Which blood tests show cancer?
PSA tests can detect elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood, which are sometimes a sign of prostate cancer. And complete blood counts — or CBCs — can show high or low levels of certain blood components, which are sometimes a symptom of certain blood cancers.
But are there any simple blood tests available that can prove you have cancer?
Adriana Maria Knopfelmacher Couchonal, M.D., a specialist...
Mom's legacy lives on through fundraising for MD Anderson
Alex Heard’s mom, Kelli, was his best friend.
“When I was younger, I would lie on her and watch TV,” he recalls. “She always wanted...
4 things to know about kidney biopsies
At MD Anderson, our dedicated interventional radiologists perform around 500 kidney biopsies a year. Nearly all of them are guided by advanced...
Blood in urine (hematuria): What causes it and what to do about it
It can be scary to see blood in your urine. While there is cause for concern, you shouldn’t panic. There can be many reasons for blood in the urine, also known as hematuria.
Here, I’ll share common causes of hematuria, who’s at risk and when you should see your doctor versus going to the emergency room.
Many things can cause blood in your urineSome common medical reasons for blood in urine are:
Infection: This could...
Understanding kidney pain: Common causes, symptoms and when to get checked out
Kidney cancers don’t generally cause pain in patients before diagnosis. That’s because the most common types of kidney cancer tend to grow...
Renal medullary carcinoma: 5 things to know about this rare and aggressive kidney cancer
Renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) is a rare and extremely aggressive kidney cancer. In the United States, it is diagnosed most frequently among...
Renal medullary carcinoma, sickle cell trait and high-intensity exercise: What’s the connection?
Very few people will be diagnosed with renal medullary carcinoma this year. But of those who are, about 60% will be young Black men who carry...
Innovative cancer treatment saves renal medullary carcinoma patient and her pregnancy
Every cancer patient’s situation is unique. But Heather Williams’ was exceptional.
The ER nurse from North Carolina was only...
What's the best way to quit smoking?
Smoking is on the decline. But if you are one of the 28 million Americans still smoking, you probably know how hard it is to quit.
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 temperatures. <...