Dr. Daniel Niku

September is #OvarianCancer Awareness Month. What is Ovarian Cancer? In general, any type of cancer develops when there are abnormal cells that grow and overpopulate. Like most tissue in the body, the #ovaries and #Fallopiantubes can undergo such changes. Approximately1 in 78 women are at risk for developing ovarian cancer.It is the second most common #gynecological cancer, but the most common cause of death.... According to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), when one is diagnosed and treated in the earliest stages, the five-year #survival rate is over 90 percent. Due to ovarian cancer's non-specific symptoms and lack of early detection tests, about 20 percent of all cases are found early, meaning in stage I or II. If caught in stage III or higher, the survival rate can be as low as 28 percent. Due to the nature of the disease, each woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has a different profile and it is impossible to provide a general prognosis. What are the common risk factors for ovarian cancer? * #Infertility * Increasing Age * #Familyhistory of ovarian or breast or colon cancer * Ashkenazi Jewish background * #Endometriosis * Genetic mutations for #BRCA 1 and 2 positive What can I do if I have a family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer? Speak to your doctor. Companies like #myriad offer #Geneticscreening tests that can help detect personal and familial risks for cancer. I am happy to discuss ovarian cancer and its risk factors with you in person and shed some light. What are the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer? * Pain and pressure in the #pelvic area * #Abdominalpain * #Bloating * Difficulty eating or feeling full * Change in your bathroom habits Is there a reliable screening test? Unfortunately, there is not. If there is a suspicion for ovarian cancer, a physician can use certain diagnostic tests such as an ultrasound and a CA-125 blood test to help clarify those concerns. Knowing yourself, your body, personal history, and family history can give you the power to live a healthy life. Visit my blog for more information or the NOCC to read more. As always, I am here to provide more information and clarification.

What a week to remember! September 6 to September 13! Over the last week I have had the privilege of #delivering 9 #newborns! 7 boys! 2 girls! I also did 4 male circumcisions, as well as #Counseled and educated many new #pregnant mothers and their partners. Given the #Jewish high holidays and new year #roshhashana starts this week, it is incredibly meaningful to have helped these amazing women and their partners start or continue the growth of their #familiy. ... Though this last week was challenging, it taught me that I was made for this job; I am well prepared for the #24/7 moments of bringing life into the world. I was honored and privileged to be a part of these incredible moments. With the Jewish high holidays around the corner, I want to wish you all a Shana tova! May you all be written in the book of life. For more information on the different trimesters of #pregnancy, visit my blog at danielnikumd.com for more information.

For many aspiring #healthcare students, whether they training to be #doctors, #PAs, #pharmacists, #dentists, #nutritionists, and the like - they all are ideally entering opportunities to be #mentored and nurtured by someone far more experienced and educated then they are, with the hopes that they can continue the powerful practice of #takingcareofpatients. . It has been a #privilege being taught by so many incredible professors and mentors over the years, each providing a di...fferent story, practice, or mechanism of action that has helped shape who I am as a practitioner today. I was inspired by my good friend @mikedang during #medicalschool to actively use visuals when teaching a topic. My proctors in #clinicaltraining taught me patience with my patients, to listen intently to their stories - their history has more to share than the problem they have. As an #OBGYNresident, I found the immense power of the adage SEE ONE, DO ONE, TEACH ONE. It is a hallmark #proactive learning - see the process, do it yourself, and then teach it to the next person. . In the last two weeks, I had the opportunity again to have a medical student #shadow me in the office and hospital. We went through an immense amount of information regarding the nuances of being an OBGYN. One thing I reminded her is that I am #stilllearning, every day. As health care professionals we are performing checks and balances on ourselves: Do I know this material? Am I making the right clinical decision? Do I have all the information I need? These questions are in no way a tangent to insecurity or doubt for ourselves. Rather they are reminders that we can know more and that we need to take care of the individual in front of us - the patient. . I want to thank my medical student T.K. for reminding me how lucky I have been the last decade of my life, and how well I have been taught. More so, reminding me how much I enjoy teaching future health practitioners. I am excited about the opportunity to be a teacher and educator in the future, not only to students but to my peers and patients as well. @ Beverly Hills, California See more

Just another great case! Confirmed #endometriosis during this #surgery after the patient was complaining of recurrent #pelvicpain and #dysmenorrhea with her #menstrualcycle . Now with a diagnosis, I can further advise and treat the patient’s medical issue. Onward!