![]() |
|
October 10th, 2012
11:12 AM ET
Cancer doctor is also a cancer survivorEditor's note: In the Human Factor, we profile survivors who have overcome the odds. Confronting a life obstacle – injury, illness or other hardship – they tapped their inner strength and found resilience they didn't know they possessed. Dr. Alyssa Rieber has known since she was a child that she wanted to be a doctor. What type of doctor she became changed when she became a patient herself. A simple goal brought Alyssa Rieber to attend medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, 15 years ago. "Just helping people. And I know that sounds so trite and that's what everybody says, but that's really why I wanted to be a doctor was to help people." Rieber says she loved the movie "Doc Hollywood" with Michael J. Fox, in which a doctor is sentenced to work in a small-town hospital. "I was like, 'That's what I want to do.' So I was all ready to move out into a small town and take care of everybody and be the town doctor. And then during my first few months of med school, things shifted quite a bit (when) I was diagnosed with cancer." "Getting to know them and their stories ... I just decided that that's what I wanted to do." Rieber's cancer diagnosis was actually the result of an anatomy lesson, three months into medical school. Her class was discussing an esophageal cancer patient who had a lymph node in his neck. "I was assigned to evaluate the lymphatics of the thorax and so this was my assignment for this one case. And I did it, I gave a presentation, all of that." The next week, she felt a lump in the same place the patient had it. "Of course as a hypochondriac medical student, (I thought) I had esophageal cancer and I was going to die." It took a month before Rieber knew what exactly what she was dealing with. The diagnosis: Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph tissue found in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow and other sites, according to the National Institutes of Health. Rieber says she knew her prognosis was good and was determined to continue medical school while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She went on to start a fellowship at one of the premier cancer centers in the world, the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and she's never left. She now heads the oncology department at Houston's Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Hospital. Having been a cancer patient has influenced how she interacts with patients. "I understand how they feel with the nausea. I understand how they feel when they don't want to eat and their family is pressuring them to eat," Rieber says. "Some people I tell that I had cancer, and some people I don't. It just depends on if it's going to help them in the situation." Rieber admits her personal experience makes her treatment style a little different. "I cry with my patients. I laugh ... I feel like I'm more emotionally connected with the patients. I'm a hugger, I'm a crier, and everybody knows it. And they're all used to it. And I think the patients like it." |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. |
|
I know Dr. Rieber and I didn't know she had cancer. She is a great caring physician!!!! What a great story.
yes, she is awesome! she's my boss, and i can honestly say i havent ever worked for a nicer person before!
Although cancer is a bad thing, a doctor who has had it, understands things only a cancer patient would understand. I had kidney cancer and three and a half years later I am cancer free. I had cryoablation and I recommend it for those who qualify.
the emperor of maladies by sid mukherjee is an awesome book on cancer. check it out
BCG bladder cancer treatment , Please support our action by visiting BCG Bladder cancer, every visit donates $0,02 for cancerresearch.co.uk- THANK YOU !
good read
good read
good read
I'm the one in the video saying I had the same cancer (Hodgkin's Lymphoma)...
I've been cancer free for almost three years now. She was the first one to actually make me believe I was going to be fine, she was amazing.
I am from united states. I am 36 years old, work as staff in Walmart, i and my Husband has been married for 5 years but recently he started cheating on me which i caught him, this led to our breakup, he left the house to be with the other lady, i tried as much as possible to bring him back because i still loved him but he never came back, after a while i found he told me he had Herpes and asked me to check myself too which i did and i found that i have too, i was frustrated, i start taking various treatment, i read a lot too about this virus then i came across this https://robinbuckler. com which said he can treat herpes with herbal medicine, i contacted him and purchased and he told all to be done and told me how to use his herbs which i did for 2 weeks and i was amazed by the outcome, i was cured. he also did a love spell for me to bring my lover back which took place just in 24 hours, my lover came back and since then he has been so loving and caring, no more lies, no cheating, he also got cured from herpes too, this is awesome, unbelievable.......this is his email address___________________ robinson.buckler @t [yahoo] com.........
