A Challenging Path to Cancer and Nutrition Research
Leigh Greathouse, Ph.D., associate professor of nutrition sciences at Baylor, is a nationally regarded researcher of the relationship between diet, the microbiome, disease and health, and her work has been supported by the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health and more. Here, Greathouse explains how her path into the field was more challenging than she would have imagined — but those challenges pay dividends today for those fighting cancer and other diseases.
As I pursued my master’s degree in 1998, I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer — stage IV uterine leiomyosarcoma. Doctors could only offer my family somber apologies, with little hope for my survival. Yet, amid this devastating news, I experienced a profound sense of peace and divine assurance that I would survive this trial.
Throughout treatment, I radically improved my already-decent diet, focusing on optimal nutrition whenever I could eat. The result was dramatic improvements in my energy levels and reduced side effects amidst my treatment — I even managed to return to class.
Through God’s blessing and many prayers, I received a clean scan in 1999. The experience gave me the confidence to take more risks and go after what I really wanted to pursue: a Ph.D. in cancer biology. Those difficult times ignited my passion to understand how nutrition can mitigate treatment side effects and improve cancer survival — precisely the focus of my research today at Baylor.
Now, I work with students who are around the same age as I was when I received my diagnosis. My journey as a cancer survivor provided invaluable insights into persevering through difficult challenges. Scientific research is filled with daily obstacles, and I instill in my students this same resilient mindset — to view failures not as defeats but as opportunities for growth. Beyond academic guidance, I cherish the opportunity to shepherd them spiritually, demonstrating Christ’s values and the fruits of the Spirit so they may develop a deeper understanding of His love and integrate this into both their scientific work and daily lives.
Through the work we do, I regularly meet people who inspire my research — individuals navigating complex diagnoses or undergoing cancer treatments and caregivers struggling to provide support. These encounters drive me to develop creative, comprehensive solutions, from pathogen-targeting probiotics that eliminate cancer-promoting microorganisms to the Cancer Warrior Health app, designed to empower patients and caregivers throughout their cancer journey.
My ultimate goal is to develop an all-in-one detection device that monitors disease biomarkers using artificial intelligence to recommend dietary changes and provide guidance for both patients and healthcare providers. Combined with our dietary and microbial tools, I hope this technology will reduce cancer incidence, enable earlier detection and improve treatment responses for millions worldwide.