Can lung cancer be stopped before it starts?
Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colorectal, breast and prostate cancers combined. Because lung cancer may not produce noticeable symptoms in its early stages, more than 60% of people are diagnosed after the cancer has spread beyond the lungs and is more difficult to treat.
But now, a first-of-its-kind...
How I supported my mom through eye cancer treatment
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...
What to expect at MD Anderson during a hurricane amid COVID-19
Last updated Aug. 25, 2021
At MD Anderson, the health and safety of our patients and employees is our top priority every day. That&...
MD Anderson inspires young lung cancer patient to become a nurse
Alexa DiVenere was 17 years old when doctors removed her right lung and pericardium, the protective membrane surrounding her heart.
In high school, Alexa played soccer and the flute, and was a drum major in the band. But during her junior year, those activities began leaving her short of breath with pressure in her chest.
A visit to the doctor revealed devastating news. Alexa had stage IV lung cancer.
“It was such...
Do COVID-19 saliva tests work?
With the Food and Drug Administration recently issuing emergency use authorization for a new method of saliva sample processing, you may be...
Study challenges conventional understanding of signal from new diagnostic imaging technique
Diagnostic imaging is a powerful tool for clinicians and researchers to see cancer in the body, enabling them to distinguish between benign...
Breast cancer survivor: Why I feel safe visiting MD Anderson during COVID-19
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...
Cancer patients need blood donations for treatment during COVID-19 pandemic
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...
COVID-19 and the flu vaccine: What you need to know
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...
The cancer patient’s hurricane checklist during COVID-19
Last updated Aug. 25, 2021
If you’ve ever prepared for a hurricane, you probably already know the basics. A flashlight, extra batteries...
Thanks to targeted therapy, lung cancer survivor is enjoying life again
Ginger Head was 56 years old and healthy when she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in 2017. She was floored. The retired...
Half of my pelvis is gone, but I’m a happy, normal 18-year-old
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...
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivor: My journey to becoming an oncologist
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...
What type of mask works best for COVID-19 protection?
Studies show that cloth and medical-grade face masks can cut down on coronavirus droplet spread by 80% or more.
“So, if everyone wore...
After esophageal cancer surgery, patient stays connected with family despite COVID-19 visitor restrictions
The morning of his esophageal cancer surgery, Dustin Pruett kissed his wife goodbye on the skybridge outside the Rotary House Hotel.
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Sisters benefit from personalized breast cancer treatment plans
In August 2015, Judith Smith was diagnosed with a type of breast cancer called mixed ductal and lobular carcinoma. A week later, her sister...
Your COVID-19 vaccine questions, answered
Last updated Dec. 2, 2020
As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue to rise, more people are wondering when we’ll have a vaccine — both...
Retired NASA scientist benefits from cancer treatment he helped develop
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...
Dating after a cancer diagnosis
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...
Caregiver finds comfort in MD Anderson’s breast cancer screening and treatment expertise
In 2012, A few months after Nitin and Sharmila Vaidya celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary Sharmila found a lump in her right breast....
Cancer treatment side effect: Involuntary weight loss
Whether it’s due to pain from a growing tumor, swallowing difficulties caused by radiation therapy, or the nausea, loss of appetite or mouth...
Hand washing vs. hand sanitizer: which is better?
Last updated Aug. 25, 2020
Cleaning your hands regularly remains one of the simplest and most-effective defenses against illnesses...
Uterine cancer survivor lives life to the fullest after targeted therapy
Julia Pitts knew something was wrong when, at age 62, she started bleeding and cramping.
“I thought when my menopause ended years earlier...
Undergoing proton therapy for olfactory neuroblastoma during the COVID-19 pandemic
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...