is perfectly acceptable, and often common, to have differing beliefs and experiences from others. Learning about gay teens and sexual orientation is not about agreeing with their beliefs but about learning new information. You may feel that through your own research you need to reexamine your own beliefs on sexual identity. Use this as an opportunity to be empathetic by communicating your concerns with others. Try and keep an open mind when learning new information about sexual orientation, when asking questions, and when engaging in conversation. Keeping an open mind will help suspend judgement, stereotypes, and harmful generalizations that can often obstruct understanding and be the cause of unwanted conflict. Ask yourself questions, like "what would it be like to tell someone something I have never told anyone?" "What would expect from this other person?" "How would I like to be treated in this situation?" Stay calm and practice listening instead of immediately responding to feelings of conflict or contradiction. There are many national organizations, like PFLAG, that aim to bring queer teens and their allies together in order to advocate for their well-being and to educate others about the issues important to the queer community. Many community organizations similar to PFLAG also offer educational courses centered around supporting and communicating with gay teens. Reading self-help and support books written for gay teens will expose you to a number of relevant questions and concerns many gay teens have. Although every teen is different, reading books meant for gay teens will give a broad and more general understanding of their interests and concerns.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Educate yourself on sexual orientation. Keep an open mind. Seek out community centers for queer teens and allies. Read a book meant for gay teens.
Article: Your doctor will likely do some principal imaging studies done to examine your lymph nodes. You'll probably have a chest X-ray and CT scan done, as well as positron emission tomography. These imaging tests will help the doctor look for symptoms, such as enlarged lymph nodes in your chest if you've been having trouble breathing. Getting chest imaging is particularly important, as many common forms of Hodgkin's disease affect the mid-chest area. If your doctor suspects that you have an abnormality in your lymphatic system, they will typically have you get a biopsy. The is a procedure in which a small tissue sample is removed from your lymph node and it is then analyzed under a microscope. During the analysis of the tissue sample, a hematopathologist in a lab will look for abnormal cell development. A hematopathologist is a scientist or doctor that diagnoses diseases of the blood in particular. They will also look at the type of abnormal development that is occurring to distinguish between types of lymphoma. Once you have a preliminary diagnosis of lymphoma, your doctor will order more testing. With a combination of imaging and blood and bone marrow testing your doctor will be able to better understand the location and extent of your disease. This will allow the doctor to come up with the best possible treatment plan for your specific illness. Imaging will be done on lymph nodes that are enlarged and on any organs that may also be affected. Blood tests will be done to measure your blood counts, whether cancerous cells are present in the blood, and how well organs are functioning. Your bone marrow will be tested to see if the lymphoma has spread to the bone marrow. This testing may not be required for all lymphoma patients, depending on what type of lymphoma they have and where it is located. If you have been diagnosed with a specific type of lymphoma, your doctor may want to run some specialized tests. For example, if you have a mass in your testicles, imaging should be done on that area. Another specialized test you may need is a colonoscopy. This is done if mantle cell lymphoma is suspected. Your doctor may inspect your entire GI tract if they suspect you have MALT lymphoma. If your doctor suspects that you have a type of lymphoma connected to your central nervous system, then a spinal tap may be required. Hodgkin lymphoma can be hard to diagnose. In particular, it can be confused with other types of lymphoma. Because of this, it's a good idea to get a second opinion when facing this diagnosis. Talk openly with your doctor about wanting a second opinion. They should understand why you would want a second opinion and they may be able to suggest who you could get the second opinion from. If there is a hematopathologist in your area, try to get your second opinion from them. Whatever type of lymphoma you are diagnosed with, you should begin treatment quickly. With swift and thorough treatment, some types of lymphoma are curable and the progression of many can be slowed down. However, treatment for different types of lymphoma differs and their effectiveness varies as well. Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most curable forms of cancer. The treatment will include some combination of chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplantation, and clinical drug therapy. Treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma typically includes both medication and radiation therapy, depending on where the disease is located specifically. Overall, non-Hodgkin lymphoma does not have the same remission rate as Hodgkin lymphoma. However, there are types of non-Hodgkin that can be cured, so discuss your outlook with your doctor.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Get imaging studies done on your lymph nodes. Have a biopsy done. Get staging testing done. Have tests done for specific types of lymphoma. Get a second opinion. Begin treatment.
Article: Some medical studies suggest that taking omega-3 fatty acids alongside topical treatments can help manage inflammation. Try taking a daily omega-3 or fish oil supplement as a complementary treatment to your medications. You can find these supplements in most pharmacies and health food stores. Aim to take around 280 mg per day. You can also increase your omega-3 intake by adding foods like fish to your diet. Always talk to your doctor before you add a new supplement. Omega-3's can interact with some medications, and your doctor can tell you if these are safe for you. Curcumin is thought to have anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties. Try adding food like turmeric, which is a great source of curcumin, to your daily diet. You can also take turmeric as a supplement in tablet or capsule form. Turmeric is used widely in many Indian and southeast Asian dishes, including curries. You can buy fresh turmeric root from a specialty food store, or get ground turmeric as a spice from most grocery stores. You can also try drinking a cup of turmeric tea once a day to add curcumin to your diet. Oats have natural soothing properties. While there isn't any scientific evidence that supports treating psoriasis with oat baths, many patients say they feel better afterward. To make an oat bath, grind 1-2 cups raw, unflavored oats in a blender to make a powder. Then, sprinkle the powder directly in a warm bathtub. Soak in the tub for at least 15 minutes to get the full benefits of the oats.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Take omega-3 supplements to help manage inflammation. Eat foods high in curcumin. Take an oat bath.