MD Anderson Cancer Center

01/17/2026

After losing her sister to leukemia as a child, Aurora Calderon wanted to help families facing cancer.

“When I came here to work for MD Anderson, I knew how our patients felt when they had cancer, and I wanted to help them,” she says. “I feel like if I help them, I help my family, too.”

Now, after 20 years of caring for patients as a building attendant, her purpose is clear.

Read her story. http://spr.ly/6184CLtpG

01/16/2026

Electrical signals in the brain can reveal how we respond to cues linked to smoking and obesity, two major drivers of preventable cancers.

By studying these signals and using targeted magnetic stimulation, Dr. Francesco Versace and his team are reshaping the pathways behind cravings — work that's only possible here.

Check it out.

01/15/2026

Immunotherapy has changed cancer care. Now, MD Anderson researchers are working to better understand and manage its immune-driven side effects.

“I want to be part of the solution to the autoimmunity problem,” says our Dr. Kristen Pauken, who sees this research as personal. She herself struggles with Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the joints.

“If we knew the right buttons to push and levers to pull, we could restore health and homeostasis, not only in cancer, but in autoimmunity as well,” she says.

Learn more about Pauken and her work.

For immunology researcher Kristin Pauken, Ph.D., the drive to better understand the immune system and what causes immunotherapy side effects is personal. Learn about her path to becoming an immunology researcher and how her research is finding ways to help those who suffer from immune-driven patholo...

01/15/2026

A small, painless lump in the neck can be easy to ignore, but it can also be one of the most common signs of throat cancer.

“Lymph nodes are essentially tiny little sieves that capture dangerous particles circulating in our bodies,” says our Miriam Lango. “Sometimes, cancer cells get caught in there and start growing in place.”

Here's what you should know about throat cancer symptoms.

What are the symptoms of throat cancer? Survivors share what they experienced, and head and neck surgeon Miriam Lango, M.D., weighs in on when to see a doctor.

01/15/2026

“It’s definitely a life-changer when you hear the C-word and get that initial diagnosis,” says leukemia survivor Mark Janes.

After being diagnosed with high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia in remote Alaska, Mark traveled to MD Anderson for expert care.

During his six weeks in Houston, he even found comfort fostering a shelter dog.

“You hold on to the hope that the next big thing might be out there for you. There was for me.”

Read Mark’s full story in our comments.

01/14/2026

Treatment for some kidney cancers has changed dramatically in recent years. So what's new?

“There’s really no role for classic chemotherapy anymore in the treatment of metastatic clear cell carcinoma,” says our Dr. Andrew Hahn.

Read how new options are changing the way patients are treated.

What are the most important things to know right now about renal cell carcinoma? Here are three highlights from a podcast discussion between genitourinary medical oncologist Pavlos Msaouel, M.D., Ph.D., and Andrew Hahn, M.D.

01/14/2026

Chest pain, shortness of breath or a cough that will not go away can be scary. But how do you know when it is time to call a doctor?

“Some lung cancer symptoms warrant immediate attention. Others need to be looked at within two or three weeks,” says our Dr. Ara Vaporciyan. “A constant symptom is more of a problem,” he says.

Here are the lung cancer symptoms five survivors noticed first.

What are the symptoms of lung cancer, and when do they warrant medical attention? Here, thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon Ara Vaporciyan, M.D., weighs in on when to see a doctor, and five survivors share how they discovered they had lung cancer.

01/13/2026

New options for cancer treatment are changing what survival looks like.

Targeted therapies and immunotherapies have improved survival outcomes, says our Dr. Christopher Flowers.

Now, a new American Cancer Society report shows 7 in 10 people survive at least five years after a cancer diagnosis.

Learn more.

Better treatment options have improved survival rates in the U.S., according to a report from the American Cancer Society.

01/12/2026

Check out MD Anderson's IDEAS lab, where researchers turn to innovative solutions for cancer care.

Here, our Dr. Justin Bird shows us how he and his team are working on a mechanical pump to treat orthopedic infections at the bedside.

Take a look inside and learn more here: http://spr.ly/6181CaKhZ

01/12/2026

"We have the opportunity to be as regenerative to our environment as we are to our patients," says Greg Norris, a mechanical engineer who directs MD Anderson’s Energy and Utility Program.

From designing smarter buildings to recycling heat and using digital systems to match energy use with real-time needs, Norris sees sustainability as part of MD Anderson’s mission of healing.

Read how: http://spr.ly/6186CsEns

01/11/2026

Smoothies might seem healthy, but sugar and calories can add up quickly.

Our dietitian Lindsey Wohlford explains how to keep your smoothies healthy.

What’s the healthiest way to make a smoothie? Dietitian Lindsey Wohlford weighs in.

01/09/2026

Some of our youngest patients put on their hard hats and helped us demolish our gingerbread village earlier this week.

Watch them make a smash.