By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Anxiety of Hope? Drinking from the “Fire Hose” of Cancer News
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > News > Anxiety of Hope? Drinking from the “Fire Hose” of Cancer News
NewsSpecialties

Anxiety of Hope? Drinking from the “Fire Hose” of Cancer News

Andrew Schorr
Andrew Schorr
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE
Carol Preston interviewing myeloma expert Dr. Tom Martin

Patient Power Host Carol Preston interviewing myeloma expert Dr. Tom Martin at ASCO 2014.

Carol Preston interviewing myeloma expert Dr. Tom Martin

Patient Power Host Carol Preston interviewing myeloma expert Dr. Tom Martin at ASCO 2014.

This is prime season for cancer news reporting. As I write this, we have a Patient Power team in Chicago at the annual meeting of ASCO, the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Media outlets from around the globe are there and so are patient advocates, because it is what I like to call the “world series” of cancer. Tens of thousands of doctors and researchers from around the world attend to present their data or to hear reports from others. And, of course, all the drug companies are busy bees there, too.

We are producing 20 in-depth video reports from ASCO, and you can find news reports all over the web. In about 10 days we’ll be at it again—in Europe—at the European Hematology Association (EHA) meeting in Milan. I’ll be there. Since Patient Power focuses on several blood cancers—I have two of them, CLL and myelofibrosis—this is yet another important meeting for us. We’ll shoot interviews in multiple languages.

But all this brings up a question for the individual patient. How closely should you monitor all this? And if you do pay close attention, does it cause you anxiety or give you hope?

To help guide me, I go back 30 years to a conversation I had with a television producer named Oscar Welch. He was a smart man and worked at the Miami affiliate of a television show where I was a national producer. I asked Oscar how he picked the topics for the television segments he chose to produce. His answer: “We pick topics where the information is significant for our audience.” It’s safe to say, even in the infotainment business where Oscar and I found ourselves, Oscar was not into “fluff.”

Now let’s fast forward to cancer “news.” Use Oscar’s filter. We do. Is what’s being talked about significant for you? Is it actionable now? Could it potentially lead to a promising, better treatment or even a cure.

There is so much in cancer “news” that washes out, disproven. And a lot more that is never proven at all, despite a lot of hype.

Huge public relations firms are at work at ASCO and EHA to push out “news.” Sometimes they are right, and it is a big deal. But often it is only a ripple in cancer research that is soon bypassed or forgotten.

Although Patient Power continues to attend medical conferences to help put emerging treatment and research in perspective for you, we are developing more content beyond just what’s new. You need much more than that in your daily life. I know I do. So we are now producing more “living well” tips and general education about cancer types. We are also helping you better understand your disease. Look for much more, for example, with Dr. Susan Leclair, our hematology lab expert. And check out the series with Drs. Bueso and Verstovsek on bone marrow biopsies. Look for our videos with nurse practitioners on everything from sinus infections to GI upset.

We are committed to creating a library content that helps the patient as a “whole person.” (I am sure we’ll do a report on sex and cancer soon too!)  So, yes, we’ll bring you cancer news, but we’ll also give you much more. And, as always, we welcome your suggestions.

So don’t let the flood of news reports from the latest conventions make you crazy. Take a break from your computer and just go enjoy your day with people you love. That’s what life is really all about.

TAGGED:cancer
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

What to Look for in IT Compliance Solutions for Health Care Providers
What to Look for in IT Compliance Solutions for Health Care Providers
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
September 24, 2025
male doctor massaging shoulders of patient
A 6-Step Guide to Physiotherapy for Sports Injuries
Therapy
September 24, 2025
Breaking Mental Health Stigma
The Importance of Breaking Mental Health Stigma in 2025
Mental Health
September 23, 2025
scientist using microscope
Considerations for Sourcing PCR Primers for your Healthcare Project
Health
September 20, 2025

You Might also Like

SpecialtiesWellness

Iron Deficiency: What To Eat When Your Body Is Running Low On Iron

July 22, 2019
dealing with challenges as a pharmacy owner
News

Kunal Vyas Presents New Tech Solution to Address Pharmacy Challenges

May 5, 2022
Image
eHealthMobile HealthSpecialties

Mobile Health Around the Globe: Breast Cancer Screening in Bangladesh

June 18, 2012
cleveland clinic
BusinessFinanceHealth ReformHospital AdministrationPolicy & LawSpecialties

Understanding the Drivers of the Patient Experience

October 1, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?