Can you screen for pancreatic cancer?
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer are vague and often don't appear until the latter stages of the disease. As a result, pancreatic cancer often goes undetected until it is fairly advanced, when it’s harder to treat successfully.
So, why don't we have a routine screening test for pancreatic cancer, the way we do for ...
Hydrogen water: Does it have health benefits?
If you think back to science class, you may remember that water’s molecular formula is H20: 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen...
Stage III laryngeal cancer survivor: Why I call my MD Anderson care team ‘heroes’
After I was diagnosed with HPV-related throat cancer in December 2023, I planned to get a second opinion at MD Anderson, then follow their...
Sharing spaces after chemo: What to know
As an oncologist, I am sometimes asked whether it’s safe to be around friends, family or children after receiving chemotherapy. My answer? It’s absolutely safe to be around loved ones after chemo.
Your bodily fluids may still contain small amounts of chemotherapy several days after you receive treatment. This may cause you to worry that your treatment can harm the people around you. However, taking simple precautions can keep your...
Radiation therapist has a gift for putting patients at ease
Not everyone enters health care because of a lifelong dream — sometimes, it’s a gentle nudge that sets them on this path. And for...
New advances in our understanding of cancer metabolism
Metabolism is the process by which the cells in your body use nutrients from the food you eat to get the energy you need.
When...
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...
After losing their son to cancer, parents support Kinder Children’s Cancer Center
Ethan Perry was an outgoing kid with a big personality. He enjoyed playing sports, creating inventions and playing violin in his middle school...
‘Drug hunter’ deploys AI to accelerate path to new therapies
When Tim Heffernan, Ph.D., arrived at MD Anderson in 2011, he saw an opportunity to fundamentally change how cancer drugs are developed. With...
Understanding VEXAS Syndrome: Why this often-missed condition affects men over 50
VEXAS syndrome is a clonal blood disorder that can trigger widespread inflammation throughout the body and mostly affects men over age 50....
When a breast cancer oncologist becomes a breast cancer patient
Jennifer Litton, M.D., knows more than most about breast cancer. As a breast medical oncologist and MD Anderson’s chief clinical research...
How to improve your lymphatic system
You probably know that you have a whole lymphatic system in your body. But do you know what it does?
The lymphatic system is a crucial...
‘How I knew I had throat cancer’: Survivors share their symptoms
For high school football coach Mark Teague, the only symptom of throat cancer he noticed was a small lump beneath his jaw.
“I...
Leveraging lessons from cancer immunotherapy to develop better treatments for autoimmunity
Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, helping countless patients live longer, healthier lives. But researchers are continuing to...
Leukemia survivor finds companionship of rescue dog during treatment
Mark Janes’ chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) diagnosis came after he’d initially visited his doctor for swollen lymph nodes in his neck....
A dream realized: Building attendant helps other families touched by cancer
Aurora Calderon was 12 years old and living with her family in Mexico when her sister was diagnosed with leukemia. Her mother had dreamed...
Kidney cancer specialists: 3 things to know about renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the scientific name for kidney cancer. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma accounts for about 75% of all new kidney...
‘How I knew I had lung cancer’: 5 survivors share their symptoms
Chest pain, shortness of breath and a persistent cough can all be symptoms of lung cancer.
But they can also be signs of other conditions...
Energy efficiency empowering the future of cancer care
“Energy efficiency has very little to do with turning off lights,” deadpans Greg Norris, a mechanical engineer who directs MD Anderson’s Energy...
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...
Wired into wellness: Get to know Chief Wellness Officer Jennifer Bickel, M.D.
Ask Jennifer Bickel, M.D., about wellness, and you’ll quickly learn that she doesn’t think of it as a perk...
How stress affects cancer risk
Stress is a normal part of life. You feel it when you’re preparing for the holidays, stuck in traffic or worrying about a friend’s health....
‘How I knew I had cervical cancer’: 4 survivors describe their symptoms
Like many women diagnosed with cervical cancer, Linda Emery didn’t initially have any symptoms. She didn’t even know she had the disease...
How an electrical engineer is making a big impact on cancer research
Xiling Shen, Ph.D., was an electrical engineering professor when a landmark discovery prompted him to shift the focus of his work and dedicate...
How to make a healthier smoothie
Is your smoothie as healthy as you think it is? Smoothies can be a great source of nutrients. But they can also be a source of extra sugar...