From the Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Author's disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Address reprint requests to Teresa Gilewski, MD, Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, Box 358, New York , NY 10021-6007; E-mail: gilewskt{at}mskcc.org
Overview: Both science and humanism are integral components of medicine. Because of the difficulty in quantifying the humanistic aspects, this area of medicine tends to receive less attention, yet it remains integral to patient care. The effect of humanism on patients, family members, and the caregivers themselves can be immeasurable. The combination of science and humanism is challenging, but the experience of seasoned physicians can provide significant insight. This issue is of paramount importance to all disciplines in the field of oncology. Continued efforts to develop innovative approaches that focus on this topic are crucial.