Colorectal cancer cases are on the decline overall. Research shows this is because more people are getting regular colorectal cancer screenings, which can prevent precancerous polyps from becoming cancer.
But the disease is rising sharply in people under age 50, most of whom are years away from getting their first screening colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer screening isn’t recommended until age 45 for most people. And...
Steroids are a natural part of your body produced by your adrenal glands. They’re hormones that help regulate your body’s reaction to infection...
CAR NK cell therapy bolsters the body’s innate ability to fight cancer by attaching molecules called chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) to natural...
It can feel like there are always opportunities to have a drink: Mimosas at brunch. A glass of wine at happy hour. A nightcap after a long day.
But drinking alcohol is linked to an increased risk for several cancers. About 5.5% of all new cancer diagnoses and 5.8% of all deaths from cancer are attributed to drinking alcohol, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
For those who drink, hearing this can...
Maintaining proper nutrition during cancer treatment is important. When cancer patients struggle with this, a feeding tube can help. These...
About 12,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors — sometimes called carcinoid tumors — each year. But...
Updated June 28, 2024
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that does not target the cancer itself, unlike traditional treatments...
If you’ve caught and recovered from COVID-19, you might be wondering what that means. Are you immune to the virus now? Can you go out...
Steve Castellaw got much more than a haircut when he went to see his stylist. He also got the first clue that led to his lung cancer diagnosis...
Last updated March 22, 2022.
Can immunotherapy treat breast cancer? For certain patients, the answer is yes.
Pembrolizumab...
Male breast cancer is extremely rare. About 1% of breast cancers in the United States occur in males. But certain men do run the risk...
Strength training is about more than looking good. Strong muscles make your daily activities easier and help keep your body injury-free.
In January 2020, I noticed a changing spot under my tongue. My family doctor advised that I get it biopsied. The results came back negative...
The past year challenged and changed all of us at MD Anderson. It changed the way we work, the ways we connect and, in some...
MD Anderson has one of the world’s largest populations of immunocompromised patients. From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, that meant...
Training the next generation of cancer researchers and clinicians plays a vital role in MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer. While our...
I’ve been a regular blood donor since 1981. But it wasn’t until my wife, Kelly, was diagnosed with stage IV anal cancer in 2014 that blood...
It takes a team to make discoveries. But MD Anderson has taken this concept well beyond the traditional partnership between students...
Nobody ever wants to receive a cancer diagnosis. But when I found out I had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the cecum — a type of...
I started using cigarettes in the early 1970s, when I was just 16. I smoked a pack a day for more than 35 years. I didn’t quit until my granddaughter...
Before my diagnosis in February 2019, no one in my family had ever had cancer. So we were all very surprised when I was diagnosed with triple-negative...
Pancreatic cancer only accounts for about 3% of cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year, but it is the third most common cause of cancer-related...
When I was diagnosed with clear cell endometrial carcinoma — a rare type of uterine cancer — in late July, there was no question as to where...
Last updated Oct. 4, 2021
Despite an overall decline in colorectal cancer cases and deaths over the past several decades, Black men...
Think virtual reality is just about gaming and movies? Think again.
This fall, radiation therapy students at MD Anderson are slipping...
Last updated April 8, 2021
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase, you probably have a lot of questions about coronavirus...
Last updated Jan. 21, 2021
Over his 27-year career at MD Anderson, Steven Sherman, M.D., chair of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal...
Last year was an emotional rollercoaster for me. In May, I found out I had colorectal cancer after my first colonoscopy. June brought the...
December is normally a time of togetherness and celebration. But with COVID-19 cases surging again all over the world, this season will likely...
My eye has watered daily for the past 30 years. I always blamed it on allergies, which I’ve had since I was a young child.
But in December...
Taking care of cancer patients isn’t easy. And I should know, because I serve as the chief nursing officer at a regional hospital system near...
Millions of Americans suffer from acid reflux. Also known as heartburn or acid indigestion, it can feel like an intense burning sensation...
Most cancer patients and their caregivers will hear the word “immunocompromised” at some point.
But what does that actually mean? What...
When other people think of you, what do you want them to remember? Is it a particular personality trait that has defined your life? A passion...
