Cigarette smoking has been on the decline for years. But menthol cigarettes are one segment of the tobacco market that has remained strong.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed new rules today to prohibit these products and flavored cigars. These proposed rules are in response to public health concerns about the dangers of menthol cigarettes and their huge popularity among young people and Black, Hispanic and Asian American...
The number of breakthrough COVID-19 infections continues to climb, both in the United States and around the world. Many are now due to the...
Maintaining your health requires more than living a healthy lifestyle and keeping up with regular health care like screenings and check-ups...
Updated Dec. 23, 2021
The omicron variant has now overtaken the delta variant in the United States as the predominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. As of Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that omicron accounts for 73% of all new documented cases here.
To find out the latest on the omicron mutation, we checked in again with infectious...
The COVID-19 pandemic. The winter freeze. A national blood shortage. The launch of our new Strategy.
These are just a few of the big...
Writing MD Anderson into our wills was an easy decision for my late wife, Jackie, and me. Because even after she received a stage IV lung...
The happiest day of my life was the day my doctor told me I could stop chemotherapy because my leukemia was in remission.
When I enrolled at MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 2017, I never expected to write most of my master’s thesis...
I’ve been working at MD Anderson for 16 years, and our patients’ experience here is very important to me. So, when I was asked to help coordinate...
In my 22 years at MD Anderson, I have seen hurricanes, floods and freezing conditions in Houston, but nothing like the...
After working so hard to persuade my mom to get a mammogram last fall, it was startling to learn there was actually an area of concern in...
I knew I was responding well to my stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma treatment when the grapefruit-sized tumor in my chest began getting noticeably...
Even after five years working on our pediatric unit, I’m still in awe that I’m a nurse at MD Anderson.
We’ve experienced...
When I woke on the morning of Jan. 28, 2021 — the day we launched our organizational Strategy — it felt surreal. We had spent so much time...
When my husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in June 2019, I’d already been donating blood for almost 20 years. I especially...
June 28 is a day I’ll always remember. That was the day we began welcoming visitors back to our campuses after 15 months. It was a day full...
I vividly recall the moment when a text alert transformed an ordinary Friday into an extraordinary one.
It happened...
The holiday season may be the most wonderful time of year for some, but for others, the stress and emotions during this time can be overwhelming...
During a routine checkup about 20 years ago, my primary care doctor noticed that my blood platelet count was going up. After meeting with...
The box containing the first 4,875 COVID-19 vaccine doses to arrive at MD Anderson was much larger than I’d expected. It only had five small...
Meningiomas are a primary central nervous system tumor that make up 38% of all primary intracranial tumors. They are typically benign...
Meet Patrick “Miracle” Mead Jr. His wife gave him the nickname “Miracle” after he made a full recovery from a brain tumor that once left the...
The omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 was first identified in South Africa in late November and has since become...
For many of us, coffee is part of our daily routine. But depending on what you add to your morning brew, you could be consuming a lot of empty...
I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a physician. I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 6, and my doctor back then just had the greatest...
In many cases, women spot signs of breast cancer outside of regular breast cancer screenings. In fact, paying attention to changes in your...
The FLT3 gene helps stem cells mature to red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in a process known as differentiation. The gene...
When leiomyosarcoma survivor Gail Walsh told her orthopedic oncologist Patrick Lin, M.D., that she planned to hike the Appalachian Trail,...
Radioactive iodine therapy has been used in the treatment of thyroid cancer since the early 1940s. But how does it work? Which patients need...
When Daniel ‘Joe’ Einspahr, M.D., and his son bike into Virginia Beach next summer, they will have more than one reason to celebrate. Not...
Iron-deficiency anemia is one of the most common reasons people are rejected as potential blood donors.
But what causes this condition...
Senior clinical dietitian Christie Siebel can empathize with her patients. With their pain following surgery. With their nausea after chemotherapy...
Depending on your lifestyle and how you spend your downtime, you may find yourself sitting or lying down more than you’re moving throughout...
As a retired Navy hurricane research pilot, I don’t leave anything up to chance. When I was with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration...
More than half of cancer patients undergo surgery as a part of their cancer treatment. Just about every patient who has surgery will have...
Last updated Jan. 12, 2022
COVID-19 boosters have now been approved for all adults. This is welcome news for many who are eager to...
