Young adult glioblastoma survivor grateful for UT MD Anderson
In September 2021, Leah Alvarez was working as a step-down intensive care nurse with a specialty in neuroscience in Florida, caring for patients with brain, spine and nervous system disorders.
She and her husband, Cody, had welcomed their daughter, Harper, almost two years earlier.
When Leah started getting painful headaches in the back of her head, her colleagues said they were probably complicated migraines that can occur...
What to expect after brain surgery: Patients and a neurosurgeon share insights
Are some side effects common to everyone after brain surgery? For instance, can you expect to experience some combination of memory lapses...
Glioblastoma caregiver: Why I support neuroscience research at UT MD Anderson
When my late husband, James Broach, was diagnosed with a type of brain tumor called astrocytoma in 2010, it came as a huge shock. He was only...
Glioblastoma survivor: ‘You can live with cancer and still have a really good life’
Focal seizures are not what you might typically imagine when you first hear the word “seizure.” They’re not the kind that makes you suddenly fall to the floor and start writhing around. These just make you space out for a few minutes, or maybe smell chocolate strongly for a second, or yawn 15 times in a row really quickly.
I was having brain fog and at least a handful of those seizures every day by January 2024. I just didn...
Awake craniotomy for brain tumors: 8 questions
Imagine being able to talk to your doctors during brain tumor surgery without pain and give them immediate feedback while they operate...
Radiation therapy, the immune system and what’s ahead
Radiation therapy is often thought of as a treatment for localized cancer that hasn’t spread. But when paired with other therapies, it can...
‘How I knew I had a brain tumor’: 4 survivors share their symptoms
Headaches and seizures are common brain tumor symptoms. But they can also be caused by other medical conditions.
So, how can you tell...
Lynch syndrome: 10 things to know about this genetic condition
Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that makes some people more likely to develop certain cancers.
Carriers have a much...
Glioblastoma survivor: ‘MD Anderson is a blessing’
When it comes to his glioblastoma diagnosis, Chris Cook is inspired by his faith, his family and his doctors at MD Anderson.
Post-holiday...
What is astrocytoma, and how is it different from glioblastoma?
Astrocytoma and glioblastoma are two types of brain tumors. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed how these tumors are classified...