As a retired physician, I have several advantages over the average layperson. First, I can understand the medical jargon used by other doctors. Second, my specialty is radiation oncology, so I’m very familiar with both cancer and its treatment. And third, I know how to be my own advocate in medical situations.
But I’m also a six-time cancer survivor. Here are some things I’ve learned as a patient that might be useful to anyone...
Ever logged into MyChart to check on some lab test results, then just stared blankly at the screen once you saw them? You’re not alone. ...
In 2001, I was 31 years old, working full time and engaged to be married. I had no symptoms or abnormalities. But one day, I noticed a knot...
A social media post about a man’s positive pregnancy test reportedly led to his testicular cancer diagnosis.
The man jokingly took the test which an ex-girlfriend had left behind in his medicine cabinet. He shared the surprising “positive” result with a friend, who shared the news on social media, carefully shielding the test-taker’s name to protect his privacy. The post quickly went viral and drew more than 1,600 comments....
Before scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro in June 2018, I’d never climbed a real mountain. I live in Beaumont, Texas, which is only around 30 feet above...
Before I was diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 21 last year, I only did self-checks in the shower when I remembered to. That translated...
If you — or your child — were diagnosed with cancer, what would you do? How would you handle the treatments and the side effects? How would...
One of the things that I learned as a testicular cancer patient at MD Anderson is that distraction is the name of the game. Our brains are...
Before I had testicular cancer, I was a really cynical person. I looked at the glass as half-empty. And I saw everything in life as just a...
Patients' fertility can be affected both during cancer treatment – when an unplanned pregnancy could be a serious problem – and later, if...