This year, we’ve had the good fortune to meet some amazing patients. The stories they tell of diagnosis, treatment and hope are inspiring. Are you a patient at MD Anderson with a story you’d like to share? Email us at Cancerwise@MDAnderson.org and tell us more about you and your cancer-fighting spirit. With Faith, Family and a Plan, Man Beats Prostate Cancer After treatment was completed, Easton’s PSA level fell dramatically to less than 1. To celebrate, he rang the radiation bell , a tradition at MD Anderson, on March 8, 2011. His wife, son, two close friends, “Dr. K,” as Easton affectionately calls Deborah Kuban, M.D., and his whole treatment team joined in the celebration. “When I grabbed that bell and rang it, I couldn’t believe it was really over,” he says. “I’d gotten so used to the routine of my treatment.” Read the full article Re-Defining Normal After seven brain surgeries, a stint at a rehab hospital and finally outpatient rehab at home, Nate has come so far. He’s walking, learning to use his right side, working on his memory and learning to communicate. Those days at MD Anderson were hard. But sometimes being home is even harder. In the hospital, there’s the comfort of having your “dream team” to help you through. At home, it’s up to you. In the hospital, everyone is fighting their own battle and there’s comfort in making friends in the waiting room. At home, friends and family are living “normal” lives and yours is forever changed. Read the full article An Unexpected Love Story In the midst of all this chaos, Jack scheduled a relatively minor procedure with his urologist, who suggested throwing in a routine prostate biopsy, since Jack’s father and grandfather had been diagnosed with prostate cancer . Neither of us gave it much thought. Jack is young, his PSA was 2.5, and he had no symptoms whatsoever that would indicate a problem. So, he never expected the phone call that came on Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, and I certainly never expected to hear the words, “Babe, I’ve got cancer.” Read the full article
Eating the right food is one way to lower your cancer risk. But there are a few specific ingredients that are shown to give a boost to those benefits. Although further study is needed, tumeric, cinnamon and soy products have shown promise as cancer fighters. The articles below explain how chemicals in these ingredients work, and how to best include them in your diet.
Cancer isn’t the terminal sentence that it used to be. According to the American Cancer Society , this decline started in 1991 for men and in 1992 for women. Since that time, death rates have fallen 21% among men and 12% among women. Lower death rates mean more cancer survivors. Below are the most remarkable stories from cancer survivors that we posted in 2011. These stories about life on the other side of cancer will change the way you think about the diagnosis of cancer. What Cancer Has Taught Me Last summer, I was a professional student nurse extern at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. I must say it was strange to work in the same halls of the pediatric floor where I learned to walk again, and work with some of the same nurses who took care of me when I was sick. I remember going into a patient’s room to change an IV dressing and realized it was that same room where I was diagnosed and this whole journey began. Read the full article Reclaiming Her Life: A Cancer Survivor Faces Body Image Issues “At one point in my therapy, I came to a very big conclusion — cancer had taken enough from me,” Angela Gass says. Now 36, she has spent 12 years fighting cancer, which claimed one-third of her tongue and three-fourths of her jaw, leading to body image issues. “It had taken my ability to eat, speak clearly and be confident about my appearance,” Gass says. “I decided that I wasn’t going to let it take anything else. Instead of focusing on the things that I had lost, I put my energy into all the things that I am: a wife, mother, woman and survivor.” Read the full article Woman Beats Rare Form of Cervical Cancer With Help of Faith and Family “They are the reason I got out of bed every morning,” she says. “They are the reason I stayed upbeat — if only in their presence — and they are the reason I pushed forward.” As an involved member of a cancer support group, (add first name here) Dunmoyer advises all cancer patients to stay positive. “Never give up hope,” she says. “Miracles happen every day, no matter the stage, no matter the metastasis. There are survivors. There are educated and experienced doctors, and there is support .” Read the full article
Cancer isn’t the terminal sentence that it used to be. According to the American Cancer Society , this decline started in 1991 for men and in 1992 for women. Since that time, death rates have fallen 21% among men and 12% among women. Lower death rates mean more cancer survivors. Below are the most remarkable stories from cancer survivors that we posted in 2011. These stories about life on the other side of cancer will change the way you think about the diagnosis of cancer. What Cancer Has Taught Me Last summer, I was a professional student nurse extern at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. I must say it was strange to work in the same halls of the pediatric floor where I learned to walk again, and work with some of the same nurses who took care of me when I was sick. I remember going into a patient’s room to change an IV dressing and realized