Daniel Flora, Medical Oncologist and Medical Director of Oncology Research at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“People often think oncologists are ‘chemotherapy doctors.’
Chemotherapy is part of what I do, but it’s honestly a small part of most days. I spend much more time talking. Explaining what a cancer diagnosis actually means, helping people make sense of the information, and then thinking through options that fit their goals and their lives. A lot of those conversations are about tradeoffs, and there’s rarely a single ‘right’ answer.
Much of my work is supporting people through their illness, including those who decide not to pursue aggressive treatment. I talk with patients about when not to treat, and why stopping treatment can sometimes be the most caring thing we can do.
I spend time with families facing decisions they never imagined having to make. I also talk a lot about prevention—exercise, diet, and risk—long before cancer ever shows up.
I try to offer hope when it’s real. Sometimes that hope is a clinical trial. Other times it’s clarity, more time with family, or simply being comfortable. I treat pain, anxiety, and try to ease suffering that so often accompanies this disease. And when there are no treatment options left, I don’t disappear. I stay close as a resource.
Chemotherapy can save lives, but it’s only one part of what I do.
The most important part of my job is helping people navigate something incredibly hard. At the end of the day, that’s what gives me purpose and keeps me going.”
More posts featuring Daniel Flora.