If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you’re probably thinking, where do I go from here? As you consider your options for surgery and treatment, you might also be considering breast reconstruction surgery. After a mastectomy, breast reconstruction can help restore your sense of self-image, balance and femininity. But keep in mind that every woman … Continue reading How to know if breast reconstruction is right for you
In my 33 years of life, I’ve worn many hats. I’ve been a student at Pflugerville High School, Texas A&M University and Tarleton State University. I’ve been a high school teacher for 12 years, as well as an assistant principal. I’ve been a wife to my husband, Justin, since November 2007, and am a mother … Continue reading Beating breast cancer at age 30
“You have cancer,” could be one of the most difficult phrases to hear. Those powerful words can leave anyone devastated. But if you or a loved one hears those words articulated by a doctor, know there is hope. After a cancer diagnosis, your mind may immediately turn to how you are going to beat the … Continue reading Caring for the whole patient through integrative medicine
A diagnosis of cancer is life changing. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the questions and worries: Am I going to be okay? How do I tell my loved ones I have cancer? Where do I even start? Beginning at your time of diagnosis, there are many decisions to be made about treatment and … Continue reading How nurse and patient navigators make your cancer journey easier
When Durba Mukhopadhyay, PhD, was diagnosed with lung cancer, she found comfort in a familiar source — art. Growing up in Calcutta, India, she and her three sisters often observed their mother and grandmother painting. “Our family is very much involved in the arts and we used to do lots of crafting during holidays in … Continue reading Helping patients heal through the arts
What is cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers known to be caused by a virus known as human papilloma virus (HPV). There are about 200 types of HPV, including low-risk strains that can cause warts and high-risk strains that can cause cervical cancer. The types of HPV that can lead to … Continue reading 5 things every woman should know about cervical cancer and HPV
As my 50th birthday is fast approaching, it has me thinking not so much about what the future holds for me, but for my 10-year-old daughter. I wish for my daughter a world with less strife and more understanding. I wish for her a world that has cleaner air to breathe and cleaner water for … Continue reading Why this hospital chaplain swims for cancer research
As cancer research continues to evolve, we continue to push the envelope to bring better, faster, more effective treatments to the forefront for our patients. One exciting recent advancement comes in the fight against pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer. Often diagnosed in late stages, people with this type of cancer traditionally have had limited options. But a … Continue reading Innovating treatment options for pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer
Dec. 15, 2015, is a day Patrick Koennecke will never forget. Now, he simply refers to it as “the date.” The 60-year-old Waxahachie, Texas, resident and warehouse manager was recovering from major back surgery when he began to notice a pain in his upper stomach on the left side. He described it as a broken … Continue reading Pancreatic cancer survivor thankful for clinical trial that saved his life
Have you heard the news? Recent reports reveal that the number of Americans dying from liver cancer has increased by 43 percent over the past 16 years. But what’s behind this disturbing trend — and should you be worried? Lack of screening for Hepatitis C Hepatitis C, a virus that gradually eats away at the … Continue reading Why are more people dying from liver cancer?
