Together, we’ve accomplished quite a bit over these 22-plus years, bringing national clinical trials to Southern Nevada and developing groundbreaking therapies, providing resources that positively impact our patients’ well being and, ultimately, providing hope to the patients that currently, or will, have cancer right here in our community.
Each oncologist in our practice brings his or her own unique expertise, approach and experiences to the table. In reflecting on what comprises my typical day (or week, or month), there are certainly some themes and consistencies that make me who I am and drive the level of care
I deliver to my patients.
And, those consistencies begin with early mornings.
Early Riser
I get up at five every morning. When my kids were little and in school, I took them to school and my husband picked them up. Mornings were hectic but it was my special time with them. They are now grown, married, and on their own.
Early mornings are now dedicated to either dictating notes, making rounds at the hospital or preparing myself for the day.
At 8 a.m I start seeing my first patient.
On the average day, I see patients all morning. Sticking to a firm appointment schedule isn’t easy. Our patients, rightfully so, expect us to be on time, but a longer conversation may be necessary to explain results and treatment plans or give difficult news.
These are the types of situations that you cannot prepare for. Most of the patients have at one time or another, been in the position of needing extra time and fully appreciate the importance of that interaction. At some point in the day, I take a 30-minute lunch break. This time is typically reserved for sitting down with our practice director, the office staff or our personnel. This is always an important part of my day, as I very much like to be a part of our practice and see how we can expand our treatment options and patient care while keeping our employees happy as well.
Post-lunch, it is back to seeing patients until around 4 p.m. Most of the doctors then wind up reviewing x-rays, labs, paperwork or return phone calls until at least 6 p.m. After that, my evenings can vary. Sometimes we do have night meetings that can last late to cover practice issues and governance. Most nights I go home and have time with the family.
In some instances, I take my off time to broaden my expertise. Recently, I took a course with City of Hope — it was really more of a crash-course for those in the oncology world focused on genetics and specific abnormalities that may lead to cancer.
Not accounting for evening activities, most days, I put in a 12-hour day. I think this is normal in much of the working world, and in many ways I am fortunate to be able to do what fits me and is rewarding.
The Fabric of Being an Oncologist: Your Patients
Working with cancer patients can be an emotional roller coaster for physicians and staff. As I became more experienced over the years I appreciated that at times, I could predict who would do well and who would not. This helped prepare me for the ups and downs but not completely. There are always surprises, good and bad.
There were nights early in my career that I remember my husband holding my hand while I cried. He’d say it was his part of our partnership. Those nights are not as often, but every now and then there are still situations that get to me. In oncology, one has to be able to separate oneself to a certain extent in order to care for the patient in the best way possible, but we are human.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are many patients who come and see me five, 10 or 15 years down the line of being cancer-free. Seeing these success stories and maintaining relationships with my patients, past and present, is one of the many reasons
I love my job 28 years in.
Focusing solely on breast cancer, it’s a way for me to concentrate on one disease and be the best I can possibly be at that. Breast cancer can be very treatable if caught early, but even though it is treatable, the patients still have a long journey and the follow up care on medication can last upwards of five to 10 years.
The visits I have from my patients each day are diverse in scope. Over the course of a single day recently, I saw:
• A mother, with her 5-year-old daughter, ready to start chemotherapy worried how her child will handle her hair loss.
• An 80-year-old that reminds me of my mother and gives me a hug every time I see her.
• A husband who came in to see me after his wife passed away just to say thank you.
• A grown woman I treated as a 20-year-old who is now 22 years out from diagnosis and treatment. Big smiles and hugs.
• A young lady that dropped out of college for her cancer treatment and now has graduated, and married. When she came back and reached out to me, I had goose bumps.
Beyond the Practice
Like most professionals, there are things that keep me grounded. For me, it is my family. I have a remarkable and wonderful husband that has helped me tremendously over the years, and two beautiful children who have grown up to be outstanding men.
Personally, and as I advise many of my patients, it’s important to keep exercising. My go-to exercises are Pilates and running, though I don’t run quite as much as I used to (older joints). Sometimes, I do need to get away… and for that, there is no place like Texas, Oklahoma, Seattle and any beach.
The bulk of my remaining free time is dedicated to the philanthropic causes. In 2004, I co-founded The Caring Place, a nonprofit organization created to bring a community-based wellness center to Southern Nevada. The nonprofit now resides under the umbrella of Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, where its benefits reach both adults and children.
I am so proud of how this nonprofit has blossomed and matured. To date, The Caring Place has helped more than 10,000 Southern Nevadans and provides comfort and support for those who have or have been touched by cancer. This includes family members, friends and caregivers. It offers free programs that actively manage the impact of cancer in peoples’ lives and improve their quality of life — including Reiki massage, art therapy, meditation and others to encourage long term healing for those who have been touched by cancer.
Recently I’ve also started doing some independent giving through a site called DonorsChoose.org. I have a son and daughter in law who both teach high school math. She needed calculators for her class, so she got the financial support she needed from donors who contacted the site.
Final Thought
The reason I got in to oncology was to take care of patients with cancer. And, today, I am thankful to be doing just that. I’ve always said that each oncology patient is special… and the relationship between an oncologist and his/her patient is one of the most rewarding in medicine.
It’s always amazing to me that after I’ve seemingly made a patient sick through chemotherapy, or made his or her hair fall out they are so gracious and thankful.
That oncologist-patient bond is like no other. And that’s what keeps me doing what I do.