Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: chemotherapy

  • Birthday party

    Laura WhiteRochester, Minnesota, United States I scan the chemotherapy data into the computer system, noting the date of birth listed at the top right of the screen. Happy birthday, I say, hanging the bag of liquid on the IV pole. Thanks, he replies, and we share a contemptuous laugh. It feels like a sick joke,…

  • In a scan, darkly

    Anthony PapagiannisThessaloniki, Greece Every so often I browse through old patient records and before committing them to the shredder I read through the histories they contain. These visits to the past are useful and edifying, allowing a more detached consideration of the events. Has something changed in medical knowledge since then? Do the diagnosis and…

  • An evolving journey: Writing as healing art

    Amy WebbPawleys Island, South Carolina, United States It started simply enough. Soon after my diagnosis, a friend and fellow breast cancer survivor counseled me about protecting a space for healing. We discussed the need to create that delicate balance of keeping a network of friends and family informed along the way, while giving oneself the…

  • Imaging in medicine: Fine art to medical art

    Arabella ProfferCleveland, Ohio, United States Studying anatomy was something I had never taken seriously or practiced much in art school. Frankly, I was mediocre at it. As a result, I developed into a mannerist painter and on occasion distorted anatomy to add an artificial quality. I find this strange, considering my new fascination the last…

  • Dancing with Dex

    Viola MoriartyBennington, Vermont, USA Poet’s statement Originally part of a multi-media exhibit at the Bennington Cancer Center, this poem was a reflection upon the effects of steroids during chemotherapy, where “Dex” refers to dexamethasone. Dancing with Dex She takes the woman’s part, stepping back on her rightI try to lead, pushing her back into nightWhat…