That’s the tantalizing possibility raised by new research published in Academic Radiology.

Scientists have developed an AI algorithm that shows promise in identifying breast cancer on MRI scans up to 12 months sooner than current methods.

Could this be a game-changer in the fight against this prevalent disease?

As a radiation oncologist who is annually involved in the care of hundreds of patients with breast cancer, the news caught my eye.

The Promise of AI to Improve Cancer Detection

Researchers trained a convolutional neural network AI model using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 52,598 breasts.

To refine the model, they used a retrospective dataset of 3,029 MRI scans from 910 high-risk patients (ages 18 to 88; average 52), which included 115 cancers diagnosed within one year of a negative MRI.

The AI model detected cancers one year earlier.

Researchers found that radiologists’ retrospective review of the 10 percent of MRIs the AI deemed highest risk could potentially increase cancer detection by up to nearly one-third (30%).

Study Details

A radiologist could identify visual signs in 83 (72%) biopsy-proven cancer cases.

The AI model correctly identified the anatomical region where the cancer would eventually be detected in 66 (57 percent) of the 115 cases.

My cancer center’s radiologists are remarkably capable of detecting cancer.

The idea that AI can retrospectively find a malignancy from the previous year is exciting.

The breast imaging technology today is remarkable.

AI may allow us to use the device’s output more effectively.

Summary — The Future of Breast Cancer Detection is Here (and AI Powers It).

This novel AI-assisted re-evaluation of “benign” breasts shows promise for improving early breast cancer detection with MRI.

As datasets grow and image quality improves, this approach will be more impactful.

As a radiation oncologist, I’ll end with this: “Cool.”

The post The Future of Breast Cancer Detection is Here (and AI Powers It). appeared first on Medika Life.

While we should welcome ready access to health data, viewing it without the interpretation of a seasoned clinical expert can fuel fear. This is especially true when worrisome data prompts you to reflexively rush off to “Dr. Google” – a source that knows neither empathy nor accuracy.

On behalf of myself, my family, and the patients whom I know, I’d urge those engaged in managing and improving health tech to recognize what now essentially amounts to a gap in care. You must integrate responsible, clear, and reassuring interpretative information into your apps and platforms. For patients, the reason for the health system’s very existence is much more than a “nice-to-have” feature; supplying it is an ethical imperative.

Patients should not be left to parse complex lab data alone, nor should they be making decisions based on fragmented information, especially when a single abnormal result might suggest a more serious situation than exists. While AI-generated engines process and summarize vast amounts of information in a blink, they lack the clinical judgment and humanity of a physician who knows a patient’s medical history. 

Further, AI-based models cannot currently account for every factor influencing personal health metrics, such as lifestyle, age, genetic predispositions, or recent health events. Even the language used by AI can inadvertently amplify fear; a model might describe results as “abnormal” or “high-risk” when the variation is clinically insignificant. And because AI still lacks a provider’s empathy and human touch, patients may rightly feel uneasy receiving sensitive information without the guidance of a health professional.

The Prostate Cancer Anxiety Trap: Low PSA and Free PSA

I recently underwent a routine prostate cancer screening, where the lab results appeared to signal a high risk. But without knowledgeable interpretation, the data I received was incomplete and could easily have been misleading. Consider my PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) tests: while a low PSA level, around 1 ng/mL, is well within the safety margin, a low percentage of Free PSA—such as 10%—could indicate a higher risk of prostate cancer, even when the PSA level itself does not suggest immediate concern. Interpreting these results on my own, the low Free PSA percentage triggered no small amount of anxiety about prostate cancer.

Conversely, a low PSA level combined with a low Free PSA percentage does not paint a clear picture; further medical consultation was required to interpret risk accurately. Age, overall health, and family history are crucial in clinical decision-making, but these factors are absent from raw diagnostic data. I was lucky to have the immediate benefit of my urologist’s expertise; without their judgment and insight, I might have jumped to conclusions, undergone unnecessary stress, or requested unneeded tests out of fear.

And it’s not just prostate exams. Thyroid function tests, heart-health markers, and diabetes screening metrics are three additional areas rife with potential confusion for patients reviewing their raw lab results. Elevated TSH readings, high LDL or CRP levels, or a single HbA1c result do not tell the whole story. These values are not necessarily predictive independently; they’re components of a broader clinical picture. Consumers need to be supported in reviewing that clinical picture, and AI needs to be part of providing that help.

