oncology

In Their Own Words: Five Cancer Research Sheroes

Whether referring to those who are influencing medical milestones in cancer research, the women who are thriving, or our loved ones who are now in our memories and forever in our hearts, Cervivor is proud to highlight the women who share their stories, rallying fists, and expertise that help us get closer to a cure.

And to be clear, this is not the pride that interferes with faith or recognition of a higher calling; This is the delight and fulfillment that keeps us here, fighting, sharing, educating and yelling from mountaintops that we can find a cure. So during this Women’s History Month, we want to acknowledge women (who, by the way make up nearly 70% of the entire world’s healthcare workforce), and shout out five women in cancer research and healthcare – in their own words. 

Padmanee Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: “I feel like we’re right on the cutting edge of discoveries that will create incredibly good outcomes for our patients with cancer … Finally, people can see that what we’ve been saying for all these years about immunotherapy is correct. But more important, we can now deliver the hope to patients that we’ve been working so hard for.” 

Rosalind Franklin, British chemist whose doctoral student took the infamous “Photo 51,” that first showed the iconic double helix of DNA in 1952: “ … Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated. Science, for me, gives a partial explanation of life. In so far as it goes, it is based on fact, experience and experiment. Your theories are those which you and many other people find easiest and pleasantest to believe, but so far as I can see, they have no foundation other than they lead [cq] to a pleasanter view of life … ” Read more.

Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela, Assistant Director-General for Strategic Programmatic Priorities: Cervical Cancer Elimination: “I’m always an optimist. When you have a life and you have opportunities, we should strive to progress and share this enthusiasm with new communities. We must use this global commitment to elimination for national action. We can make a huge contribution to the lives of women who are less privileged and advantaged than we are. And move together towards a world free of cervical cancer … The most important message that we are communicating to everybody is to take this forward together, in one united push, and to maintain the momentum.” Read more.

Helen Coley Nauts—the daughter of Dr. William B. Coley, the Father of Cancer Immunotherapy (CRI) who helped advance her father’s work despite not having a college degree or scientific training: “You must be aware that no one else but me has so far made a detailed and painstaking study of all possible aspects of this form of treatment. Until such time as you may train a person with a more impressive medical background, I would suggest that you appoint me as a sort of registrar of information on the above mentioned Toxin clearing house.” Read more of Naut’s letters chronicling her advocacy toward a new path of cancer research in the 1950s.

Dr. Lillian L. Siu, Canadian oncologist, clinician scientist and recipient of the International Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award: “All of us have family members who are affected by the disease, by cancer. There’s always going to be a personal component to most oncologists that enter the field. You have to understand something about the heart, you have to understand something about the lungs … you almost have to be a jack of all trades. That’s what intrigues me about oncology and cancer medicine. And obviously, to make a big difference in cancer is going to be very rewarding because that’s going to save a lot of lives and make a lot of difference in people’s lives.” Watch more.

Learn more about our cervivors, who we, too salute, this month and share their stories with your circles! Have a story of your own? Share it with us!

National Doctor’s Day

Today is National Doctor’s Day. For many of us who have battled cancer, these men

Carol Lacey and Dr. Albert Pisani in Palo Alto, CA. Carol says, “I am still here because of him!”

and women are some of the most important people in our lives. Like they are up there with our spouses, children, parents, and close friends. These are the people who are with us during some of the most critical moments of our life. They deliver our diagnosis, they drive our treatment, they help us manage the side effects, they walk with us through survivorship, they are with us in the trenches. These are hard moments. These are life-changing moments, frozen in time.

More times than not, these doctors are our oncologists who lead the charge on our treatment after the diagnosis. A lot of us end up needing other specialists due to complications from chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Suddenly more heroes emerge and come to us as urologists, gastroenterologists, nephrologists, hematologists, the list goes on and on. Such medical specialties are very hard to crack. To get these positions, your best bet is to check out one of the best Carribean medical schools or similar, to get yourself on the ladder to becoming a qualified doctor.

Holly Lawson and urologist Dr. Geoffrey Nuss in Fort Worth, TX. “He saved my bladder!”

The relationship between the doctor and patient is quite unique. The most important thing is to find a healthcare provider that you trust and with whom you feel comfortable. It takes clear communication from both parties for the team to gel and makes progress, for the betterment of the patient. So you are not off the hook! As patients, we the responsibility to listen to them and respect them as experts, as they respect us as the chief of our bodies. It is pertinent to feel that you are being heard as a patient. Open dialogue and mutual respect with your doctor is crucial. Having a doctor who is attentive and honest can put you at ease and make those hard appointments and decisions, a little less anxious. Good doctors make all the difference!

Today we want to honor these amazing men and women who have driven our treatment, held
our hands, cried with us, laughed with us, and celebrated even the smallest of victories right by our side. They work endless hours to help make our lives better. There aren’t enough words to thank them, but we want to try. Today is their day. Happy National Doctor’s Day!