OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center

09/05/2025

Thank you to our incredible sponsor, OU Health for supporting our LungForce Gala and Fight for Air Climb! 🎉 Your generosity and commitment to lung health make a real difference in the lives of Oklahomans. Because of your support, we’re one step closer to a world free of lung disease. 💙

09/01/2025

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center patient and prostate cancer survivor, Herschel shares that life after cancer is great, and encourages other men to take charge of their health by getting screened.

In fact, early detection saves lives, reducing the risk of death by prostate cancer by 20-30%!

Talk to your primary care doctor about a prostate cancer screening or call (405) 271-4088 to speak with an expert at Stephenson Cancer Center.

08/27/2025

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Adanma Ayanambakkam, hematologist oncologist, and Dr. Nirmal Choradia, thoracic oncologist, for being selected for the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award scholars' program.

This program seeks to improve participation in clinical trials, drive better health outcomes in all communities and save lives — and we can't wait to see the continued impact Dr. Ayanambakkam and Dr. Choradia have on our state!

08/26/2025

Help us Pack the Park Blue on Saturday, Aug. 30, with the Oklahoma City Comets and increase awareness of prostate cancer and the importance of cancer screenings!

⚾ Doors open at 6:05 p.m. Game starts at 7:05 p.m.
📍 Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Dr.
🎫 Tickets: www.milb.com/oklahoma-city/tickets/promotions
💙 Wear blue to show your support of prostate cancer survivors

And don't forget to stop by our table in the concourse for health resources and free OKC Comets hats while supplies last!

08/19/2025

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and Norman Regional Health System recently celebrated the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new cancer care facility on the Norman Regional Hospital campus.

This event marks a significant step forward in the fight against cancer and underscores our commitment to providing top-tier cancer care to all Oklahomans.

A huge thanks to Manhattan Construction Group and leaders from OU Health, The University of Oklahoma, and Norman Regional for their dedication to this life-changing project. 🏥✨

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and Norman Regional Health System have opened a new 50,000-square-foot cancer center in Norman, Oklahoma, offering advanced medical and radiation oncology services. The facility expands access to NCI-designated, research-driven cancer care for residents of south-ce...

08/13/2025

Chemotherapy can be lifesaving, however for many patients, it comes with lingering cognitive side effects like memory loss, difficulty focusing, and trouble learning. These symptoms, often called “chemo brain,” closely resemble the natural cognitive decline that comes with aging.

OU College of Medicine professor of neurosurgery Dr. Anna Csiszar and her research team have found that chemo and aging affect the brain in similar ways — and they may have found a promising solution.

By targeting and clearing out harmful “zombie cells,” a class of drugs known as senolytics could help improve memory, focus, and overall brain health. This approach has the potential to benefit not only cancer survivors, but also anyone experiencing age-related cognitive decline.

Even more exciting — researchers have identified a key window of opportunity around ages 50 to 55 when these treatments may be most effective in preventing long-term cognitive damage!

This breakthrough is a powerful example of how the joint clinical, research, and educational missions of OU Health and The University of Oklahoma are working together to improve lives. Though our team's expertise in cancer care, neuroscience, and aging as well as our commitment to training the next generation of physician-scientists, OU Health is leading the way toward better brain health for all.

08/04/2025

The pool water rippled as Jana Longwith sliced through her lane at the YMCA, her strokes steady and strong as she prepared for the Senior Olympics. Just two years earlier, the Oklahoma City resident was confined to a wheelchair, struggling to breathe on high-flow oxygen and facing what doctors believed was a terminal diagnosis.

Today, at 66, Jana is a cancer survivor. She credits her night-and-day transformation to a groundbreaking clinical trial at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and the expertise of Stephenson Cancer Center hematologist and oncologist Dr. Susanna Ulahannan, M.D., M.M.Ed. Dr. Ulahannan specializes in phase I clinical trials and the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers and is an associate professor in the section of hematology/oncology at the OU College of Medicine.

After facing a terminal cancer diagnosis, Jana Longwith found new hope through a groundbreaking clinical trial at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center. Once wheelchair-bound and on oxygen, she’s now training for the Senior Olympics. Discover how expert care and innovative research gave Jana—and he...

08/01/2025

On World Lung Cancer Day, take the opportunity to learn about the importance of early detection and how easy a lung cancer screening can be. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States. We’re here to help you understand who qualifies for screening, what the risk factors are, and when it’s time to talk to your doctor.

Learn how early detection through painless lung cancer screenings can save lives. Understand who should get screened, what the process entails, and why it’s crucial, especially in Oklahoma where lung cancer rates are higher than the national average. Take control of your health with these essentia...

07/31/2025

We want to extend a huge thanks to our local Subaru of America, Inc. partner Cavender Subaru of Norman and the Oklahoma chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for their generosity!

By bringing 80 blankets to OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at Norman Regional, cancer patients will feel warm, comfortable and supported during their treatments.

We are grateful for partners that help foster a sense of community, hope and love for all our patients.

07/29/2025

Min Li, Ph.D., a professor of medicine, surgery and cell biology at The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and his research team have uncovered why glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, is so hard to treat.

In a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), scientists uncovered the role of a protein called ZIP4 in fueling glioblastoma:
▪️ZIP4 causes tumors to absorb too much zinc
▪️It sends out tiny “packages” that confuse the brain’s immune cells — turning them into tumor helpers instead of fighters
▪️This speeds up tumor growth and makes treatment more difficult

The breakthrough? Researchers tested a new compound that blocks ZIP4 and another protein called TREM1, slowing tumor growth in lab studies.

This discovery could lead to new, more effective treatments for glioblastoma and possibly other cancers like pancreatic cancer. It’s a hopeful step toward giving patients better options and outcomes and a powerful example of the joint clinical, research, and educational missions of OU Health and the University of Oklahoma. By combining world-class patient care, advanced science, and the training of future physicians, we are leading the way in the fight against cancer.

Dr. Ian Dunn, OU Health neurosurgeon, professor and Executive Dean at the OU College of Medicine, who co-authored the study said, “The hope and promise is to translate these findings to novel treatment approaches to improve the lives of our patients.”

07/22/2025

Professor of microbiology and immunology at The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and recent National Academy of Sciences inductee Rodney Tweten, Ph.D., and his lab recently discovered that some of the good bacteria in our gut have a natural way of fighting harmful bacteria. Now, scientists are using that same trick to fight cancer.

They’ve found a way to guide bacteria “weapons” to target and destroy cancer cells without harming healthy cells.

This groundbreaking discovery – transforming gut bacteria’s natural defenses into a promising new way to fight cancer – highlights the powerful impact of OU Health and the University of Oklahoma’s united mission to advance research, improve patient care, and educate the next generation of medical leaders.

Innovative studies like this could lead to new treatments that are more precise and gentle, especially after surgery, to help stop cancer from coming back. It’s still being tested, but it’s a hopeful step toward better, smarter cancer care.

07/17/2025

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center recently hosted guests from the American Cancer Society, including Dr. Ellie Daniels, Vice President of Innovation in Cancer Research Training, for a site visit.

Comprised of The University of Oklahoma faculty and OU Health physicians, our team shared the latest innovations in cancer research training and education made possible through our partnership with the American Cancer Society and their institutional research grants. Their support is integral to helping us further our mission to provide high-quality, research-driven care to our patients.