461903 366570Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, good written and consist of almost all significant infos. Id like to see more posts like this . 728643
144248 435478You made some decent points there. I looked online for that problem and located many people goes coupled with with all your web site. 899452
803205 817615Basically a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding pattern . 133320
599867 665697This really is how to get your foot within the door. 290588
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a video game where you can do anything you want. Second life is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these Second Life articles and blogs
http://myvedana.blogspot.com/2004/12/and-then-theres-miami-last-day-of-nrc.html?showComment=1102277940000&m=0
This was awesome! I would like you to clean up all this spam though
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusuf-hanafy-82493b183
I don't know about you guys but I am obsessed with airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2011/04/you-gotta-see-this-ice-pilots-on-national-geographic/
http://www.washingtonbids.us/washington-contractors/naics-71-Arts-Entertainment.14.htm
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a game where you can do anything you want. Second life is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these second life articles and blogs
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2006/12/transferring-large-files-every-so.html?showComment=1165750920000
I don't know about you guys but I infatuated with airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/02/airline-livery-of-the-week-uzbekistan-airways/
http://urlm.co/g/c/f/163873
302730 434338You produced some decent points there. I looked on-line for any problem and identified most individuals will go in conjunction with together with your web site. 813521
I don't know about you people but I am obsessed with airplanes. I have a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2011/06/tornadoes-with-american/
http://urlm.co/g/c/f/163873
267122 497829Would enjoy to constantly get updated great internet weblog ! . 712562
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a game where you can do anything you want. Second life is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these Second Life articles and blogs
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2014/08/farewell-to-jack-shallcrass-splendid.html?showComment=1533308199528
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is basically a online game where you can do anything you want. Second life is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these sl websites and blogs
http://myvedana.blogspot.com/2004/10/new-roles-for-digital-writing-most-new.html?showComment=1358916951836
I don't know about you guys but I am obsessed with airplanes. I have a friend in highschool that loves airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/10/happy-unbirthday-marco-polo/
http://www.doc-txt.com/Boeing-Everett-Museum.pdf
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is basically a game where you can do anything you want. Second life is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these Second Life websites and blogs
http://adolit.blogspot.com/2006/07/life-is-like-parfait-glass-full-of-ice.html
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a online game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these Second Life authors and blogs
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2003/07/
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a online game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these Second Life authors and blogs
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a online game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these sl websites and blogs
http://rumblingstrips.blogspot.com/2006/10/how-to-be-in-novel-without-writing-it.html
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is basically a online game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these sl websites and blogs
http://myvedana.blogspot.com/2006/02/transparent-academy.html?showComment=1139049900000&m=0
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a online game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these Second Life websites and blogs
http://digitalnarratives.blogspot.com/2011/12/
This was awesome! I would like you to clean up all this spam though
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusufhanafy
This was great! I would like you to clean up all this spam though
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusufhanafy
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a video game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these sl articles and blogs
http://myvedana.blogspot.com/2008/09/ict-and.html
I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I have a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2009/06/video-of-the-day-rapping-about-southwest-airlines/
http://mastersprogrambest.blogspot.com/2013/09/national-security-masters-programs_20.html
I don't know about you guys but I am obsessed with airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/08/united-airlines-does-have-spirit/
http://privatejetstoday.blogspot.com/2010/08/private-jet-flight-attendant-jobs.html
I don't know about you all but I am obsessed with airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2009/02/mixing-vertigo-and-alcohol-is-not-a-good-thing/
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2005/10/guilty-of-loitering-okok.html?showComment=1533504542998
I don't know about you all but I am obsessed with airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loves airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2009/12/fun-with-photos-boeing-747-200-testbest-for-trent-1000-engine/
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2007/01/basic-numeracy-price-of-beans-as-we.html?showComment=1169214000000
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is basically a online game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these sl authors and blogs
http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2007/11/cfp-breaking-th.html?cid=91168744
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a video game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these sl authors and blogs
http://digitalbeginnings.blogspot.com/2007/07/
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these second life authors and blogs
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2011/12/meeting-in-comillas-we-have-arrived-in.html?showComment=1343480616819