Patient & Researcher Blog
Here I aim to capture what I am learning as a newbie researcher from a patient perspective.
Living with a slow growing brain cancer
It is taboo for researchers to talk about their work before it is published.
I think that’s a bummer.
My favorite part about research is learning new things in real time. Here I share my observations as a learner and my n of 1 (personal) findings as a patient.
Note: I started blogging about brain cancer in 2008, at age 29.
I had no background or knowledge about healthcare when I began. Please excuse typos and other misconceptions. What you read here is me in real time, like a time capsule.
There are more than 500 posts here. Use this search to look for something specific. Good luck!
The rubber band technique for stopping a seizure
I thought you'd like to know I discovered that snapping a rubber band on the back of my wrist will cure hiccoughs. I was able to test this out two times over the past week and it worked immediately.
My new job is cancer
It was near the end of this grieving when I realized I wasn't jobless, I just have a new job—one that will change my life forever, leaving me stronger for it.
“Creepy? I'm a neurosurgeon, it's my job to look at this stuff. The fact that you have it on the Internet is what's scary."
I said, “This may sound creepy, but I have a photo of my incision two weeks after surgery while the stitches are still in it. It's on the Internet, I could show you.”
“Creepy? I'm a neurosurgeon, it's my job to look at this stuff. The fact that you have it on the Internet is what's scary."
Tennis dream
The reason this dream is interesting/significant is because, even though I write left-handed, I play sports right-handed. I think my subconscious is telling me that no matter what happens I can adapt. I was telling myself this in my sleep both figuratively and literally.
Hi, I'm having a craniotomy, again
Last night I sent this message to the 12 clinicians listed in my MyChart.
My neurosurgeon’s recipe for salad dressing (not kidding 😂)
I have to be honest. The idea of this salad, especially the part about canned salmon, did not seem appealing. But from everything I've read lately about nutrition this salad sounded like the epitome of “brain food.” And it was even more convincing coming from a neurosurgeon.
Top 5 Things that are Cool About Brain Surgery
If you have to have brain surgery you might as well bask in a few weeks of love and awesomeness. Here’s my personal top five list.
Top 5 Things that Suck About Brain Surgery
If you have to have brain surgery, here are a few things you should know in advance that might make the experience less than pleasant.