Vim & Vigor - Summer 2013 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center - (Page 3)
A CAll to
Serve
PCRMC radiation oncologist Mary Graham, MD,
is committed to her patients and her community
By Somer overShon
W
hen deciding on a profession, Mary Graham,
MD, found oncology appealing on multiple
levels: the challenge, the call for innovation
and research, and the opportunity to bring forth new
and improved ideas. “I found oncology was an ideal fit
for me all along the way,” Dr. Graham says, “and I chose
radiation oncology because it was the perfect blend of
technology and patient care, a yin and a yang.”
Dr. Graham has served as medical director of radia
tion oncology at Phelps County Regional Medical Center
(PCRMC) for 14 years. She is part of PCRMC’s multi
disciplinary cancer care team and is in charge of adminis
tering therapeutic radiation therapy to patients.
Significant changeS
Dr. Graham says several areas of oncology have changed
over the years. Some of the most prevalent include
improvements in survival and life expectancy, the reduc
tion of toxicity associated with oncology treatments and
the external factors influencing the way medical provid
ers are practicing medicine today.
Survival rates have increased due to early detection,
screenings and improved therapeutics. “The expectation
of cancer patients has changed over the years,” Dr. Graham
says. “Classically, patients are frightened of having a life
threatening illness, but more and more patients come into
treatment expecting to be cured, and they are.”
Dr. Graham says there is a whole new set of cancer
survivors. With survivorship comes additional concerns,
such as second malignancies and therapy for previous
cancer experiences.
Mary Graham, MD
Dr. Graham and her colleagues spend a lot of time
discussing the toxicity of therapy for oncology patients.
“Traditionally, another common fear for cancer patients
is the side effects and toxicity of taking cancer treat
ments,” Dr. Graham says. “We have been able to reduce
toxicity, not completely, but it is certainly more toler
able than it used to be.” Dr. Graham and her colleagues
discuss the effects of toxicity not only for initial ther
apy, but late therapy as well. “We discuss whether or
not a patient needs to undergo radiation treatment or
not,” she says, “and we are not just talking about at
the time of treatment; we are also planning for their
life expectancy.”
PhySician and Patient
collaboration
The way physicians are viewed by their patients has
changed over the years, Dr. Graham says. A physician
practicing 30 or 40 years ago would be considered the
expert and would not be questioned by a patient. “That
is certainly not the case today,” Dr. Graham says. “Today,
there is a collaborative relationship between physicians
and their patients. I feel I am there to educate, guide,
make recommendations and give support so my patients
feel comfortable making their own health decisions; they
decide what is best for them.”
Dr. Graham says her patients teach her new things
every day, and the rewards of her profession flow freely.
“In a cosmic or spiritual sense, I see the hand of God in
my patients, and the rewards come in so many different
ways that you may not expect them,” she says. “The most
Summ er 2013
3
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2013 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2013 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Contents
Opening Thoughts
A Call to Serve
Get Back in the Game
Saving Brain
The Ultimate Back-to-School Checklist
Join the Movement
Stroke Stories
5 Steps to Better Bone Health
Gut Instinct
Morgan Freeman
Prostate Playbook
The Main Ingredient
Looking Ahead
Virtual Health
Manage Your Diabetes and Feel Better
Extraordinary Nurses
Foundation
Auxiliary
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2013 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2016spring-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015winter-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015fall-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015summer-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015spring-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014winter-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014fall-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014summer-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014spring-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013winter-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/2012_pcrmc_cbr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013fall-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013summer-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013spring-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/2011_pcrmc_cbr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012winter-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012fall-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012summer-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012spring-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2011winter-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2011fall-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2011summer-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2011spring-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2010winter-pcrmc
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com