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The great Greek physician and teacher Hippocrates (460 BC-370 BC) described several kinds of cancer, referring to them with the Greek word "carcinos", meaning crab or crayfish. This name comes from the appearance of the cut surface of a solid malignant tumor, with the "veins stretched out on all sides as the animal the crab has its feet, whence it derives its name."
These are wonderful stories! You made me laugh and cry at one sitting. I also wonder how you have the time, but I guess we make time for the important things. Bravo!
Miranda is an extraordinary and eclectic woman. She’s an accomplished writer with the abililty to express her feelings in a touching way. I look forward to more stories……..
I would love to subscribe, but get an “error in server” message. Please sign me up!
Hi Mary, it looks like you are subscribed so let me know if you do not receive future posts! Miranda
Tried to suvscribe, but “sorry there seems to be an error on the server”
Verda, I will have my son who manages the site for me look into it. I did get your subscription and approved it, so let me know if you get subsequent posts. M
Dear Miranda
Your piece of November 26th hit ME like a freight train! I too am an oncologist – practicing in Jamaica. Your story felt like my story. I am mainly in palliative radiation oncology and palliative care, badly needed round these parts. Today I had one of those encounters…..Sammy (not his real name), 12 years old with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer and hugely swollen neck nodes, all scared and hardly speaking, in pain, three months of waiting to get histology – the path labs are overwhelmed here. Came in with his Dad, we spent a good long while together, talking, planning his treatment, still scared, needle phobic, unhappy, pale. When we were all agreed and they were leaving, I gave him my lunch time tangerine, he turned and waved, and I saw him smile for the first time. Today was a good day.
I love your story! For me, treating kids is the hardest. You should write your stories down too–I am sure there are many and I would like to read them. Thanks for your comments–they are much appreciated. And let me know if you start your own blog. M
Nice article, I should probably sign up with WordPress. In any case, here is my story.
I am working in Monmouth Maine when an 89 y.o. lady comes in after not having seen a provider in over 40 years to say she has a bruise on her right breast. After obtaining her history which is unremarkable for anything but a cataract surgery 20 years ago, I ask her if it turns out to be a malignancy, would she want to do anything about it and she says “of course!”
She disrobes and we peel away the dressing and exposes what looks like a donut shaped cherry “whoopie pie” (those of you on the East Coast should know what this is) which turns out to be a fungating tumor. I refer her to a oncology surgeon who then calls me up to let me know that she had significant cardiac disease including atrial fibrillation and was going to refer to to cardiology before doing anything. It was amusing that the intake folks asked for a mammogram or CT and I responded, they would not need one, it was pretty obvious what was going on.
Fast forward several weeks, I find out the surgeon has fractured both of her wrists in a horseback riding accident and that my patient is being followed by another surgeon. In the meantime, I believe the cardiologist has placed her on blood pressure medications, coumadin and statins.
Fast forward several more weeks and I receive her postoperative reports. She had a radical mastectomy, was sent home with JP drains before a weekend. Her daughter found her unarouseable and called the ambulance. She was later transfused with 12 units over several days, and when stable, went home.
I saw her a week or so later and she said she was proceeding with radiation. She was an incredible trooper (troopa as we say in Maine!) and I am sure today she is doing well and living the life she wants. Far be it for me to tell a patient they are too old for….
I am crying too! What a wonderful moment you were able to share. She is so lucky to have you as her mom and to have the opportunity to train in one of the best programs in the country!
As a physician of cancerian birth and origin, I feel compelled to share with you our population’s need to wake up to our societal belief system-related health disorders! Acceptance of pain, rather than true self-denial or chemical numbing, can ultimately be of true benefit in life, as shared by many in our highly stressed, passive-dependent culture.
Highly stresssed and passive dependent is a very good description. Thank you for commenting. Miranda
Acceptance of pain??????? I am an 80 years old gomere and pain is the name of the game. Every couple of weeks I nibble the Oxy’s to get some relief from the stress of hurting constantly. Two head on collisions on MC, Severely burned in a gasoline fire, three bullet holes , home invasion, pronounced DOA one bullet next to my spine . Fell off a 3 story building and limped away. Tripped over a foot stool and crashed into a door jam and cut my right ear off. Severe leg and foot pain. Gastritis and CAD and A fib. Now Mr arthritis has come calling all this and a case of tick fever . Its either a pain pill or a lead pill. I have no desire to accept pain. dead would be preferable. I don’t smoke, drink or chase the girls so whats left?????? My cat has cancer all over his face and my dog is going blind so I feel blessed. When the time comes I can have them put to sleep, wish I could do the same. Thanks to our God fearing society I will have to do it myself but first I will have to out live my nine rescue dogs and hope no more show up. I am glad you are not my doctor I would have to find another one with a little more empathy. Did they teach you in Med school that pain hurts? I bet you don’t even know that the leading cause of death is getting born. Just learned something Aye! In all sincerity Keep up your good work the world needs more of you people. I am just a crotchety old gomere right out of the house of god.
