Unable to donate blood due to iron-deficiency anemia? 13 things to know
Iron-deficiency anemia is one of the most common reasons people are rejected as potential blood donors.
But what causes this condition, and how can it be prevented or reversed? To learn more, we spoke with Fernando Martinez, M.D., a pathologist who serves as medical director of MD Anderson’s Transfusion Services and Donor Operations.
What is iron-deficiency anemia?
Iron-deficiency anemia is a condition that develops...
Breast and ovarian cancer diagnoses help clinical dietitian empathize with patients
Senior clinical dietitian Christie Siebel can empathize with her patients. With their pain following surgery. With their nausea after chemotherapy...
3 reasons to sit less
Depending on your lifestyle and how you spend your downtime, you may find yourself sitting or lying down more than you’re moving throughout...
Retired navy pilot faces oropharynx cancer like a storm
As a retired Navy hurricane research pilot, I don’t leave anything up to chance. When I was with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Corps, I flew a P-3 into the eye of Hurricane Hugo. We were hit by a tornado, lost an engine and were trapped for two-and-a-half hours. So, in January 2011, when I discovered a lump on my jaw that didn’t feel right, I made an appointment with my ENT.
The ENT recommended I see a...
Caring for scar tissue after cancer surgery
More than half of cancer patients undergo surgery as a part of their cancer treatment. Just about every patient who has surgery will have...
Meningioma patient hits home run with care team
Elizabeth Somers wants everyone to know about meningiomas. This tumor of the central nervous system begins in the coverings that surround...
4 questions about breast calcifications, answered
Breast calcifications are calcium deposits found through screening mammograms. When calcium builds up in soft tissue, it can appear like small...
Health disparities researcher: We must build trust
As Jamaican immigrants, my parents stressed the importance of education. They felt that was the best way to succeed in America – and so I...
Adenocarcinomas: 6 things to know about the ‘cancer of the cavities’
Adenocarcinomas can develop in many different parts of the body, including the lungs, prostate, colon, rectum, small bowel, pancreas, stomach...
Adrenal gland tumor survivor: Why I wish I’d gone to MD Anderson first
I had just given birth to my third child when I started showing symptoms of an adrenal gland tumor. I wasn’t actively ill. But I felt weak...
Natural versus refined sugar: What’s the difference?
If you’re trying to eat healthy, you probably don’t go a day without thinking about sugar. Avoiding sugar is hard because it’s in most foods...
4 lung cancer myths, busted
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women, and the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Yet, there are still...
T cells, B cells and the immune system
Our bodies naturally heal after our skin gets cut, and they can defend against the common cold. So, why not cancer?
The relationship...
Peritoneal mesothelioma survivor: Clinical trials are extending my life
I have been on five different clinical trials at MD Anderson since I was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare cancer that develops...
COVID-19 revaccination needed after stem cell transplants and CAR T cell therapy
If you’re a cancer patient who was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before having a stem cell transplant or receiving a CAR T cell infusion...
Nutrition during radiation therapy treatment: What patients should know
Many cancer patients lose weight unexpectedly during radiation therapy because they struggle with side effects caused from treatment. Maintaining...
Lymphoma, breast cancer survivor: 5 things I’ve learned as a patient and a caregiver
Cancer has disrupted my life three times over the past 16 years.
The first time was in 2005, when my late husband, Eli, was diagnosed...
Why I traveled across the world for prostate cancer treatment
When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I was determined to find the best care and treatment. As an orthopedic surgeon, I have traveled...
Why I donate blood regularly for cancer patients
Last week, I had the opportunity to donate blood at MD Anderson’s Blood Bank. Blood donation continues to be so important for MD Anderson’...
Mixing and matching COVID-19 booster shots: Should you do it?
Last updated Jan. 12, 2022
Booster shots have now been approved for all three of the COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. And the...
Breast cancer survivor: Why I’m grateful for mammograms and MD Anderson
I’ve never been happier to live in Houston than I was during the spring of 2018. That’s when a routine mammogram revealed I had ductal carcinoma...