Skip to content

Tag: cancer patients

Using “The Avengers” to explain how cancer treatments work.

In a recent talk I gave for colleagues, I ventured outside the box. I searched for a metaphor to make cancer treatments easy to understand. Around the same time, it so happened my kids decided we needed to re-watch all of The Avengers movies at home. (in order – of course). Here’s where you get…

Comments closed

In cancer, there is no place for blame.

I read a great post by oncologist Dr. Stephanie Graff on the experience of blame, from self and others, that people with cancer are subjected to. The talk about risk factors and early detection makes us think we can achieve perfection, and that cancer is somehow a personal fault…let us stop making accusations and blaming persons…

Comments closed

On bearing witness: an oncologist’s role in illness and end of life care.

My patient sat in a wheelchair.  In his mid-forties, before the cancer, he had held a physically demanding job that he loved.  Now, the cancer in his spine had ended not only his ability to work, but any ability to use his legs. His wife was devoted to him in a way that seemed as…

Comments closed