OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center

02/06/2026

Coaches for Cancer was a great success during last week's Oklahoma Men's Basketball game! ⛹🏽🏀

We were excited to honor Dr. Ajay Jain, surgical oncologist, and all our hard-working cancer center physicians.

Dr. Jain was presented a game ball by Marcus Bowman, Deputy AD for OU Athletics, and spoke with Toby Rowland, Voice of the Sooners, courtside to highlight our mission to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care and the latest in innovative treatments.

02/05/2026

Lung cancer often shows no symptoms in its early stages — but when caught early, it’s far more treatable. You can take charge of your health with a fast, easy lung cancer screening.

Why consider a lung cancer screening? It's fast, painless, uses low radiation and is covered by most insurance!

You may be eligible if you:
✅ Are ages 50 to 80 years old; and
✅ Currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years; and
✅ Have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history

*Pack-year history = the number of packs of ci******es you smoke per day multiplied by the number of years you've smoked.

Make an appointment at our upcoming Lung Cancer Screening Day, Feb. 21, call (405) 271-LUNG.

02/04/2026

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center is now the first and only center in Oklahoma offering tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, a new option for patients with advanced melanoma who have run out of standard treatments. Approved by the FDA in 2024, TIL therapy uses a patient’s own immune cells to fight their cancer with far greater strength.

The treatment works by removing a tumor, isolating the immune cells already fighting inside it, multiplying those cells in a specialized lab, and then returning them to the patient after a short course of chemotherapy. Stephenson Cancer Center’s expertise in surgical oncology, cell therapy and melanoma care has positioned its teams to safely bring this complex therapy to patients after years of experience in clinical trials.

According to Stephenson Cancer Center hematologist-oncologist Dr. Taha Al Juhaishi, this therapy can offer some patients a second chance at life, with long term remissions seen years after treatment. The center’s multidisciplinary team continues to push forward advanced options like TIL therapy so Oklahomans can access leading edge cancer care close to home.

02/04/2026

On World Cancer Day, help us show support to patients and their families while honoring those we've lost. Cancer is a difficult journey, impacting every facet of a patient's life.

At Stephenson Cancer Center, our team is committed to overcoming the complex and the seemingly impossible through comprehensive, multidisciplinary care. As the state’s only National Cancer Institute–Designated Cancer Center, we are all in — leading discovery, advancing research and working toward breakthroughs that change lives.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, you are not alone.

02/03/2026

Andrea McGowan, a 50-year-old mother of three, was initially overwhelmed by test results revealing she had breast cancer. But thanks to quick and comprehensive care at Utica Park Clinic and OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at Hillcrest Medical Center, she was well-equipped to fight it.

Andrea's cancer was caught early at her annual mammogram, leading to better treatment options.

After choosing a lumpectomy to have her tumor removed, she saw Dr. Amara Nandikolla, medical oncologist, who continued to provide multidisciplinary care with chemotherapy, anti-HER2 treatment and hormone suppressive therapy options.

If you're 40 years or older, schedule your annual mammogram today. Early detection, like with Andrea, saves lives.

02/01/2026

Where you fight cancer matters. Now in McAlester, you have access to the latest treatment options and personalized care.

Our new facility offers medical oncology, radiation therapy, and infusion and chemotherapy in a healing environment with new recliners and blanket warmers for patient comfort. Daily treatments are delivered with a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator and supported by medical physicists, dosimetrists and radiation oncologists.

Get the care you need.

📍901 N. Strong Blvd., McAlester, OK
📅 M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
☎️ (918) 421-4621

Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21wZyZK

01/31/2026

During Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, attention is being drawn to the importance of prevention and early detection, including routine screenings and HPV vaccination. Dr. Deborah Richardson noted that 13,000–14,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year and Oklahoma ranks among the bottom five states for outcomes. She recommends women ages 21–65 follow screening guidelines and highlighted Gardasil vaccines for ages 9–45. She also noted an OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center clinical trial evaluating self-collection HPV screening kits.