it was that same room where I was diagnosed and this whole journey began. Read the full article Reclaiming Her Life: A Cancer Survivor Faces Body Image Issues “At one point in my therapy, I came to a very big conclusion — cancer had taken enough from me,” Angela Gass says. Now 36, she has spent 12 years fighting cancer, which claimed one-third of her tongue and three-fourths of her jaw, leading to body image issues. “It had taken my ability to eat, speak clearly and be confident about my appearance,” Gass says. “I decided that I wasn’t going to let it take anything else. Instead of focusing on the things that I had lost, I put my energy into all the things that I am: a wife, mother, woman and survivor.” Read the full article Woman Beats Rare Form of Cervical Cancer With Help of Faith and Family “They are the reason I got out of bed every morning,” she says. “They are the reason I stayed upbeat — if only in their presence — and they are the reason I pushed forward.” As an involved member of a cancer support group, (add first name here) Dunmoyer advises all cancer patients to stay positive. “Never give up hope,” she says. “Miracles happen every day, no matter the stage, no matter the metastasis. There are survivors. There are educated and experienced doctors, and there is support .” Read the full article
This year was full of scientific breakthroughs that directly benefited cancer patients. Three of the most exciting innovations came in the form of new treatment options for lymphoma, pancreatic cancer and inflammatory breast cancer. These new treatments wouldn’t have been possible without patient participation in clinical trials. To learn more about these treatments and clinical trials available at MD Anderson see the stories below. A Good Day for Patients With Lymphoma 7/2011 – Today, the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee, an FDA advisory panel, voted 10-0 to recommend accelerated approval for Adcetris to treat patients with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma after having a stem cell transplant , and for patients with relapsed or resistant systemic ALCL.
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By Dawn Dorsey, Staff Writer For Wayne Murray, the chance to light up children’s faces by playing Santa Claus at MD Anderson’s Proton Therapy Center is a way to give back, as well as one of the greatest gifts he receives every year. A few days before Christmas two years ago, Murray completed successful treatment for prostate cancer at the Proton Therapy Center . During his visits there, he saw children waiting for treatment, and he wondered how he might help make their Christmas brighter. As he was preparing to be released, he asked a staff member if Santa ever visited the center. “I just thought I’d make an offer,” he says. “A few days later, I was playing Santa, and I’ve been doing it and loving it for three Christmases. It makes the kids so happy, and that’s what it’s all about.” A chance to give back Murray, who owns a Houston real estate company, makes sure to schedule his annual check-up at the Proton Therapy Center for the week before Christmas. Then, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., he takes orders for gifts, gives lots of jolly chuckles and gently coaxes those who are a little shy. The week before he arrives, the Proton Therapy Center child life specialist gives Murray a wish list of gifts for the children who will be there the day he visits. Members of his staff then work with employees of a local relocation company to buy gifts. They ensure there are enough gifts for every child at the center, including patients’ siblings. It’s grown into one of the company’s most important annual events. “Giving is one of our top priorities,” Murray says. “As a company, it’s important to give back; you can’t just take. And we have been so fortunate.” Smiles for the young — and the young at heart Each child receives a photo with Santa, present in hand. It’s signed, “You’ve been good this year, and I’ll see you on Christmas Eve.” Murray has been amazed by the response Santa gets from children of all ages. “It really is kids from 1 to 92, like the song says,” he says. “Just seeing Santa brings a smile to everyone’s face, even older people. And that makes me feel really great.” Special thanks to Weichert Realtors, Wayne Murray Properties and Weichert Relocation
By Andrew Griffith Andrew Griffith has mantle cell lymphoma and has had an auto (November 2009) and an allo (August 2011) stem cell transplant . He lives in Canada and is married with two young adult children. He blogs at www.lymphomajourney.wordpress.com and can be followed on Twitter @lymphomajourney . During the past few years, I have done more than my share of navigating through the emotional and practical aspects of my treatment for mantle cell lymphoma. While in the back of my mind, the broader questions — Why me? How long will I live? — remain. Tips to help Once I got over the initial anger and depression after the initial diagnosis (and after my relapse), I found these practical tips and approaches helped me and my family get through it all: Be thankful for what you have . I’m unlucky. I have an aggressive form of lymphoma that can be treated, not cured. However, if I’m unlucky with cancer, I’m lucky in the strong support of my wife, family and friends on the emotional and practical side. I also have a good benefits plan, so I have no financial worries. And whenever I go to the hospital, I am