Moving Toward Empowered, Informed Health Access

Despite the overall need to incorporate supports for interpreting health data, some health diagnostic platforms have begun to address consumers’ need to know by adding helpful explanatory notes to lab results or providing easy-access telehealth consults for patients seeking immediate explanations. A patient receiving an abnormal test result might be able to speak with a health professional or receive brief, plain-language insights about what the numbers indicate in general terms. These options can serve as bridges, guiding patients away from alarmist conclusions and toward actionable steps. At the very least, they provide patients with prompts for the questions to ask their health professional during a face-to-face meeting.

For those building and maintaining portal apps and platforms, acknowledging that many patients lack extensive health literacy and may be unfamiliar with basic medical terminology is crucial. Developers of health platforms should consider embedding visual aids, simplified summaries, or links to reputable health information sources to provide a foundation for stronger understanding before patients seek further information.

AI and Large Language Models: Help and Hazard

A recent JAMA study surprisingly suggests patients often prefer ChatGPT tools to physician conversations. While physicians understandably doubted the study’s conclusions, its data and the public conversation it sparked revealed that technology available in real-time to answer patients’ pressing clinical and emotional needs was sought and welcomed.

Large language models (LLMs) can provide general context, describing what test results typically mean and suggesting possible follow-up actions, like consulting a doctor if certain thresholds are exceeded. Technology can offer helpful insights, especially for people with conditions and concerns like cancer and other frightening health challenges requiring prompt access to professional input.  

LLM Cancer Mentor Apps such as Dave AI are revolutionary tools for cancer patients, caregivers, and physicians. It’s like having a WAZE for navigating the complex cancer diagnostic and care journey. Patients no longer have to wait for their next appointment to get answers to their questions.  Health tech innovators realize that diagnoses leave patients anxious between doctor visits, and the best solution may often be well-trained LLMs.  [See LLM Cancer Mentor “Dave AI” Offers WAZE-like 24/7 Personalized Support, Making it a Game-Changer in Patient Care.]

The Cost of Health Data Without Context

The rapid consumerization of health data has democratized healthcare in powerful ways, but its pace has opened gaps in care and introduced risks. The emotional toll can be high when consumers receive real-time results without contextual guidance. Data that might otherwise encourage patients to engage actively in their wellness may instead provoke anxiety, confusion, or even mistrust in their own body’s signals.

“In clinical trials and healthcare, acknowledging and addressing the psychological symptoms brought on by the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of many conditions is vital,” writes Emily Epstein, LMSW, a Weill Cornell staff members who advocate for the inclusion of mental health support research and medical settings. “When a provider overlooks the anxiety that accompanies the stress of managing physical symptoms, a disservice is done to the mental well-being of the patients and participants, which can have adverse effects on the trial itself,” she adds.

A Call for Physician-Guided Digital Health Experiences

Access to lab results is part of a significant and positive cultural shift in health, where the focus has moved toward patient empowerment and shared decision-making. However, for true empowerment, patients need more than raw data; they need empathetic guidance in understanding their data’s meaning in the context of their unique health profile. To address this, health systems and app developers should incorporate sophisticated LLM resources that help educate users about the strengths and limitations of raw lab data and how to navigate the journey better ahead.

Empowered patients are educated patients capable of better understanding their health journeys in partnership with their health providers. As we advance, let’s strive for a digital health environment where patients can access their results clearly and confidently and know that communication is always part of the care.

The post Promise and Peril of Instant Health Information Access for Consumers appeared first on Medika Life.

The probability of suicide attempt and suicide death was 1.48 and 1.47 times higher, respectively, for wives of cancer patients compared to those whose spouses never had the disease, according to data from Denmark’s national patient databases.

Some variables affected the severity of that risk. Suicide attempts and fatalities among patients’ spouses were more common among those whose tumors were more aggressive, but this was not the case for cancers with better prognoses. This highlights the seriousness of the situation for cancer caretakers. Suicide attempts and fatalities were more common among people with a history of mental illness following a spouse’s cancer diagnosis. But we need to remember that not all individuals with mental illnesses seek treatment, so not all of them receive a diagnosis, and that means they get left out of the statistical calculations.

Caregiving for a loved one with cancer is fraught with difficulties on many fronts, including the physical, mental, and practical. Cancer treatments have a profound impact on patients, but they also place heavy financial and emotional strains on loved ones, who may already have quite a bit on their plates with which they must contend.