Elizabeth Somers wants everyone to know about meningiomas. This tumor of the central nervous system begins in the coverings that surround...
Breast calcifications are calcium deposits found through screening mammograms. When calcium builds up in soft tissue, it can appear like small...
As Jamaican immigrants, my parents stressed the importance of education. They felt that was the best way to succeed in America – and so I...
Adenocarcinomas can develop in many different parts of the body, including the lungs, prostate, colon, rectum, small bowel, pancreas, stomach...
I had just given birth to my third child when I started showing symptoms of an adrenal gland tumor. I wasn’t actively ill. But I felt weak...
If you’re trying to eat healthy, you probably don’t go a day without thinking about sugar. Avoiding sugar is hard because it’s in most foods...
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women, and the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Yet, there are still...
Our bodies naturally heal after our skin gets cut, and they can defend against the common cold. So, why not cancer?
The relationship...
I have been on five different clinical trials at MD Anderson since I was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare cancer that develops...
If you’re a cancer patient who was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before having a stem cell transplant or receiving a CAR T cell infusion...
Many cancer patients lose weight unexpectedly during radiation therapy because they struggle with side effects caused from treatment. Maintaining...
Cancer has disrupted my life three times over the past 16 years.
The first time was in 2005, when my late husband, Eli, was diagnosed...
When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I was determined to find the best care and treatment. As an orthopedic surgeon, I have traveled...
Last week, I had the opportunity to donate blood at MD Anderson’s Blood Bank. Blood donation continues to be so important for MD Anderson’...
Last updated Jan. 12, 2022
Booster shots have now been approved for all three of the COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. And the...
I’ve never been happier to live in Houston than I was during the spring of 2018. That’s when a routine mammogram revealed I had ductal carcinoma...
Many cancer patients will need radiation therapy as part of their treatment. Radiation can be used alone or as part of a treatment plan. When...
Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. Most treatments are focused on clear cell carcinoma, which is the most common...
Five-time cancer survivor Robert Clark has been through a lot in the past few years. But he believes firmly in two things: maintaining a positive...
For some people, especially parents, the scariest thing about Halloween is the enormous piles of candy that start popping up everywhere.
I used to think I was going to be a lawyer like my father. But in Ghana, the West African country where I grew up, education is modeled after...
Many patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer will hear their doctors use the word “adjuvant” to describe certain treatment options.<...
People with a rare, inherited disorder called von Hippel-Lindau disease develop cancerous and noncancerous tumors in up to 10 different parts...
When my daughter, Preslie, was eight years old, I noticed that her left eyelid seemed to be a little droopy. But I never expected it to be...
Meghan Williams can now dispel many of the myths and misconceptions she once believed about oncology nursing.
Before joining MD Anderson...
Until January 2020, I had always felt like I had an unspoken agreement with cancer: I’d make good lifestyle choices — protecting my skin,...
Almost everyone will experience a swollen lymph node at some point. That’s because these structures are designed to filter germs and other...
I had just finished breastfeeding my one-year-old in October 2017, when I felt a lump in my left breast during a shower. I knew there was...
Last updated July 1, 2022.
For patients with lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukemia, CAR T cell therapy offers an effective treatment...
Many patients will be prescribed chemotherapy as a part of their cancer treatment plan. That could involve taking pills at home or wearing...
It may feel a little awkward to talk about anal cancer.
“It’s an area of the body that people don't talk about too often,” says...
Mammograms are one of the most effective ways to detect breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. MD Anderson recommends that women at...
Throughout his esophageal cancer treatment, Ross Bernkrant never once looked up the survival rates.
“I knew it wasn’t good,” he says...
A new cancer diagnosis can change your priorities and day-to-day routines. Many patients and their caregivers feel a range of emotions, including...
Ashley Martinez will never forget the day her in-laws celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Not only was it a major milestone for her...
The hardest part of my son Desmond’s aplastic anemia diagnosis was knowing that my child was seriously ill and there was nothing I could do...
Teresa and Billy Mayo have shared almost everything during their 46-year marriage. But the couple recently shared something they never anticipated...
Arthur Sulkin believes a series of personal experiences put him in a unique position to deal with what he calls “the trauma of cancer.”
When you agree to genetic testing, you expect a yes or no answer: yes, you have an abnormal change in a gene that increases your cancer...