Targeted therapies are designed to work against specific vulnerabilities in a cancer cell.
The targeted therapy drug venetoclax is...
Last updated on Jan. 25, 2022.
We’ve all felt uncertain at times during the COVID-19 pandemic. Do I have the coronavirus? Should...
Joyace Ussin uses her voice to connect with her patients and their loved ones. Known as “the singing nurse,” Ussin can sense when patients...
Carbonated, flavored waters have been trending over the past couple of years. But are these bubbly beverages good for you? That depends.
When we noticed a swelling on Sawyer’s jaw, we never imagined he had rhabdomyosarcoma, a rapidly growing tumor that caused a significant malformation...
Before 2014, no one in my family had ever had cancer. And everyone I knew who’d had it had died. So, until that year, I assumed that’s just...
I worked in broadcast TV news for more than 40 years before retiring last summer, so I’ve done a lot of stories about different hospitals....
Starting your holiday shopping? When it comes to gifts, you might be wondering if there are special items that could make life easier – or...
Holiday celebrations look a lot different this year because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It’s a difficult time for everyone, but...
I woke up one morning and noticed I was having trouble hearing in my left ear. I also had a loud ringing in that ear. I made an appointment...
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that develops in a type of white blood cell called plasma cells. Normally, these cells help us make antibodies...
When Annette Rios was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, doctors told her they’d need to amputate her right leg just below...
The past few months have been a little hard for me. For one thing, there’s the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For another, I was diagnosed with...
I didn’t have any breast cancer symptoms until early 2019. Then, a lump the size of a lime popped up on my right breast, seemingly overnight...
B-cell lymphoma isn’t one disease. There are about 63 subtypes, with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) being the most common. A chemotherapy...
Cancer runs in my family. My mom alone has lost three of her sisters to the disease. So, when I heard a doctor tell me, “You have throat cancer...
At the time of her breast cancer diagnosis, Teresa Serbia knew she was overweight.
“After I was fortunate enough to become a survivor...
New and better cancer treatments are discovered through clinical trials. By joining one, patients get access to the most cutting-edge treatments...
In spring 2017, I went in for a routine physical and heard the words that no guy wants to hear: “You have late-stage aggressive prostate cancer...
In early 2018, my husband, Guillermo, wanted to participate in an IRONMAN competition near our home in Quito, Ecuador. A blood test during...
If medical tests cause you anxiety, you’re not alone. It’s common to feel stress or worry in anticipation of medical tests, during these tests...
Last updated Jan. 11, 2022.
First emerging almost three decades ago, monoclonal antibodies are changing the way doctors treat cancer...
For patients with pancreatic cancer, the benefits from immunotherapy treatments with immune checkpoint inhibitors or cell therapies have been...
Updated June 1, 2022
More than 16,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer this year. Roughly 75% of...
CAR T cell therapy has changed the way aggressive B-cell lymphoma is treated. Previously, when patients had a second recurrence after receiving...
In 2013, Sandy Fontan was a 53-year-old marathon runner in tip-top shape. She maintained a healthy diet and ran between 25 and 30 miles a...
Like clockwork, Katherine Moreno gets a cold every year. It always leads to bronchitis, then asthma.
“I don’t go anywhere without a...
In September 2014, I developed a cough that would not go away. It seemed to get worse at night. From that September until March 2015, I tried...
With cancer treatment — as with life — you can only make decisions based on what you know at any given moment. But new information becomes...
Minimal residual disease (MRD) is a term commonly used with blood cancers that describes a small fraction of cancer cells that remain or come...
Your sister’s tiny outdoor wedding is less than two months away. Your nephew’s family-only backyard birthday party — complete with bounce...
When Bibi Philippou complained to her family doctor two years ago about hemorrhoids and rectal bleeding, the doctor scheduled a colonoscopy...
With infection rates on the rise around the world and cooler temperatures driving people back indoors, we’re seeing the start of a fall and...
When found early, breast cancer can often be treated successfully. “90-97% of patients with early stage breast cancer are alive and well even...
Prostate cancer runs in my family. My father, older brother and twin brother are all prostate cancer survivors. I received my own diagnosis...