Witnessing a loved one’s suffering, on top of the challenging nature of caring, can induce severe psychological discomfort. Few studies have examined the rates of suicide, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm among cancer patients’ caregivers, even though depression is the leading cause of suicide.

Because of shorter hospital stays, more outpatient therapy, improved survival rates, and patients’ preferences for at-home care, the primary care environment for cancer patients has moved from hospitals to patients’ homes. Therefore, more people will need to pitch in to take care of cancer patients’ day-to-day needs, especially those who are close to the patients, such as friends and family. Caregivers play a crucial role in the treatment journey of cancer patients. Currently, there are an estimated six million of these caregivers worldwide.

Nearly 40.1% of men and 38.7% of women in the nation will develop cancer in their lives. Its effects on poor countries are equally significant and warrant investigation.

What About the Caregiver’s Quality of Life?

For cancer caregivers, the relationship between stress and well-being runs counter to what one would expect. Caring for someone reliant on you increases your chances of anxiety by 86% and sadness by 65%. The majority of unpaid caregivers are women (45–65 years old), who stay at home and are the patient’s daughter or husband, according to studies that have profiled this demographic. Among the 7663 caregivers who made up one overall sample, women made up 66.72%. The majority of research agrees that female caregivers outnumber male caregivers for cancer patients.

If women are the primary caregivers of cancer patients and provide assistance in the home, and research has not adequately assessed their quality of life, what can we learn from the current body of research?

Among all relatives, 11% felt a heavy burden as a caretaker, and the median number of hours spent caring for a loved one each week was 15. Family members who reported a low or medium caregiver load were more resilient and engaged in self-care more frequently than those who reported a high caregiver burden. Caregivers who reported carrying a heavy load were more likely to be younger, better educated, and less knowledgeable about the value of self-care. They also frequently reported acting as an informal caretaker for the patient.

Nearly half (43.5%) of caregivers said they had to deal with high financial costs, and almost a third (35.0%) said they experienced isolation or the loss of friends due to caring for someone else. Comparatively, 33% said they had unfavorable effects on their bodies. Starting at 13%, the percentage of people experiencing overwhelming or severe stress increased to 59.5% as the disease progressed, substantially quintupling from the baseline.

Relatives of people with advanced cancer may cope better with the caregiving load they face if they practice self-care and build resilience. However, little attention has been paid to these ideas. What is the motivation for caregivers of cancer patients?

In a survey asking about their primary drivers, 75% of people mentioned love as a driving element, while 50% cited a sense of duty. While 3.5 percent cited remorse as their driving force, 8% cited financial gain as their primary motivator. Tragic loss accounted for 30.5% of caregivers’ responsibilities, followed by mental health issues at 28.0%, and financial concerns at 15.5%.

Considering the research or lack thereof, caregivers for cancer patients who go through increasing stages of the disease must feel like they are trying to push the ocean back with a broom.

Their sentiments are understandable, but there is help available, and I am listing both groups and other available resources for these individuals. We cannot leave them feeling hopeless and helpless. We must employ all our abilities, too, in a larger sense, to support these individuals in their valiant efforts.

I understand the demands and the difficulties, the strain, and the stress of caring for someone with metastatic cancer that marches on to become ever more ravaging because my mother died of cancer. She was fortunate because she had four daughters, including a granddaughter who, in managerial fashion, set up a schedule for each person’s involvement.

We were all given a shift (day and night) and time for respite care and self-care so we would not burn out. It was a time of great stress, but we are all proud of our involvement. Fortunately, this was when hospice care was in its infancy in the US, but we could find a major hospital that had cobbled together a knowledgeable cancer hospice team. They provided both care and medication for us, and we are forever grateful to them and the wonderful oncologist who took care of my mother in the hospital.

Groups and Resources

The American Cancer Society: downloadable guide

National Coalition for Cancer Survivors

Cancer Care Resources

National Cancer Institute

Cancer Support Community (Gilda’s Club)

National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Cancer Hope Network

Ovar’s Coming Together (ovarian cancer)

Colon Cancer Foundation

Cancer care can be overwhelming for anyone, so don’t think you are in any way weak if you are feeling the task is grinding you down and you are having suicidal thoughts.

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. For TTY users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

The post Cancer Patient Caregivers Are Being Forgotten in Suicide Risk appeared first on Medika Life.

Many of my patients present with early-stage cancer.

