A colleague recently had a baby. Her patients were divided between a few medical oncologists to continuously deliver their medical care while she is on maternity leave. I met one of these patients a few months ago. While getting to know him, he said the most interesting thing. Mr. R is forty-nine years young. He […]
I was finishing up a new patient clinic when I heard a difficult to hear sentence last week. It had been a long morning of meeting three new cancer patients. The first patient was the only one who still had a chance of cure. She was young, in her mid-fifties. She had recovered from a […]
I met a new patient for a few brief moments last week. She had an impact on me that has and will extend far past the limits of our doctor-patient relationship. I will try to explain how and why. Kelly’s (pseudonym) first appointment with medical oncology was in a resident’s longitudinal clinic. I supervise this […]
Mr. JC died from metastatic colon cancer a few months ago. He was only forty-four years old. The day he died, his wife lost her husband, and his dog lost his best friend. We shared pictures of our dogs many times. The photo posted with JC’s obituary was a lovely one of JC with Sarg […]
Dear Patient And Your Loved Ones, I am told of your sighs while you wait to see me in clinic. I get reports from clerks and nurses about you when you ask how much longer it will be because I am taking too long to get to you. I hear about your angry tone of […]
Most of the benefits my patients receive from my work as a medical oncologist comes from the drugs I prescribe for their cancers. Some of these drugs can increase cure rates. Some of these drugs do not help cure a cancer but can prolong the life of the cancer patient whose cancer is not curable. […]
“What’s yours will never pass you,” he whispered in a thick Scottish accent. My back was turned to him as I started walking out of his hospital room. His quiet words stopped me mid-step as if a force field had captured me in his deep thoughts. He was isolated in a private room for the […]
“Hello, my name is Jennifer Spratlin. I’m a chemotherapy doctor.” These are the two sentences I introduce myself with when I walk into a room to do my initial consultation with a new cancer patient. It seems like an appropriate introduction here too. I choose not to introduce myself as Dr. Spratlin in most instances […]
Join me, through the stories I tell, and see the hope, grit, grace, and love that can be found in a cancer journey.