reminded that there are people worse off than me. Take it one step at a time . I could not process all the information and treatment plan at the same time. I couldn’t worry about whether the allo stem cell transplant would work and whether I would get GvHD , a disease that occurs when cells from a donated stem cell graft attack the normal tissue of the transplant patient. The best advice I got from the medical team was to take it step by step. Worry about the current stage, not the future. By dividing treatment into “chewable chunks,” I could also celebrate each milestone — getting through each round of chemo, getting past the first month post-transplant, making it to the 100-day milestone. Don’t get spooked by the stats . In my case, the stats are awful (overall, 50% to 60% mortality within one year). But these are averages, I’m an individual. I took the stats seriously. But also, with my medical team, placed the stats in the context of my age, general health and previous treatment, all of which improved my odds. Some doctors were better than others in walking me through this. Research, but not over-research . At the beginning, I spent far too much time trolling the web for medical information and patient experiences. After a while, I found my balance between enough information to be knowledgeable but not so much to become obsessive and worry even more. I also found that a lot of information was dated, and it was better to focus on getting more recent information from my medical team. Own your file . It was my life at stake, and I needed to manage my information and interactions with my medical team. I started a binder, organized by topic, and then switched to an iPad to take notes for my appointments. I always would come prepared with questions for my doctors and, given previous notes, could challenge them when treatment directions would change. My medical team knew me as an empowered and prepared patient, and it strengthened our relationship and my understanding of the why. Of course, these practical suggestions need to be complemented by a deeper reflection on what you want your life to be, during and post-treatment. None of these make the journey easy or diminish what’s a hard road. However, together, they all helped make it more manageable for me and my family.
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By Bonnie Nelson Know your options Your doctor has just told you that you have localized prostate cancer . While he’s explaining your treatment options, all you’re trying to do is not panic. He’s discussing different types of surgery or radiation therapies, while you’re probably wondering, “What is localized prostate cancer?” and “How am I supposed to decide which treatment option is best?” This decision can be overwhelming and at times frightening. There are so many different things to consider, so many new terms to learn and so many opinions. Take a deep breath; here’s some advice. “Take your time, get the facts, and make a ‘game plan.’ ” Decision aid Decision aids exist in various forms (e.g., pamphlets or videos) and are designed to help people understand their health care options, consider the personal importance of possible benefits and harms, and participate in decision making. Decision aids are used when there’s more than one medically reasonable option. Recently, a new decision aid for men with localized prostate cancer was released on the web and is available to the public. ” Knowing Your Options ” is an interactive, web-based decision aid designed to prepare men who have been diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer to have an informed discussion with their doctor about which treatment options are best for them. Baylor College of Medicine and MD Anderson developed the tool for the John M. Eisenberg Clinical Decisions and Communications Science Center, with funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality , U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . This free tool provides up-to-date, comprehensive information within five easy-to-use learning modules: Introduction includes information about what it means to be diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer, with narrated animation about the location and function of the prostate gland. Treatment Options includes information about the choice not to begin treatment immediately. What Is Important, an interactive section allowing you to think about your priorities. Talk WithYour Doctor, an interactive question list to help you make the best decision for you. At the end of the tool, you have the option to print a summary with tailored information that you can show to your doctor or anyone else you wish to involve in your decision. Robert Volk, Ph.D. , professor in the Department of General Internal Medicine at MD Anderson, was the lead developer for the tool. His colleagues, Curtis Pettaway, M.D., professor in the Department of Urology, and Deborah Kuban, M.D., professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, served as medical experts. Volk says, “Decision aids provide patients with information about their treatment options, the potential harms and benefits of each option, and guidance on making a decision in partnership with their health care providers. In the case of clinically localized prostate cancer, where men face a treatment decision with several reasonable options, informed decision-making is paramount.” For more information and to use the decision aid, visit the website .
