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...
Nodular melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can mimic benign conditions, including blood blisters and acne. It’s also one of the more invasive...
Six years ago, Suzanne Singletary traveled to central Florida to
spend Christmas with her family.
She had a small cough,
so she stopped...
Twenty-three years ago, Brenda Petru made a promise to her best friend, Sue, that she would continue fundraising for cancer research — no matter what.
Brenda walked alongside her friend for 19 years as Sue faced breast cancer, recurrence and metastasis. As they neared the end of their journey together, Sue’s simple request inspired Brenda to become involved with numerous cancer organizations.
What started as a promise soon...
Choosing skin care products can be overwhelming. There are so many ingredients and so many claims of benefits.
But there is one ingredient...
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and swelling in the joints. It’s caused when the immune system mistakenly...
I’m a nurse, so when I started experiencing pain and swelling in my lower abdomen, I suspected inflammatory bowel disease, or even worse,...
In March 2015, I was diagnosed with cancer of the unknown primary (CUP). That means the original cancer site could not be identified....
You’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19, but is it time for your next booster? Which type of booster should you get, and is there an age limit...
Before I went to MD Anderson, I didn’t even know I had pancreatic cancer. All I knew was that I had a huge pancreatic cyst. And I only found...