Insulin is a hormone produced by clusters of cells in the pancreas called islets. It helps our bodies use sugars from food for energy. When...
When it comes to exercise, the most important thing is that you do it. But if you like high-intensity exercise, research suggests that doing...
By the time Susan Waldrop was diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine tumor called sporadic metastatic pheochromocytoma in May 2015, she’d been...
When I was diagnosed with stage III pancreatic cancer in January 2017, I was pretty shocked. Both of my parents died of heart disease in their...
Breast cancer treatment took a toll on Debbie Mendoza, but she regained her strength and energy with the help of Active Living After Cancer...
A few of my relatives have had cancer over the years, but not many. And the one who developed lung cancer was a grandparent who smoked three...
When it comes to strength training, the idea of becoming bulky is off-putting for some people.
If you don’t want big muscles, a class...
In some ways, 2005 was a challenging year for Carrington Marzett. The 15-year-old sophomore was still settling in after a recent move from...
Tattoos have been around for centuries, but how do they impact our modern approaches to screening for cancer? As more women reach the suggested...
I was about halfway through my cancer treatment for soft tissue sarcoma of the nasal cavity — a type of nasopharyngeal cancer —when I decided...
If life hands you lemons, do NOT squeeze them outside. When I tried that, it soured my summer in a single afternoon.
Citrus fruits,...
Diabetes affects roughly 10% of people in the United States. Another 1 in 3 has pre-diabetes, or elevated blood sugar levels that don’t quite...
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum. Although they’ve...
In my almost 73 years on this planet, I’ve been in a war, been held as a political prisoner, and been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome...
The highly contagious delta variant continues to be the most dominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, causing thousands of new COVID-19 infections...
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs in melanocytes, the cells that carry pigment.
But are there different types? How is it...
In August 2019, I noticed a small lump on the right side of my neck while shaving. I immediately thought to myself that this was not normal...
If you’ve never heard of double-hit lymphoma or you’re unfamiliar with the specifics of the disease, you’re not alone. This rare and aggressive...
In-person classes are back in session for millions of school children across the country. But masking requirements vary by state, the highly...
On a warm day in May 2018, Ashton and Charmayne Thomas swiftly booked a flight from Arizona to Houston. They dropped off their two eldest...
Navigating breast reconstruction options can be overwhelming. There are so many decisions to make. Will you have immediate or delayed reconstruction...
As a cancer surgeon and researcher, I’ve poured my heart and soul into making a difference for patients over the past 20 years. Recently,...
Last updated Nov. 19, 2021
Flu season is upon us once again, and for a second time in as many years it’s occurring during the COVID...
Between 20% and 70% of patients who receive an allogeneic stem cell transplant as a part of their cancer treatment will develop at least a...
There’s been a lot of talk recently about a drug called ivermectin, in connection with COVID-19.
But what is ivermectin, exactly? Has...
Kinsley Curley was only 3 years old when she was diagnosed with a stage IV Wilms’ tumor, one of the most common types of kidney cancer found...
When I was diagnosed with a bone marrow disorder called aplastic anemia in the fall of 2013, I was already in something of an “early-life...
Acupressure is an ancient practice from traditional Chinese medicine. It can seem mysterious because the theory is based on pressure points...
The route a cancer takes from its earliest stages to advanced disease is a long and winding road. Often, the first mutations or changes that...
After she’d been sick with flu-like symptoms for several weeks, Kirsti Hoopingarner decided to see her doctor. She’d been having trouble breathing...
When I was growing up, I played a lot of sports. In high school, one of my favorites was wrestling. And with a lot of practice, I learned...
When John Paul Shen, M.D., tells people he studies appendix cancer, many are surprised to learn that you can get appendix cancer in the first...
Ever since high school, Ethan Damron has wanted to be a radiation oncologist. In July 2019, he and his wife, Kendra, moved to Houston so Ethan...
Reports of breakthrough COVID-19 infections are on the rise, as the delta variant rapidly spreads in communities across the country.
<...
What if we could know more about a tumor just from a patient’s blood sample? While this concept is well-established with blood cancers like...
In March 2019, Shelly Busby began experiencing unusual vaginal bleeding. Frightened and concerned, she went to her OB/GYN for an examination...
Before I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in December 2018, I’d never heard of MD Anderson. And cancer doesn’t run in my family,...
