The body has cells that naturally attack cancer cells and other diseased and infected cells. These natural killer (NK) cells are part of the immune system’s front line of defense. NK cells are a type of white blood cell that travels in your bloodstream, patrolling the body, scanning cells to see if they are healthy…
A conversation with Joseph Mallard needs to last only 60 seconds to understand why he is nicknamed “Sunshine Joe.” He shares the vivid life advice his father and grandmother gave him when he was a young boy growing up in the Jim Crow South. “Persevere, push forward, keep fighting.” He details his relentless approach to…
Apart from his thirst for science and knowledge, Jaspreet Grewal, M.D., Ph.D., a hematologist and medical oncologist with Norton Cancer Institute, is passionate about patient care. “Taking care of patients is an extremely satisfying experience. Patients come to you with a lot of hope and trust, which no other profession can provide. As an oncologist,…
When Laila S. Agrawal, M.D., was a child, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy, and became a cancer survivor. “I saw what she went through, and it really influenced me. I was drawn to medicine and from the beginning knew I would go into oncology,” said Dr. Agrawal, a…
Breakthroughs in gene therapy are starting to bring new reason for hope to patients with sickle cell anemia. The inherited blood disease can cause severe pain, strokes, organ damage and sometimes premature death. The disease is more common in people of African descent. One in 12 African Americans carry a sickle cell gene, according to…