Florence Arya was on top of the world. Newly retired from a rewarding career as a geologist, eager to travel with her husband and seemingly healthy, she was stunned when a well-woman exam in 2004 revealed she had a rare form of uterine cancer . “I was in the best shape of my life, exercising 11-1/2 hours a week,” she recalls. “Then suddenly, I’m dying. I have a death sentence.” Then 57, Arya was diagnosed with stage III
By Sara Farris Loads of toys coming in, gingerbread houses being made, choirs singing, delicious treats being shared — it must be the holidays at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital . While the hospital is the last place a child wants to be during the holiday season, the Children’s Cancer Hospital partners with community groups to make it a special time for patients and their families. Toys galore There’s no better way to cheer up a young patient than with a shiny new toy. With the support of many community groups, the Children’s Cancer Hospital provides patients and siblings with bundles of gifts. There’s a variety of gifts for all ages to choose from — video games, digital audio players, dolls, art kits, remote-controlled cars and more. Houston Performance Driving, led by Troy Dixon, organized a toy drive with local car enthusiasts at their December “Coffee and Cars” show. Bringing in more than 3,000 toys, it’s the biggest donation that MD Anderson receives each year. In addition, other organizations such as Quanex, Aramco and the Rainbows and Roses Foundation contributed toys for pediatric patients at MD Anderson. Quanex also donated money to the hospital’s Pediatric Education and Creative Arts Program for school-related equipment, while Aramco helped stock the video game and movie cart that goes room to room on the inpatient floor. Toys that aren’t given away during the holidays are used for birthday presents and bingo prizes for patients throughout the year. Gingerbread houses On Dec. 22, the Houston Racquet Club will deliver an amazing gingerbread house for the patients and families at MD Anderson to enjoy during the holidays in the Alkek Hospital lobby. The house will remain on display until the beginning of January, when the pediatric patients will be able to help in the tear-down of the house. In addition to this beautiful gingerbread creation, the Houston Racquet Club rallied its members to make a donation to the Children’s Cancer Hospital’s Child Life Program . Santa appearance in The Park What Christmas would be complete without a visit from Santa? On Dec. 14, Adam’s Angels hosted their annual holiday party for pediatric patients and their families. Young patients created a variety of seasonal craft projects with the help of volunteers from the Adam’s Angels organization. Children had their photos taken with Santa and received a frame to display it, plus their choice of a special gift. In addition, the MD Anderson employee choir sang some of the children’s favorite holiday tunes and added to the festive cheer.
By Ken Birt Ken Birt’s wife, Pat, was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer more than two years ago. What could have been a devastating prognosis became a journey of comfort and hope. At our engagement party on Dec. 27, 2009, we never realized the journey that our lives would take together during the following two years. In February 2009, I decided to move nearer to Pat in southeast Missouri. She had been suffering from some pain for a year or more, but all the colonoscopies showed no growths.
