Oncology/Hematology
How excessively regulating doctors can harm patients
According to the American Board of Medical Specialties, its program for maintenance of certification (MOC) serves the patients, families, and communities of the United States and improves patient care by establishing high standards for ongoing learning, practice improvement, and assessment activities. Whether this is true or not has been a hotly contested topic in the medical profession for about two decades, when MOC was first introduced. Proponents claim that MOC …
Proposed USPSTF guideline update: Advocating for earlier breast cancer screening at age 40
Pop Quiz: At what age do medical experts recommend women of average risk for breast cancer begin receiving screening mammograms?
- 40
- 45
- 50
- All of the above.
If you answered “D,” you are correct. Confused? I don’t blame you. Medical societies and independent task forces do not agree on when to begin or end screening mammograms for women at average risk of developing breast cancer. This has led to confusion and …
The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers
“It’s adenocarcinoma,” said the voice on the other end of the phone.
I couldn’t believe it.
“Lung cancer? Me? How could that be? I’ve never smoked!” Shock, disbelief, and disappointment filled all the nooks and crannies of my mind and heart.
In January 2021, I went to my PCP after developing a nagging dry cough after starting lisinopril eight months prior, during the first months of COVID. I concluded that it was just …
Heartwarming stories of cancer patients teaching us about life and the human spirit
I felt uneasy starting my oncology and leukemia rotations. These patients were so sick, and many of them had incurable cancer, often just weeks or days away from death. I wondered how I could help them, what we could do if we couldn’t treat their cancer. I’m grateful that these patients taught me not just much about how we can always help our patients and support them but also much …
5 myths of treating sickle cell disease with automated red blood cell exchange
Not all transfusion therapies are the same.
Unlike other transfusion therapies, automated red blood cell exchange (RBCX) efficiently and rapidly removes a patient’s hemoglobin S (HbS)-containing RBCs and replaces them with healthy RBCs. You may be surprised to learn that there are a few misperceptions surrounding automated RBCX. How do you think about automated RBCX today?
Myth #1: RBCX is only for acute patients
Reality: Automated RBCX is recommended by …
The deadly consequences of a shortage: The Pluvicto crisis leaves metastatic prostate cancer patients in limbo
You’ve recently been diagnosed with metastatic cancer. You started the recommended first-line therapy, but it isn’t cutting it. There is another available treatment, but your hopes are crushed upon learning that you will have to wait at least three months before the life-extending medication can be produced for you and reach your location. All the while, your cancer will continue to grow and spread, slowly eating your body from the …
An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact
“He had an intuitive gift as a physician in diagnosing and managing breast cancer. His expertise helped countless patients, and he was deeply appreciated by those he cared for. He felt an enormous sense of gratitude to be able to help his patients and be an integral part of their care.”
I didn’t want to have cancer again, and who would? It was December 29, 2021, just over a year since …
The miracle cure: the world’s first successful bone marrow transplant for aplastic anemia
An excerpt from Living Medicine: Don Thomas, Marrow Transplantation, and the Cell Therapy Revolution.
Late in the summer of 1960, Dr. Clem Finch invited Dr. Don Thomas to Seattle to give a talk about his early experience with transplantation. Clem, who had been Thomas’s hematology fellowship instructor at the Brigham in …
Unwavering faith: a woman’s journey through cancer and beyond
Her back was mottled, and she could barely sit up. She was weak from her invasive cancer. I visited her on Easter Sunday. Perhaps it was God’s will that I didn’t have an elaborate Easter dinner with ham, rolls, pies, and house decor filled with decorative bunnies. Instead, I went to visit this dear friend I met by happenstance and her dear husband who always seemed to help me out. …
Against all odds: 17-month-old defies death and improves neurologically after craniospinal irradiation
Three months ago, a case was discussed in the multidisciplinary tumor board. A 17-month-old child was admitted through the ER with a posterior fossa tumor (brain tumor) and multi-level spinal cord compression due to tumor deposits. The tumor was so extensive that only a biopsy could be performed rather than maximum safe resection. The biopsy report was discussed in the MDT (it was medulloblastoma), and after considering the neurological deficits …
Breakthrough trial shows MRI-guided radiation can reduce prostate cancer treatment toxicity
Nearly 290,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023. Thankfully, the vast majority will be diagnosed with clinically localized disease and can be cured with either surgery or radiotherapy. Emerging clinical trial data have cemented stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), a form of radiation in which ≤5 daily doses are delivered with high precision in generally five or fewer treatments, as a curative option for most men with …
Why poor diets are contributing to a surge in colorectal cancer cases among young people
An alarming trend has emerged in my medical practice in recent years: I’m seeing more and more young adults with colorectal cancer.