Visit KOCO 5 News to learn more:

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and a doctor at OU Health says there will be about 13- to 14,000 cases diagnosed this year in the U.S.

01/29/2026

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐍𝐚𝐪𝐚𝐬𝐡! ☝️

We're proud to share Dr. Abdul Rafeh Naqash, associate professor of medicine at The University of Oklahoma's College of Medicine and senior associate director of AI and Data Science at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, is a 2026 Young Physician-Scientist Award recipient from the American Society for Clinical Investigation.

The highly selective award recognizes those in their first faculty appointment who have made notable research achievements.

🔗 Learn more: https://link.ou.edu/45E0Vhr

01/29/2026

Make your health a priority in 2026 by taking charge of your lung wellness with quick, painless screenings and access to the latest lung cancer treatments!

We're dedicated to ensuring our patients can breathe easier with access to the latest lung cancer treatments and quick, painless screenings. On Saturday, Feb. 21, you can get screened at our Lung Cancer Screening Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Not sure if you qualify for a lung cancer screening?

If you meet the following requirements, call (405) 271-LUNG to make an appointment:
✅ 50 to 80 years old; and
✅ Currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years; and
✅ Have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history. This is calculated based on the number of packs of ci******es per day multiplied by the number of years smoked.

01/28/2026

Virginia Kowalsky, an emergency-room nurse from Blackwell, Oklahoma, was on her path to recovery after back surgery when unexpected spotting led to a diagnosis of aggressive uterine cancer. She underwent a hysterectomy followed by chemotherapy, persevering through treatment while continuing to work. After finishing chemotherapy, she was relieved to learn she was in remission. But six months later, mouth sores and low blood platelets revealed something even more serious: therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML), a rare blood cancer caused by her previous treatment.

Virginia was referred to hematologist-oncologist Dr. Taha Al-Juhaishi at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center to begin a stem-cell transplant in November of 2023. The national marrow registry identified a perfect match more than a thousand miles away in northern Alabama. Twelve years after joining the registry on a whim, Dylon Lange didn’t hesitate when called to donate. Despite grueling injections, travel chaos, and a five-hour procedure, he delivered the stem cells that gave Virginia a second chance at life — and says he’d do it again without question. On May 7, 2024, she received the life-saving transplant that allowed her body to rebuild with healthy donor cells.

Today, Virginia is in full remission with 100 percent donor chimerism. While she is adjusting to life without 12-hour ER shifts, she is deeply grateful for her care team, Dr. Al-Juhaishi’s compassion, and Dylon’s selfless act.

Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma’s only NCI-Designated Cancer Center, provides advanced cellular therapy so patients can receive world-class care close to home. Virginia’s story is a powerful reminder of hope, resilience, and the impact of medical innovation.

01/27/2026

When 14-year-old Atreyu went to the ER for a severe migraine, her family never imagined what doctors would find: a rare brain tumor called astroblastoma. Fewer than 1,000 cases have ever been documented in the U.S. She underwent two brain surgeries and received advanced proton beam therapy, the most precise radiation treatment available for children.

Through every challenge including surgeries, radiation, and hair loss, Atreyu never lost her humor or vibrant spirit. Her care team became like family and even surprised her with a visit from Rumble, the Oklahoma City Thunder mascot, to celebrate her final treatment!

Today, Atreyu is cancer-free and back in school, determined to live life fully. Because astroblastomas can return, she will require lifelong monitoring, and OU Health’s new transitional neuro-oncology clinic ensures children like Atreyu receive support from childhood into adulthood.

Stories like Atreyu’s that remind us of the power of advanced care, teamwork, and hope. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for pediatric cancer care in Oklahoma and beyond.

01/26/2026

Don't forget to take advantage of early bird pricing for Outpace Cancer on Saturday, April 18.

🚨 Price increases Sunday, Feb. 1. Register today! https://brnw.ch/21wZoSn

Sign up for a 10K, 5K, 1-mile walk or even be a virtual runner and, you will be a part of a community in support of those fighting cancer and their loved ones.