Oncology/Hematology

Collaboration between local oncologists and academia is crucial to closing the cancer care gap

Conditions
January 1, 2024

There is undeniable hope and optimism when looking at the future of cancer care. Cancer survival rates are steadily rising as oncologists continue to learn more about the 100+ unique types of cancer—and emerging variants—that exist. Thanks to new targeted therapies and remarkable improvements in genomics, cancer care physicians and researchers are finding better ways to treat each cancer type and improve health outcomes.

Despite this knowledge, however, there are still …

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Hidden truths and medical intrigue [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 27, 2023

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Join Jennifer Lycette, a novelist and rural hematology-oncology physician. We discuss Jennifer’s latest work, The Committee Will Kill You Now, a novel that explores the dark side of the …

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From fear to empowerment: Beating breast lump anxiety [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 26, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Tami Burdick, a patient advocate and the author of Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. Tami shares her personal journey with granulomatous mastitis (GM) and how she navigated the fear of a breast lump. Discover the relationship …

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From advocacy to early cancer detection

Conditions
December 13, 2023

I write widely as a patient advocate and subject matter expert on public policy for the regulation of prescription opioid analgesics in pain medicine.

Like many people younger than myself, I also visit many social media platforms almost daily. I am active on these platforms to share recent health care news and to support hope among people who increasingly struggle to find clinicians and pharmacists who will treat their pain by …

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An eye surgeon’s unexpected finding: a brain tumor diagnosis

Conditions
December 12, 2023

In medicine, the sickest patients always seem to come on Friday afternoons. At the end of the week, I’m hoping to move quickly through my last few patients – a small corneal abrasion, a routine follow-up, or a stable glaucoma exam. I’m prepared for a pleasant conversation and some friendly banter about rival football teams playing Saturday morning. But I’m wary. I have been doing this long enough to know …

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From ICU to kidney mass: a nurse’s journey of fear

Conditions
December 6, 2023

After 32 years working as an ICU nurse, I believed I had developed a strong capacity to confront death alongside my patients. I had become accustomed to the challenging scenarios: co-morbidities, multi-system organ failure, emergency intubations, ventilators, pressors, central lines, art lines, failure-to-thrive cases, code blues, and the grim sounds of ribs cracking during CPR.

It was not uncommon to witness families desperately shouting, “Do everything,” even when there was little …

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Navigating physician shortages in rural communities

Physician
December 5, 2023

In the rural area where I practice, two general surgeons recently retired, a medical oncologist moved out of the community, and two urologists left over a year ago. My patients with cancer are left wondering who will care for them. And this small community is not alone. An aging physician population, burnout, and understaffing of other health care workers all contribute to rising rates of physicians moving and leaving communities.

One …

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A resident’s critical discovery: Advanced cancer unveiled

Conditions
November 22, 2023

It was my first week in the radiation oncology department as a resident. The day had been busy, and most of the consultants and staff had already left the outpatient department (OPD). I was exhausted and famished, with thoughts of dinner dominating my mind.

Just as I was beginning to wind down, the physician assistant (PA) rushed in and informed my consultant that a patient from a local hospital required immediate …

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Digital innovation in oncology [PODCAST]

Podcast
November 16, 2023
YouTube video

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We’re joined by Andrew Norden, a physician executive, to dive into the world of digital transformation in oncology. We explore why oncology has been slower to adopt digital innovations compared to other health care fields, debunking myths …

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Understanding the psychological impact of chest numbness after mastectomy [PODCAST]

Podcast
November 13, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Kristen Casey, a clinical psychologist, as we delve into the emotional and psychological impact of chest numbness following mastectomy. Discover the importance of discussing this often-overlooked side effect with patients, explore potential solutions, and learn how …

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Encountering a gentle soul amidst stomach cancer

Conditions
November 6, 2023

It was the final hour of my shift, and I was cleaning up for my colleague who would be taking over. Glancing at the clock, I decided I could see one of the “easy” fast-track patients just to help offload the board a bit. I figured he wasn’t going to take long, as his complaint on the board was “sore throat.” What I came to find out was that he …

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My breast cancer journey: Why mammograms matter

Conditions
October 24, 2023

25 years ago, at the age of 42, I had my first mammogram, which was part of my routine checkup. I had no symptoms at the time.

I was devastated when the radiologist discovered a shadow in my left breast. To confirm this, a biopsy was scheduled, and indeed, the biopsy confirmed that I had breast cancer.

I consider myself fortunate because we caught it early, and there was no involvement of …

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When a breast lump is as scary as Halloween

Conditions
October 21, 2023

October is an important month for many, but I’m not actually talking about Halloween. However, for many, it can be a reminder of something very scary that happened in their lifetime. For me, it isn’t October, a month dedicated to breast cancer awareness.

March was when breast pain and a self-detected lump would lead me on an exhaustive journey for answers. Something evil had definitely been brewing, like a witch’s pot, …

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Don’t put off medical care: X-ray for minor knee pain finds tumor

Conditions
October 6, 2023

My fiancée had been complaining on and off about minor knee pain and swelling for months. She kept putting off doing anything about it, because she’s a former college basketball player who had already had two surgeries on that knee, and she assumed it was residual effects from those injuries. But I was having a slow day in clinic, so I told her to come in for an X-ray.

And then …

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Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 25, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Banu Symington, a hematology-oncology physician, as she shares her expertise and insights on the topic of out-of-office infusions, discussing patient safety, experience, and the potential impact on cancer care.

Banu …

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PSA screening: What you need to know [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 24, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Stephen Lieberman, a urologist, as we navigate the nuances of prostate care, discussing the evolution of PSA screening, the controversies it has sparked, and the crucial insights that can empower individuals to make informed decisions about …

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Transformative lessons from a pandemic experience [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 15, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Lee Scheinbart, a medical oncologist, as he shares his transformative experience during the height of the COVID pandemic. Discover the power of intrinsic motivation, advocacy, and empathy in health care. In this episode, we delve into the lessons learned from a …

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A chance encounter in Chicago: lessons in compassionate medicine

Education
September 10, 2023

It was a frigid January night in Chicago. My whole body felt cold as flurries of snow landed on my clothes, prompting me to quickly enter the restaurant to find my friend.

The dinner began to unfold how I had imagined. My friend, a fellow medical student, and I eagerly chatted about our life updates. I shared stories from my days in the hospital, and she described the progress of her …

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Support your local plasmapheresis center

Conditions
September 8, 2023

Every day, thousands of people lie on a couch and have their arm stabbed with a large needle. Blood from the venipuncture snakes down into a container. In some individuals, this continues until the volume is about a pint – 500 mL; for this, they get a cookie and a glass of juice. In others, the collection is larger – around 2,500 mL; for this, they get between $50 to …

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Diversified treatments are needed to fight the increasing threat of liver cancer

Conditions
September 8, 2023

Since the mid-1970s, rates for liver cancer have been on the rise. A 2017 study found that liver cancer increased by 75 percent worldwide between 1990 and 2015, with the highest rate increases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Worldwide, hepatitis B—a virus that damages the liver and is spread through contact with infected blood and other body fluids—is the most common cause of liver cancer; however, in …

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