In rural America, cancer patients are often more likely to be diagnosed later and have worse outcomes, according to a study by the American Cancer Society. Andy Henard, a former Texas A&M defensive end, was diagnosed with stage IV bladder cancer the week before Christmas, a disease that killed his brother. Henard booked an appointment at MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, eight hours and 500 miles away, but was able to deliver Henard’s chemotherapy at Childress Regional Medical Center, just 30 minutes down Highway 83 from the ranch in Wellington. The rural hospital has since expanded its facilities to accommodate patients like Henard. Despite this, Dr. Fred Hardwicke, head of the fellowship program at Texas Tech, saw the potential for a larger trend in rural America.