Last updated Oct. 25 2021
Research studies show that immunocompromised people who have low or no protection following two doses of...
Home HPV tests are marketed as a convenient, accurate and discreet way to find out if you have human papillomavirus, a common infection that...
A hysterectomy is a common procedure used to treat gynecologic cancers, like ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and endometrial cancer, and other...
Receiving any type of cancer diagnosis can be stressful, even if it’s a common or well-known disease, such as breast cancer, lung cancer or...
Whether it’s a cancer drug, vaccine or other medication, medical treatments in the U.S. have to go through a specific process to make sure...
Until recently, treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphoblastic leukemia meant a hospital stay, intravenous chemotherapy...
As a child, researcher Surendranath Shastri, M.D., D.Ph., worshiped his dad. “He was a lifetime smoker, so I thought it was cool to smoke,...
If our weight loss expert had to give you one tip to help you achieve your healthy eating goals, it would be this: Avoid empty calories.
Whether you have a lumpectomy or a type of mastectomy, your chest may be flattened, misshapen or asymmetrical after surgery. Breast reconstruction...
As a doctor, I’m used to looking at data sets to determine when medical studies are working really well, sort of well or not very well at...
Becky Van Curen’s family had no history of cancer. So, when she was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2015, she was shocked and scared....
As many children prepare to return to school in person, the highly contagious delta variant continues to spur a rapid increase in COVID-19...
Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, but it’s still considered rare with fewer than 5,000 cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year....
You probably already know that donating blood can save lives.
But did you know that donating blood and platelets is risk-free to the...
Under your skull, between your brain and the top of the neck, is an area called the skull base. The space is home to a platform where the...
Almost everyone has at least one mole, and you may already regularly check your moles for signs of change.
That’s a good idea since...
Many cancers grow when there’s a glitch in the DNA of our cells. Sometimes that error is passed down from a parent to their child, and sometimes...
Whenever Jessica King returns to Houston for an appointment at MD Anderson, she has to make one stop before she leaves: a visit with Jill...
When a small, painless lump began developing on Melissa Evans’ left arm near her elbow in late 2014, she didn’t give it much thought. The...
Pam Blaine was on top of the world. She’d just graduated with a master’s degree in arts administration and landed a new job with the Utah...
My melanoma diagnosis started out like many others: a suspicious mole followed by a dermatology appointment — and then, bad news. That was...
In February 2020, I went for my annual checkup in New Orleans, Louisiana, where I live. I received an excellent bill of health. However, I...
Skin is the biggest organ we have. As such, it often acts as a type of window into the rest of the body. So, rashes and other skin disorders...
I came to the field of medicine in a roundabout way. I always had an affinity for science. But while I made good grades in both high school...
When it comes to vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fruit, many dietitians will tell you to make sure you eat the full rainbow of colors...
As a physician, I never expected to be diagnosed with cancer myself — much less four times before age 50. But by the time I got to MD Anderson...
I’ve prepared for a lot of big moments and competitions in my 30 years of coaching college and high school basketball. But nothing could have...
Judy Garcia is still too young to need a regular mammogram herself. But as a breast ultrasound technologist, the 30-year-old knows how important...
Keeping cool during the summer can be a challenge for even the healthiest individuals. So, how do you manage it when you’re a cancer patient...
Some cancer symptoms are fairly straightforward. With breast cancer, it’s often a lump. With skin cancer, it may be a mole that changes shape...
As a former competitive CrossFit athlete, Katherine Norman sees herself as a healthy person. Over the last year, she also saw herself as a...
For anything you want to do, there’s got to be some inspiration. For me, it was the pain I felt when my mother died that prompted my career...
Having ulcerative colitis doesn’t mean you will get colorectal cancer, but it does increase your risk.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic...
As one of off-road motorcycle racing’s greatest legends, Destry Abbott is used to pushing his body to the limit. That’s why he knew something...
As you age, you may have trouble remembering important dates like a loved one’s birthday or forget where you left your car keys. Memory loss...
If you’ve just been diagnosed with lung cancer, you might have a lot of questions: Where should I go for treatment? Which type of therapy...
I was 14 weeks pregnant with my first child last fall when my right breast suddenly became very inflamed. At first, it was only the change...
For many of us, summer brings bug bites. And that may mean itchy, red bumps that can lead to skin discoloration that lasts for months....