A detox for your body can sound like a great idea. Who wouldn’t want to do all they can to remove toxins from their system?
Marketers...
Regular screening mammograms detect breast cancer early when they are easiest to treat successfully. But can a screening test called...
When Trena Robertson’s left hip began aching, she visited an orthopedic specialist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, her hometown.
For patients with complex head and neck tumors, proton therapy allows us to treat the tumors effectively while minimizing the radiation dose...
Layered on top of our genes is an additional set of information -- the epigenome, which is important for many cellular activities. Disruption...
When Cherie Sanders’ doctor in Amarillo diagnosed her with breast cancer, he described her tumor as “5 centimeters by 2.5 centimeters” and...
Although a tumor may start from a single cancer cell, it can eventually become millions of cells with unique characteristics. This diversity...
In early 2019, I was almost seven years out from my original melanoma diagnosis. I’d been living cancer-free since having surgery and radiation...
When I moved to central Louisiana for my job as a high school football coach in 2016, I starting hearing great things about MD Anderson almost...
Though you may not suspect it from the name, small cell lung cancer is among the most aggressive types of lung cancer.
Most small cell...
"People are going to want to do something for you. It may be hard to accept their 'help,' and sometimes their 'help'...
Ever since Robin Birthisel was diagnosed with a slow-growing type of multiple myeloma 10 years ago, she’s experienced unpleasant side effects...
Got plans for a big Thanksgiving Day celebration? Not so fast.
Before you send out those feast invitations or make those travel arrangements...
I was pregnant with my second child when I began having constipation. It turned out to be my first symptom of rectal cancer, but I didn’t...
Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President Carol Porter, D.N.P., formed her first impressions of MD Anderson as a Magnet appraiser in...
Clinical trials are how progress is made in medicine. “They’re really essential to drive our ability to deliver better cancer care,” says...
My husband, Gary, had been healthy and active before he began complaining of a backache at age 67. Then he started having trouble swallowing...
Whether you’re itching to take a vacation, wanting to visit extended family and friends for the holidays, or needing to travel for cancer...
In 2012, my dermatologist in South Carolina noticed a bump on my cheek. A biopsy showed that I had stage IV melanoma.
We...
We’re all spending more time at home these days due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For many parents, that means kids are spending more time with...
I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age 48, after some blood work from an annual checkup came back a little wacky.
My doctor said...
Your body depends on vitamin D. And one of the ways to get it is by being outside. That’s because the sun’s UV rays activate vitamin D production...
Today, treatment for throat cancer isn’t just focused on removing the cancer. Now that most patients successfully overcome the cancer, doctors...
Weight loss is a common side effect of some cancer treatments. But sometimes, the opposite happens — and patients end up packing on the pounds...
Before I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I considered clinical trials a last-ditch effort.
In my mind, they were only for people...
If you were planning to run that 5K for your favorite charity or tackle a marathon this year, don’t despair. The COVID-19 pandemic has sidelined...
All of the DNA in our cells is organized into complex structures called chromosomes, which consist of our genetic material coiled around many...
At my annual physical in 2019, a blood test showed my PSA levels had increased. I was also experiencing symptoms such as frequent need to...
Studies show that wearing a mask properly and consistently practicing good social distancing can significantly reduce the spread of the coronavirus...
In the last decade, immunotherapy has become a viable treatment option for many cancer patients. Unlike radiation and chemotherapy, immunotherapy...
When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic reached Houston earlier this year, I was already expecting it to affect my leukemia treatment...
Mantle cell lymphoma was classified as a separate type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1992. Since then, it’s historically been one of the most...
Last updated September 24, 2021
Self-diagnosis has never been an exact science. But with the coronavirus (COVID-19) now added to the...
Last updated June 9, 2022
Your risk for cancer is linked to many factors, and some people are at greater risk than others.
Certain...
Fall is here, and that’s got many people thinking about Halloween and other autumn activities. But as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic...
Growing up in El Paso, Jon Filbert loved collecting autographed Major League Baseball trading cards.
“I really was into it, and I still...
Medullary thyroid cancer is a rare cancer diagnosed in about 1,200 patients annually in the U.S. Because it’s often a silent disease, many...
