Leana Wen, MD

5 things that I want my patients to know

Leana Wen, MD

Physician

September 26, 2012

Today’s healthcare consumer is constantly barraged with conflicting information. Does wine prevent or predispose to cancer? Should I eat certain foods or avoid them? Is this new medication going to hurt me or help me? Many issues are still controversial, but there are some things that have a large amount of evidence behind them.

1. Antibiotics will not help the common cold. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics kill bacteria, which …

The well woman visit: An easy way to obtain preventive services

Leana Wen, MD

Physician

September 12, 2012

As an emergency physician, I tend to work on the other side of preventive care services. I see what happens when women don’t know about safer sex and birth control, and end up with complications from sexually transmitted infections. I see what happens when women do not get routine screening for cervical cancer and struggle with life-threatening cancer. I see what happens with out-of-control hypertension and diabetes, and the heart attacks and strokes that …

My mother couldn’t advocate for herself when she needed it the most

Leana Wen, MD

Physician

August 20, 2012

My mother is my role model and my inspiration for what I do every day. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was in her forties, and fought it courageously for seven years until she passed away in 2010.

There are so many stories I can tell about my mother and her battle with cancer. Let me start with just one. Whenever she’d go to her oncologist, she would go …

Improving medical care needs to involve the doctor

Leana Wen, MD

Physician

August 2, 2012

A few days ago, I received a question that stopped me in my tracks. I was giving a talk to a local church group on the importance of patient advocacy, and most everyone was nodding. Yes, doctors don’t always listen — let’s do something about it! Yes, we need to control of our health.

Then someone raised her name. Her name is Susan, and she is the owner of a mom-and-pop grocery in …