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On many occasions, I have been asked by colleagues or patients, “How do you do what you do?” when the topic of taking care of patients with a terminal illness comes up. So, is it possible to write about the topic of humor in oncology without seeming cynical and uncaring? Obviously I think it is.

Mangosteen is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asian countries, including India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Its reddish to dark purple fruit, with white juicy edible pulp, is considered one of the best tasting tropical fruits. Mangosteen has a long history of medicinal use to treat skin infections, wounds, and dysentery; in ayurveda, it is used for inflammation, diarrhea, and cholera.

With the continuing increase in the utilization of smartphone applications (apps), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to jump on the bandwagon. The goal for the FDA is to provide accurate and up to date information for consumers and patients, partly to address the increasing number of ‘health’ applications that may not always be accurate or from reliable sources.

Healthcare providers are long overdue for some in-depth help when it comes to talking with patients and families during times of personal tragedy.

Acupuncture is a therapeutic modality in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), developed over the millennia. Treatment involves the placement of needles at selected points on the body, followed by manipulation with physical forces, heat, or, in modern times, electrical stimuli.

Bellury LM, Ellington L, Beck SL, et al: Elderly cancer survivorship: An integrative review and conceptual framework. Eur J Oncol Nurs 15(3):233–242, 2011.Derby S: Assessment and management of delirium in the older adult with cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs 15(3):247–250, 2011.Holtslander LF, Bally JM, Steeves ML: Walking a fine line: An exploration of the experience of finding balance for older persons bereaved after caregiving for a spouse with advanced cancer. Eur J Oncol Nurs 15(3):254–259, 2011. Kahana B, Kahana E, Deimling G, et al: Determinants of altered life perspectives among older-adult long term cancer survivors. Cancer Nurs 34(3):209–218, 2011. Pieters HC, Heilemann MV, Grant M, et al: Older women's reflections on accessing care across their breast cancer trajectory: Navigating beyond the triple barriers. Oncol Nurs Forum 38(2):175–184, 2011. Swinney JE, Dobal MT: Older African American women's beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors about breast cancer. Res Gerontol Nurs 4(1): 9–18, 2011. Van Cleave JH, Egleston BL, McCorkle R: Factors affecting recovery of functional status in older adults after cancer surgery. J Am Geriatr Soc 59(1):34–43, 2011.

Compared with almost any other career, the path to becoming a physician requires a substantial upfront commitment of time, effort and, of course, cost. For oncology specifically, an additional ten years of training after college are required before seeing your first patient independently. In a sense, the day you finish your fellowship, you are already fully “committed.”

Petri Dish is a blog written and produced by the external relations and communications staff at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The blog delivers science and biomedical information to the world by highlighting and illuminating the scientific research at the Hutchinson Center. Reprinted with permission.