Healthcare Professionals
The First Patient I Diagnosed with Cancer
The first person I ever diagnosed with cancer was me. Until that point in my medical training bad news had always been broken to patients before I met them. By the time of our introduction, their shock had subsided, and the initial fractures of their premorbid identities had ossified into therapeutic resolve.
Read More...A Letter to My Younger Self: Lessons Learned in the AYA Oncology Field
Dear 23-year-old baby social work student, Lauren – OK, so I want to share a handful of the things I’ve learned over the years from my time spent with AYA cancer patients and their families. We’ve got a lot to cover, but before we jump in, we need to get a few things straight:
Read More...Vulnerability as an AYA Program Manager
I’ve thought about writing this article for weeks now. I’ve even attempted multiple drafts, all of which ultimately got deleted. The thing is, I’m not afraid to be bad at writing. I’m afraid of how what I am writing will be perceived. Social workers are rigorously trained in maintaining personal boundaries, so it isn’t natural or comfortable for me AT ALL to focus on myself in this role.
Read More...