Treatment Choices

Whether it was discovered during a breast self-exam or incidentally as you were putting on your deodorant, finding a breast lump can be terrifying. Somehow it seems human nature for us to think the worst when we find a mass or lump anywhere there should not be one.

As more people survive cancer, primary care physicians and oncologists must work together to manage patient care. That’s because once cancer treatment ends, patients eventually transition back to their primary care physician.

When Martha Driskel learned she had esophageal cancer and needed a surgical procedure called an esophagectomy, she wanted to heal as quickly as possible. Thanks to the new Michigan Surgical and Health Optimization Program, her recovery went better than expected.

Todd Morgan, M.D. of the U-M Multidisciplinary Urologic Oncology Clinic answers questions about prostate cancer biomarkers and explains how they help in prostate cancer treatment.

The first step in treating skin cancer is proper diagnosis. This requires your doctor to remove a small tissue sample (a biopsy) from the suspected site. When done at the University of Michigan, a specially trained dermatopathologist examines the biopsy to determine if cancer is present and if so what type.

Christine Knight's family has always joked she was born with a needle in her hand. Like many busy wives and mothers, her hobby came second to her life. That changed when she was diagnosed with melanoma.

Communication with the patient and family is at the heart of the relationship between the patient, her family or friends, and the doctor. Nothing supplants the bond that forms when the patient knows her doctor is watching out for her health and for her life. As a doctor, you must convey that commitment with words and actions forever.

Patients who receive radiation therapy understand that the process often comes with anxiety. In order to reduce some of this anxiety, the Department of Radiation Oncology formed a Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) committee. The goal of the group is to offer patients and families the opportunity to reflect on their treatment and recommend potential ways to improve the experience for others.

It's only natural when you hear the word cancer to want to spring into action to get rid of it. It's also natural to think about people you know who've had cancer and the decisions they made to treat it. You're afraid. You have families and friends to think about. You need to decide on your treatment . . . but not so fast.