When I first met her, I perceived she was nervous. I could sense the doctor skepticism. She simply had a negative aura about her. An Eeyore, if you will. A “no” person. A drag. To my absolute non-surprise, she declined all screenings that a…
Category: Oncology/Hematology
Until next year, breast care center
I enter the breast care center, check in, and take a seat. Though there are few people in the room; there is a sense of dread and trepidation that hangs in the air. It feels almost like a sacred space as I am acutely aware of all the prayers, meditatio…
How MRI-guided radiation therapy is changing the paradigm in pancreatic cancer
I truly believe we’re at the beginning of something great in terms of fundamentally changing how we approach pancreatic cancer, the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. With a mortality rate of roughly 80 percent, it’s been referre…
The rise of targeted therapies: the era of the patient-focused approach
There is an urgent need for innovation in cancer treatments. Although we’ve seen significant progress in indications for drugs treating particular diseases, cancer research data shows that 10-year survival statistics for cancers such as esophageal and …
Tackling racial disparities in cancer care by creating new ways for institutions to operate
At 84, Emma Shuford found a lump in her breast. After a lumpectomy, she was diagnosed with locally aggressive breast cancer. Her doctors said it was treatable but she needed radiation to help stop it from growing. At first, she refused. Because of her …
A son’s brain cancer. A father’s story. [PODCAST]
“As you wait, you have a lot of time to think. You comb through the past in search of something you might have missed. If we had acted sooner on the signs of his illness—had the cancer been diagnosed earlier—would Lee have had a better chance? Yo…
Breast cancer’s silver lining
In many ways, this woman was similar to other patients I have seen after a diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Her hair was growing back, and I immediately noticed that she was comfortable enough to not be wearing a wig or head covering for our Z…
How to overcome the roadblocks to getting a medical second opinion
There are many reasons why you should seek a second opinion. A second opinion can help you: Make sure your diagnosis is accurate, lowering your risk of misdiagnosis and the harms that can cause. Ensure that you’re choosing an appropriate, evidence-base…
Pink ribbons and murder boobs
I woke up this morning to a flood of ballerina pink emails for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The irony was not lost on me as I rolled over in bed, protecting my body from the healing scars of where my breasts used to be. “I don’t even like pink,” I mu…
Why people diagnosed with cancer should get a second opinion [PODCAST]
“Although people think of medicine as a science—the facts reveal the diagnosis, the diagnosis dictates the treatment—most physicians acknowledge that medicine is as much an art as a science. It’s not like a simple math equation with one undeniabl…
