First Look at the Burns Collection of Early Medical Photographs

CBS News has posted a gripping set of images, mostly of cancer patients, dating to the 1880s. The photos from the Burns Archive are graphic, as much as they’re telling, instructive and rare.   This photograph, taken in New York City in 1886, is one of the earliest ever taken of breast surgery. Surgeons had […]

Posted in Communication, Medical History, Oncology (cancer), PhotographyTagged , , , , , 2 Comments on First Look at the Burns Collection of Early Medical Photographs

TV Meets Real Life Oncology, and Anticipating the MCATs

Yesterday I wrote on some tough decisions facing a TV show‘s protagonist. She’s got metastatic melanoma and might participate in a clinical trial when the show resumes. Now imagine you’re an oncologist, or a real patient with this killing disease – you really need to be on top of new developments, to understand the pros […]

Posted in Future of Medicine, Ideas, Medical Education, Premedical, ScienceTagged , , , , , , Leave a Comment on TV Meets Real Life Oncology, and Anticipating the MCATs

Why It’s a Good Idea to Get a Second Opinion, and Maybe a Third, But Rarely a Fourth

A few years ago I started writing a book on what it was like to be a cancer patient and an oncologist. This morning I came upon this section on second opinions: Is it OK to get a second opinion? Definitely. And there’s no need to be secretive about it, or to worry about hurting […]

Posted in cancer treatment, Communication, Empowered Patient, Life as a Doctor, Life as a Patient, Oncology (cancer), Patient-Doctor RelationshipTagged , , , , , , 1 Comment on Why It’s a Good Idea to Get a Second Opinion, and Maybe a Third, But Rarely a Fourth

Why Blog on OncotypeDx and BC Pathology?

I can’t even begin to think of how much money this might save, besides sparing so many women from the messy business of infusions, temporary or semi-permanent IV catheters, prophylactic or sometimes urgent antibiotics, Neulasta injections, anti-nausea drugs, cardiac tests and then some occasional deaths in treatment from infection, bleeding or, later on, from late effects on the heart or not-so-rare secondary malignancies like leukemia. And hairpieces; we could see a dramatic decline in women with scarves and wigs.

Posted in Breast Cancer, cancer treatment, Communication, Diagnosis, Empowered Patient, health care costs, Informed Consent, Pathology, Patient AutonomyTagged , , , , , , , , 2 Comments on Why Blog on OncotypeDx and BC Pathology?

Peter Sings Colonoscopy

Am I pro- or con- colonoscopy for routine screening, you might wonder. Well, that depends.

Am I pro- or con- famous singers and other celebrities extolling the benefits of particular medical interventions? Well, that depends, too.

But I’m sure I prefer “Puff the Magic Dragon.” Also “Leaving on a Jet Plane” fills me with imperfect memories of 6th grade.

Posted in cancer awareness, Communication, Music, Oncology (cancer), Wednesday Web SightingTagged , , , , , , , , 1 Comment on Peter Sings Colonoscopy
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