In the News
Folasade P. May, MD, PhD, MPhil, honored by the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI)
The ASCI is one of the oldest and most recognized medical honors societies, and is among the few focused on honoring the accomplishments of physician-scientists in making research contributions that impact all aspects of medicine. Election to the ASCI is one of the highest honors in academic medicine and is a testament to the groundbreaking work of these faculty members. Dr. May’s election to ASCI demonstrates that her unique path as a gastroenterologist who focuses on research and health policy is one of immense value to the field and to patients. “Being elected to the ASCI shows that the hard work that my team and I have done since I joined the UCLA faculty in 2015 has made an impression on like-minded colleagues and the people who have made tremendous contributions to advancing medicine,” Dr. May says. “I feel validated that a group of people who are excellent at science believe that my science is also excellent.”
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States - Here are the top symptoms and signs to look out for
A common misconception is that the signs and symptoms of colon cancer are obvious. The truth is, a lot of symptoms don't often show up until the condition is already in advanced stages. Noticing the subtle signs of cancer too late might result in uncovering stage 5 colon cancer symptoms instead. This is not just a warning for men but for women too. Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer in the United States. The American Cancer Society reports that the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is 1 in 26 women, which is just slightly less than the 1 in 24 men diagnosed with colorectal cancer. . Additional coverage: and
What to know about colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer starts as a growth, called a polyp, on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Polyps are common, especially as we age, and most are noncancerous. Some polyps, however, can change into cancer over time, forming cancer cells in the wall of the colon or rectum, where they can grow into blood vessels that can spread to other parts of the body. The American Cancer Society estimates 107,320 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2025. UCLA Health expert Folasade May, MD, PhD, addresses frequently asked questions about the disease. Dr. May is an associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA(Link is external) and associate director of the UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity. She is also a member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
A big misconception about colorectal cancer
Dr. Fola May, a gastroenterologist and cancer prevention expert at UCLA, says there are many misconceptions about the disease. A lot people think that it's a disease that only affects older people traditionally, yes, it affected people in their seventies and eighties, but unfortunately we are seeing an uptick in younger adults, so now we are unfortunately seeing this disease more and more in 40 year-olds and in 50 year-olds, so that's a big misconception. And we need to make sure that even younger adults in their forties and fifties know that they're at risk. Dr. May says the best way to prevent colon cancer is to follow a balanced diet, exercise regularly and limit alcohol and smoking.
10 gut myths
A article asked leading authorities for the truth about probiotics, elimination diets, leaky gut and more. Folasade P. May, MD, PhD, MPhil, associate professor of medicine, discussed bowel movement consistency, and Kate Mintz, MSN, RDN, discussed diagnosing food sensitivities.
35 simple health tips expert swear by
Folasade P. May, MD, PhD, MPhil, associate professor of medicine, and Lin Chang, MD, professor of medicine, provided expert commentary in this article (available with subscription only)
“Make a commitment that each year, during your birthday month, you will schedule all your annual health checkups. Schedule them for any time in the year before your next birthday. Maintaining your health requires consistent care. This helps make sure that you get it done." --Dr. Folasade P. May
"Diaphragmatic breathing — using your diaphragm to take deep, controlled breaths and expand your belly, followed by exhaling slowly and letting your belly fall — stimulates vagus nerve activity and potentially reduces gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating. I do it at bedtime for about 10 minutes." --Dr. Lin Chang