iPromise

Whose life has not been directly or indirectly touched by cancer? Six women in my family, including my mother and my sister, have had breast cancer. The disease has always been on my mind, especially given that I have three daughters and two granddaughters, and that I worked with a predominantly female staff during my 35 years as publisher of Texas Monthly. 

A foundation established by my late uncle in 2004 has given financial support to breast cancer prevention research at MD Anderson. This past year I met Dr. Banu Arun, associate professor of Breast Medical Oncology and Clinical Cancer Prevention and co-director of Clinical Cancer Genetics at MD Anderson. With great passion and excitement, Dr. Arun told me about her research of curcumin (turmeric) as an agent for preventing breast cancer.

Because this past May I became 'Mikee Medicare,' I threw myself a 65th birthday bash in the original Austin City Limits studio. I insisted that the only present I wanted and would accept was that my guests consider supporting Dr. Arun’s research. After Dr. Arun spoke onstage, my family and friends understood that they were not simply at another party, but in the presence of a health care professional of the highest order who, along with her colleagues at MD Anderson, is committed to Making Cancer History®. That’s a commitment I’m honored to share.

Do you promise? Email us to tell us why you’re committed to Making Cancer History® at promise@mdanderson.org.