Though it was only my first day, working at Waverly Oncology was extremely interesting. I was immediately integrated into the clinic lifestyle; the first PA I was working with, Susan Blumenthal, had brought me along to see each of her patients. Initially it was quite difficult for me to be exposed to each individual cancer patient, as it was an emotional experience for everyone involved.
For privacy issues, I am required to code all the patients with their initials. The first patient I visited, SJ, had a breast tumor that resembled a marble. Fortunately for this visit, her tumor had shrunk to a point where it was almost impossible to feel. Another patient, KW, had colon cancer and his blood had been tested to see if he would be able to participate in clinical trials. While his results came up with a mutation, he was still given the opportunity to participate. The most interesting patient I witnessed had come in with severe back and breast pain. Dr. Graham had asked Mrs. Blumenthal to perform a bone marrow biopsy which I was luckily able to witness. While it was difficult to watch the patient, AR, in “the most excruciating pain [she] had ever felt,” it was truly an interesting process. After the patient’s lower back was injected with lidocaine (a numbing medication), a small incision was made in the spot. After that, a huge needle resting in a tube-like tool was manually drilled through her back muscle and fat till it reached her bone. The lack of blood that came from the other end of the tube indicated that she most likely had some kind of cancer around her bones. The bone marrow was collected and sent to pathology for a confirmation. After witnessing the biopsy, Dr. Graham took me into another room and pulled up AR’s X-rays. He turned the lights off and guided me trough what normal bone matter, liver matter, and breast matter looks like versus what the patient’s had looked like. After close examination of the X-rays, Dr. Graham was able to explicate certain areas in the liver, breasts, and bones that raised red flags pertaining to AR’s health.
Through patient-interactions, being able to watch the biopsy, and Dr. Graham’s lectures, my first day at Waverly Oncology was extremely eventful. I can now say without a doubt that working with the associates at Waverly Oncology has made me more interested in pursuing an occupation in the cancer field whether it be through research, or patient care.