Maintaining optimism during kidney cancer

BY MD Anderson

Kidney cancer survivor Jacque Howard thought her new diet and workout regimen were paying off when she shed 25 pounds from her already slight 5'4" frame.

Unfortunately, Jacque's weight loss and diminished appetite were kidney cancer symptoms. The doctors told her the tumor was the size of a large cantaloupe.

"The thought that I had cancer never crossed my mind, not once," Jacque says.

Doctors...

Choosing how to share your cancer journey

BY Linda Ryan

When you're diagnosed with cancer, there is no right or wrong way to handle your diagnosis. Just because I acted one way doesn't mean that's...

How I recovered from esophageal cancer surgery

BY Mary Ginley

About a year ago, I was diagnosed with stage III esophageal cancer. My husband and I left our home in Florida and headed to MD Anderson...

My letter to cancer

BY Gail Morse

Dear Cancer,

I had to celebrate my 39th birthday with you, but you will not be at my 40th birthday bash next year. I plan to celebrate...

How connecting with another vulvar cancer patient helped me

BY Jami Mayberry

I was diagnosed with vulvar cancer in May 2013. Vulvar cancer is so rare that there is no color to represent it. You know, pink is for breast...

How a CML clinical trial and Gleevec saved my life

BY Mel Mann

In January 1995, I sauntered into a Michigan doctor's office to get the results of some tests I had taken to find the cause of my back pain...

Finding life and hope at MD Anderson

BY Vickie Gibson Poe

My husband and I have spent a great deal of time at MD Anderson over the past two months. We knew it, of course, by its reputation and national...

An insider's guide to MD Anderson

BY MD Anderson

It can take a while to learn all the ins and outs of MD Anderson. To help you get ahead and make your next trip to MD Anderson even better...

Coping with physical changes after sarcoma surgery

BY Kristine Keeney

When the doctors first told me about the details of my surgery for my sarcoma of the tongue, I couldn't have imagined how much the surgical...