Ommaya reservoir and its role in cancer care
An Ommaya reservoir is a plastic, dome-shaped device inserted underneath the skin on your scalp. The dome is connected to a catheter placed in the ventricle of your brain where the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulates.
Doctors often use Ommaya reservoirs in patients with leptomeningeal disease (LMD), specifically solid tumor LMDs, such as breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma.
To learn about Ommaya reservoirs and how they...
MD Anderson helps breast cancer survivor get back to her family
Stacia Folloder was nine years away from the recommended age to get her first mammogram when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 31...
What to know about fasting during cancer treatment
Diet plays an important role in supporting your body during cancer treatment.
Yet there are many reasons why someone in cancer treatment...
Lymphoma patient finds pain relief with spine jack vertebral augmentation
At home in Mansura, Louisiana, my life is all about my family. My husband and I are both retired, and we live next door to one of my daughters and her teenage children. We spend a lot of time watching their sports events and sharing meals a few times a week.
I’ve had back pain for as long as I can remember. It’s something I learned to live with. Or I did until July 4, 2020, when the pain in my back had me in tears. I never expected...
Anesthesia for elderly patients with cancer: What caregivers should know
You may have heard the phrase “age is just a number,” and while that may be true, certain factors make age an important part of your medical...
What is astrocytoma, and how is it different from glioblastoma?
Astrocytoma and glioblastoma are two types of brain tumors. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed how these tumors are classified...
Pancreatic cancer survivor: I’m glad I took a chance on a Whipple procedure
You might say that cancer runs in my family, but not with what I’d call any consistency. There’s been a random case of bladder cancer here...
Looking forward to a bright future in health care
More than 5,000 students and trainees pass through MD Anderson each year. But when our Diagnostic Imaging teams went to offer full-time roles...
Is bone broth good for you?
Bone broth is a common soup base, but in recent years, it has been getting attention as a beverage.
This savory drink is usually enjoyed...
Enlightening and innovating nursing at MD Anderson
Clinical Nurse Christian Perez receives a message that a hospital patient is ready for discharge. Within a few seconds, the patient’s face...
How coaching is elevating MD Anderson’s workforce
When Frances Snipes began the LEADing Teams Core program with MD Anderson’s Leadership Institute last year, she was surprised to be assigned...
Cervical cancer survivor finds care and compassion during brachytherapy treatment
My nutritionist and chiropractor suspected something was wrong when I could not lose weight, but I was not concerned. I did not have any cramps...
Childhood cancer caregiver is passionate about serving our children
When it comes to MD Anderson’s pediatric cancer patients, Tomika Gamble is the agent of fun.
As program director for pediatric support...
What to know about foods with nitrates and nitrites
What do deli meats have in common with leafy greens?
Aside from the fact that both foods might be included in a sandwich, they also...
Advancing cancer surgery through data science
At MD Anderson, operating room lamps cast a brilliant glow on surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists and other clinical team members as they...
Chief of staff and husband ‘feel very fortunate’ after throat cancer diagnosis
Fatima Sheriff has been MD Anderson’s chief of staff since September 2018 and a health care professional for more than 25 years. But the Canadian...
What are the top 5 warning signs of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland in the male reproductive system. It is the...
How to lose weight without exercise
You may be familiar with sayings such as ‘You can’t exercise your way out of a bad diet’ or ‘Abs are made in the kitchen.’ But are those sayings...
Pelvic floor physical therapy: 5 questions answered
Nikki Samms, DPT, knows the region of the body she treats can make people uncomfortable.
As an MD Anderson pelvic floor physical therapist...
Does vaping cause lung cancer?
The saying goes ‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.’
Vaping seems to be an exception to that rule, as vapes, or e-cigarettes, use electricity...
Prioritizing sustainability for MD Anderson's future
In 2023 alone, MD Anderson recycled enough paper products to save 20,288 mature trees. Linette Leadon thinks that number could be higher....
Pivotal moment shapes physician’s patient-centered care
While she was a physician in training in Chicago, Sairah Ahmed, M.D., was struck by the similarities between her and a young leukemia patient...
Is walking good exercise? 4 top questions answered
The beauty of walking is in its simplicity. Unlike other workouts, walking doesn’t necessarily require a gym membership or working up a need-to-shower-right-now...