Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: December 2, 2019
We met in the hospital, but I was adamant to “keep” you as my patient when you got to the clinic. I made swaps to see you, to get the continuity I ...
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: November 1, 2019
My answers do not always satisfy their questions. Because it’s not a question seeking an informational answer. The truth is, medically and existent...
News
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: October 29, 2019
I’ve now treated several patients with the new cancer gene therapy called CAR-T, but there’s still a lot to learn.
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: October 2, 2019
You teach about this disease in your classes and never thought it would happen to you. It started simply enough – you were bruising. Your joints ac...
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: September 2, 2019
Whenever I order chemotherapy, the electronic record prompts me for my intent: Is this palliative or curative intent? I always type curative intent...
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: August 2, 2019
Advances have exploded; it’s an exciting time to be learning and practicing. And yet, we are still gently holding hands and saying that we have no ...
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: July 1, 2019
“Not eligible.” The two words that took away everything reverberated in her mind.
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: June 2, 2019
I know you don’t remember me. We met when you were just a baby. Now that you’re older, I want to tell you a story about your mom you may not know.<...
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: May 2, 2019
There’s no right or wrong or sensible reaction to cancer. There’s only a swirl of messy, overwhelming feelings. It’s trying to bring effective emot...
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: April 2, 2019
Looking for hope in the face of terrible news is a common reaction. It’s natural. We tend to be optimists, and we look for a silver lining. We look...
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: March 1, 2019
I deliver a lot of bad news in oncology, but I usually get to blame the disease. What I hate perhaps even more is the other type of bad news: We ca...
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: February 1, 2019
It was Marty who showed me, early in my career, what happens after leukemia. I frequently see related issues in my patients now, and I credit Marty...
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: January 2, 2019
False alarms are terrifying, and false reassurance is cruel, yet all the while, excessive waiting can feel excruciating.
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: December 1, 2018
Many people with metastatic cancer say they wouldn’t want invasive treatment near the end of life. But how do we know when it’s the end?
Opinion
- Author:
- Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD
Publish date: November 1, 2018
Once a patient hears “cancer,” they often stop listening. We could go on, spelling out the next steps and treatment options. But patients usually d...
