ASCOconnection.org is a forum for the exchange of views on topical issues in the field of oncology. The views expressed in the blogs, comments, and forums belong to the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Please read the Commenting Guidelines.
By Paul Ruff, MD, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Since the turn of the century, we have seen a paradigm shift in the way we treat cancer, with the advent of targeted therapies, especially monoclonal antibodies and small molecule kinase inhibitors. Indeed the development of...
Graduating medical school is an amazing experience, not only because you will finally be called “Doctor,” but also because you can do what you’ve always truly wanted—be responsible for patients.
By Tina Atkinson, Lauren Burns, and Richard Penson. LB sports a perky, punky, quiff of hair that is testimony to the fact that she is a survivor, but never as long as she’d like. No chips on her shoulders, no moss on her street. She is savvy, and racey, and fun. Her hairstyle is gelled and glossed...
Mom. Dad. Happy. Sad. Friend. Trust. I remember playing this game. A friend would say one thing, and then I would say the first thing that came to my mind. For some reason, it would pass the time. I remember how some words would spark an emotion or a memory. Sometimes happy, sometimes not so happy...
University of California, San Francisco 1968: The days of rage, Haight-Ashbury nearby; a second-year medical student in pathology naively asking the section pathologist, “Who was this Virchow guy who had so many eponyms?” A quixotic look, the enigmatic answer, and later in the library (no Internet...
I am looking out of my window on a cold and cloudy Boston afternoon and find myself pondering about life—how unpredictable it is, and how one minute can hold no assurance for what happens after. Before I left for vacation, I saw Joan.* She has been under my care for a number of years, living with...
A friend of mine died after outliving her prognosis for more than a year. I was with her at almost all her appointments with various oncologists. She had asked me to be the notetaker for these appointments so that she could focus on the discussion as it happened and then have the notes to review...
“Physicians and health care systems will be held increasingly accountable for the results of medical decision-making and success in improving patient disease outcomes...”
It is always humbling to see how much you can miss in trying to keep up with medicine's developments, even in an incredibly narrow area like prostate cancer. Fortunately, there are many crutches like Medscape that offer help (along with targeted ads of course).
Dear Colleagues:The most commonrisk for canceris also the leastpreventable—advanced age. Asour cover storyon this topic notes (and as most of usknow by now), the number of peopleover 65 will increase significantly inthe near future.
Several patients/friends recently told me about the 60 Minutes piece highlighting the ongoing efforts of Patrick Soon-Shiong, a surgeon who was involved in the development of...
My dear friend Alexi wrote a post on Facebook some time ago—it was so full of optimism and happiness that it has stayed with me. She did not announce any new news, nor some philosophical point of view seeking to raise awareness of the goodness of people or the beauty of the universe. Instead, she...
I had just started the sexual health clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) when I was approached to meet with a group of prostate cancer survivors. I was hesitant at first—my interests were in female cancer survivors who had experienced sexual dysfunction. This was partly because I had...
Using hashtag analytics, Dr. Matthew Katz presents Twitter data for ASCO and ASTRO Annual Meetings from 2012 through 2014. The findings show that the growth trend continues for sharing research and specialty-specific information in cancer care via social media.
OverviewThe Eastern Cooperative Group & American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN) Cancer Research Group Fall meeting was held in Orlando, FL on November 13 to 15, 2014.
The American Medical Association House of Delegates (AMA HOD) met once again last week in Dallas, Texas. This was the interim meeting where we welcomed ASCO’s new alternate delegate Dr. Kristina Maletz. As always, a wide variety of reports and resolutions were proposed. ...
Zeke Emanuel wrote an interesting piece in the Atlantic not so long ago on why he wanted to die at 75. It was an interesting exposé, and one that (at least at first) can take you off guard. Seventy-...
Even after so many years, I take the process of starting someone on anticancer treatment very seriously. The drugs we use can cause damage, and that damage can persist long after the end of the last planned treatment. Platinum salts can cause neuro- and nephrotoxicity. Taxanes can cause neuropathy...
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ASCOconnection.org is a forum for the exchange of views on topical issues in the field of oncology. The views expressed in the blogs, comments, and forums belong to the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Please read the Commenting Guidelines.
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