Wendy Harpham on Healthy Survivorship tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1543126 2012-01-27T08:06:10-08:00 Dr. Wendy Harpham is a doctor of internal medicine, cancer survivor, and award-winning and best-selling author of books about cancer: Healthy Survivorship, recovery and late effects, and raising children when a parent has cancer. She is also a public speaker, patient advocate, and mother of three. TypePad Grief and Acceptance - Part II tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330168e63052c5970c 2012-01-27T08:06:10-08:00 2012-01-27T08:14:57-08:00 Yesterday's post linked to an editorial by two well-credentialed psychiatrists with special interest in end-of-life care. Their studies led them to consider grief as "the state of emotional unrest and... Wendy Harpham Grief and Acceptance tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d19883301543447d893970c 2012-01-26T08:28:45-08:00 2012-01-26T08:46:02-08:00 Illness is often associated with loss, even when the medical outcome is excellent. Since prolonged grief is associated with distress and dysfunction, an understanding of healthy ways to deal with... Wendy Harpham Scan Anxiety and Healing Hope tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330163000c4eb6970d 2012-01-24T09:53:48-08:00 2012-01-25T17:33:50-08:00 In my January 21st post, I shared a vignette that illustrates the notion that what you hope for affects whether your hope helps or hurts you. Now let's look at... Wendy Harpham What are You Hoping For? tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833016760e409cb970b 2012-01-21T07:17:01-08:00 2012-01-21T07:32:12-08:00 Challenges prompt new desires. If in school, we want to graduate. If ill, we desire wellness. While dealing with a challenge, how much hope do you have? Does it even... Wendy Harpham Ranting and Healing - Part II tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162ffcd3381970d 2012-01-18T12:50:33-08:00 2012-01-18T12:50:33-08:00 In yesterday's post, I shared my reaction to a rant found on a cancer-related listserv. I explained my concerns regarding such expressions of anger, disappointment and frustration. So what are... Wendy Harpham Ranting or Healing tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330168e5b8f350970c 2012-01-17T20:53:57-08:00 2012-01-18T05:59:12-08:00 A recent thread on a cancer listserv included the rants of listserv members who were angry they hadn't been better warned about the possibility of developing aftereffects. This is a... Wendy Harpham The New Me tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162ff9e22cb970d 2012-01-15T08:57:07-08:00 2012-01-15T08:58:22-08:00 During my first remission I began work on After Cancer, a book to help patients understand and respond in healthy ways to the medical, practical and emotional challenges of recovery... Wendy Harpham Revoking FDA Approval: Conclusion tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162ff7aadad970d 2012-01-12T21:18:13-08:00 2012-01-12T21:07:58-08:00 The FDA revokes approval of Avastin for breast cancer. What's a survivor to do? Healthy Survivors look at things the way they are. Not the way they think things should... Wendy Harpham Revoking FDA Approval: Right or Wrong? - Part IX tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330168e54f4cea970c 2012-01-10T13:49:28-08:00 2012-01-12T18:50:12-08:00 In my last post, I asked, "Why not, at least, make Avastin available to breast cancer patients who are doing well on it?" Arguments for: Patients should have the ultimate... Wendy Harpham Revoking FDA Approval: Right or Wrong? - Part VIII tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162ff136aea970d 2012-01-05T19:56:42-08:00 2012-01-12T18:50:39-08:00 The case of the FDA revoking approval of Avastin for the treatment of breast cancer is complicated by the urgency of the need for better therapies. We’re not talking about... Wendy Harpham Revoking FDA Approval: Right or Wrong? - Part VII tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330168e4f774be970c 2012-01-04T08:12:58-08:00 2012-01-04T07:33:25-08:00 Let's tease apart some of the sticky-wicket issues of FDA approvals and revocations. For one, how does the FDA measure success? When designing clinical trials, researchers determine which endpoints or... Wendy Harpham Revoking FDA Approval: Right or Wrong? - Part VI tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162fe94c38d970d 2011-12-29T06:28:26-08:00 2011-12-29T15:06:46-08:00 In light of recent events in my personal life forcing uncharacteristic delays between posts, I'll review briefly what I've discussed so far before continuing the discussion about the FDA's recent... Wendy Harpham Revoking FDA Approval: Right or Wrong? - Part V tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d19883301675f27c082970b 2011-12-22T09:25:48-08:00 