UT Health SA Newsroom: Caring for Brianna: VHL (von Hippel-Lindau disease) Dream Team springs into action (Tomlinson)
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The following article is meant to raise awareness of von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) and to help the public learn about state-of-the-art VHL care available in San Antonio. The Mays Cancer Center is recognized as a VHL Clinical Care Center by the VHL Alliance.
Media contact: Will Sansom, (210) 567-2579, sansom@uthscsa.edu
SAN ANTONIO (Sept. 13, 2021) — Brianna Garcia wondered why her heart raced when she exercised and why she was tired all the time. Her gynecologist in Laredo noticed abnormal periods, high blood pressure, and elevated blood sugar in the 15-year-old.
What could be causing these symptoms?
In April Brianna’s doctor referred her to a team of specialists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, a 2½-hour drive away. Six weeks of care followed at University Hospital, a University Health facility, where health science center experts in multiple disciplines unraveled Brianna’s medical mystery.
Since 2004, UT Health San Antonio, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute’s (Greehey CCRI) mission has been to advance scientific knowledge relevant to childhood cancer, contribute to understanding its causes, and accelerate the translation of knowledge into novel therapies. Greehey CCRI strives to have a national and global impact on childhood cancer by discovering, developing, and disseminating new scientific knowledge. Our mission consists of three key areas — research, clinical, and education.
Stay connected with the Greehey CCRI on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.