Tag: prevent cancer

Local Radiation Oncologist Publishes Book to Train Young Doctors

by: Heather Bazley

Posted: Jul 2, 2025 / 03:45 AM CDT

Updated: Jul 2, 2025 / 03:45 AM CDT

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) –  Dr. Hasan Murshed is turning years of experience into a teaching tool.

He recently published the fourth edition of his book “Fundamentals of Radiation Oncology,” a textbook written to support junior residents preparing for careers in cancer treatment.

Inside the book, it contains real-world guidance on how to recognize cancer symptoms, early treatment options and more.

“The traditional textbooks are heavy. A lot of pages and a lot more information that one might need on a day-to-day basis for clinical practice or during the training time. They may not have time on their hands before they go and see a consult. So this book will definitely help them to, in a quick manner, to look up the information that is most important to diagnose to stage to treat and to look up literature,” Dr. Murshed said.

Dr. Murshed also has a leading role at Hope Regional Cancer Center.

The center is now being recognized as the only facility in Bay County to receive full accreditation from the American College of Radiology in radiation oncology.

It earned its fourth consecutive full accreditation, a national recognition that highlights safety, quality and excellence in patient care.

“We wanted to make sure that, that same care that they may have in Atlanta or in Jacksonville is available for them in Panama City. So we needed to up our care recommendation, support staff and the equipment to maintain a certain level so we can assure our patient and the community that we are providing national standard care in Panama City,” Murshed said.

For over a decade, Hope Regional has served the Bay County area, offering advanced imaging, radiation therapy and a patient-centered approach to care.

If you would like to purchase Dr. Murshed’s book, you can find it on Amazon, Walmart, the publishing company Elsevier and more.

Prevent Cancer: Tips to Living Cancer Free Life

Cancer is a broad term that describes a large group of different diseases. However, all cancer shares few common features, such as, uncontrolled cell growth, abnormal appearance under microscope, and ability to spread to distant organs. In addition, carcinogenesis is a complex process, which includes initiation characterized by DNA mutation either spontaneously or due to exposure to carcinogens; promotion causing cell divisions due to intra or extra cellular stimulus; and progression when cancer cells metastasize to another organ.

To prevent cancers, we first must understand the risk factors for cancers. Although vast majority of cancers arises denovo, there are many known risk factors for cancers as well.

Age and gender, as we grow old our risk for cancer goes up. Some cancers are gender specific such as breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men. Sunlight causes skin cancer. Tobacco causes lung cancer, and bladder cancer. Alcohol causes head and neck cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. HPV virus can cause cervical cancer, and head and neck cancer. BRCA 1 and 2 gene mutation can cause breast cancer.

In USA more than 5 million people each year gets skin cancers. More than a million people each year are diagnosed with lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and other cancers; more than half a million patients die from cancer each year. Many of these cancers can be prevented.

Skin cancer – follow sun safety such as cover exposed skin when outside, wide brim hat, use SPF 15+ sunscreen every two hours, avoid sun between 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, avoid artificial tanning.

Lung Cancer – avoiding tobacco or stopping tobacco use will reduce lung cancers by 95%.

Breast Cancer – alcohol consumption in moderation, avoiding hormone replacement therapy may reduce breast cancer.

Prostate Cancer – low fat diet, eating more vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower or soy derived food has been linked to reduce incidence of prostate cancer, hormone blocking agents such as finasteride can lower risk of prostate cancer.

Cervical Cancer – HPV vaccines has shown to prevent cervical and head and neck cancer.

Like infectious disease and heart diseases, prevention will be key to reduce incidence and mortality from cancers. The best news is that in last 2 decades deaths from cancers has declined by 33% due to less smoking, early detection, and advancements in cancer treatments.

Hasan Murshed, MD is a cancer specialist and board-certified radiation oncologist. Reach him at (850) 481-1687 or www.HopeRegionalCancerCenter.com. This information is intended for education only. For treatment, seek advice from your physician.