Celebrities are promoting it, the internet is pushing it and your friends may even be raving about how taking collagen has helped their skin...
Last updated July 30, 2021
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, several variants of the virus have emerged. But the one named delta is...
If your health care provider has said you need a loop electrosurgical excision procedure, or LEEP, you may be wondering exactly what a LEEP...
When it comes to a healthy diet, you don’t need to quit carbs or fat or even sugar.
But your dietitian will suggest you limit processed...
I got into medical school thinking I’d specialize in either cardiology or orthopedic surgery. But one of the great things about it is that...
Careli Ann Garza’s colleagues consider her the heartbeat of Gladys Porter Early College High School. As the assistant principal, Careli can...
For many years, brachytherapy has been used to treat low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk prostate cancer. But more recently, doctors...
Nerves control everything from your heart rate to muscle movement to the fight-or-flight stress response.
“Nerves are critical to body...
I am a bit of a hypochondriac, so I’ve diagnosed myself with cancer on more than one occasion. But I never believed it would actually happen...
If you have dark skin, you may think you have natural protection from sunburns, sun damage and skin cancer. But the relationship between skin...
Historically, cancer patients with autoimmune disease likes lupus, Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis have been excluded from clinical...
I’m originally from Ghana, a small country in West Africa. I didn’t come to the United States until I was an adult. So, my first real experience...
In 2013, I noticed blood in my stool, which I thought was related to hemorrhoids. I also noticed heartburn on occasion. But it took five years...
First discovered in the 1980s, exosomes are microscopic spherical packages, called vesicles, released by all cells. Their normal role in the...
From your growth to your digestion, your hormones regulate many basic functions within your body. These chemical messengers are produced and...
When Jorge Castillo’s back began to ache, he thought he’d injured himself at work.
“I install and repair electrical power grids, so...
You probably know that cancer treatment can cause side effects like nausea, fatigue and hair loss. But some types of cancer treatment may...
Months after his chondrosarcoma treatment at another hospital, Chuck Lichtman developed a life-altering hernia. It made it hard to move, sleep...
If you’ve seen reports about the carcinogen benzene being found in sunscreen, you may be wondering what it means for your sun-safety routine...
Radiation therapy is one of the most common forms of cancer treatment. It uses high-energy X-rays to pinpoint and destroy cancer cells. Radiation...
Stem cells come from our bone marrow and grow to become red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These cells make up our blood and...
Headaches, seizures and weakness throughout the body can all be potential brain tumor symptoms. Because these symptoms can also be signs of...
Not long after moving into her new house, Dana Evans noticed an itchy red spot on her left breast.
“I’d seen a few spiders in the house...
Nicola Sirito had a rare diagnosis – a soft tissue sarcoma on his spine – but his MD Anderson care team knew they could successfully...
Many of the important things that we really want to accomplish in life, we can’t do alone. So, you have to identify the people who can help...
Before my husband, David, was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the nasal cavity called sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC...
Before coming to MD Anderson for treatment of hairy cell leukemia in 2015, I was told by two different oncologists that I had only a matter...
Ethan Ludmir, M.D., grew up watching Star Wars. But unlike other fans, his favorite character wasn’t Luke Skywalker or Han Solo. Instead,...
Before you buy sunscreen, it’s important to understand what sun protection factor, or SPF, means. That’s the number you see on the bottle...
Ewing’s sarcoma is a rare cancer that can occur in the bones or soft tissues. It’s more common in children and teens than in adults, but it...
In 2017, I began experiencing shortness of breath when exercising on the treadmill. I’d noticed commercials on TV about COPD, and I thought...
Receiving a brain tumor diagnosis can be overwhelming. There are so many different types of brain tumors and treatment options, and you may...
If you’ve recently received a cancer diagnosis, you may have heard the word “metastasis” or been asked by someone if your cancer has metastasized...
As an internist with my own practice, I’ve been referring my patients to MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center for many years when they are faced...
When I was diagnosed with triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer in October 2020, it was jarring, to say the least. I was only 38 ...
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of rare chronic blood cancers that are often challenging to treat,with few approved treatments...
Social anxiety is the reluctance to engage in everyday activities you normally enjoy, because you’re worried about making a mistake, feeling...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent announcement that those who’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer...
Last updated June 4, 2021
A mastectomy is one of the most well-known types of breast cancer treatment. MD Anderson breast surgeons...
