When the physician-researcher gets cancer: understanding cancer, its treatment, and quality of life from the patient's perspective

Abstract

The authors, both medical researchers, describe their personal experiences with cancer, its treatment, and its effects on their lives. They discuss the "eight Ds" that represent their concerns as they navigated this permanent disruption in their lives: diagnosis, dying, discomfort, disability, drug and other treatment effects, dependency, doubt, and death. They also discuss the beneficial effects that cancer has had on their lives and end with suggestions for clinicians and outcomes researchers who seek to assess and improve quality of life among persons with cancer.