I have suffered from migraines for 30 years. And to cope with the pain, I enjoy journaling. It helps me to distract myself and find clarity...
Studying new cancer therapies through clinical trials is essential for progress in cancer care. Phase I clinical trials are designed to evaluate...
Now that we’re several months into the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are feeling the emotional toll of the uncertainty, worry and dramatic...
When I learned six years ago that I carry a genetic mutation called CDH1, my initial response was anger. I had just gotten married, and my...
Since childhood, Birdia Churchwell has been fascinated by science.
“I was interested in the why, so I spent my time reading, asking...
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at MD Anderson in January 2019, my biggest concern wasn’t actually my breasts. It was my heart. Because...
In cancer, there are often large-scale deletions, rearrangements or other disruptions to our genetic information, which lead to a phenomenon...
Your body is home to trillions of microbes. These bacteria, viruses, fungi and other organisms impact everything from how you process food...
I’ve been coming to MD Anderson for almost 11 years now, because I have a rare genetic condition called Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. It puts me at...
When you’re undergoing cancer treatment, it’s important to get the right care at the right time – especially when it comes to seeking emergency...
When I got my second cancer diagnosis in early 2017, I was already going to MD Anderson regularly to see Dr. Alessandra Ferrajoli. I’d been...
In 2014, I learned that I carry a genetic mutation called CDH1, which markedly increases my risk of developing breast and stomach cancers....
For patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations, targeted therapy with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has...
If you’re due for a mammogram, it’s important that you choose the facility wisely.
Getting the most accurate mammogram results possible...
As a neurofibromatosis survivor, I’m already in a high-risk group for contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19). So, even though I’ve never had...
Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death. Each year, more people die of lung cancer...
For as long as I can remember, my mom has been a source of strength. She’s my comforter, advisor, mentor and role model.
But in 2017...
Last updated Aug. 25, 2021
At MD Anderson, the health and safety of our patients and employees is our top priority every day. That&...
Alexa DiVenere was 17 years old when doctors removed her right lung and pericardium, the protective membrane surrounding her heart.
With the Food and Drug Administration recently issuing emergency use authorization for a new method of saliva sample processing, you may be...
Diagnostic imaging is a powerful tool for clinicians and researchers to see cancer in the body, enabling them to distinguish between benign...
As a long-time asthmatic and a recent breast cancer survivor, I’m already at high risk of developing serious complications if I get an upper...
When surgeons removed a cancerous tumor called a liposarcoma from Dan Ratliff’s pelvis, they also removed an artery and vein in his leg that...
Another flu season is right around the corner. And this year, we’re expecting to face it in the midst of a coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic...
Last updated Aug. 25, 2021
If you’ve ever prepared for a hurricane, you probably already know the basics. A flashlight, extra batteries...
Ginger Head was 56 years old and healthy when she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in 2017. She was floored. The retired...
Discovering I had bone cancer when I was only 12 forced me to mature very quickly. Doctors found a growth about the size of an orange in my...
I was a healthy 22-year-old with hopes of attending medical school when I asked my doctor to take my swollen lymph node seriously. A biopsy...
Studies show that cloth and medical-grade face masks can cut down on coronavirus droplet spread by 80% or more.
“So, if everyone wore...
The morning of his esophageal cancer surgery, Dustin Pruett kissed his wife goodbye on the skybridge outside the Rotary House Hotel.
<...
In August 2015, Judith Smith was diagnosed with a type of breast cancer called mixed ductal and lobular carcinoma. A week later, her sister...
Last updated Dec. 2, 2020
As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue to rise, more people are wondering when we’ll have a vaccine — both...
Less than a year after three scientists won the 1962 Nobel Prize for unraveling some of DNA’s mysteries, Dennis Morrison, Ph.D., became one...
Starting a new relationship may be the last thing on your mind after a cancer diagnosis, or while you’re going through treatment. But for...
In 2012, A few months after Nitin and Sharmila Vaidya celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary Sharmila found a lump in her right breast....
Whether it’s due to pain from a growing tumor, swallowing difficulties caused by radiation therapy, or the nausea, loss of appetite or mouth...
