Somebody Tell Me.

This poem is a reflection on the risk of developing heart disease or cancer, and of the toll of cancer therapy on the heart, written as an inspiration to those working in the fields of oncology and cardiology and those affected by cancer, heart disease, or both.

: I've always been fascinated with cancer and the heart. As a young medical student, like many others, I wanted to cure cancer. As a more mature physician with lots of learning to be done and lots of wisdom to pursue, I've come to realize that I can help oncologists cure or treat cancer more effectively by examining how we can prevent toxic effects on the heart from cancer therapy, as part of my career in cardio‐oncology and preventive cardiology. While I care for patients with or at risk for various forms of heart disease (and sometimes simultaneously cancer), I often hear questions and concerns about what one can do to prevent disease. As individuals in society, we recognize the threatening toll of cancer while addressing heart disease.