#LCSM Chat Topic 2/26 at 8PM ET: Changing the Language of Cancer

Cancer is a gift. Cancer is a battle. I’m cancer free. G-d only gives you what you can handle. Stay positive. These are words and phrases often associated with a cancer diagnosis. Are they helpful or not? Obesity is the new smoking. Limit alcohol consumption. Exercise more. Sit less. There have been countless media reports about cancer prevention. Good advice, right? Treatable vs. curable. ‘Good’ cancer vs. ‘bad’ cancer. 5-year survival. Surgical cure. These are examples of language that may be heard in doctor’s offices. Are health care providers and patients on the… Read More

#LCSM Chat Topic 2/12 8PM ET: #IWishMyDoc and #IWishMyPatient

Stacey Tinianov (@coffeemommy) wrote an excellent blogpost titled “Context, Understanding and Empathy: #IWishMyDoc & #IWishMyPatient” on the Flip the Clinic website February 1. Below are excerpts from that post that set the stage for our next LCSM Chat on February 12: If you could openly offer any suggestion to your physician, what would it be and why? If you could kindly suggest something that could improve your patient’s time in the clinic or overall health, what would you tell them? Although whole health and wellness is the goal for both physicians and patients, we occasionally… Read More

#LCSM Chat Topic 1/29 8PM ET: How Do Patients Decide Where to Seek Cancer Treatment?

Cancer is both a terrible, terrifying disease and big business.  With costs of care rising and delivery of medicine changing, independent private practice groups are increasingly uncommon and sole practitioners are rare.   Cancer care is now becoming consolidated as a system of larger institutions and networks, whether academic or private. And they build business with marketing and a keen eye on competition. These institutions are targeting market niches with major campaigns. Smaller, local centers may focus on the opportunity to get cancer care close to home. Other centers feature cutting edge care… Read More