| From treatment plans to dealing with side effects, cancer patients have a lot on their minds. |
| The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center holds chemotherapy pole parades four times a year — around Spring, Independence Day, Halloween and Winter Holidays — to give our patients a chance to focus on something fun. |
| Nurse Nancy Tomczak loves being a part of the chemo pole parades. "The patients become a community and families focus on joy together," she says. "Participating in the parades means more to them than just recognizing the holiday they are celebrating. They are celebrating that they can still get up and have some fun!" |
| Nurse Marla Pierce fondly remembers "one patient who not only decorated her pole for our Halloween parade, but also came up with a dance routine to 'Thriller' to go along with her theme. Another patient transformed her pole into a Statue of Liberty using the mask, gloves and gowns that we wear on the units, with some embellishments." |
| We love joining our patients to celebrate their strength and to let them know they're not alone through events like our chemo pole parade. |
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| You can also let our patients know they're not alone by making a gift now. |
| Thank you. |
