Immunosuppressants: What is their role in cancer care?
An immunosuppressant is anything that diminishes the body’s natural ability to respond to threats, such as cancer or viruses, like the ones that cause the common cold.
Sometimes, due to autoimmune disorders such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma or Sjögren’s syndrome, the immune system is already suppressed. But in the context of cancer care, immunosuppressants are drugs that we sometimes give to patients...
Myelodysplastic syndrome survivor: UT MD Anderson helped me overcome cancer and become a mom
I’ve always wanted to have children. It’s something I’ve known about myself from a very young age.
So, when I found out the treatment...
CAR NK cell therapy clinical trial puts follicular lymphoma survivor into remission
When JC Cox was diagnosed with a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma called follicular lymphoma in 2006, the now-retired HVAC technician sought treatment...
Can UV light really be used as a cancer treatment?
Normally, you probably hear health care professionals talk about ultraviolet (UV) light regarding sun safety.
That’s because exposure to the sun’s UV light is connected to so many different types of skin cancer, including:
basal cell carcinoma squamous cell carcinoma melanomaBut did you know that UV light can sometimes be used to treat cancer or its side effects, rather than cause it? We spoke with stem...
Your stem cell transplant consultation: Questions to ask
Your doctor may recommend that you undergo a stem cell transplant if you’ve been diagnosed with a blood cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma...
Understanding stem cell transplants
A stem cell transplant is often the best option to treat blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and ...
Opportunistic infections: What cancer patients need to know
An opportunistic infection is one that a person with a healthy immune system is unlikely to get. It happens when bacteria or some other pathogen...
Understanding allogeneic stem cell transplants: What you need to know
Stem cell transplants use healthy, immature cells to replace those that either aren’t working properly in a person’s bone marrow or have been...
Need a stem cell transplant? 4 tips to make your life easier
Cancer patients usually have to make some lifestyle adjustments to accommodate their treatment. That could mean anything from taking time...
Fraternal twin of leukemia survivor: Advice for navigating a sibling’s cancer diagnosis
When my twin brother, James, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in June 2013, everyone was shocked. We were only 19 at the time. Cancer...