Former teacher’s wisdom helps increase high school blood donations
After spending 13 years as a classroom teacher, MD Anderson Blood Bank community representative Jeannette Salloum was thrilled to...
What color is breast cancer discharge?
Only about 5% of patients report having nipple discharge as one of their breast cancer symptoms.
But when they do, what does it look...
Can dry, scaly skin be a sign of cancer?
Dry, scaly skin can be a sign of many common skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. It could also be a sign that you’re...
How is ablation therapy used to treat cancer?
Ablation therapy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that kills cancer cells with either very hot or very cold...
5 things to expect after finishing chemotherapy
If you’re receiving chemotherapy as a part of your cancer treatment, you’ve probably already figured out ways to make it a little more...
Should you get a full-body scan to look for cancer?
Getting a full-body scan to check yourself out for possible cancers might sound like a great idea. But what are the risks and...
Desmoid tumors: 8 things to know
Desmoid tumors are slow-growing, locally invasive tumors that develop in the body’s connective tissues. Also known as aggressive...
Sell by, best by and use by dates: 5 things to know
Use by.
Best by.
Sell by.
We’ve all seen these confusing terms printed alongside dates on food packages and wrappers...
Signs of thyroid issues: How do you know if you have them?
Ever heard someone blame their inability to lose weight on a “thyroid problem?”
While “thyroid problems” can and do cause people...
7 questions about B vitamin supplements
If you follow professional or collegiate sports, you’ve probably heard at least a few athletes say they needed a B12 injection to...
Ministrokes and cancer: 9 questions answered
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or “ministrokes” are temporary blockages caused by clots in the blood vessels that supply the brain....
What does colon cancer pain feel like?
Most people diagnosed with colon cancer won’t mention pain as one of their symptoms. But when they do, how do they describe it? What...
‘How I knew I had endometrial cancer’: Six survivors share...
Maria Lozano was already well into menopause when she started experiencing the most common symptom of endometrial cancer (also known...
Deep vein thrombosis as a side effect of cancer: 9 things...
The risk of developing blood clots is somewhat higher among cancer patients. This is due both to the inflammatory nature of the...
What is a biopsy? 7 questions, answered
Many cancer patients will need a type of tissue analysis called a biopsy at some point. What is a biopsy, how does it work and what...
Edema and cancer: 8 questions answered
Edema is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissue. It happens when the fluid that would normally stay in the bloodstream...
Traveling with cancer: 7 questions to ask your doctor
Some elements of travel are the same for everyone. Clothing and toiletries, for instance, are generally a packing staple. Many people...
Is breast cancer more common on the left side?
A study published in Nature last fall suggests that breast cancer is slightly more common on the left side of the body than it is on...
30-year stage IV colon cancer survivor: Cryoablation...
When Gene Jones was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in 1993, cryoablation was such a new therapy that MD Anderson was still...
Artificial sweeteners and cancer: 7 things to know
Artificial sweeteners have been on a lot of people’s minds lately — especially since the World Health Organization’s (WHO)...
Radon exposure and lung cancer: 11 things to know
After smoking, radon exposure is considered the second most common cause of lung cancer in the United States. It is usually suspected...
5 questions to ask a medical oncologist during your first...
One of the first physicians you may speak with after a cancer diagnosis is a medical oncologist.
These doctors specialize in...
When should I take antibiotics? 7 questions, answered
Antibiotics are a class of medications used to treat bacterial infections. They work by either killing the bacteria outright or by...
‘How I knew I had throat cancer’: Four survivors share...
For high school football coach Mark Teague, the only symptom of throat cancer he noticed was a small lump beneath his jaw.
“I...
Ovarian cysts and cancer: Is there a connection?
Benign — or non-cancerous — ovarian cysts are common among women of childbearing age. And most premenopausal women who have one at any...
Leukemia specialist, amateur painter finds meaningful...
Hagop Kantarjian, M.D., isn’t just the head of Leukemia at MD Anderson; he’s also a prolific artist.
Since 1992, the leukemia...
Colonoscopy anesthesia: 7 things to know
If you’ve never had a colonoscopy before, you might have some questions about anesthesia.
Is there more than one option, for...
What happens if a doctor finds cancer during my colonoscopy?
Most colonoscopies end with a gastroenterologist saying to come back in 10 years for another colorectal cancer screening, a woozy ride...
Can pelvic organ prolapse be a sign of cancer?
Pelvic organ prolapse — or the intrusion of nearby organs into the vaginal canal — is a condition that occurs most often as a side...
Dry mouth (xerostomia) in cancer patients: 5 things to know
Xerostomia is the scientific term for a chronically dry mouth. Though it might not seem like that big of a deal, dry mouth is actually...
Squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs: 5 things to know
Squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs is a type of non-small-cell cancer that originates in the thin, flat cells lining the airways....
Salivary gland cancer: 9 things to know
Cancer of the salivary gland is not very common. Only about 2,500 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.
So, how do you...
Caring for adult children with cancer: 4 tips for parents
Learning that your child has cancer is never easy — no matter how old your child might be. But in some ways, managing their care can...
Should you have your fallopian tubes removed to reduce your...
A woman could have her fallopian tubes removed for any number of reasons. Sometimes, it’s necessary to treat an ectopic pregnancy or...
What does ‘supporting’ a cancer patient look like? 4 dos...
If you know someone going through cancer treatment, you might feel eager to help, but not quite sure what to do.
Should you offer...
Fecal microbiota transplants: 10 questions, answered
If you’ve never heard of a fecal microbiota transplant before, the concept might seem a bit startling at first.
But transferring...
5 thoughtful, personalized ways to make a cancer patient...
You may already know that people tend to feel loved best when friends and family show affection in the ways that they find the most...
What does oral thrush look like?
Oral thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth often caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans. But why do people receiving cancer...
5 ways to improve your life as a caregiver
When you act as the caregiver for a cancer patient, it’s easy to let your own needs take a back seat sometimes. After all, they are...
Children’s Art Project gives osteosarcoma survivor...
Jordan Rance was only 11 years old when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2005.
“I didn’t have any symptoms,” she says. “I got...
What does an early inflammatory breast cancer rash look...
Redness or another change in the skin color of the breast, swelling on one side and/or a rash that appears quickly — sometimes...
5 hard truths it’s important to acknowledge as a caregiver
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), roughly 6 in every 10 adults live with some form of chronic illness. Many are...
Can frequent UTIs be a sign of bladder cancer?
The symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the symptoms of bladder cancer can be very similar. Both may involve pain while...
How is ovarian cancer treated?
One reason ovarian cancer often comes with a poor prognosis is that the disease is not usually diagnosed until it’s already in the...
7 myths about caregiving you shouldn’t believe
Taking care of myself is selfish.
All of the support available is for patients.
Nobody really understands what I'm going through...
How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?
Cervical cancer can be detected with a Pap test. Breast cancer can be detected with mammograms and clinical breast exams. But ovarian...
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): 7 things to know
If you’ve been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, you might have questions. For instance, is DCIS the same thing as...
Food allergies and cancer: How to nourish yourself well...
Navigating life with a food allergy is often a challenge on its own. Throw in a cancer diagnosis on top of it, and nourishing yourself...
What to expect after an oophorectomy: 9 questions, answered
If you need an oophorectomy as a part of your ovarian cancer treatment, you probably have some questions.
How much of your internal...
Neutropenic precautions: 5 dos and don’ts for this cancer...
You may already know that it’s important to wash your hands, wear a face mask and avoid sick people while neutropenic.
But is there...
CT scan vs. MRI: What’s the difference?
You may already know that MRIs and CT scans are two of the imaging methods doctors use to diagnose and stage cancer.
But do you...
Topical magnesium patches and sprays for cancer patients:...
If you shop online or use social media at all, you’ve probably seen at least one advertisement recently for topical magnesium sprays...
8 excuses not to donate blood, busted
I’m taking medication.
I just got over the flu.
I have a chronic health condition.
These are three common reasons...
Need CAR T cell therapy? Here’s what to expect
CAR T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy used to treat lymphoma, multiple myeloma and some forms of leukemia. The treatment...
Side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer
If you need radiation therapy as a part of your breast cancer treatment, you may have questions about side effects.
What are the...
The XBB1.5 COVID-19 variant: 7 questions, answered
A new COVID-19 subvariant called XBB1.5 is on the rise across the U.S.
Early reports indicate that it is much more contagious...
Cancer of the gums: 9 things to know
Gum disease is far more common than any type of gum cancer.
But how do you know if you have gingivitis, periodontitis or cancer...
10 things to avoid while receiving chemotherapy
If you’re receiving chemotherapy as a part of your cancer treatment, you’ve probably already learned a few tricks to make the...