Screening tests are a tool that can facilitate such early catches of the disease.

Now comes an unexpected hero in the fight against cancer.

Honey bees.

You heard me correctly. These industrious pollinators are more than simple honey-makers.

They’re showcasing the power to detect cancer with remarkable accuracy.

Current Screening

Cancer screening encompasses a variety of tests designed to detect cancer early, often before symptoms appear, improving the chances of successful treatment.

Common screening tests include:

• Mammograms for breast cancer
• Pap smears for cervical cancer
• colonoscopy (and other tests) for colorectal cancer
• low-dose CT scans for lung cancer in high-risk individuals
• blood PSA test for prostate cancer

The specific tests recommended for an individual depend on age, gender, family history, and lifestyle.

Consulting with a healthcare provider is crucial to determine the most appropriate screening plan and ensure timely detection and intervention.

Bees for Cancer Screening

Researchers are delving into the potential of honey bees’ acute sense of smell to detect cancer, even in its earliest stages.

This promising avenue of research offers hope for a future where a simple breath test, aided by these industrious insects, could provide early diagnosis of diseases like cancer.

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) possess an extraordinary olfactory system, surpassing even sniffer dogs.

Bees can detect airborne molecules at concentrations as low as parts per trillion (or even parts per quadrillion).

Bees have an extraordinary ability to distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells.

This skill raises the possibility of a future in which a simple breath test, aided by these industrious insects, could provide early diagnosis of diseases like cancer.

Researchers Train Bees In 10 Minutes

Portuguese designer Susana Soares has created an innovative device that harnesses trained bees’ remarkable olfactory capabilities.

The device is a glass chamber system into which patients exhale.

Trained bees’ movement toward specific odors can signal the presence of disease biomarkers.

The outer curved tube acts as a protective barrier, preventing bees from inadvertently entering the inner diagnosis chamber.

Training Specifics

The training process involves positive reinforcement.

Scientists expose bees to a specific odor, and immediately afterward, they reward the bees with a solution of water and sugar.

This repeated pairing establishes a strong association in the bees between the target odor and the pleasurable experience of receiving a food reward.

This conditioning technique teaches bees to anticipate the reward when encountering a specific odor.

Does It Work?

The approach appears to be quite effective.

A recent study reveals that trained honey bees can detect lung cancer cells with an impressive 88 percent success rate.

Such a test could be more cost-effective, less invasive, and potentially more accurate than current screening methods, leading to earlier detection and more successful treatment outcomes.

Final Thoughts — Nature’s Cancer Detectives: Honey Bees’ Nose for Early Diagnosis Is Stunning

The new approach may someday translate into a low-cost, non-invasive diagnostic tool.

While the initial findings are incredibly promising, further research, specifically clinical trials involving real human breath samples, is necessary to validate the efficacy of bee-based breath tests for cancer and other diseases.

Are you not impressed?

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Medical malpractice “standards of care” are the generally accepted norms and practices that healthcare professionals are expected to follow when providing medical treatment to patients. These standards are based on the medical community’s collective knowledge and experience, as well as on established medical guidelines, protocols, and best practices. It’s the basis for our expectation of quality care, or at least average care.

The specific standards of care that apply to a particular case depend on various factors, such as the patient’s medical condition, the nature of the treatment being provided, and the relevant laws and regulations. For example, a doctor performing surgery would be expected to follow established surgical protocols and guidelines, while a psychiatrist treating a patient with depression would be expected to follow established guidelines for the treatment of mental illness. In any instance, if often is a human standard — as a personal judgment or interpretation of an aspect of technology.

This leads to a fundamental medical and legal question: How do we define and debate the evolving standards of care in the context of available medical technology—particularly artificial intelligent and platforms like ChatGPT? 

The first and critical perspective is the liability for using artificial intelligence and machine learning in medicine. While certainly in flux and given the rapid emergence of GPT, the concerns are significant and relevant. And even papers published only months ago fall short for a comprehensive and timely discussion. A 2021 paper provides a succinct analysis.

The relatively unsettled state of AI/ML and its potential liability provide an opportunity to develop a new liability model that accommodates medical progress and instructs stakeholders on how best to respond to disruptive innovation.

These issues are arriving quickly than expected and the inertia of progress will demand action. But it’s essential to look beyond this point in time and consider the trajectory of AI in medicine. There’s little doubt that AI will become “augmented intelligence” that will expand the cognitive domain of all clinicians. Artificial intelligence and language models like GPT have the potential to advance the practice of medicine by helping clinicians make more accurate and informed decisions. AI can assist in medical imaging, clinical diagnosis, and other areas where data analysis is critical. 