When I began practicing as a family physician 21 years ago, I never saw patients in their 40s and 50s with the disease, much less ones in their 30s. Now, I diagnose two to three people in those age groups every year.
On the heels of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness …
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A veteran’s battle against possible lung cancer
During my night shift at the emergency department, I encountered a 72-year-old decorated war veteran named Mr. Sun. Accompanied by his concerned wife, he came to address a year-long struggle with fatigue and a non-productive cough he’d been experiencing in recent weeks. Initially resistant to seeking medical attention, Mr. Sun finally gave in to his wife’s insistence.
As I entered the room to assess Mr. Sun, it was immediately apparent how …
The insurance denial process: one oncologist’s fight against a broken system
It is 4:15 p.m. in my clinic, and I’m running an hour behind.
One of my morning patients arrived acutely ill and thus required more of my time and attention than the schedule allotted for. Accordingly, every patient after that has ended up waiting for me. And, as I’m a cancer physician, each of them requires—and deserves—all my time and energy. There are no “easy” visits here.
By the end of the …
Finding hope in the face of cancer
“My best friend’s mother arrived at our oncology outpatient department. She had recently been diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer and was understandably apprehensive, filled with numerous questions. I took her medical history and performed an examination. She didn’t have any relatives with cancer, so all the treatments and terminology were completely unfamiliar to her. Her medical workup was completed, and she began neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with surgery planned for a …
Breaking Bad: the antihero’s journey through cancer
An excerpt from From Whispers to Shouts: The Ways We Talk About Cancer.
“Walt, is that you?” Skyler asks her husband in the final scene of the Breaking Bad pilot. They’re in bed, she’s pregnant, and he’s come toward her in a new way. He’s changed, and she doesn’t yet know …
The beauty of a patient’s gratitude
This is not an ordinary 1000 Rupee note. It’s a happy memory for me.
For those who say I always share depressing stories, this one is for you, for a change.
We performed concurrent chemotherapy and radiation on a 70-year-old lady with nasopharyngeal carcinoma a few months back. She was elderly and frail, and she experienced a lot of mucositis and skin radiation …
The heart of a Desi doctor: Balancing emotions and resources in oncology
I am a Desi doctor, where Desi refers to someone from India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh.
I am currently a final-year resident in radiation oncology at a private-sector hospital in Pakistan.
During my medical school and house job, I worked in a public sector hospital where I experienced a high patient influx, a heavy workload, and limited resources. This environment made me a true “Desi doctor.”
Now, in this private sector hospital, I have …
5 essential tips to help men prevent prostate cancer
1. Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eating a healthy diet is an important way to help prevent prostate cancer. Fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage that can lead to cancer. Fruits and vegetables that are particularly beneficial for prostate cancer prevention include cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, kale, and cauliflower), tomatoes, citrus fruits, berries, apples, …
Past Week
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Why your clinic waiting room may affect patient outcomes
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The human case for preserving the nipple after mastectomy
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Nuclear verdicts and rising costs: How inflation is reshaping medical malpractice claims
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How new loan caps could destroy diversity in medical education
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The ethical crossroads of medicine and legislation
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A doctor’s guide to preparing for your death
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Past 6 Months
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Health equity in Inland Southern California requires urgent action
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Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices
-
How restrictive opioid policies worsen the crisis
-
Why primary care needs better dermatology training
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New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine
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Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California
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Recent Posts
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Past Week
-
Why your clinic waiting room may affect patient outcomes
-
The human case for preserving the nipple after mastectomy
-
Nuclear verdicts and rising costs: How inflation is reshaping medical malpractice claims
-
How new loan caps could destroy diversity in medical education
-
The ethical crossroads of medicine and legislation
-
A doctor’s guide to preparing for your death
-
Past 6 Months
-
Health equity in Inland Southern California requires urgent action
-
Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices
-
How restrictive opioid policies worsen the crisis
-
Why primary care needs better dermatology training
-
New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine
-
Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California
-
Recent Posts
