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.
Martha* had recurred yet again—her third in as many years. Despite our best attempts, remission proved fleeting. Fortunately, she had few (if any) symptoms of the cancer in her abdomen; no bloating, no nausea, no difficulty moving her bowels. Her concerns were more psychological—anxiety and...
The other day, I was visiting a good friend and mentor ofmine, Ed Halperin, who is Chancellor and CEO of New York Medical College. Dr. Halperin is a radiation oncologist, ahistorian, and an ethicist.
As characterized by Dr. Rita Charon in her JAMA article almost 15 years ago, narrative medicine is “the ability to acknowledge, absorb, interpret, and act on the stories and plights of others.”1 It is the recognition that scientific knowledge alone is not enough—not enough for our patients,...
It’s so interesting…. We do what we do because that’s whatwe’ve always done, and despite how much we profess being evidence-baseddata-driven professionals, the status quo is just plain sticky. There have been several studies that have come out recently that have truly questioned why we do what we...
During the last few months, I have been visiting with as many of the 21 ASCO committees as I can in order to understand the issues that they have identified as most critical for cancer education, research, and patient well being. I have been impressed by the richness of vision and dedication that...
As has been my tendency as of late, I will often open up my social media sites to see what is happening in the world around me. One of these sites I have come to rely on is LinkedIn, which sends me the news from all sorts of places, and from my colleagues within and outside of oncology. One of...
Nelson Mandela died yesterday. I never knew him personally, but somehow, hispassing touched me-–just as it did the world, I suspect. In the quiet remorse of the news, I thoughtabout what he accomplished and...
Zeke Emanuel, a former advisor to President Obama andcurrent Chair of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University ofPennsylvania, was the lunchtime speaker at my MBA for Executives: Leadershipin Healthcare class this past weekend. He opened with the $2.8 trillion dollar figure—what we...
Last month the Associate Editors of Cancer.Net, ASCO’s patient education website, met for the annual editors’ meeting. This was my first meeting since I became Editor-In-Chief in June after serving as an Associate Editor. The meeting was terrific—the editors were...
Joan was 42, married, but appeared to be younger than that. Her husband was with her when we first met, as was her beautiful two-year-old son. “We couldn’t get a baby sitter, if you can believe that!” she said.Sarah was 38 and was also married. She and I were closer to the same age, which...
One of the things I enjoy as an academic oncologist is the opportunity to teach. I like having students, residents, and fellows in my clinic and the opportunity for them to see what oncology is and what we do; how we "marry" the art and science of medicine in our routine care of patients with...
Everyday, we talk to people who are newly diagnosed with cancer…. To them, their worlds have just been turned upside down. They listen in shock and disbelief…. Wondering what just happened, and what will happen next…. It’s as though cancer has an inextricable power to hold people hostage. Despite...
For two years, I’ve participated in #bcsm, a rich breast cancer and social media community founded on Twitter. It has encouraged me to ask: why not design similar resources for people with other diseases?
Everywhere you look, there are things we can be doing better....on a personal level, we can be better clinicians, researchers, educators and leaders; on a systems' level, we can be improving quality, cost, and access to health care; on a societal level, we can be solving the problems of the world...
Last month, my family experienced the loss of someone very dear- Uncle Peter. Peter was an ex-Marine, father of three men, and patriarch of my spouse’s family; not to mention, husband to my wonderful and artistic Aunt Helene. He had been admitted to an outside hospital with leg ischemia and was...
I was sitting in the Fellows and Junior Faculty Lounge at the ASCO 2013 Annual Meeting, talking to Simon—a young medical oncology fellow with interests in global health, who is committed to developing the next generation of oncologic agents to bring to market in an economically feasible way. . . ....
I never thought I would see the day when two abstracts about cervical cancer would be included as plenary presentations at the Annual Meeting. Cervical cancer, after all, is a rare disease in the U.S. and developed countries— we have access to cervical cancer screening programs and the HPV vaccine...
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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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