In fact, one can argue that AI in medicine is here. Even Harvard Business School recognizes the fundamental reality of AI in medicine today.

Medical artificial intelligence (AI) can perform with expert-level accuracy and deliver cost-effective care at scale. IBM’s Watson diagnoses heart disease better than cardiologists do. Chatbots dispense medical advice for the United Kingdom’s National Health Service in lieu of nurses. Smartphone apps now detect skin cancer with expert accuracy. Algorithms identify eye diseases just as well as specialized physicians. Some forecast that medical AI will pervade 90% of hospitals and replace as much as 80% of what doctors currently do.

Radiology is another good example where AI is driving significant changes. From workflow to post-scan image reconstruction, radiology is at the leading edge of how AI-based medicine is shifting from an option to an imperative. And today, there are over 500 FDA approved AI algorithms with the vast majority in radiology.

A fundamental question that emerges: what is the expectation of care are given a growing body of evidence for the utility of AI? Should every differential diagnosis have a “computer assist” as part of the process? Or should the distant lub dub of a heart sound live only in the ear of the clinical or be cognitively amplified by technology? And most importantly, what are the consequences for failing to leverage lifesaving technology that has clinical validation and availability?

Today, new questions will be asked regarding the best care, the available care, and the standard of care that medicine will be held up to. New standards and expectations for excellence will challenge the core capabilities in the practice of medicine. The cognitive domain of the clinician—once held as sacrosanct—will come under scrutiny as AI offers the accuracy and speed that is fundamental to care.  The path is defined by ambiguity.  But what maybe be most important about that early path are the guardrails that are put in place for all stakeholders.

The post Physicians Aren’t Becoming Obsolete, The Standards Of Care Are appeared first on Medika Life.

“Having had cancer, one important thing to know is you’re still the same person at the end. You’re stripped down to near zero. But most people come out the other end feeling more like themselves than ever.” — Kylie Minogue.

Early breast cancer detection optimizes the odds of survival. While regular screening tests for breast cancer are important, mammograms do not find every breast cancer.

It can be helpful for you to know the normal look and feel of your breasts. If changes occur, you may more easily spot them.

Let’s get right to my top 8 symptoms:

1. A new lump

A new lump is the most common symptom of breast cancer. While a painless, firm mass with irregular edges is more likely to be cancer, breast cancers can also be soft, round, or associated with discomfort or pain.

2. Swelling (with or without a lump)

Some individuals with cancer experience swelling or all or part of their breast.

3. Skin dimpling

Breast cancer is sometimes associated with dimpling. Uncommonly, the skin may take on the appearance of an orange peel, a condition known as peau d’orange.

4. Pain

Breast or nipple pain can be a symptom of breast cancer.

5. Nipple retraction

The nipple may turn inward in some cases of breast cancer.

6. Skin that is red, dry, flaking, thick, or itchy

Sometimes, the skin of the breast or nipple can change, reflecting cancer.

7. Nipple discharge

A nipple discharge (not breast milk) warrants a discussion with a healthcare provider.

8. Swollen nodes

If the lymph nodes in your underarm (axilla) or near the collarbone are larger than normal, this can sometimes be a sign of the regional spread of breast cancer. This symptom may or may not be associated with changes in the breast.

Please remember that non-cancerous (benign) conditions may cause these symptoms. Nevertheless, if you have any concerning symptoms, please get in touch with an experienced healthcare professional for an evaluation.

Finally, watching for symptoms does not substitute for appropriate screening. Mammograms can often detect breast cancer before any symptoms emerge.

Thank you for joining me in this brief look at breast cancer symptoms. It is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The post Breast Cancer — Do You Know These 8 Symptoms? appeared first on Medika Life.

I was having symptoms of abdominal pain, blood in my stool, and fatigue when my PCP sent me for a colonoscopy to “rule out anything bad.” I was a lifelong athlete, non-smoker, and healthy eater.  I was the picture of vitality.  I distinctly remember telling the nurse who was prepping me for anesthesia, “I just want to get this over with.  We are leaving for Bermuda next week for our 15-year anniversary trip and these symptoms have been annoying.”

