3-time skull base tumor survivor: ‘I wish I’d started treatment at UT MD Anderson’
My first experience with cancer was in December 2007, when I received an olfactory neuroblastoma diagnosis after noticing a blockage in my nose. I was treated successfully for it near my home in Kansas with a combination of surgery and chemoradiation.
Eleven years later, I developed a secondary cancer in that same area called radiation-associated osteosarcoma. This time, the cancer was in the bones around my left eye and sinuses...
How to cope with insomnia during cancer treatment
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep. It’s common in the general population, but it can also affect...
Nausea: How to curb this cancer treatment side effect quickly
One of the most common side effects of cancer treatment is nausea. It can be caused by chemotherapy, radiation therapy and even anesthesia...
Cachexia (wasting syndrome) in cancer patients: What to know
Losing weight when you’re not trying to can be frustrating. But it may also be cause for concern.
Cachexia, sometimes called wasting syndrome, is a syndrome characterized by unintentional weight loss and a significant loss of muscle. It could be a sign of cancer or a side effect of cancer treatment. Or, it could be caused by other health conditions. The sooner cachexia in cancer patients is diagnosed and treated, the better their...
Leukopenia: 6 things to know about a low white blood cell count
Leukopenia is the scientific term for having a low white blood cell count. It’s considered a more general term than neutropenia, which is...
Dehydration symptoms: What to look for
Dehydration happens when the body loses fluids without replacing them. Anything that causes your body to lose fluids can lead to dehydration...
What is Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
How do you find renewed purpose in life when a cancer diagnosis, its symptoms or treatment has fundamentally altered the way you live?...
How to cope with cold sensitivity due to chemotherapy
Platinum-based chemotherapy drugs — including cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin — are well-known for causing nerve damage in the hands...
Hypertension and cancer: 9 things to know about high blood pressure
Hypertension is the scientific term for high blood pressure — that is, when the force exerted on the walls of the blood vessels is consistently...
Methylene blue: Should you take it?
Methylene blue is a salt and dye that has been used in medicine for over 100 years. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant...