Banner Health

05/08/2026

That cozy heat might be leaving a mark… literally. Ever curl up with a heating pad or rest your laptop on your legs for hours? It feels amazing in the moment—but over time, it could lead to something called toasted skin syndrome.

Toasted skin syndrome is a rash caused by repeated heat exposure from heating pads, laptops or heaters. Learn the signs, treatment and prevention tips.

05/08/2026

Is it ovarian cancer or something else? Let’s talk about it. It’s easy to panic when your body feels “off”—especially with symptoms like bloating or pelvic pain. But here’s the truth: many signs linked to ovarian cancer can also come from much more common (and less serious) conditions.

Ovarian cancer symptoms are similar to a lot of other health conditions. These conditions could be mistaken for ovarian cancer. Here’s what to know.

05/08/2026

As we closed out National Donate Life Month April 30 our Banner University Medicine Transplant Institute team gathered for a heartfelt evening of reflection, gratitude, hope and celebration centered around this year’s theme: Leave a Legacy.

Our Living Donor Candle Lighting Tribute honored the extraordinary individuals who have given the ultimate gift — the gift of life.

The evening featured powerful and deeply personal stories from three remarkable speakers whose courage and compassion continue to inspire our community:
- John Yates shared his experience as an altruistic living kidney donor who participated in a 3-way paired kidney exchange after discovering he was not a match for his cousin. Through his selfless decision, multiple lives were changed forever.
- Patricia Metrick, an educator and passionate advocate for donation, spoke about her journey as an altruistic donor. Although she was not a match for the intended recipient, she chose to move forward and donate to another individual in need — someone she has since met and celebrated alongside during this special evening.
- Dr. Dana Jamison, a physician at Banner and living kidney recipient, shared her personal transplant journey after receiving a kidney from her husband, Alex. In addition to caring for patients, Dr. Jamison continues to tirelessly educate the community on the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation.

Throughout the evening, guests participated in a moving candle lighting and blessing ceremony honoring living donors, donor families, recipients and the enduring connections created through transplantation.

We extend our deepest gratitude to ALL living, and deceased donors and their families who courageously stepped forward to give another person a second chance at life. Your legacy continues to grow through every life touched, every family restored and every moment made possible because of your gift.

We would also like to extend a special heartfelt thanks to our staff who volunteered, to our DJ, a recent heart recipient Paul Ayotte and our volunteer and liver recipient Kelly Calhoun who assisted in curating many of the elements that made this evening so special for our attendees.

05/07/2026

Stress doesn’t just affect your mood. Over time, it can also impact your heart and brain health in ways many people don’t realize.

This article explains the connection between stress and stroke risk, what’s happening in the body and how to lower your risk.

If stress is part of your life, you’ll want to manage it. Otherwise, it can increase your risk of stroke. Try taking these steps to reduce your stress.

05/07/2026

Not all stomach issues start with severe pain. Sudden changes in digestion can be early signs that something needs attention.

This article breaks down which symptoms may be harmless, which are red flags and when it’s important to get checked.

Sudden digestive changes can signal serious issues. Learn red flags, age-related risks and when to seek medical care for diarrhea, pain or re**al bleeding.

05/07/2026

For 34-year-old Mesa mother Jessi Trego, life changed in an instant. After returning from a family vacation, what began as dizziness and blurred vision led to a shocking diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, followed quickly by acute liver failure.

By January, Jessi’s condition had deteriorated rapidly, and she was listed as the highest priority for a transplant. While in a medically induced coma and on life support, her family advocated fiercely for her, and on January 14, a donor match was found just in time.

In a remarkable coincidence, Dr. Jeffrey Brink and the transplant team at Banner – University Medicine Phoenix completed the life-saving surgery at 4:24 AM—the exact time Jessi’s first daughter had been born years earlier.

Today, Jessi is two months into a smooth recovery and is endlessly grateful to her donor and their family for the gift of life. Because of their selflessness, Jessi is back home with her husband and two young daughters. (via ABC15 Arizona)

05/07/2026

Can a simple neck collar help prevent concussions in sports? Here’s what the science says. New devices called “concussion collars” are designed to gently compress the jugular veins, increasing blood volume in the skull. The goal is to limit how much the brain shifts during impact.

Concussion collars are gaining attention in youth, college and professional sports. Learn how they work, what research says and how to reduce the risk.

05/07/2026

Migraine is more than just a headache—it can interfere with your work, family time and quality of life. If you find yourself experiencing four or more migraine days a month, it may be time to discuss preventive care.

Joshua Tobin, MD, a neurologist at Banner Health, explains that while acute treatments help during an attack, preventive medications are taken regularly to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines before they start. Learn more about when to consider prevention and what to expect from treatment. (via Everyday Health)

Learn when to consider preventive migraine treatment, explore traditional and new therapies, and understand options like CGRP inhibitors, Botox, and neuromodulation.

05/06/2026

After having a baby, it can take time to feel like yourself again, physically, emotionally and mentally.

This article shares simple, realistic steps to help support recovery, rebuild energy and ease back into daily life at your own pace.

Pregnancy changes your body in many ways, and that’s OK. Learn gentle, effective ways to heal and feel good in your body again after having a baby.

05/06/2026

National Nurses Day on May 6 marks the start of a week dedicated to the health care heroes who keep our communities healthy. Thank you for your leadership, your expertise and your dedication to every patient you serve.