2012-01-06T06:05:15-08:00 Now let's look at the players who influenced the FDA's decision to revoke approval of Avastin for breast cancer. The complex process requires a book-length manuscript to fully explain. Rather... Wendy Harpham Revoking FDA Approval: Right or Wrong? - Part IV tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d19883301675ef89ec6970b 2011-12-19T07:22:30-08:00 2012-01-06T06:00:11-08:00 My last post provided an outline of the FDA's approval process. I cringed while writing it, knowing 250 words couldn't capture the investment of time, people and capital. My perspective... Wendy Harpham Revoking FDA Approval: Right or Wrong - Part III tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162fdc00076970d 2011-12-13T10:09:05-08:00 2012-01-06T05:51:48-08:00 In my November 28th and December 3rd posts I introduced the media storm regarding the FDA's recent revocation of approval of Avastin for the treatment of breast cancer. Today I'll... Wendy Harpham Managing Uncertainty: Hope tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015437fd1bd1970c 2011-12-10T07:31:54-08:00 2011-12-20T07:13:21-08:00 In my October 20 and November 19th posts I provided links to the first two essays of a 4-part series on managing uncertainty. In the November 25th issue of Oncology... Wendy Harpham Holding Note tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162fd82196c970d 2011-12-07T18:23:02-08:00 2011-12-07T18:26:35-08:00 When I was in practice, after seeing a patient in the hospital I would occasionally write a so-called holding note in the patient's chart. This was a synopsis that indicated... Wendy Harpham Revoking FDA Approval: Right or Wrong? Part II tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162fd235cd7970d 2011-12-03T18:11:45-08:00 2012-01-06T05:49:19-08:00 To judge the FDA's recent revocation of approval for Avastin for breast cancer, let's go back to basics. What is the job of the FDA? To find out, you need... Wendy Harpham Revoking FDA Approval: Right or Wrong? tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015393ba2ef9970b 2011-11-28T21:02:06-08:00 2011-11-28T20:59:29-08:00 Recently the FDA revoked approval of a best-selling drug, Avastin, for treatment of breast cancer. Ever since, arguments for and against the removal have been voiced in blogs and major... Wendy Harpham Managing Uncertainty - Part II tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015437200923970c 2011-11-19T21:46:03-08:00 2011-11-19T21:46:03-08:00 Here at the 2011 Life Beyond Cancer Retreat in Austin, Texas, a recurring theme in workshops and during meals has been the challenge of living with a heightened sense of... Wendy Harpham Resource on Life After Treatment tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015393241194970b 2011-11-17T18:13:00-08:00 2011-11-16T09:14:21-08:00 The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently published Cancer Survivorship: Next Steps for Patients and Their Families, a booklet intended to help patients adjust to life after completion of... Wendy Harpham Searching for Hope - Part II tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162fc6e7c27970d 2011-11-15T14:11:10-08:00 2011-11-15T16:01:47-08:00 In a provocative 242-word essay -- Interruptions -- that prompted my November 13th post, Lucy Stanovick fishes for information about how hopeful her oncologist feels regarding her recovery. Is her... Wendy Harpham Searching for Hope tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330154366c75e1970c 2011-11-13T18:33:00-08:00 2011-11-13T18:33:00-08:00 In a poignant and provocative essay published on the Metavivor website, Lucy Stanovick illustrates one of the challenges Healthy Survivors face when trying to find hope in the setting of... Wendy Harpham Elephant in the room tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d19883301543683e038970c 2011-11-11T18:51:00-08:00 2011-11-02T11:05:21-07:00 I just read a gem of a book by breast cancer survivor Bob Riter, Executive Director of Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes: Elephant in the Room: Practical Advice... Wendy Harpham U.S.