Last updated Aug. 25, 2020
Cleaning your hands regularly remains one of the simplest and most-effective defenses against illnesses...
Julia Pitts knew something was wrong when, at age 62, she started bleeding and cramping.
“I thought when my menopause ended years earlier...
After a series of nosebleeds in 2005, I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called olfactory neuroblastoma. I had surgery to remove the...
This week, the American Cancer Society (ACS) released updated cervical cancer screening guidelines for individuals at average risk. They now...
Does social distancing effectively prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19?
New research from MD Anderson...
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic stretches on, the HPV vaccine may not seem like a priority for parents worried about keeping their...
Sexuality is part of living a fulfilling life, but sometimes a cancer diagnosis or treatments can affect desire, arousal or sexual function...
I was diagnosed with early stage melanoma last summer. And my husband, Dennis, was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin lymphoma this past...
More than 2 million Americans will learn they have some form of skin cancer this year. It’s the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer in...
Britt Mayo has been coming to MD Anderson regularly since 2010, when he was first diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
<...
As our patients and caregivers know, cancer doesn’t stop for COVID-19. And that means you shouldn’t stop getting your cancer screenings either...
In the spring of 2017, my husband Bill and I were getting ready to travel and do some charitable work. We’d finished raising our children...
Penile cancer is rare in the U.S., with only about 2,200 new cases diagnosed each year. But in many cases, men put off seeing a doctor until...
Last updated on Dec. 7, 2020
As the number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continues to rise worldwide, there’s been a lot...
A growing body of evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, may be airborne — meaning tiny bits of...
A new school year is approaching for many children. But the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues.
So, is it safe to send your...
After completing a course of treatment, there are few words that sound better to a patient than “complete remission.” It’s an indication that...
As an MD Anderson employee, and someone who has worked in clinical research for many years, I know how important cancer screening exams are...
I was working as a physician assistant in California when my husband’s job moved us to Singapore. About a year after we got there, I started...
Handwashing, disinfecting high-touch surfaces, social distancing, wearing masks and staying at home are the best tools we have right now to...
The first time my little sister, Erica Nowell, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in 2005, she was still a teenager and I was deployed overseas...
During the past three years, you may have seen anti-smoking advertisements sponsored by the tobacco industry on television, in newspapers,...
I’m a professional martial artist, so I’m very aware of my body and live a healthy lifestyle. That’s why it took me by surprise when I was...
When I was diagnosed with myelofibrosis in March 2017, I didn’t know it was a bone marrow disorder that could turn into leukemia. All I knew...
Last updated Oct. 22, 2020.
As the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and related hospital admissions continue to rise, so, too, does...
Over the past 10 years, I’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and colorectal cancer. I was treated at MD Anderson...
If you’ve been feeling even more stressed than usual lately, you’re not alone. Many of us are struggling with so-called quarantine fatigue...
Since Memorial Day weekend, our nation has seen a sharp increase in the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. Here in the nine-county...
Cindy Stueber was supposed to be helping her daughter, Shelby, look at wedding dresses and elegant up-dos. Instead, she was making plans to...
Patient Care Technician Raymond Alex Jr., is known in MD Anderson’s Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and around the hospital for sharing inspirational...
I worked at MD Anderson for 16 years as a program manager in Employee Health & Wellbeing before retiring in 2015. So, I knew that it was...
In January 2019, my husband, Santiago, began experiencing mild stomach problems. He described it as a pulling sensation in his abdomen. He...
Many cancer patients and their families rely on support groups to help navigate cancer and manage their mental and emotional health. That’...
Without their Native American guide, Sacagawea, to lead them, early American explorers Lewis and Clark might never have survived their journey...
I discovered I had cancer in July 2018, after going to my doctor about a bump on my neck. I had no cold-like symptoms, so my doctor referred...
Kasey Marsh has always been a creative person. She ran her own professional photography business for over a decade, and has drawn and painted...
When Ewing’s sarcoma survivor Erica Nowell learned that her older brother, Chris Plummer, had cancer earlier this year, she was shocked. But...
After almost three months of social distancing to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), you might be itching to get out and enjoy...
When I was 10, one of my relatives came all the way from another state to get treated for breast cancer at MD Anderson. Another one got breast...
