Pediatric oncologists are used to dealing with emotional, heart-wrenching situations, but oncology took on a new dimension for Michael Weiner, MD, when both he and his daughter were diagnosed with cancer.

Dr. Weiner, a pediatric oncologist at Columbia University, New York, describes his roles as oncologist, patient, and caregiver to host David H. Henry, MD, in this episode.

Oncologist as patient: Lessons learned

Dr. Weiner’s journey as a cancer patient began when he felt a lymph node on his neck that he knew wasn’t “normal.”
A colleague examined Dr. Weiner and suggested the “watch-and-wait” approach, but Dr. Weiner insisted on immediate biopsy.
The diagnosis was follicular lymphoma, and Dr. Weiner had a hard time accepting that his malignancy was treatable but not curable.
One of the things Dr. Weiner learned as a cancer patient is that “you really need to connect with your doctor,” so he chose a doctor who felt like a good fit for him.
Another lesson Dr. Weiner learned was that cancer can be very isolating. Though friends and family can offer help and support, “you take this journey alone,” he said.
Dr. Weiner was treated with rituximab and radiation, which proved successful. It’s been 3 years since he completed his treatment.
Dr. Weiner had been reluctant to undergo radiation because of the risk of thyroid cancer, and, unfortunately, he now has a small thyroid nodule that’s under observation.
Update: After this episode was recorded, Dr. Weiner was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. He is set to undergo a total thyroidectomy.

Oncologist as caregiver: Taking a backseat

Dr. Weiner’s daughter was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma after a nodule was found on a routine exam.
Dr. Weiner and his daughter decided to educate themselves about her malignancy and opted for an aggressive course of treatment.
“I tried very, very hard to be a parent and not a physician,” Dr. Weiner said.
He decided to put his faith in her care team. “I in no way participated in the final decision-making,” he said.
His daughter ultimately had a total thyroidectomy and high-dose radioactive iodine.
The process, like his own cancer journey, was difficult.

Dr. Weiner recounts these experiences in his book “Living Cancer: Stories from an Oncologist, Father, and Survivor,” which can be found here: https://bit.ly/3n7TB5Z.

Show notes written by M. Alexander Otto, a reporter for MDedge and Medscape.

Disclosures

Dr. Weiner and Dr. Henry have no relevant disclosures. These show notes were updated on 4/22.

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