On the road again Goin’ places that I’ve never been Seein’ things that I may never see again, And I can’t wait to get on the road again. Willie Nelson If someone had told me even ten years ago that I would retire young and become an itinerant radiation oncologist I would have thought… Continue reading On The Road Again
Category: Philosophy of cancer
Another Dog, Same Breed, As Soon as Possible
“Hark to Beaumont. Softly, Beaumont, mon amy. Oyez à Beaumont the valiant. Swef, le douce Beaumont, swef, swef.” Beaumont licked his hand but could not wag his tail.” T.H. White, “The Once and Future King”. For the past couple of years, my life has been pretty easy. I… Continue reading Another Dog, Same Breed, As Soon as Possible
How To Become A Cancer Doctor
Start with one excellent childhood experience—a loved one who is cured. Add a generous helping of baseline optimism, a cup at least. More is better. Mix in well a half cup of ability to suspend disbelief. And then, maybe a pinch more. Add a teaspoon or two or even three of denial. Pollyanna had it… Continue reading How To Become A Cancer Doctor
An Extraordinary Life
“Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so”—John Donne On a Sunday in January, 2014, I opened the New York Times Opinion section and stumbled upon one of the most unusual essays I had ever read. It was written by Dr. Paul Kalanithi, who at the… Continue reading An Extraordinary Life
In Praise of Angelina
I have always been one of Angelina Jolie’s biggest fans. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences saw fit to reward her 1999 performance in “Girl Interrupted” with an Oscar, but I wasn’t well and truly smitten until the second Lara Croft Tombraider movie was released in 2003. In that film, Jolie, who performs… Continue reading In Praise of Angelina
The Curbside Consultation
Recently a friend of my husband’s in San Diego had a mammogram which showed some suspicious microcalcifications in her right breast. She underwent a stereotactic biopsy which revealed ductal carcinoma in situ, the earliest form of breast cancer also known as Stage 0 breast cancer. This type of cancer is non-invasive and does not metastasize,… Continue reading The Curbside Consultation
Siskel and Ebert
I have always loved the movies. Like every grade school kid watching reruns, I cried when Bambi’s mother died, and when starry eyed Judy Garland clicked her heels and said, “There’s no place like home!” But when the big budget films hit the screen in my early pre-teen years—Ben Hur, Camelot and Lawrence of Arabia,… Continue reading Siskel and Ebert
Do Dogs Know They are Dying?
Labor Day, 2006, is a day I will never forget. It was a gorgeous day here in San Diego—bright, sunny and nearly 90 degrees. I decided it was a perfect day to give the dogs an outdoor bath. At the time, we had Valentine, the matriarch at nearly twelve years old, Izzy who was four,… Continue reading Do Dogs Know They are Dying?
Stuart Scott’s Acceptance Speech
Sometimes I feel like what I have to say isn’t very important and after watching a video clip of Stuart Scott accepting the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance tonight on ESPN, I think you might prefer to hear from him. Background: Stuart Scott was diagnosed with cancer of the appendix in 2007 and has been… Continue reading Stuart Scott’s Acceptance Speech
Love and Loyalty From the Souls of Dogs
“Such sadness and endearing and abiding love…” Fran I am by nature a “right brain” person—despite my training in science and medicine, I prefer paintings and photographs to words and mathematical constructs. Over the past two years of writing this blog, I have resisted on many occasions the urge to add pictures to this website,… Continue reading Love and Loyalty From the Souls of Dogs