Thousands of people will get screening exams for breast cancer, cervical cancer and lung cancer this year. Others will get diagnostic tests...
Last updated June 4, 2021
A lumpectomy is the most common type of surgery used in breast cancer treatment. At MD Anderson, our breast...
If you were faced with something bigger and scarier than you initially knew how to deal with, how would you handle it? Would you sit back...
I was a junior at Texas A&M University when I first got diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer after a quick visit to the campus health...
In early 2020, I woke up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. By chance, my hand brushed my right breast, and I felt a lump the...
To a cancer patient, one of the most magical words in the English language may be “remission.” For those fortunate enough to hear it, it imparts...
Not long after my acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis in May 2019, my local oncologist said I’d probably need a stem cell transplant. At the...
Burnout is the combination of exhaustion, detachment and cynicism that can sometimes develop when we’re faced with unrelieved stress over...
Clinical Nurse Christine Durana donates blood so often, she takes a photo of her arm each time to help her remember when it’s been 56 days...
I’m an average guy that has never been that concerned about my health care. But once I got into my 60s, I started doing annual exams and cancer...
Oropharyngeal cancer includes cancers of the tonsils, base of the tongue and other parts of the throat. It’s usually caused by the human papillomavirus...
Masking, social distancing and hand washing remain important routines that prevent COVID-19 infection even if you’ve been vaccinated. But...
In 2016, my daughter was six months old, and I was still working on recovering from a difficult pregnancy. I had gone back to work as a special...
Lynn Hill practices what she preaches. As a coach for one of the country’s top weight loss and wellness programs, Lynn, 66, cooks nutritious...
Any time you see a new doctor, one of the first things they’ll ask about is your medical history. That’s because everything from the aftermath...
When I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer at age 50, I received treatment from a local oncologist, close to my home in northern...
Drew Huggins still gets emotional when he recalls the day clinical trial coordinator Jing Yang phoned him with some good news that changed...
Many prostate cancer patients don’t need surgery. But for young patients with prostate cancer that hasn’t spread, a surgery called a prostatectomy...
You’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and life is inching back toward normal. Now, with temperatures creeping back up, you find yourself...
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may already know you have many options when it comes to where to seek treatment.
But...
Most stomach cancers are caused by bacteria called helicobacter pylori or H. pylori. Having H. pylori doesn’t mean you’ll get stomach...
For people who hope to have children of their own, a cancer diagnosis can derail those plans. However, thanks to oncofertility experts, who...
We all know that eating your greens is good for you, but what if you could extract the green and take it as a supplement?
A recent...
When I first noticed what I thought was a swollen lymph node on the right side of my neck, I thought it was just an infection coming on. It...
I’ve known six people who have died of pancreatic cancer, including my own dad in 2015. So, when I was diagnosed with that disease in June...
When you’re a young adult dealing with a cancer diagnosis, you realize that planning for the future is a luxury. However, as my wife Suzie...
Adoptive cellular therapy is a form of immunotherapy that uses cells from our immune systems, such as T cells, as a treatment for cancer....
Prostate cancer treatment options can include surgery, radiation therapy and hormone therapy. But some men are candidates for active...
In some parts of the world, mushroom extracts are often used by patients for their medicinal benefits. They’re packed with vitamin D, which...
In 2001, I was 31 years old, working full time and engaged to be married. I had no symptoms or abnormalities. But one day, I noticed a knot...
Musician Jeff Blankenship was playing guitar in the orchestra pit during a local theatre’s live production of “American Idiot” when he began...
Research shows it’s best to limit red meat because it can increase your risk for colorectal cancer.
With that in mind, plant-based...
Some types of chemotherapy can damage nerves, leading to a side effect called peripheral neuropathy. Patients may feel tingling, burning or...
Having Crohn’s disease doesn’t mean you will get colorectal cancer, but it does increase your risk.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory...
Cancer is defined by where it starts and not by where it spreads. Where it starts helps determine how it’s treated and even the way people...
The tumor microenvironment is the ecosystem that surrounds a tumor inside the body. It includes immune cells, the extracellular matrix, blood...
Smoking is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer. Yet, about 20% of lung cancers deaths occur in people who have never smoked, according to the American...
Knowledge is power, and now patients across the country are starting to have more timely access to their health information.
U.S. health...