05/05/2026

SCIG infusions are often done at home and can offer more flexibility, but knowing what’s normal afterward can make the process feel much easier.

This article explains what to expect after an SCIG infusion, including common site reactions, how long they last and simple ways to stay comfortable.

SCIG therapy is an important treatment for people with primary immunodeficiency, and mild infusion site reactions are normal. Here’s what to expect.

04/21/2025

Banner Olive Branch Senior Center offers a place for residents in the Sun Cities to gather, have a hot meal, participate in free activities and make friends. We offer a variety of social and educational activities as well as delicious and nutritious meals cooked in our kitchen. For individuals who are 60 years of age or older, their spouses and handicapped persons of all ages, we offer benefits check-ups, blood pressure checks, classes including exercise and nutrition programs, counseling, health and educational events, health screenings, legal assistance, meal programs and entertainment.

Learn more: bannerhealth.com/locations/sun-city/banner-olive-branch-senior-center-107th

07/19/2024

Banner Health has been impacted by a global system IT outage. Please visit bannerhealth.com for updates.

Banner Health makes health care easier, so your life can be better. Find a provider, schedule an appointment, or find the nearest Banner Health location near you.

06/17/2022

A new innovation that can provide minimally invasive, robotic-assisted biopsies for suspected lung cancers is now available at Banner MD Anderson Cancer at Banner Boswell Medical Center, the first in metro Phoenix’s West Valley to offer this innovation.

Unveiled today, the robot-assisted bronchoscopy platform offers physicians a way to perform minimally invasive biopsies in the outer areas/deeper parts of the lung(s), which are not easily accessible by conventional bronchoscopy.

Using an ultra-thin catheter, the platform allows a real-time look into areas of the lungs that can be first affected by cancerous cells. It is highly maneuverable and able to pass around tight turns to reach far branches of the lungs.

Detection of these cancerous cells can be critical in the successful treatment of lung cancer, which is by far the leading cause of cancer death. Lung cancer often isn’t found until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. In fact, about 60% of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients are late stage, which can make them ineligible for surgery, according to the National Institutes of Health.

“We are grateful to a caring community for donations through Sun Health Foundation that are essential to funding this new robotic technology,” says Gina W. Ore, chief philanthropy officer with Sun Health Foundation. “How reassuring it is to know this advancement in care doesn’t have to wait; it’s available now for patients to strengthen the fight against lung cancer and other diseases.”

The decision to use the technology is especially helpful because in desert communities such as Phoenix, Valley Fever, (aka Coccidioides) a fungal infection that affects the lungs, can present with the same symptoms as lung cancer.

08/19/2021

Bedside Stories - Banner Podcast, Season 2, Episode 17 – “Weird Science”

Nicole DiCamillo of Arizona has stage 4 cancer – and the 43-year-old woman feels absolutely the best and happiest she’s been in years. If that sounds odd and unexpected, we’re just getting started in this episode on the strange, fascinating world of radiation treatment and nuclear medicine.

Forty-three-year-old Nicole DiCamillo of Arizona has stage 4 cancer – and she feels absolutely the best and happiest she has felt in years.

06/28/2021

BLOOD DRIVE: Please help address the critical blood shortage if you can by signing up to donate on Saturday, July 3, or any date that is convenient for you. Our partner, Vitalant - Arizona is asking for our help. Thank you.

05/25/2021

Thanks to ABC15 Arizona for sharing Steve Stanek's passion for uplifting patients and visitors at Banner Boswell.

For many patients going inside Banner Boswell Medical Center in Sun City, it’s a different tune when it comes to hospitality as you can expect to find a singing patient transporter.

05/14/2021

VERY GOOD DOG: Bryana McIntyre, an ICU nurse at Banner Boswell Medical Center, gets a nice surprise when she goes to get a coffee in the hospital’s new lobby. Clementine, a therapy dog, is visiting near the coffee cart and gift shop to brighten staff’s day.

Kirsten Hall had been bringing her “all-American mutt’’ to visit hospitalized patients before COVID-19 pandemic. Now, she’s bringing Clementine to the gift shop as a way to slowly transition volunteers and dogs back to patients’ bedsides.

05/10/2021

We are celebrating the intersection of National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week! The nurses, environmental services staff, cooks and countless other health care workers in our facilities work tirelessly to provide the best care for all those who walk through our doors. Thank you for your bravery and goodwill each day, but especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It will not be forgotten!

05/06/2021

Share or repost to show your support for our wonderful nurses.

03/30/2021

Today is ! We are so incredibly thankful to all of our doctors for their hard work and dedication to making health care easier, so life can be better. We thank them especially for their work to navigate us through the unprecedented year we've had. Pictured below we have several of the hospitalists and intensivists from Banner Boswell Medical Center (top) and the hospitalists and palliative team members from Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center (bottom).

03/30/2021

DOCTORS DAY: Today, March 30, is ! We thank all of our doctors for their commitment and dedication to quality patient care every day. In particular, we want to recognize a group of who have gone above and beyond over the past year to help us navigate through the pandemic and the uncertainty it brought. Thank you for your hard work and sacrifice to keep our communities safe and healthy!

12/23/2020

Your actions now will save lives and ensure that health care in the state of Arizona remains accessible for all those who need it.

(via azcentral)

The COVID-19 finish line is still a few months away. We need the community's help to get across it, by taking personal responsibility for our actions.