Imagine you’re a 36-year-old single mother to a toddler, working full-time as a healthcare administrator by day, college student by night. You’re healthy and lead a busy lifestyle. There’s a new mammogram machine at the clinic where you work. You’re not due for your first mammogram for another four years at the age of 40 but it’s free for employees, …

Some of life’s big moments stick out in our minds. For better or worse, the memories are so vivid that recalling these experiences is akin to reliving them. For Melinda Fiebig, Valentine’s Day is one of those days. On Feb. 14, 2017, Melinda underwent a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan that revealed she had stage III ovarian cancer. Her diagnosis was followed …

Perspective has the power to change people. It can bring new meaning to the seemingly mundane and cultivate a newfound sense of wonder about the world around us. For Bob Baker, a cancer diagnosis was the beginning of a long journey that ultimately led to a shift in priorities and a message to others: perspective and perseverance can make all …

Ronald Strickland slept on his son’s bedroom floor a few weeks ago. He built a pallet piled with blankets and pillows at the special request of his son, who is five years old and has never known his father without cancer. They fell asleep together, but Ronald woke up in the morning alone. He laughed as he recalled how he …

Billie Elder loves the outdoors. It’s how she was raised – spending days walking her dogs, swimming, soaking in the sun. It’s how she raised her own children. And, it’s how she planned to begin her retirement.   When it came to plans, Billie had big ones: travel, a house renovation, and active dogs she loved taking outside. With children, grandchildren …

They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but Barry Howe knows better. He watched his father pass away from lung cancer. His grandfather died from complications due to cancer, and numerous aunts and uncles received cancer diagnoses in their lifetimes as well. It’s devastating to watch it happen to those you love – it can feel like the sky is …

It’s probably safe to say that most cancer patients are not introduced to their oncologists standing waist deep in a flowing Texas Hill Country river while fly fishing. But Christina Duhon’s cancer journey is not like others. In 2010, during her pregnancy with her second child, Christina noticed a lump in one of her breasts. Believing it was related to …

A cancer diagnosis and treatment regimen can mean a plenty of give and take between patients, family and friends, and a medical team. Strengthened by her faith, Jana King chose to focus on the giving. In 2014, one year away from retirement, Jana went to the doctor for a mammogram. It had a been few years since her last mammogram, …

Karen Thomas, known to friends and family as K.T., has always been serious about preventive health care and leading an active lifestyle. She’s an avid cyclist and power walker. Now retired and in her 70’s, K.T. continues the regular mammogram schedule she’s maintained for nearly 50 years without incident. But this year’s annual exam in January included addressing unusual discomfort …

Shruti Babu’s breast cancer diagnosis came as quite a shock. A healthy, busy 38-year-old mom keeping up with two kids, with no known family history of cancer, she originally regarded a lump she discovered as dried breast milk. She nervously consulted her obstetrician-gynecologist, who recommended a mammogram and a visit to Texas Oncology. With her diagnosis in October 2017, Shruti …