Some Articles I Authored A While Ago

This post, on my research in cancer immunology, is strangely personal. At one level, what follows is nothing more than a list, a narrative if you will, a sketch of a formative chunk of my career and personal history. I’ve wanted to put this out there (here) for quite a while, but couldn’t: It’s been […]

Posted in Academic Medicine, from the author, Life, Life as a DoctorTagged , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments on Some Articles I Authored A While Ago

Stunning Comments on the Risk of Breast Implants, and Cancer

The FDA recently identified a link between breast implants and a rare form of lymphoma. From today’s report in the New York Times: When talking to patients about a rare type of cancer linked to breast implants, plastic surgeons should call it “a condition” and avoid using the words cancer, tumor, disease or malignancy, the […]

Posted in Breast Cancer, Communication, Informed Consent, language, Oncology (cancer), Patient Autonomy, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryTagged , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment on Stunning Comments on the Risk of Breast Implants, and Cancer

An Oncologist Considers Rare Lymphomas in Women With Breast Implants

I have to admit that when I first read about the FDA’s report tying rare cases of anaplastic large cell lymphoma to breast implants, my mind raced with a strange blend of excitement, intense interest and concern. My thoughts shifted from “wow, that’s really interesting” to “exactly what did the FDA find” to “should I be worried?”

So I’ve decided to write this morning’s post from my perspective as an oncologist

Posted in Breast Cancer, cancer treatment, Informed Consent, Medical News, Pathology, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Women's HealthTagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment on An Oncologist Considers Rare Lymphomas in Women With Breast Implants

FDA Reports on Association of Breast Implants and a Rare Form of Lymphoma

It’s a Pandora’s box, but one that needs be opened. The problem is that if we biopsy every abnor­mality – such as a minor thick­ening or fluid accu­mu­lation adjacent to a breast implant – we’ll hike up the costs and, more impor­tantly, the com­pli­ca­tions asso­ciated: With every needle stick there’s a risk of infection, addi­tional scar for­mation and more. On the other hand, you wouldn’t want to overlook a treatable, early-stage lym­phoma. Women need to know of the risks of implants, which can only be deter­mined if doctors thor­oughly inves­tigate these sorts of complications.

Posted in Breast Cancer, cancer treatment, Medical News, Oncology (cancer), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Women's HealthTagged , , , , , , , , 1 Comment on FDA Reports on Association of Breast Implants and a Rare Form of Lymphoma

Moms Tweet About Blood and Cancer

This afternoon I found a Tweet from a colleague, a journalist who happens to be a mom in my community:

Tweet from SuSaw:
“RT @JenSinger: Hey, baby. What’s your blood type? Nothing against the Big Pink Machine… http://ow.ly/URkg

As a trained hematologist (blood doc), oncologist and breast cancer survivor, I couldn’t resist checking this out. Here’s what I discovered…

Posted in Communication, Future of Medicine, Health IT, Hematology (blood), Social Media, Women's HealthTagged , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment on Moms Tweet About Blood and Cancer
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