-style Abandonment of Care: Lost in Translation tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015436730b02970c 2011-11-09T18:34:00-08:00 2011-10-27T08:39:24-07:00 Dr. Michael Link, current President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), used his September 26th blog post to promote "delivery of what we know" to the world's cancer... Wendy Harpham A Long Road Back to Normal tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330153928ef5aa970b 2011-11-06T16:20:00-08:00 2011-10-27T09:01:27-07:00 When After Cancer: A Guide to Your New Life was first published in 1995, the issues of life after cancer were not on many people's radar. Back then, mainstream survivorship... Wendy Harpham Cancer Sensibility Foundation tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162fc176d75970d 2011-11-04T08:36:00-07:00 2011-11-04T08:36:00-07:00 Surgeon Melanie Bone founded a new resource for people with breast cancer: Cancer Sensibility Foundation. Bone was 40 years old and the mother of 4 children under 6 years old... Wendy Harpham Calming Fear of Recurrence Video tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015392cda2ee970b 2011-11-04T06:32:43-07:00 2011-11-04T06:37:14-07:00 Thanks for letting me know the YouTube link on yesterday's post was broken. To view the video on the Dana Farber Cancer Institute's site, click here. As I said yesterday,... Wendy Harpham Calming the Fear of Recurrence tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015392c1b3c1970b 2011-11-02T07:28:56-07:00 2011-11-04T06:27:10-07:00 Fear that cancer will return is a near-universal fear of patients whose cancer is in remission. This fear can interfere with getting good care and/or living fully. For Healthy Survivors... Wendy Harpham Judging Steve Jobs tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330154369075ed970c 2011-11-01T13:36:48-07:00 2011-11-01T15:02:23-07:00 Millions of words, both written and spoken, have been devoted to the recent death of the charismatic co-founder of Apple. How is a Healthy Survivor supposed to respond to all... Wendy Harpham Metavivor Healthy Survivors tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015392989ce4970b 2011-10-28T18:28:00-07:00 2011-10-26T06:32:31-07:00 What we call ourselves impacts how we see ourselves. So I was intrigued but not surprised when I heard a new word to add to my survivorship lexicon: metavivor. According... Wendy Harpham The Cancer Card tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015392935078970b 2011-10-26T20:15:00-07:00 2011-10-26T20:15:00-07:00 When I was dealing with a hassle of ordinary life, someone asked me, "Why didn't you play the cancer card?" Trying to get VIP treatment by telling others you have... Wendy Harpham Managing Communication tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d19883301539073f159970b 2011-10-25T08:15:03-07:00 2011-10-25T08:13:39-07:00 An interesting press release from the University of Texas supports my long-standing contention that it is better to ask a patient, "How are things?" than to ask "How are you?"... Wendy Harpham Abandonment of Treatment tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330162fbcc1c9e970d 2011-10-23T08:40:44-07:00 2011-10-24T14:00:42-07:00 At a recent meeting I met Michael P. Link, MD, the current President of ASCO (the American Society of Clinical Oncology) and a professor of Pediatric Oncology at Stanford University... Wendy Harpham Managing Uncertainty Part I tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015436483a4d970c 2011-10-20T06:13:24-07:00 2011-10-20T06:13:24-07:00 Many patients struggle with uncertainty about what's happening now, what will happen in the future, and what they should do. Having dealt with illness-related uncertainty on both sides of the... Wendy Harpham Oct 18th: Hope of Life tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330154363437ee970c 2011-10-17T22:01:00-07:00 2011-10-18T20:22:37-07:00 This is my annual October 18th post, set to go live right after midnight, so I can begin celebrating on time, even while I'm sleeping. When I wake up on... Wendy Harpham Easy to Forgive tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330154362cb842970c 2011-10-16T18:16:01-07:00 2011-10-16T21:04:34-07:00 I'd like to pass along some wise, low-tech advice for dealing with a family health crisis or family member's chronic illness: Be quick to forgive. Everyone can have wholesome hearts... Wendy Harpham Your Medical Mind tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d1988330153923095d0970b 2011-10-14T21:59:56-07:00 2011-10-15T07:21:40-07:00 My recent posts have discussed some of the difficulties of modern medical decision-making in the context of PSA testing for prostate cancer. A new book by Harvard oncologist Jerome Groopman... Wendy Harpham Does PSA Testing Save Lives or Not? - Part III tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d19883301543619bef9970c 2011-10-13T09:14:27-07:00 2011-10-13T09:15:22-07:00 While the furor over PSA testing plays out in the media, my sympathies lie with men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer . At the end of the day, the patient... Wendy Harpham Does PSA Testing Save Lives or Not? - Part II tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fc66d198833015436044c7e970c 2011-10-09T20:34:09-07:00 2011-10-09T20:36:37-07:00 Yesterday's post highlighted the controversy about screening healthy men for prostate cancer using the PSA test. The media does the public a disservice by claiming such testing does not save... Wendy Harpham