Last updated Feb. 23, 2024
Our cancer patients need approximately 200 units of red blood cells and 600 units of platelets each...
When chemotherapy alone isn’t successful in treating blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma in pediatric patients, a stem cell transplant...
Last updated March 23, 2023
Cancer patients are uniquely vulnerable to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, because their immune systems...
I never had any neuroendocrine tumor symptoms before my diagnosis. In fact, I went in for surgery for something else altogether.
...
Wearing a mask when out in public is one of the easiest ways to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, especially by those...
When Marie Chaplinksy went in for a checkup with her cardiologist in March 2017, she was surprised when she was called back to have her bloodwork...
After retiring from a 35-year career teaching and coaching at my dream job, I’d planned to spend time with my wife, Joanna, and enjoy my favorite...
I believe everything happens for a reason. So, when I was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma — an aggressive type of brain cancer — in...
In 2016, my husband and I were trying to expand our family. A swollen lymph node almost derailed our plans entirely.
I’d felt the lump...
Last updated on June 27, 2021
Whether you're planning a trip or suspect you may have the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), you may...
Karen Basen-Engquist. Ph.D., has managed to stay physically active during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. According to a recent...
When Maribeth Holzer asked her family doctor about a curious lump in her right armpit, she never suspected it was follicular lymphoma...
To help reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and make it easier for patients to see a doctor without leaving home, MD Anderson...
Last updated on Aug. 11, 2020
Despite communities beginning to lift “stay home” orders during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic...
Charles Salazar lives in New Jersey, but considers Houston his “second” home.
For four years, he and his wife, Debbie, have been traveling...
Natalie Sanchez knows that entering a treatment center like MD Anderson for the first time can be very intimidating for a newly diagnosed...
As states begin to lift coronavirus stay-at-home orders and reopen businesses, people are beginning to venture out in public more frequently...
As a mom, fellow in breast cancer surgery and a former general surgery resident, I’m used to handling tough situations. But this past March...
I’ve always been interested in critical care nursing. I find the complexity of caring for patients on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) invigorating...
As we all face unprecedented changes and challenges brought by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, kindness matters more than ever....
Regular handwashing, consistent social distancing, wearing a mask in public, and frequent disinfection of high-touch objects remain the best...
When the World Health Organization (WHO) designated 2020 as The Year of the Nurse and Midwife in honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence...
Shelly Ward is a trailblazer. As one of only a few female airplane pilots with the U.S. Justice Department’s Drug Enforcement Administration...
“You are not alone.” These are just a few of the kind words that Donya’ Easterly came home to find posted on her front door recently....
Mary Hernandez didn’t realize how sick she was when she came to the MD Anderson Emergency Center on March 30. The 41-year-old was still reeling...
While George Chang, M.D., battled the cough, high fever and severe body aches caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19), his immune system was...
Like many people, Suzanne Damann has had to curtail her activities due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Social distancing and...
As we each do our part to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by practicing social distancing and staying home, many...
As more people recover from the novel coronavirus and seek to resume their normal activities, there’s been a lot of talk about testing for...
I think the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is one of the most serious – and important – times of our generation. Right now, as the U.S. heads...
I was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in spring 2019. I had a chest X-ray because I’d recently quit smoking. My lungs were OK, but the...
Want to help a friend or loved one facing cancer during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but not sure how?
“Cancer patients...
Last updated Oct. 13, 2020
Have you heard the one about how the coronavirus (COVID-19) isn’t nearly as bad as catching the flu? How...
Last updated on June 24, 2020
The best things you can do to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) are practicing social...
Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many cancer patients and caregivers were already experiencing insomnia. And now, the added challenges...
News headlines about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic seem to change by the minute. And it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the massive amounts...
Callie Piper is a planner with a capital “P.” And nothing thrown her way during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed that....
Since Robert Alvarado was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2014, his family has accompanied him to each appointment, from...
Over the course of their 33-year marriage, Jack ("Pat") and Cindy Chamberlain have faced many challenges. Jack lost his job right...
Like everyone, the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted my work life and daily routines. As president of MD Anderson,...
As we practice social distancing to protect ourselves and others during the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s easy...
