12 things to know about donating platelets
You’ve probably heard of donating blood. But did you know you can also donate platelets – and that cancer patients depend on platelet donations, too?
Platelets are small cells in your blood that help stop bleeding. At UT MD Anderson, our patients need about 100 units of platelets each day.
Here's what to know about donating platelets and how you can donate to UT MD Anderson Blood Bank.
What are platelets, and what do...
3 gynecologic cancer myths, busted
There are a lot of misconceptions around gynecologic cancers and the doctors who treat them.
So, beware if someone tries to tell you...
What is bilateral breast cancer?
When breast cancer develops in both breasts, it’s called bilateral breast cancer. This accounts for 1.4% to 11% of all breast cancer diagnoses...
Stage 4 oral cancer survivor grateful after successful treatment
Dr. Vicente Valero, a breast medical oncologist at UT MD Anderson, kept my late mother alive for 25 years — even after a stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. Urologists there also treated my late father successfully for prostate cancer.
So, when a biopsy revealed the source of an ongoing issue in my mouth might be squamous cell carcinoma — a type of oral cancer — I didn’t hesitate: I called UT MD Anderson right away.
Debunking the benefits of nicotine
Have you heard that nicotine has health benefits – especially when used in tobacco-free products like oral nicotine pouches and vapes?...
Blood tests for colorectal cancer: What to know
The American Cancer Society recently released updated colorectal cancer screening guidelines for people at average risk for the disease. This...
Ovarian cancer survivor: ‘I wish I’d gone to UT MD Anderson first’
When you’ve just been diagnosed with cancer, it’s easy to just go along with whatever your doctor tells you. You’re really scared, you can...
Feeling alone after a cancer diagnosis? Here’s how to break through that isolation
Many of my patients here at UT MD Anderson report feeling isolated. Whether they’ve just received a cancer diagnosis, are in treatment or...
Mentorship makes the difference for physician-microbiome researcher
One bold idea changed Erez Baruch’s life.
As a young graduate student in Israel, Baruch, now an M.D., Ph.D., and a team of researchers...
Multiple myeloma caregiver: Why I’ll keep donating blood products at UT MD Anderson ‘for Ever’
Until last August, I was only an occasional blood donor. If the opportunity arose and it was convenient, then I’d do it. But I never really...
‘How I knew I had endometrial cancer’: Survivors share their stories
Maria Lozano was already well into menopause when she started experiencing the most common symptom of endometrial cancer (also known as uterine...
What is a nephrectomy? 8 things to know about kidney removal surgery
A nephrectomy is surgery to remove all or part of the kidney. It is most often used to treat kidney cancer.
At UT MD Anderson, we perform...
3 ways cancer survivors can stay healthy this summer
Summertime can be exciting. Think: trips to the beach, backyard barbecues and baseball games. But the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can be harmful...
What is trauma-informed care?
Most people will experience at least one traumatic event during their lifetime. That means some of the patients we serve have already faced...
3-time skull base tumor survivor: ‘I wish I’d started treatment at UT MD Anderson’
My first experience with cancer was in December 2007, when I received an olfactory neuroblastoma diagnosis after noticing a blockage in my...
Should you have your fallopian tubes removed to reduce your ovarian cancer risk?
A woman could have her fallopian tubes removed for many reasons. Sometimes, it’s necessary to treat an ectopic pregnancy or to resolve an...
How to cope with insomnia during cancer treatment
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep. It’s common in the general population, but it can also affect...
Finding the right therapist for you: 3 tips from our experts
If you’ve been struggling with depression, anxiety or stress, you may already know that you need a professional to help you cope with your...
Swollen collar bone (supraclavicular) lymph nodes: 4 things to know
You may already be aware that swollen lymph nodes can be a sign of cancer. But did you also know that where they arise on the body can sometimes...
Elastography 101: How this test helps diagnose liver disease
Elastography is an imaging test to check the elasticity of tissue in your body. Stiffness in your tissue is often a sign of disease. Elastography...
Metastatic melanoma caregiver, employee encourages blood donation
When Alizabeth Johnson first donated blood in 2013, she was a student at Victory High School in Aldine Independent School District. Her school...