To provide the information your oncologist is not telling you or doesn't have the time to!
Exploring the Human Side of Cancer Through Art and Stories
Immerse yourself in the human experience of cancer through our “Art of Oncology” category. Here, we delve into the emotional and personal aspects of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Explore stories of courage, resilience, and hope shared by survivors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Experience the healing power of art, creativity, and storytelling as we navigate the profound impact of cancer on individuals and their families.
Imagine a maestro, skillfully guiding a symphony of talented musicians, each playing their part in harmony to create a powerful, emotive performance. Now picture a medical oncologist, orchestrating a complex and personalized treatment plan for a patient diagnosed with cancer. The parallels are striking, and the importance of the oncologist’s role cannot be understated. We …
I recently saw a patient who is now 8 years in remission from metastatic melanoma. In the beginning of his cancer journey, this young male patient had declined all medical therapy, hoping for a more alternative approach to treating his cancer by modifying his nutrition and taking herbal medicines. At that time, he only wanted …
Recently, I encountered a patient who was also being co-managed by another oncologist at a major hospital institution in the state. The patient had Stage IV Merkel Cell Carcinoma, which is a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer. Prior treatment with a single agent drug called pembro had failed the patient with rapid progressive disease …
A lot of this was summarized well by David Minster in JCO published way back in 2013 and a decade later, I still refer to this same article to this day! This article is 3rd in a series of blog articles on this topic. Treating geriatric patients is often a difficult task. There are so many factors …
Recently, I saw a patient with metastatic melanoma who is now more than five years out in complete remission. Her scans were clean, and she has been doing well off all therapy for several years. Now, I see her every six months and she is now coming off protocol for a treatment she did on …
Oncologists face many ethical challenges in their practice, including balancing honesty and optimism, aggressive and careful treatment, appropriate treatment for the elderly, and when to refer patients to hospice. Telling patients the truth about their diagnosis and more importantly the prognosis while also providing hope can be difficult, as can balancing the intensity of treatment …
Oncologists face many ethical challenges in their practice, including balancing honesty and optimism, aggressive and careful treatment, appropriate treatment for the elderly, and when to refer patients to hospice. Telling patients the truth about their diagnosis and more importantly the prognosis while also providing hope can be difficult, as can balancing the intensity of treatment …
As a physician, the most important things I can do for all my patients is to provide them with the best possible care. For most of my patients, I am the captain of the ship and I have a whole team of specialized physicians (surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist, interventional radiologist, pathologist, gastroenterologist, nuclear med etc), …