When we foster hope, it is because everyone who comes to us is the beloved of someone else. We value that love. We continue to work in this difficult field because we believe our work pays respect to it. When we dedicate ourselves to giving each patient the best possible care with a lot of compassion and respect, that gives hope, and it encourages that patient to stay active in his or her own treatment, strive to understand what’s possible, and make the best choices. Hope and faith are important because they can help us accept reality, no matter what reality brings.

Very often, when we explain to patients the point of a bunch of tests they just took, explain the reasons why they have certain treatment choices, and clarify the possibilities for them based on different results, the patients transform, as though they were brought a light and a map when they were lost underground. We nurture a patient with hope – a patient who has a goal in sight, who has understanding, choices, and possibilities. Healing from cancer begins with the first treatment, and it is a journey that the doctor travels together with the patient.

My philosophy in practice is simple—with every patient, I ask myself the simple question, “How would I treat my wife, mom, dad, or anyone else I care deeply for?” It’s not just about treating a cancer, but caring for the patient, which I guess means “healing” the whole patient, mind and body. That comes with a lot of listening, then a lot of discussion about what the right thing to do is. It’s certainly not simply us, the doctors, telling you, a patient, what to do. It’s having an open, two-way conversation about what the options are and then what the definitive recommendation for the next step would be. We do our work with a lot of hope that what we do is the right thing for each patient. Family is a big part of this too, and we always welcome lots of questions from all involved.

One of the most important things I can do as a cancer doctor is devote time to my patients helping them understand their individual tests and various treatment options. I am honored and humbled to be of service to those who are going through a very difficult time in their lives, and I would treat each patient with utmost respect, from something as simple as running an on-time clinic, to designing sophisticated precise radiation treatments tailored for each individual patient. Furthermore, I would like for all my patients to know that they are not alone in their journey fighting cancer, that they will be served with love, kindness and compassion.