Patient Stories


Trauma, Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery

Burn Care

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Dr. Lourdes Castanon and burn patient

New Banner-UMC unit offering full burn care here for first time in over a decade

All Tucson’s burn patients can now get treatment close to home at the new burn program in Banner - University Medical Center’s level-one trauma center at 1625 N. Campbell Ave. It offers, all on one hospital floor, help for a variety of injuries, including thermal, chemical and electrical burns, as well as care for serious trauma wounds.

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Critical Care

Amanda Zeagler, at the time a nursing student at Northern Arizona University, traveled to a rural area of Guatemala on a medical mission trip. After falling into respiratory distress in a town with limited medical and surgical resources, she was moved to a city hospital and cared for in Guatemala before eventually being flown to Banner - University Medical Center.


Abdominal Transplant Surgery

Kidney Transplant

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Kidney transplant donor and recipient

DIGGING DEEPER: Kidney transplant a success after generous donation from Tucsonan

A Tucson man is home recuperating after a kidney transplant surgery two weeks ago. The kidney donated by a friend who happens to be one of our colleagues here at News 4 Tucson.

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Three kidney transplants and 43 years later, Bruce Byrd lives and loves life

Bruce Byrd credits medical breakthroughs and teams like the B-UMCT Kidney and Pancreas Transplant team with keeping him alive for 43 years through three kidney transplants.

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Byrd Kidney Transplant

Surgical Oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center

Pancreatic Cancer

“Maybe sometimes they don’t need me to say ‘you’re going to get better, maybe they just need me to be there with them.”

Dr. Riall, a professor of surgical oncology at University of Arizona Cancer Center, brings a dynamic perspective that only someone who is both a cancer survivor and a medical practitioner can bring to their treatment approach.

 

 

A routine scan of Charles’ heart valve revealed cysts on his pancreas.

Initial tests showed the cysts were cancer-free. But, because of Dr. Riall’s experience and expertise, she decided to test nearby lymph nodes too, and cancer was detected.

After treatment and chemotherapy at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, Charles is back to cycling 50 miles per day.

Having the right doctor is critical.


Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States. The sooner it is caught, the higher the chances of treatment. “It is an opportunity to catch it at an early stage before it causes symptoms or becomes life threatening. It’s a chance to catch it, treat it, and cure it,” said Dr. Jennifer Erdrich, MD about colorectal cancer screenings.

 

“All men should participate in wellness exams every year,” said Dr. Jennifer Erdrich, MD. “It is important to see your doctor every single year because there are different things that they’re going to check, depending on your age, and there are some things that need to be checked every year.”

Learn more about men’s wellness exams and why they’re important in this video created in partnership with Native Americans for Community Action, Inc , Tuba City Regional Health Care, the University of Arizona Cancer Center and Northern Arizona University.


Breast Cancer

Clinical trial programs offered by the University of Arizona Cancer Center made the difference between Yvonne being able to have her breast cancer removed and receiving a terminal diagnosis.

 

“That first initial meeting is all about sort of helping them understand and realize they don’t have a death sentence.”

A breast cancer diagnosis is a multistep process. Choosing a treatment center that offers everything patients need in one place could save their life. That’s the University of Arizona Cancer Center.

Here’s what to expect from your first appointment with a specialist.