Newly Diagnosed Cancer? Here is Your "What to Expect" Book

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but every month is the right time for preventative medicine (schedule that physical and mammogram!) For me, this is a milestone year, with daily Facebook reminders that my high school classmates are turning the big 5-0. As we start this wonderful "second half"of the game of life, more and more of us are facing the challenge of a cancer diagnosis.

As a family doctor, I have too often seen the deer-in-the-headlights look on my patient's face as I shared the difficult news of a cancer diagnosis. Each time, I feel like time stops for a few moments, and like a cartoon character babbling on, my words are collecting out there in a balloon while the word CANCER echoes back and forth in my patient's reality. I have had countless friends, colleagues and relatives face this challenge as well, and in every situation, my heart aches to help them as my medical brain searches for answers. I am a family physician, so while I am well versed at diagnosing a variety of cancers, I have limited hands-on experience in treatment.

Julie Silver, MD, is a Harvard doctor who specializes in rehabilitation medicine. She faced the diagnosis of breast cancer herself at only thirty-six, right in the middle of being a busy mom, wife and full time physician and medical author. As such, she is uniquely qualified to author "Before and After Cancer Treatment: Heal Faster, Better, Stronger" and the second edition has recently been released by Johns Hopkins University Press. From my perspective, Dr. Silver's book is the perfect blend of scientific analysis of cancer treatment and practical advice on "what to expect when you have cancer." My generation loved our "what to expect" books for pregnancy and toddler years, and now we have a book that meets that practical function when the cancer bomb explodes into our lives.

Dr. Silver addresses alternative medicine, meditation, exercise, spirituality, love, relationships and goal-setting. She advocates for patients to seek second opinions and be proactive about cancer PREhabilitiation to get "as strong as possible- physically and emotionally- BEFORE you begin treatment." She incorporates her personal experiences as well as those of many others, including excerpts from a book she published with the American Cancer Society called What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope, as well as vignettes from other books and survivors.

Facing cancer often means many hours of down time, when the chemo-fatigue drains you of productive energy. Sleep is good. True rest is VERY good. Friends providing family meals and pitching in on the "invisible work" of groceries, laundry, and house maintenance is extremely helpful. Let your friend diagnosed with cancer conserve their energy for the things that matter the MOST- their family, their passions. Tuck this book in with the first meal that you provide.

BOTTOM LINE: If you (or your friend) is diagnosed with cancer, Dr. Silver's new book is a great resource to HEAL FASTER, BETTER, STRONGER. 

Till We Meet Again...A Special Note to my WLFP Patients

To my wonderful patients from West Lake Family Practice,
This note is a month overdue, not from neglect, but from the inadequacy of my words each time I sat down to write. I simply cannot express what a privilege it has been to care for you and your families. Many of you have been trusting your healthcare to me for almost two decades- first at my practice on 38th street and then in Westlake. I truly cherish our friendships and shared experiences- through occasionally bewildering medical challenges and with your "real life" experiences, both the joyous and the sorrowful. When I think about the practice of medicine, it's not about cancer, diabetes, weight, heart attacks, depression or sore throats- it's about the complete person dealing with these challenges, and his or her stories and relationships. That is why I love family medicine.

When I took what I had hoped to be a six month leave of absence last year to finish up two writing projects, I had every intention of returning to WLFP. Unfortunately, publishing world turnover created chaos in one project, extending my leave to a full year. Meanwhile, medical care is obviously in the midst of upheaval and evolution, and primary care practices in particular have been swept up in these changes. WLFP is no exception, as I am sure you are aware. Like any business, our practice both gained and lost personnel as the ownership changed hands.  I believe many of these changes in healthcare will push the practice of medicine in the right direction (such as electronic medical records)  but patience is required, as the growing process can be challenging for all of us. With all of these changes, however, the timing is right for me to make another transition in my career.

Although I miss the patients, co-workers and staff at WLFP, I am truly enjoying being back at the University of Texas, seeing students in the urgent care area of the health center. (The reflection from my Aggie ring makes all that burnt orange look maroon...) Seriously, though, please make sure your current Longhorn students know I am available for them! Additionally, many of you know that I have been working with our Bishop Emeritus, John McCarthy, on his book (very near publication), and I am excited to bring my life full circle soon by joining the team at Seton's McCarthy Clinic (named in his honor.)

A special thank you to Cary Douglass, MD, for inviting me to work at WLFP a decade ago, and always supporting my editing, writing, publishing, and media adventures. To Scott Gaertner, MD, & Kristyn Fagerberg, MD, I miss you both and wish you success at West Hills Family Health Center.
To Mary Sue and the front office staff, thanks for juggling my schedule without complaint. To Deana and Lorie, I know you will keep taking great care of our patients, thank you! To Virginia, all the best...until we meet again.

BOTTOM LINE: My dear patients, I will not say goodbye, but only "till we meet again"...and many thanks for your trust and friendship.