Mary Clare Fischer
Contributing writer
Fischer previously promoted innovations in clinical care and tells patient stories on behalf of the Rogel Cancer Center while also managing external communications for Michigan Medicine’s surgery and urology departments and the Transplant Center.
Health Lab
Chronic health conditions associated with worse survival rates for patients with metastatic breast cancer
Black women are at the highest risk of death.
Health Lab
How a clinical trial expanded options for a patient with a rare cancer
A rare bile duct cancer was difficult to treat once it spread to the lining of Lori Robertson’s abdomen. A clinical trial, led by University of Michigan Health, gave her some other options.
Health Lab
NFL star makes 5-year-old leukemia patient’s day with dedication video
Hudson Gazsi was diagnosed with leukemia at age 5. To lift Hudson’s spirits, Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson sent him a personalized video.
Health Lab
The ups and downs of stage 4 cancer
Scott Ward’s been through it all: hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, genetic sequencing, group therapy and more. Now, he’s channeling the roller coaster of his cancer treatment into art.
News Release
Donate blood to save a life during the 40th year of the Be a Hero blood drive
On Sunday, Oct. 9, Be a Hero will once again take over the Jack Roth Stadium Club at the Big House for the largest single-day blood drive on the University of Michigan’s campus
Health Lab
Coaching patients to advocate for themselves can offset the effects of doctors’ racial bias
If patients are trained to advocate for themselves and voice their opinions and concerns, they can mitigate the effects of providers’ implicit biases.
Health Lab
Disparities in accessing care could worsen if audio visits aren’t available as a telehealth option
Audio-only appointments represented almost half of telehealth visits in the study.
Health Lab
One mother’s journey with melanoma
Leah Koskinen shares her experience of being a new mom while managing the stresses of diagnosis, treatment and recovery from skin cancer.
Health Lab
What the pelvic floor can tell health care providers about how to treat chronic pelvic pain
Patients with less tender pelvic floor muscles might benefit more from physical therapy while those with widespread pelvic floor pain may need systemic treatments as well to address their pain.
Health Lab
People who have had weight-loss surgery can be at high risk for opioid overdose
A third of patients who’d recently undergone bariatric surgery at University of Michigan Health were at high risk of opioid overdose.
Health Lab
Man with end-stage colon cancer seeks to share knowledge with fellow patients
Steve Keating will likely die from his end-stage colon cancer. But he’s using whatever time he has left to share his knowledge of the cancer experience with other patients.
Health Lab
Common prostate cancer medications may be less safe than previously thought
Men with advanced prostate cancer taking abiraterone or enzalutamide plus hormone therapy were at higher risk of serious medical issues than their peers undergoing hormone therapy alone.
Health Lab
How a social work researcher’s experience with young adult cancer informed his work
Bradley Zebrack reflects on the insights he’s applied from his cancer journey to his job.
Health Lab
Early study finds new lymphoma drug effective
Eighty percent of patients with a subset of lymphoma saw their cancers shrink after taking zanubrutinib in a clinical trial.
Health Lab
Do unto others
Tina Reuben was the first patient in one of the few clinical trials for adrenal cancer and hopes that her involvement can help other patients with the rare disease live longer.
