cancer

A few years ago, one of my students came to me and spoke about her mother who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She said her mother was losing her memory and her bearings, and was very worried because nobody knew what to do about her symptoms. The oncologist sent her to the psychiatrist. The psychiatrist sent her back, saying that her symptoms were a result of the cancer treatment.

“Prostate cancer is a leading cause of illness and death among men in the United States and Western Europe,” but rates in Asia can be as much as ten times lower. Perhaps Asians are genetically less likely to get prostate cancer? No.

I met Cameron when he was 11.

He was in remission from cancer, but was still dealing with the physical effects of the grueling treatment he’d received for years. Cameron had endured more than his share.

His mom hoped I could help Cameron with some of the worries he still carried in spite of the cancer being gone.

I was nervous. How could I help this little guy who had experienced so much pain? What could I possibly contribute? My training didn’t seem like it could be enough for him.

Working with a team of physicists, Dr. Deborah Rhodes developed a new tool for tumor detection that's 3 times as effective as traditional mammograms for women with dense breast tissue. The life-saving implications are stunning. So why haven't we heard of it? Rhodes shares the story behind the tool's creation, and the web of politics and economics that keep it from mainstream use.