Wendy Harpham on Healthy Survivorship

Hope or Letting Go - Part IV

Perhaps most troubling to me of  Hope or Letting Go, was Dr. Youn's question about whether the patient and his wife should be given a chance to say good-bye. 

Hope or Letting Go - Part III

Dr. Youn asks, "Would it have been preferable for Jerry’s wife to see him sedated, peaceful and for her to cling to the slight hope that he might survive? Or would it have eased her loss to have had the opportunity to say goodbye, even if it meant seeing him in grave pain?"

Hope or Letting Go - Part II

In my last post, Hope or Letting Go, I shared the story of a physician, Dr. Youn, still troubled by an incident that happened ten years ago. Since reading it, I've been bothered by some of the questions he posed.

For example, Dr. Youn asked if concern for the needs of the patient's loved ones ever take precedence over the patients' needs?

Hope or Letting Go

Should doctors give patients' loved ones hope no matter the situation? Or should they allow loved ones to say goodbye when a situation seems hopeless? In Hope or Letting Go: The Final Good-bye.Dr. Anthony Youn describes why these questions have been haunting him for years.

Musical Microvacation

Wow, it's been a long time since our last microvacation.* The 2 3/4-minute video of a young girl playing piano despite missing fingers on her right hand illustrates an important idea about limits and Healthy Survivorship.

What to Eat During Cancer Treatment

The American Cancer Society published a unique and useful book for survivors undergoing cancer treatment: What to Eat During Cancer Treatment. 100 Great-tasting, Family-friendly Recipes to Help You Cope.

From Promise to Disaster - Part III

In recent posts, I discussed a NYTimes article about research techniques used and marketed before prime time. If patients can receive treatment from of team of professionals at a major university in a clinical trial that turns out to be based on wrong information, what's a survivor to do?

Look Good...Feel Better on July 14th

This post has time-sensitive information, so bear with me for one more interruption before I go back to the mini-series on news of promising research on tumor-gene analysis that led to premature use and marketing of the technique. 

Beauty is only skin deep, while cancer is life or death. Still, when going through cancer treatment, attention to appearance can make a huge difference in how a patient feels about him- or herself. It can boost confidence during trying times. 

From Promise to Disaster- A Note About Molecular Testing

The current mini-series of posts on this blog reflects my response to a news story of promising research on tumor-gene analysis that led to premature use and marketing of the technique. Let me stop for a post to clarify an important point about molecular testing.

From Promise to Disaster - Part II

My last post briefly summarized the full story of promising research on tumor-gene analysis that led to premature use and marketing of the technique. How could this happen at well-respected research institutions?

From Promise to Disaster

Patients are not Healthy Survivors if they believe the promises of charlatans. What about patients who receive treatment from of team of professionals at a major university in a clinical trial that turns out to be based on wrong information?

Let My Colors Out

Oftentimes, insights and mantras that help adults become Healthy Survivors can help children whose parent is going through treatment, if presented in an age-appropriate way.

Star-Spangled Message

In an interesting article on America's national anthem, Joe Simnacher (staff writer for the Dallas Morning News) asks, "Why sing only one stanza?"

A Father's Lessons on Healthy Survivorship

During the 5 years David Goldman tried to reunite with his abducted son, things often looked hopeless. How did he find hope? How did he manuver that hope into action?