I questioned in utter disbelief

The next thing I remember was 10 people standing around me with sad looks on their faces and the gastroenterologist telling me he had found a large tumor and, most likely, “You have cancer.”  “Cancer???” I questioned in utter disbelief.  “How does that even happen? I do everything right.”  He replied with sadness, “I know.  It just happens.”  I felt punched in the gut.  There was no way in a thousand years I thought I would associate myself with the word cancer at that point in my life when I was so young and healthy. It didn’t seem possible. 

Like everyone reading this, I had known someone with cancer.  My grandmother passed away from pancreatic cancer when I was 14, and I recalled the heartbreak of my mother caring for her.  My mother-in-law who lives 4 hours away survived lymphoma.  But I really didn’t have the tiniest clue of what would lie ahead of me. I hadn’t witnessed the day-to-day patient experience of someone battling cancer.  I didn’t know anything about ports, or staging, or chemotherapy (other than it was poison).  I knew from the look on the GI’s face that my situation was very bad.  It was a large tumor completely obstructing my colon – so large he had to abort the procedure because he couldn’t get the scope around it.  I also figured if it wasn’t bad, he would’ve said something encouraging like, “But we can do surgery, cut it out, and you’ll be good to go.” There was none of that talk. 

“I have cancer.”

My husband brought me home and I drank a cup of coffee, my go to comfort beverage.  I was in shock.  I kept retracing my life steps.  What did I do wrong to cause this?  I never did drugs.  I took my vitamins.  I was pretty much a goody two-shoes in the health department.  I called my parents.  My husband called his parents.  I spoke to my PCP.  With each phone call, it became more real.  “I have cancer.”  And each time I said those words, I sobbed harder and felt myself suffocating under the weight of a scary possibility: “I’m going to die.”  I immediately thought of all the milestones I would miss.  Turning 50.  My son graduating from high school.  A research breakthrough to help my disabled son.  Would my husband just pick up with another woman?  I thought of choosing my proxy for him.  A woman who could be a loving mom to my kids.  But every time I thought of someone suitable, I realized no one was suitable.  That I was the one who needed to be here to do all the things.  Failure was not an option.  I desperately needed to find a way out of this nightmare. 

The GI called me with the official pathology results.  “You have cancer.” Then he added, “I know you have a big trip next week.  You can still go.  We’ll start your treatment plan afterwards.”  I told him somberly, “I’m not going on my trip.  I will get there one day, but not next week.  I want to get this cancer crap out of me ASAP.”  Anyone who has first-hand familiarity with the healthcare system knows ASAP is a relative term at best. 

After my cup of coffee, I was whisked to our community hospital and transformed from Stacy:  athlete, former class clown, loyal friend, corporate executive, and hot 40-something mom to human pin cushion, gown wearing, “date of birth please” wristband bound cancer patient.  I was crying non-stop. Nurses were choking back tears as they hooked me up to various machines for imaging and testing.  A few of them even prayed with me and handed me rosaries when they read my Roman Catholic faith affiliation on my history intake form.  I became hysterical when my mom walked in crying.  I asked for a valium.  It was an absolute horror filled shitshow in every sense of the word.  It’s safe to say that at that point, everyone thought this young, seemingly vibrant woman was going to die. 

“I am going to live.”

I went home and after a few days (which included a PET scan), I decided I couldn’t live every day thinking I was going to die.  So, I started researching ways to reframe this plight in a way that would help me cope.  I read a lot about thought replacement therapy which is what the name suggests:  every time a thought creeped in of “I am going to die,” I actively pushed it out and affirmed verbally, “I am going to live.”  It changed everything for how I approached my illness from then on.  So much so, that when I met with the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center oncologist for my PET results, and his face was grim, and he wouldn’t answer me when I asked him what my chances were (translation: not good at all), I told him that I was intent on kicking cancer’s ass. Fortunately, and miraculously, the rest is history and I did.  I turned fifty, in 2 months I will watch my older son graduate from high school, and in the life yet ahead of me, I believe that a research breakthrough will be developed for Emmett.

I don’t want anyone to have to stare into the face of death as I did if they don’t have to.  If you’re not already taking charge of your health, I want you to take steps to actively do so.  It’s colorectal cancer awareness month, so I want you to have a conversation with your physician about your options for getting screened, choose one, and do it.  And finally, I want you to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.  For example, “I WILL get to Bermuda one day soon.” 

The post What It’s REALLY Like to Hear the Words: “You Have Cancer”  appeared first on Medika Life.