Cancer, heart problems and kidney issues: Balancing my mom's treatments
The doctors at MD Anderson not only diagnosed my mother's stage III breast cancer. They also diagnosed a heart condition that may have become quite serious had it not been found early.
How swelling legs and feet helped identify a heart problemIn a previous Cancerwise post, I mentioned that my mom developed edema, a condition that caused her lower legs and feet to swell after her first Taxol chemotherapy treatment. This did subside...
Cancer survivor: When a friend receives a cancer diagnosis
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, I didn't have many close friends who had been through any sort of cancer treatment. ...
Packing for your first visit: Advice from veteran MD Anderson patients and caregivers
Whether you're traveling one mile or 1,000 miles to get here, packing for your first visit to MD Anderson can be a little daunting. After...
Cancer-related fatigue: Tips for cancer patients and survivors
If you ask a patient who has just completed cancer treatment how he or she is feeling, very often the answer you'll get is, "Great!" Most patients are relieved to be through with their treatment and are ready to get on with their lives.
Dig a little deeper, though, and patients usually will confess that they're feeling a little tired.
Unfortunately, fatigue is a common side effect of both chemotherapy and...

After a brain tumor diagnosis: Establishing a "new normal"
A cancer diagnosis is almost universally a life-changing event, with significant effects on patients, family and other loved ones.
New metastatic medullary thyroid cancer treatment options
Our researchers are waging war on every cancer, no matter how many -- or how few -- are impacted.
Take progressive, metastatic medullary...
Bodybuilding: How a breast cancer survivor regained confidence
One year ago, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, I had a double mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery two months later. My...
Sunscreen and skin cancer prevention: 9 common mistakes
For many of us, summertime means time outdoors by the pool or at the beach. But while you probably already know to use sunscreen to help protect...
From medulloblastoma patient to triathlete
At 21, the last thing on Michael Conway’s mind was cancer. But that changed when doctors diagnosed the healthy, athletic college student with...
The waiting game: A cancer survivor's story
Perhaps you've heard the expression "too much time to do nothing, not enough time to do anything." It is one of my favorites. ...