A medical chaperone is a trained member of your care team. This person is in the room with you and your doctor during a sensitive exam or procedure. They're there to help you feel comfortable and safe. A medical chaperone is often used to protect...

Chyle (say "kile") is a fluid made in your digestive system. It contains fat, proteins, and white blood cells. Chyle travels through small vessels called lymphatics and enters your bloodstream. A chyle leak happens when one of these vessels is...

Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP) is a very rare and sometimes life-threatening blood disorder. “Thrombotic” means that you tend to get blood clots. They form inside your body’s small blood vessels. The clots block blood flow to your heart,

Metaplastic breast cancer is a rare type of breast cancer. About 1% of all breast cancers are this type. It is a fast-growing (aggressive) cancer and is more likely to spread to other parts of the body. It is also more likely to come back after...

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare type of breast cancer. Less than 0.1% of all breast cancers are this type. This cancer begins in the milk glands of the breast, often under the nipple area. It can occur at any age in adults,

Apocrine breast cancer (apocrine carcinoma of the breast) is a rare type of breast cancer. It makes up about 1% of all breast cancers. It is most often found in middle-aged and older adults. It’s called "apocrine" because the cancer cells look...

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It's also called rubeola (say "roo-bee-OH-luh"). Measles can cause serious illness or death, especially in young children and people who have not been vaccinated. Measles travels through the...

When you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), it’s important to have a sick-day plan to help manage pain or an illness, like the flu. If you have diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever, you can lose a lot of fluids and...

Polycystic liver disease is a condition in which fluid-filled sacs (cysts) form in the liver. These cysts are not cancerous. In many cases, the liver works normally, helping the body process nutrients and filter waste. This condition often runs in...

Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is a type of diabetes that can occur in some people who have cystic fibrosis (CF). CF causes mucus in the body to become thick and sticky. This mucus builds up and causes problems in many of the body’s organs,