I have seen too many patients delay life-saving care because they pursued the miracle cure from a shaman (this happened to me several times, different shamans) or alternative therapies they read about online.
Treating cancer is often a grisly business but not always! For some cancers, we get to run trials about how to shorten treatment because it is so successful, which is an extraordinary scientific victory and a testament to people wanting what's best for patients (not for Big Pharma).
For other cancers the treatment is indeed mostly brutal.
I wish we had better nomenclature for cancer that made it easier for people to conceptualize it as a myriad of conditions instead of a single monolithic problem. That would restore some nuance to the discourse and maybe reduce some of the grift. My aunt's neighbor's mechanic's cancer magic potion gets a lot less relevant if we get more specific.
Agreed! I heard Arif Kamal from ACS speak this weekend about this very issue. One of the reasons that cancer ellicits so much fear is that it seems uncontrollable as compared to say hypertension (eat less salt, etc). But now we know that at least 50% of cancers are associated with modifiable risk factors including alcohol intake, whole grains/fiber rich diet, exercise and not smoking. I am hopeful that we can start messaging that cancer risk can be modified up to a point.
If we can find a way to message this, I do hope that the mechanic's magic potion (LOL!) will be placed in the dustbin of history where it belongs.
Good perspectives about cancer patients who receive unsolicited advice from family, friends, and even strangers. This week, I'm celebrating my second anniversary of successful surgery for Stage IIIc colorectal cancer. I've lost count of the people who told me during my chemo and radiation and two surgeries that I should bail out of the medical treatments and rely on "natural" treatments. One friend (no longer a friend) urged me to "let nature take its course" because I was 78 when I was diagnosed. Bulls**t!! I wanted the best doctors in the city, starting with the medical director of the best hospital in Western Mexico. Now, I'm recovering well enough and my medical team is happy with my progress.
The thing that kills me is people with cancer who think their doctor is trying to ‘upsell’ them. So, instead, they go to someone offering ‘treatment’ without science or data and essentially, hope for the best. As an executive at my company used to say- hope is not a strategy. My approach in these conversations is to suggest that the person ask their provider for statistics on their ‘cure’ rate and that the person get regular scans to have empirical evidence of success or unwanted changes.
I love this. I used to tell my patients who fell into snake oil sales that they were getting skunked. Then we had a robust chat about fear. I see that with cancer it’s very similar in that there’s a big job ahead and there will be hills and valleys - but none of it will be easy.
I have seen too many patients delay life-saving care because they pursued the miracle cure from a shaman (this happened to me several times, different shamans) or alternative therapies they read about online.
Treating cancer is often a grisly business but not always! For some cancers, we get to run trials about how to shorten treatment because it is so successful, which is an extraordinary scientific victory and a testament to people wanting what's best for patients (not for Big Pharma).
For other cancers the treatment is indeed mostly brutal.
I wish we had better nomenclature for cancer that made it easier for people to conceptualize it as a myriad of conditions instead of a single monolithic problem. That would restore some nuance to the discourse and maybe reduce some of the grift. My aunt's neighbor's mechanic's cancer magic potion gets a lot less relevant if we get more specific.
Agreed! I heard Arif Kamal from ACS speak this weekend about this very issue. One of the reasons that cancer ellicits so much fear is that it seems uncontrollable as compared to say hypertension (eat less salt, etc). But now we know that at least 50% of cancers are associated with modifiable risk factors including alcohol intake, whole grains/fiber rich diet, exercise and not smoking. I am hopeful that we can start messaging that cancer risk can be modified up to a point.
If we can find a way to message this, I do hope that the mechanic's magic potion (LOL!) will be placed in the dustbin of history where it belongs.
Thanks for reading!
Good perspectives about cancer patients who receive unsolicited advice from family, friends, and even strangers. This week, I'm celebrating my second anniversary of successful surgery for Stage IIIc colorectal cancer. I've lost count of the people who told me during my chemo and radiation and two surgeries that I should bail out of the medical treatments and rely on "natural" treatments. One friend (no longer a friend) urged me to "let nature take its course" because I was 78 when I was diagnosed. Bulls**t!! I wanted the best doctors in the city, starting with the medical director of the best hospital in Western Mexico. Now, I'm recovering well enough and my medical team is happy with my progress.
I’m so glad you are doing well! Happy Cancerversary!
It’s just astounding what comes out of people’s mouths. I don’t know how you guys do it!
My strategy is similar. I just smile, say thank you, and change the subject.
I don't know how you guys do it.
The thing that kills me is people with cancer who think their doctor is trying to ‘upsell’ them. So, instead, they go to someone offering ‘treatment’ without science or data and essentially, hope for the best. As an executive at my company used to say- hope is not a strategy. My approach in these conversations is to suggest that the person ask their provider for statistics on their ‘cure’ rate and that the person get regular scans to have empirical evidence of success or unwanted changes.
I am going to steal that line! Hope is not a strategy. Thank you, Lessly!
I love this. I used to tell my patients who fell into snake oil sales that they were getting skunked. Then we had a robust chat about fear. I see that with cancer it’s very similar in that there’s a big job ahead and there will be hills and valleys - but none of it will be easy.