In medicine, the sickest patients always seem to come on Friday afternoons. At the end of the week, I’m hoping to move quickly through my last few patients – a small corneal abrasion, a routine follow-up, or a stable glaucoma exam. I’m prep…
Category: Oncology/Hematology
From ICU to kidney mass: a nurse’s journey of fear
After 32 years working as an ICU nurse, I believed I had developed a strong capacity to confront death alongside my patients. I had become accustomed to the challenging scenarios: co-morbidities, multi-system organ failure, emergency intubations, venti…
Navigating physician shortages in rural communities
In the rural area where I practice, two general surgeons recently retired, a medical oncologist moved out of the community, and two urologists left over a year ago. My patients with cancer are left wondering who will care for them. And this small commu…
The hidden danger of prolonged gaming
A couple of weeks ago, my sister texted me that my 26-year-old nephew Justin was complaining that his chest hurt every time he breathed in. Justin is a healthy, athletic guy who played soccer throughout high school and volleyball in college. More recen…
A resident’s critical discovery: Advanced cancer unveiled
It was my first week in the radiation oncology department as a resident. The day had been busy, and most of the consultants and staff had already left the outpatient department (OPD). I was exhausted and famished, with thoughts of dinner dominating my …
Digital innovation in oncology [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! We’re joined by Andrew Norden, a physician executive, to dive into the world of digital transformation in oncology. We explore why oncology has been slower to adopt digital innovation…
A doctor’s perspective on blood cancer
This article is sponsored by Loxo@Lilly, the oncology unit of Eli Lilly and Company. In this special sponsored episode from Loxo@Lilly, I’m joined by Dr. John Pagel, senior vice president of clinical development and global head of hematology at L…
Understanding the psychological impact of chest numbness after mastectomy [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join Kristen Casey, a clinical psychologist, as we delve into the emotional and psychological impact of chest numbness following mastectomy. Discover the importance of discussing this often…
Encountering a gentle soul amidst stomach cancer
It was the final hour of my shift, and I was cleaning up for my colleague who would be taking over. Glancing at the clock, I decided I could see one of the “easy” fast-track patients just to help offload the board a bit. I figured he wasn&#…
My breast cancer journey: Why mammograms matter
25 years ago, at the age of 42, I had my first mammogram, which was part of my routine checkup. I had no symptoms at the time. I was devastated when the radiologist discovered a shadow in my left breast. To confirm this, a biopsy was scheduled, and ind…
