-
On the front lines of prevention: Local provider urges cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN An illness that often develops without symptoms remains one of the most preventable cancers facing women today — if it is caught in time. Health providers say routine Pap smears and early HPV vaccination continue to be the most powerful tools for stopping cervical cancer before it becomes life-threatening. That…
-
UK first in nation to treat small cell lung cancer patient with new immunotherapy
by Sarah Ladd Kentucky Lantern January 5, 2026 If you smoke and want to quit, call the national quit line at 1-800-784-8669 to speak with a confidential coach. In what could be a “game changer” someday for Kentuckians with small cell lung cancer, the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center has treated the first patient…
-
Commentary: HPV cancer rates are higher in Appalachia. Wish I had known.
BY SKYLAR BAKER-JORDAN There was no privacy when I was told I might die. In November, I complained about a sore throat during my annual physical with my primary care physician. She saw nothing of concern. By early February, that sore throat had become unbearable, a sharp pain radiating up my neck and into my…
-
‘New Year, New You’
BY DOROTHY DILLON As the new year begins, the Martin County Health Department encourages residents to embrace a “New Year, New You” approach by focusing on their health and well-being in 2026. A variety of services are available, including immunizations, health screenings, diabetes support, women’s health services, tobacco cessation, family support through the HANDS home…
-
Deal is off for sale of for-profit Kentucky recovery provider to Florida company
BY LANTERN STAFF Kentucky Lantern Addiction Recovery Care, a for-profit provider of substance abuse treatment in Kentucky, says its purchase by a Florida company is no longer in the works. A Dec. 31 news release from the Louisa-based company says, “Addiction Recovery Care, LLC and Ethema Health Corporation have decided not to move forward with…
-
Wegovy pill could increase access to obesity treatment
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first pill version of a GLP-1 drug for weight loss, a move that could significantly widen access to the treatment for obesity. The once-daily Wegovy pill, made by Danish company Novo Nordisk, is expected to launch in early January. Novo…
-
10 doctor-recommended health resolutions for 2026
BY STATEPOINT With a new year ahead, the American Medical Association is offering 10 evidence-based tips for staying healthy in 2026 and beyond: • Get health screenings: Schedule preventive visits, tests and screenings so your physician can catch conditions before they become more serious. • Manage stress: Mental health is part of overall health. Techniques…
-
More Kentucky kids struggle with obesity, poor nutrition
BY NADIA RAMLAGAN PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE In Kentucky, nearly one in five youths from ages 6-17 are obese, according to new county-level data on measures of child well-being in the Commonwealth. The increase mirrors a nationwide trend. There has been a more than 270% increase in the number of obese children compared to the 1970s.…
-
‘Paint Martin County Blue’ for Diabetes Awareness
BY DOROTHY DILLON November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and the Martin County Health Department invites everyone to join in raising awareness by participating in “Paint Martin County Blue” on Nov. 14 in recognition of World Diabetes Day. Businesses, schools and organizations across Martin County are encouraged to: Wear blue, light up buildings or storefronts…
-
Florida company will buy Addiction Recovery Care, continue ‘core mission,’ says founder
by Deborah Yetter, Kentucky Lantern October 22, 2025 Addiction Recovery Care, or ARC, Kentucky’s largest provider of treatment and recovery services, has announced its pending sale to Ethema Health Corp., a Palm Beach, Florida-based behavioral health company. ARC reported the potential sale in a news release Wednesday, saying the two companies have “entered into a…
