Head and neck surgeon-scientist: ‘We can make a real difference’
Xiao Zhao, M.D., Ph.D., isn’t exactly sure when it happened, but at some point in his fellowship, he started to realize that UT MD Anderson was different from other hospitals he had been at, both personally and professionally. Every time he spotted a patient or caregiver who looked a little lost, three or four employees would always swoop in and ask how they could help that patient or caregiver. No matter what else was going on, no matter...
Two-time tongue cancer survivor: Why I support research at UT MD Anderson
Sometimes, the most meaningful breakthroughs in medicine aren’t about saving your life — they’re about saving your quality of life. That was...
What is dysplasia?
“Dysplasia” is the scientific term for “abnormal cells,” which don’t look the way they’re supposed to under a microscope. These abnormal cells...
Breast cancer survivor, oral cancer caregiver: ‘I’m so grateful now’
My husband, Alex, has survived five different oral cancer diagnoses since 2002. He’s had 90% of his tongue removed and his jawbone reconstructed twice. But thanks to MD Anderson, he can still speak and swallow. And, most importantly, he’s still here, 23 years later.
That’s why I turned to MD Anderson myself for a breast cancer recurrence in 2020. I’m so grateful now that we both made that choice. With unwavering faith in...
3 pieces of advice from a 5-time oral cancer survivor
The first time I was diagnosed with oral cancer, I was only 26. The wart-like growth on my tongue was pretty small. A biopsy showed it was...
Floor of mouth cancer: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
The floor of the mouth describes the area underneath your tongue that extends along the margins of your jaw. It’s considered part of the oral...
What is erythroplakia? Symptoms, causes and treatment
Erythroplakia is the scientific term for abnormal red patches that can form inside the mouth. Though not usually cancerous themselves, they...
Cancer of the jaw: 8 things to know
Jaw cancer is a type of oral cancer that can develop in the jawbone or the soft tissue surrounding the jaw. Cancer from other areas of the...
Stage IV oral cancer survivor: How MD Anderson helped me reclaim my faith
As an International Coaching Federation Master Certified Coach, National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching-certified coach and behavioral...
Proton therapy saved my ability to taste during treatment for tongue cancer
For Carlos Morera, the only symptom of oral cancer was a small lump beneath his jaw when shaving.
With a history of cancer, he knew...