I have just finished I am With you; Love Letters to Cancer Patients by Nancy Novak and Barbara K. Richardson. This book felt like a gift, more than any other book on the subject I have read--and I’ve read many. In this one, Novak and Richardson have compiled letters to cancer patients written by cancer patients, survivors, and caretakers of cancer patients. The missives are practical, emotional, sometimes very poetic and sometimes a rushing stream of consciousness. At the end of each letter, the writer offers a few practical pieces of advice about what helped them along their journey.
Read moreScanxiety by Hilary Bruce Saltzman
If there is one thing I have seen consistently in caring for patients with cancer, it’s the anxiety that comes with scans. It’s called scanxiety. Even when the cancer is gone, patients must undergo periodic scans to make sure it hasn’t returned. These are the scans that can bring patients to their knees, for so much (EVERYTHING) rides on the results. Nobody captures the whole of the process better than a beloved friend and patient in her piece below.
Read moreWinning the Genetic Lottery by Megan Peters
My gut told me for years that I could have a genetic mutation predisposing me to cancer. My healthy mother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer when she was 37. Although she was the first in our family to have breast cancer, she seemed too young in my mind to have the disease. Insurance would cover my genetic testing when I turned 35, but before I got the chance to schedule that after my birthday, my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was quickly given the genetic test, which revealed two mutations.
Read moreA Sister's Story by Becca Bruce Dobberfuhl
Cancer affects those diagnosed with it but it also affects the caregivers of those individuals. In my years practicing oncology I have learned that the caregiver is equally, although sometimes differently, impacted. One thing I love about practicing oncology is that I often get to know patients’ caregivers as well as the patient. I asked one of my patient’s sisters to put into writing how her sister’s diagnosis has impacted her. Her words, written below, are poignant and I think will strike a cord with caregivers, who can relate to the ways in which cancer has impacted her.
Read moreHair Loss: A Cancer Conundrum
For years I have been educating people prior to receiving chemo and informing them of the possibility of hair loss. Initially, I was surprised by the depth of emotional reaction to the loss of hair; I didn’t understand why this was such a big deal. Not faced with losing my own hair, I was thinking about it purely from the rational, bigger picture perspective. I thought “hey, we can cure your cancer with this chemo and that is what is important...hair loss is insignificant if it means that this treatment can save your life!”
Read moreDonald Abrams, MD: Integrative Cancer Care and Nutrition
I saw Dr. Donald Abrams speak at the annual Society of Neuro-Oncology meeting in November, 2017. He is an Integrative Oncologist who believes in a "whole-person" approach. He believes patients benefit from a western treatment plan but that their plan of care should also include good nutrition, acupuncture and meditation, among other things. As far as nutrition, specifically, he endorses a plant based, whole grain diet with fish. This is the diet to which I try to adhere and the diet that I encourage my patients to adopt.
Read more“Sugar Feeds Cancer?”… Not quite!
Patients often ask about diet as it pertains to their cancer diagnosis. Many patients come in having heard that “sugar feeds cancer.” This is a common myth/misperception and it is simply not true. Eating a lot of sugar can contribute to obesity. Obesity is a risk factor that is linked to several types of cancer (Breast, Colorectal, esophagus, pancreatic, endometrial, kidney, thyroid and gallbladder). In addition to being a risk factor for certain types of cancer, obesity has many other negative implications for your health.
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