In the past, patients with a particular cancer type all received the same treatment, but research has shown that tumors have unique features...
Siblings Christopher and Lindsay Welch have always been close.
“We were born only 18 months apart,” Lindsay says, “so we shared a lot...
Tea is thought to have many health benefits, from keeping you hydrated to supporting weight-loss and reducing dental cavities.
Tea...
You’ve probably heard of the low-fat diet. Maybe even the low-carb diet. But what about the low-iodine diet?
If you or someone you...
It wasn’t until I attended a relative’s socially distanced birthday party last spring that I really let myself consider the possibility of...
Last updated June 7, 2022
If you’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19, you may be thinking about getting an antibody test to see if...
Between 5% and 10% of cancers are hereditary. This means that the cancer is caused by a change in your genes called a genetic mutation.
From Marie Curie’s discovery of radium that eventually led to radiation therapy, to the pioneering work in chemotherapy by Jane Cooke Wright...
During a routine physical exam in June 2010, my doctor expressed concern about a possible heart abnormality. A CT scan showed my heart was...
There’s no doubt about it, food and stress are linked. And it’s not just that when you’re stressed you might eat too much, or too little,...
Betsy Lucas was five months pregnant when a curious dime-sized lump arose on her neck.
Her family doctor thought it was likely an inflamed...
A social media post about a man’s positive pregnancy test reportedly led to his testicular cancer diagnosis.
The man jokingly took...
A picture is worth a thousand words, and Jordan Pietz is helping tell MD Anderson’s stories with his artistic talents and scientific knowledge...
I’m an orthopedic surgeon at one of the largest general hospitals in the Houston area. It serves as a major trauma center for the entire region...
One of the most difficult aspects of treating lung cancer with radiation therapy is determining the best way to deliver it. Ideally, doctors...
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 in February 2017, there was no doubt in my mind as to where I’d go for treatment.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you may have heard of the Whipple procedure. This complex surgery is...
Between 5% and 10% of all cancers are hereditary, which means that changes in specific genes are passed from one generation to another. People...
Hand-foot syndrome (also called palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia) is a side effect of some chemotherapy drugs that can cause redness, swelling...
With three COVID-19 vaccines now authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you might be wondering which vaccine...
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines earlier this month for those who’ve gotten vaccinated against...
The immune system defends the body from viruses and bacteria. But it’s not as successful in killing cancer on its own. Immune checkpoint inhibitors...
Today, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released new guidelines for annual lung cancer screening through low-dose CT scans...
When Becky Post began having digestive issues in 2012, she chalked them up to stress from work and recent international travel. It wasn’t...
In early 2020, I started experiencing front-facing falls. I didn’t have any other symptoms, though, so I didn’t think much of it. That is,...
One of the most common side effects of cancer treatment is nausea. It can be caused by chemotherapy, radiation therapy and even anesthesia...
As a health care quality professional, Al Thomas always made his annual physical a priority. When he went to see his primary care physician...
Could getting a COVID-19 vaccine affect the results of your mammogram or other diagnostic imaging exams?
Physicians at MD Anderson...
Last year, Caroline Hysmith became a stem cell donor for her dad, Timothy. She was only 15 at the time.
As part of his leukemia treatment...
Cancer patients can experience a wide range of side effects. For some, migraine headaches can have a big impact on their quality of life.<...
Living with a tracheostomy and learning proper tracheostomy care can take some adjustment for cancer patients who rely on them during cancer...
When Fran Sargent’s doctor in Michigan said he’d need to remove her entire left lung to confirm she had cancer, her response was swift.
When my son, Sawyer, was just two years old, we started to notice that he had swelling on the left side of his face. I saw what looked like...
It’s rare for people to completely lose their sense of taste or smell. But noticeable – and usually temporary – changes to these...
When Tony Beasley was diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer in 2016, he could have easily asked “Why me?” Instead, he posed the unlikely...
Last updated Oct. 4, 2021
Colorectal cancer shares some symptoms with a less serious, but much more common disease: irritable bowel...
Since the discovery of KRAS gene mutations in 1983, researchers have worked to develop new therapies that target this protein when treating...
When Tim Hardesty walks the MD Anderson skybridge in short sleeves, he’s frequently stopped by employees and patients alike who notice the...
