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Douglas Flora

Aug 2, 2025, 11:26

Douglas Flora: For My Cancer Survivors Out There

Douglas Flora, President-Elect at Association of Cancer Care Centers, shared on LinkedIn:

“This one is for my cancer survivors out there.

I was up early this morning after a restless night, getting ready for surveillance scans (don’t worry, I’m safe and doing well). One of the toughest parts of cancer survivorship isn’t the treatment – it’s these periodic scans.

The quiet anxiety that builds as you prepare to climb back into that machine and wait for reassurance that you remain okay. Those of you who’ve walked this path understand. IYKYK.

That led to hours of early morning scrolling, where I came across this photograph. In that headspace, it really resonated with me. Each circle frames a person – inside each circle is its own story. Significant plot twists, quiet victories, crushing defeats, and battles nobody else knows about.

It made me think of my patient who had big scans yesterday. Friends and colleagues recently blindsided by layoffs. Loved ones quietly navigating the pain of divorce. We’re all in our own circles, carrying so much that’s invisible from the outside.

Today, I’m trying to remember that behind every professional interaction is a human being with their own story unfolding. Let’s give each other a little grace—you never know what someone is carrying beneath their polished LinkedIn presence.

Thank you to Luca Gennatiempo for the powerful photograph.

And for the cancer doctors out there: try to get your scan results to your patients faster—minutes feel like hours when you are waiting for the assurance that you are ok.”

Douglas Flora