Ewing’s sarcoma doesn’t keep teen from walking life’s road
In many ways, Jacob Ballard is a typical teenager. He likes soccer, is fascinated by robots and enjoys spending time with his friends.
But in some ways, the 17-year-old cancer survivor is completely different.
Since he was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in November 2014, Jacob has spent more than 120 days in the hospital and received more than 160 doses of chemotherapy. In March 2015, he also had an internal type I/II hemipelvectomy...
Sarcoma survivor finds hope in multidisciplinary care
New York resident Zulema Arroyo-Farley originally received treatment for soft-tissue sarcoma close to home after her diagnosis in February...
Less invasive surgery gets a triathlete back on track
When triathlete Maria Lea De Jesus was diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer in 2014 after a routine Pap test, she feared being sidelined...
A non-Hodgkin diagnosis, then 'Hope'
It was shortly after Christmas nine years ago when Brian Ross got the phone call that changed his life.
The newlywed had just discovered that he was going to be a father for the first time. Now, he was learning he had cancer.
“Those two moments came only a couple of weeks apart,” Brian says. “In December, we found out that my wife was pregnant with our first child. I received word that I had non-Hodgkin lymphoma in early...
Li-Fraumeni syndrome caregiver: “Cancer can’t have every day”
Cancer could have easily taken over the Ferguson family by now.
Three of the family members – wife/mom Sandy and daughters Alyssa and...
Oligodendroglioma survivor: Doctor, consider it done
“If I were your son, what exactly would you have me do?” This was my question to Alfred Yung, M.D., as I looked him directly in the eye on...
Nursing assistant doubles as daughter’s caregiver
Elsa So had been working at MD Anderson as a night-shift nursing assistant for nine years when her daughter, Marivic, was diagnosed with ovarian...
Throat cancer survivor encourages HPV vaccination
Nobody was more surprised than Bill Earthman when he was diagnosed with HPV-related throat cancer two years ago.
Like many people,...
Meditation: The antidote for stress
Stress is the body’s physical, emotional, and psychological response to any demand. Unfortunately, it’s a part of daily life, especially for...
After appendix cancer, celebrating the little things
I recently celebrated my sixth cancerversary with no evidence of appendix cancer. Since my appendix cancer diagnosis, I’ve learned the importance...
How yoga helped an AML survivor recover
Judy Waxman had already been practicing yoga for a decade when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). But that series of stretches...
Drummer back in the groove after cancer
Drummer Gary Cornelius has been a professional musician for almost 50 years, but he didn’t get to perform at his fantasy venue — the Grand...
A flight attendant finds her footing with melanoma treatment
“We can treat you here,” Lori Leach’s physician told her. “But MD Anderson is right down the street.”
A few weeks earlier, Lori had...
Tonsil cancer survivor resolves to win
It started with a sore throat. Brian German, 44, assumed he'd picked it up from one of his three children. But when it persisted, Brian examined...
Celebrating life during Survivorship Week and year-round
During Survivorship Week, June 5-11, MD Anderson is hosting entertainment and educational activities to honor those who are living with cancer...
Facing chemotherapy with a newborn
My acute myeloid leukemia (AML) diagnosis was devastating -- not just because I feared for my life, but also because I was seven months pregnant...
Q&A: Understanding immunotherapy for cancer treatment
You’ve probably heard of immunotherapy. But what exactly is it? And who should consider immunotherapy?
At its most basic, immunotherapy...