Right Here – a podcast from Texas Oncology

Mellany Gray, an organized business owner and mother of two, spent most of her time driving her teenagers from one sport to the next. An avid fan of enjoying the “simple pleasures” of life, Mellany’s life suddenly became anything but simple when a lump on her leg was diagnosed as embryonal alveolar pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma – a rare form of sarcoma found in less than 1% of adult cancer patients.After receiving various treatments including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and a thoracotomy with a lobectomy, Mellany’s cancer continued to spread throughout her body. Running out of options, she met Manny Mangat, M.D., medical oncologist and hematologist at Texas Oncology–Midland Allison Cancer Center, who was determined to find a solution. A few months in, Mellany was admitted to the hospital with a brain tumor and given not much longer to live. Dr. Mangat ensured her they weren’t done fighting. He decided to look into immunotherapy, an advanced form of therapy that helps the body’s immune system fight cancer cells, which was a fairly new treatment option at the time. Throwing a Hail Mary, Dr. Mangat started her on this treatment, with no idea what the outcome would be. Incredibly, Mellany’s scans started to clear up, with no signs of cancer.Hear Mellany’s story and how immunotherapy, a cancer Hail Mary, saved her life.TexasOncology.com/podcast

Nell Nations, a chief radiation therapist at Texas Oncology, was no stranger to cancer. Growing up, Nell watched her dad fight Hodgkin lymphoma, followed by her mom with breast cancer. After their passing, she decided to pursue a career in cancer care – inspired by the empathy exemplified by her parents' care teams. Her relationship with this disease soon changed when what she thought was chronic constipation led her to become a stage II colon cancer patient within the very walls where she worked. She turned to Praveen Reddy, M.D., hematologist and medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Wichita Falls Cancer Center, who was now not only her colleague, but cancer doctor. Throughout treatment, Nell praises her Texas Oncology peers for their ability to provide comprehensive cancer care close to home – and her two dogs. An avid artist, Nell also used art as a form of therapy to motivate herself after her diagnosis. As a tribute to those who supported her, she painted a fiberglass horse statue, Hope, and installed it outside the center to inspire new and returning cancer patients. Hear Nell’s story and how she continues to use her love for art to bring hope to others in the cancer community.TexasOncology.com/podcast

Walker Huggins is known as one of the youngest music directors in the Texas rodeo industry. When he wasn’t running audio at the rodeo, he was learning to ride bucking horses and traveling across the state with his dad. With big plans ahead of him, Walker’s world suddenly shifted when the strange symptoms he had been feeling for months led him to having a seizure at home and being rushed to the hospital. He later learned he had two large tumors in his brain.Walker went from a 16-year-old cowboy to being diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer most common in children and young adults. After two succesful tumor removal surgeries, Walker was referred to Texas Center for Proton Therapy where he met Victor S. Mangona, M.D., radiation oncologist at the center who specializes in pediatric cases. Throughout proton therapy treatment, Walker’s family credits Dr. Mangona and his cancer care team for making them feel at home and helping Walker finally feel like himself again. Hear Walker’s story and how he hopes to inspire others in the power of positivity, faith, and determination.TexasOncology.com/podcast

Heather Field, a wife, mother of two, and business owner always made time for everything and everyone – except herself. Despite being young and healthy, the chest pain and high blood pressure she originally wrote off as stress and anxiety turned into a diagnosis of stage II breast cancer. Heather met with Carlos A. Encarnación, M.D., FACP, at Texas Oncology–Waco, who had previously treated her mother-in-law’s breast cancer a decade prior. Confident that she was in the best hands, Heather was ready to fight cancer alongside her loved ones, including her husband of 23 years, Cody. However as her physicial body began changing and her hair fell out, Heather felt unprepared for the mental and emotional toll of cancer on not just herself, but her family as well. Feeling like she lost her identity, she decided to lean heavily on her faith, family, and friends, which ultimately helped her come to an understanding that “we are so much more than our hair.” Hear Heather’s story and how she discovered a new admiration for her body as a cancer survivor.TexasOncology.com/podcast

Steve Dombek was an active guy who skied three times a year, played competitive soccer, and always dove across the sand volleyball court. Until one day, Steve experienced a pain in his side, which led to a double diagnosis of multiple myeloma and systemic mastocytosis – a rare blood disorder most commonly seen in patients twice his age. As someone who gives it his all in everything he does, Steve had many questions, including how to tell his six-year-old daughter he was sick.  He turned to Jeff Yorio, M.D., hematologist and medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Central Austin, who introduced him to the Flatwater Foundation, a nonprofit helping patients and families cope with the impact of cancer. Inspired, Steve later began selling “unbreakable” hats through his part-time business, UnbreakableATX, with all proceeds going to the those who have inspired him to this day.  Hear Steve’s story and how he continues to define what it means to be an unbreakable father, friend, and cancer patient eight years later.TexasOncology.com/podcast