In The News

Steven Black, a patient of Lawrence Tsai, M.D., Texas Urology Specialists–Austin and Georgetown, discusses an innovative treatment he received for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) called Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP). Dr. Tsai brought this treatment to Austin, making it available to local patients. Steven emphasizes how the treatment drastically improved his quality of life.

Carrum Health, a value-based Centers of Excellence healthcare solution changing how we pay for and deliver cancer and surgical care, and Texas Oncology, announce a new collaboration to provide high-quality, cost-effective breast cancer care to patients.

Eric Meyers, M.D., of Texas Oncology–Kyle and San Marcos, discussed the role of cancer caregivers, noting their responsibilities as patient advocates and ways for caregivers to deal with the emotional impact of cancer, as well as the importance of effective collaboration and advance care planning.

Texas Center for Proton Therapy is the first and only proton therapy center in Dallas-Fort Worth and the most technologically advanced cancer treatment option in the region, with three pencil-beam scanning proton machines and the ability to do volumetric on-board cone-beam CT imaging when a patient is on the treatment table. Any patient who has been told that they need radiation therapy should look into proton therapy as an option for primary treatment or in combination with other therapies.

For eight years, North Texas has had an advantage in the fight against cancer by having Texas Center for Proton Therapy in its own backyard, and as of fall 2023, the center has treated more than 4,000 new patients. Any solid tumor that requires radiation as a treatment component could likely be treated with proton therapy—brain, head and neck, lung, prostate as well as other gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancers.

In honor of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, Nayyar T. Syed, M.D., a hematologist and oncologist at Texas Oncology–Mt. Vernon, Pittsburg, and Sulphur Springs, recognizes the power of this important and deeply personalized care, and how hospice improves quality of life for patients near the end of life and supports those who love them.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and many may be considering genetic testing for breast cancer. Jennifer Hecht, breast surgeon at Texas Breast Specialists–Fort Worth Cancer Center, explains that knowing your family history and personal risk can help your care team determine if genetic testing is appropriate.

Over the past 23 years, Mike Rasnick has been diagnosed with three separate types of cancer: cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. With the help of Bartlomiej Posnik, M.D., Texas Oncology–Bastrop, Krishna Patel, M.D., Texas Oncology–Georgetown and Round Rock North, and Courtney Sheinbein, M.D., Texas Oncology–Round Rock North, Mike received several forms of treatment to treat his cancers, including surgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Despite a complex and challenging triple cancer saga, Mike’s outlook is remarkably positive. “I wouldn’t be alive were it not for Texas Oncology,” says Mike. “The staff was incredible, and I can’t speak highly enough of them – I am profoundly grateful.”

In March 2023, Brad Cone was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Less than a year later, near the end of his cancer treatment, he celebrated 25 years as the sports announcer for the Cedar Park High School Timberwolves. Despite his diagnosis, he's never missed a single game, and during the last football game of the season, he shared with KTBC-TV how his love for football and the support of the Cedar Park sports community helped him through his fight with cancer. His oncologist, Ashleigh Porter, M.D., Texas Oncology–Cedar Park and Leander, also shared the importance of having hope and finding strength in one's community, noting that Brad's story exemplifies "a perfect recipe for success for any cancer patient."

National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is in November and Texas Oncology is recognizing the power of this important and deeply personalized care, and how hospice improves quality of life for patients near the end of life and supports those who love them, in their latest byline in the Austin and Houston Medical Times.