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You might hear it in the waiting room between the receptionist and a patient checking in. You may hear it in the lab between a medical assistant and a patient about to get her blood drawn. You may hear this sound seeping out from under the exam room door; the sound may erupt between the nurse practitioner and a patient. 

It is an exciting time in oncology research here at New England Cancer Specialists, particularly in the area of Immuno-Oncology. I wanted to bring your attention to the quickly evolving field of immunotherapy as a treatment for lung cancer.

It seems only appropriate that at this time of year, we take a moment to reflect upon Gratitude.

Immuno-Oncology (I-O) is a rapidly developing area of science and treatment that focuses on harnessing the ability of the immune system to fight cancer. The current pillars of cancer treatment incorporate radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy/targeted therapy, with the goal of targeting the tumor and inducing complete or partial responses. Immuno-Oncology is different as it uses the natural ability of the patient’s own immune system to fight the cancer.

Summer of 2015 brought us beautiful weather for the inauguration of the first NECS Corporate Track Team! Nine brave and adventurous souls completed three full track meets, competing against seven other Maine companies, ranging in size and talent.

This time of year is full of new starts for many.  Kids are back to school, college  students are trying out their new independent lives for the first time, recent graduates are starting their first real job, and there is a whole new flock of empty nesters.

The field of Medicine has evolved with time and is at a crossroads now in how we think about a disease condition and potential treatments. With the sequencing of the human genome, we have never ending possibilities to define, understand, and potentially reverse human ailments.

This past weekend I had an opportunity to spend some time with a group of friends. We get together every month or so and exchange ideas about what is happening in our professional and personal lives. I always leave these weekends wishing for more time as each encounter forces me to look at aspects of life a bit differently.

I have lived in Maine now for 26 years. I have owned two properties, paid property taxes and car excise taxes, and raised three children on this Northern New England soil, but yet I am still not a Mainer and never will be as it is a birthright. However, all of us residing in this naturally beautiful state have same feelings about the summer.

We go through life making our way each day. When we go to sleep at night, we are certain that in the morning we will awaken. It is routine. We give it little thought. Just as daylight passes to night and the heavens reveal themselves to us from twilight into darkness, we are certain that light will again come to the planet in the following hours.