Intended for healthcare professionals

Fillers A memorable patient

The expert

BMJ 2003; 327 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7423.1089 (Published 06 November 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;327:1089
  1. Mary R Cahill, consultant haematologist
  1. department of haematology, Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Republic of Ireland

    The BMJ leads the way among medical journals in emphasising the importance of patients having a voice and the concept of the expert patient.1 I have recently had the privilege of meeting a patient who is expert in the anticancer properties of vitamins and nutrients and in anticoagulation. His knowledge, skills, and attitudes have probably prolonged his life. Doctors and patients may learn from his experience on several levels.

    He presented with a colon carcinoma in 1994 (at age 65) and subsequently had a liver metastasis. He underwent resection of the primary tumour and the liver metastasis and was deemed to be in clinical and radiological remission. In 2001 his cancer recurred in the form of …

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