Your writing is very interesting Miranda. Thank you for sharing crabbie thoughts.
It’s nice to give back. Here’s the tale of the Grey Dog of Meoble: http://aforteantinthearchives.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-grey-dog-of-meoble/
Vicki, how is it even POSSIBLE that I have never read this story. It should have been published in the Claymore, the publication of the Scottish Deerhound Club of America. I am at work now, but will read thoroughly later, and then link to a discussion group I moderate called the Southwest Deerhounder List. Thank you so much!
you blow my mind. your insight and your huge compassion. thank you for being a voice of quiet and peace in a confusing, chaotic and yet beautiful world. this lovely patient, with her amazing grace. what a heroine! you are BOTH superheroes!!!
Happy New Year Doctor Fielding!
I just read your post, “The Best Gift of All” on Dr. Pho’s site. Thank you for sharing your experiences, both the sad and the happy. That reminded me why I admire your profession. Thank you for all you do,
Ron
Thank you Ron!
I stumbled upon your writing.
I am grieving two great and personal losses. Yes, I know recovery takes time.
But having stumbled, and having read, I thank you for your writing.
You’ve given me a helpful push, upright, toward equilibrium.
There is a horizon out there.
Thanks to your words, I can see it now.
Thank you Patsy for reading. Your words encourage me to keep writing. M
I’ve been enjoying all your blog posts over the past few days…most are quite entertaining! I’ve read them all. I don’t know which I enjoy more, the animal stories or the human stories…I have a Basenji and can relate to many of the dog mannerisms you mention. Aren’t animals wonderful?!
Thanks Jan. Animals have been my “go-to” stress relievers for most of the last 30 years. I’m looking forward to a chance to spend more time with them. M
The more people I meet The better I like my nine dogs and one nervous cat.
I only have 5 dogs, but I’m pretty fond of them too. They love me no matter what, and they’re happy to see me EVERY time. What more can one ask for?
I agree “The Knick” is a great series!
The book titled the Emperor of All Maladies, takes one through the evolution of cancer treatment from the distant past to current day. To me the accepted procedures of the not so distant past (e.g. 1960’s) seem archaic!
Yet another amazing blog posting! Thanks again!
I absolutely agree. It bothers me when patients tell me that their great aunt so-and-so had their cervix cancer treated in the 60s with radiation and then follow it up with a litany of long lasting side effects. In my field, as in chemo, we do nothing like what we did in the 60’s. And even “The Emperor of all Maladies” is likely to be out of date very soon. M
I just discovered your blog this morning. As a retired Radiation Oncology RN, I am so enjoying reading everything you have written. It’s great to get it from the doc’s perspective. I am also married to a surgeon, so when you talked about your dad I could relate.
Also, from what i gathered, you moved to Santa Fe? Just yesterday I was telling someone how much i enjoyed a visit to Santa Fe in 2010 and wondered what it would be like to retire there.
Looking forward to reading more of your blogs!!
Maurine, it’s been so wonderful to retire here I hardly have time for writing! Thanks for reading. M
Hi Dr. Spence,
Greetings,I spoke to you briefly once a , a friend of yours who is my boss sent me to see you re another worker of hers and it was a pleasure. She has giving me a book to read call ” What dying people Want” as a Practical Nurse I’ve seen a lot of my patients dying and I really thought about palliative care. Is it possible if you are having any workshops are seminars coming anytime soon ? I really would like to be able to attend. Thanks for reading.
Hello,
I just stumbled onto this blog post (yes about 4 years after you wrote it) and it brought tears to my eyes. You see, the old man who sold you the horse was my dad, Sol Roy Rosenthal. And I rode Lucky many times as a child. I realize the math may sound odd since that would mean I was young but he was (almost) 92 (His actual birthday was September 6th and he passed in June, at officially still age 91) but yes, he was my Dad – he was in his late 60’s when I was born! Now he has been gone 21 years, but he DID ride Lucky up into his 80’s and we grew up always having horses. Dad was a remarkable man, even though my brother and I were always asked if he was our grandfather… and you can bet he adamantly lied about his age! 🙂 So glad you enjoyed Lucky! This post brought back such fond memories for me. Thanks for sharing! -Sara
Sara, I haven’t been writing much recently but I SO appreciate your writing to me about your Dad. I still miss Lucky–he died at 27. I named a young colt I am sponsoring at Forgotten Horses Rescue after him. Your father was an icon in medicine–I am honored to have met him and to have bought his horse. Know that Lucky was loved and cared for til the end of his life, at our home in Rancho Santa Fe. Mary Ann Rose, aka “Miranda Fielding.”