Mara Antonoff, M.D.’s children have been hand-delivering encouragement to her patients regularly, ever since the cardiothoracic surgeon joined...
Completing cancer treatment is a big deal. Frequently, it’s celebrated through a bell ringing ceremony with family and care team members....
When I was undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer about eight years ago, it was really important that I stay away from other people, especially...
Last updated July 17, 2020
The novel coronavirus – also known as COVID-19 – has introduced many new terms to our vocabulary: from “...
By now, most cancer patients and their caregivers know the basic precautions they can take to minimize the risk of contracting the 2019 novel...
My husband, John, and I had only been married 45 days when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma on Sept. 1, 2017. Hurricane Harvey loomed over...
With the constant stream of information surrounding the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it’s easy to feel stressed or anxious....
Cancer patients often need regular doctor visits, both to receive treatment and to have their progress and side effects monitored and managed...
Last updated June 29, 2020
Some cancer patients take medications that suppress their immune systems as a part of their treatment. That...
As a general rule, I don’t take medicine unless I absolutely have to. I’ve never been one to swallow an aspirin at the first sign of a fever...
As a cancer caregiver, you may be wondering how you can protect your loved one from infection — particularly with the 2019 novel coronavirus...
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an innovative type of cancer treatment. During this procedure, doctors perform a surgery...
I’ve been living with papillary thyroid cancer since 2012. If it weren’t for MD Anderson, I might not be able to say that. Because when I...
Faye Hood was training for a half-marathon in 2017, when the active then-70-year-old received a stomach cancer diagnosis.
While she...
Until a few years ago, my father was the only person in my family who’d ever had cancer. In 1997, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, which...
I’m the kind of person who follows my gut. So, when I looked up my symptoms online and thought I had inflammatory breast cancer, I kept pushing...
When most people hear the word “cancer,” they usually react with fear or distress. That’s why I’m so glad to work as a nurse navigator at...
The way I practice medicine is heavily influenced by the fact that I’m a mother. Many of the same qualities that are useful in parenting my...
I live in Dallas, but when I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2017, I chose to come to MD Anderson for my treatment. My husband...
Prior to my wife’s glioblastoma diagnosis in 2013, I traveled a lot for my job, both inside and outside the U.S. That arrangement worked out...
In late 2016, I was eating organic food, working out regularly and had never missed a mammogram. Yet, I still ended up with a breast cancer...
Facing a cancer diagnosis or caring for someone during cancer treatment can be extremely stressful. And, when you’re dealing with stress,...
Until November 2018, I’d never been hospitalized before. So, the suddenness of my lung cancer diagnosis at age 65 that year caught me completely...
Losing bone density is common as you age, when cells that help rebuild bones aren’t replaced as quickly. Because of this, your bones may become...
Last updated March 30, 2020
Here are seven things cancer patients should know about coronaviruses, including the novel coronavirus...
It’s unlikely you’re ever going to meet anyone quite like my wife. For one thing, Susie is a two-time brain cancer survivor. That alone makes...
I’d always heard that people should wait a year before volunteering at MD Anderson, so they could make sure they were “over it” after finishing...
People never want to be just a number, a chart or a diagnosis. They want their doctors to know them — to see them as real people and not just...
Before my lung cancer diagnosis in 2007, I didn’t know anything about proton therapy. But then I came to MD Anderson for a second opinion...
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that’s most commonly found in the lining of the lungs or abdomen, but it can also start in the lining of the...
Since becoming a doctor, one of the most important things I’ve learned is that the more we can lower patients’ anxiety levels, the better...
When I first lost my hair due to breast cancer treatment, I often heard people say, “Don’t worry. It’s only hair.” The implication was that...
My doctor didn’t notice anything unusual during my well-woman exam in February 2018. When I felt a lump in my breast two months later, I wasn...
Genetic disorders can be really scary, but learning that I have one probably saved my life. It also led me to my current career. As a fundraiser...
I’ve always wanted to be a mom. I became an aunt at a very young age, and I loved taking care of my nieces and nephews. I worked at a child...
Georgia Wilson, 24, remembers the first time she shared her own cancer experience to help someone else. She was sitting in the lobby of MD...