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 …

What’s so funny about cancer? For professional public speaker and improv comedienne Vickie Sokol Evans, a sense of humor and fearlessness required in performing comedy were essential to her successful fight against breast cancer. Even though she had no family history of breast cancer or any symptoms, Vickie scheduled a mammogram in January 2017 after the unexpected passing of her …

Enduring cancer twice requires more than advanced treatment and smart medical teams. It takes a community of support – caring, eager to help, and nearby. Just ask Sarah Martinez. Five years after a valiant and successful breast cancer fight, Sarah was charging full steam ahead with her life, working on a doctoral degree in educational leadership. Then, just five weeks …

For many people, tennis is just a game played for recreation and exercise. But for Linda Cummins and Bekah Thomas, a day on the tennis court would provide much more — a bond that would strengthen them both during the fight that lay ahead. In May 2017, 60-year-old Linda Cummins had a routine mammogram and learned that her doctors would need more pictures. Not alarmed, …