Breast cancer survivor-volunteer and colorectal cancer patient share unique friendship
It all began over a hot cup of coffee, a warm smile and the need to speak with someone who knew what she was going through.
Colorectal cancer patient Ming Song-Gorry and volunteer Mercedes Malato Pavlu feel they met by fate in between Ming’s appointments in May 2023.
“I just ran into Mercedes while walking through the Mays Clinic to get a coffee, and we hit it off instantly, it was like we’d known each other forever,” Ming...

Daughter honors dad by giving blood in his memory
Facing the holidays after the death of a loved one can be incredibly tough, but Valeria Medrano is channeling her grief into action and gratitude...
Student extern donates blood to honor late father
Not even the stress of finals week could stop Fernando Langer from giving blood. That’s how strongly the importance of giving back is ingrained...
Colorectal cancer nurse inspired by patients every day
Regina Dela Cruz knows that being an oncology nurse is not for the faint of heart. But the inspiration she receives from her patients makes for a fulfilling career unlike any other, she says.
Dela Cruz is an inpatient nurse on the Gastrointestinal Colorectal Surgical unit at MD Anderson. She cares for colorectal cancer patients after surgery. This includes giving early-morning pep talks, working with her patients’ medical...

O-negative leukemia patient stays positive thanks to blood donations
What started as incessant itching six years ago led to a diagnosis of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) for Seymour Goldstein.
Can you breastfeed after cancer treatment?
For many expectant parents, breastfeeding or chestfeeding offers a crucial way to bond with their babies and pass on important nutrients....
Keep calm and play on: Volunteer uses his gifts to inspire others
It’s pitch black at 2 a.m. when John Dunsmoir gets in his car to make the drive from Austin every Friday to volunteer.
When he...
Meet MD Anderson's longest contributing blood donor
Tom Taylor has been a blood donor since before MD Anderson had a computer system to keep records on the matter.
The records of ...
Updates in soft tissue sarcoma
Sarcoma describes a broad group of cancers that originate in the bones and soft or connective tissues, forming in the blood vessels, nerves...