Nanomedicine is a quickly emerging area of study that uses nanoparticles for drug delivery, diagnoses and in vivo imaging. While nanomedicine...
Weight loss usually requires more than willpower. That’s because adjusting what you eat and how much you exercise are big lifestyle changes...
I always thought of lung cancer as a smoker’s disease, so I was pretty astonished when I received my own diagnosis in December 2019. I’d been...
Studies show that 70% of people who smoke want to quit. If you’re in that group, now is the perfect time to quit smoking.
Trying to...
New strains of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 have already been identified in four different countries, including the United...
Last updated March 11, 2021
You’ve gotten a COVID-19 vaccine. That’s a big, welcome milestone. After months of masking, social distancing...
The first time I heard the term “total pelvic exenteration” in January 2016, I thought my local doctors were crazy. I’d been in treatment...
The test results are back. You’ve talked to the doctor and learned you have cancer.
Whether it’s your first cancer diagnosis or your...
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of imaging test that’s used to diagnose cancer and monitor tumor growth.
“MRI is an excellent...
In Sept. 2019, I discovered a rock-hard bump on my son Logan’s chest. The next day, an X-ray revealed a soft tissue mass on his chest. A CT...
Jon Humphrey was apprehensive about having his chemotherapy port installed. In June 2020, he was preparing to start chemotherapy for bile...
The last 10 months have been the most challenging of Patricia Galvin’s 30-plus year nursing career.
On Dec. 15, she became the second...
My road to MD Anderson for breast implant-associated large cell anaplastic lymphoma treatment (BIA-ALCL) had lots of ups and downs. And, honestly...
When Robin Hollins was diagnosed with an aggressive type of cancer that begins in the lining of the nose and sinuses, she was eager to begin...
When other cancer patients ask for advice, rectal cancer survivor Robert Cuppett tells them to go to MD Anderson -- and to go there first....
Last updated March 9, 2021
World leaders, celebrities and your neighbors are doubling up on their face masks to strengthen their protection...
Myths and misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccines may be impacting the decisions you make about whether to get vaccinated – or what to...
Stomach and esophageal cancers are diagnosed in more than 40,000 people each year in the U.S. Most of these cases aren’t detected until the...
The COVID-19 vaccines mark the first widespread use of mRNA technology. They work by using synthetic genetic code to instruct the patient’...
I was a real sun-worshipper growing up, so I spent a lot of time at the beach. Galveston Island is only an hour away from my hometown of Houston...
My dear husband, Craig, fought courageously, but lost his battle with acute myeloid leukemia in December 2016. It’s hard to believe it’s already...
At-home genetic tests can reveal a wide range of information that can impact your life in different ways. You might find out you’re sensitive...
When Charlie was eight weeks old, I noticed his legs had become limp. We took him to the ER and discovered he had a large tumor compressing...
Last updated April 8, 2021
If you're currently in cancer treatment or have previously had cancer, you might be wondering if you...
Discovering and developing new treatments for cancer is a difficult process with many obstacles. These challenges can slow the process of...
In May 2019, a few days after my son’s high school graduation, I woke up to a large lump as hard as a tennis ball on my side. My family and...
Jenn Myers was scrolling through Facebook while waiting for her chemotherapy session to start last April when a post caught her attention....
As director of MD Anderson’s Oral Cancer Prevention Clinic, I see many patients each year with both oral cancers and pre-cancerous conditions...
For some patients with non-small lung cancer, chemotherapy isn’t the most effective treatment option. But based on a tumor’s molecular profile...
Last updated Oct. 4, 2021
Warren Bright made sure to get his physical every year. But he put off getting a colonoscopy until he was...
When I was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in March 2012, I got treated near my home in southern Louisiana. It wasn’t because I didn’...
At night before they drift off to sleep, pediatric patients at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital can snuggle up in bed with a laptop...
I’m originally from Maine, but I’ve known for a long time that MD Anderson is the gold standard of cancer care. So, when I was diagnosed with...
The Mediterranean diet can help reduce your risk for many diseases. It helps prevent heart disease and strokes, and has been linked to a lower...
The terms Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be easily confused. Although they’re both named after the scientist who discovered them, they...
After Tony Loth was diagnosed with tonsil cancer, a local specialist told him the best course of action was a radical neck dissection. He...
When JuanDiego Mata-Ornelas was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at age 16, he was too young to travel alone from his home in south Texas to...