Tuesday, July 1, 2025
MindNell - Health & Wellness News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • Cardiovascular
    • Autism
    • Cancer
    • COPD
    • Dementia
    • Digestive Health
  • Wellness
    • Youth’s Health & Wellness
    • Women’s Health & Wellness
    • Men’s Health & Wellness
    • Aging Health & Wellness
    • Sexual Health & Wellness
    • Pregnancy & Postnatal
    • Mental Health
      • Anxiety & Depression
      • ADHD
    • LGBTQI+
  • Fitness & Gym
    • Work Out
    • Yoga & Pilates
  • Parenting
  • Food & Nutrition
    • Healthy Drinks
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Vegans
  • Weight Loss
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Health & Wellness STORE
MindNell
No Result
View All Result
Home Health Conditions Cancer

Oncologist Is Humbled, Inspired by His Pancreatic Cancer Patients – Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

MindNell by MindNell
20 June 2025
in Cancer
0
Oncologist Is Humbled, Inspired by His Pancreatic Cancer Patients – Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on PinterestShare by Email


Marcus Noel, MD

Growing up, Marcus Noel, MD, always enjoyed science – especially biology. He also loved sports and dreamt of playing professional basketball someday.

A torn ligament in his knee changed the course of his life in two ways: It took away the possibility of a career in sports, and it introduced him to Dr. Brian Cole, a Black orthopedic surgeon.

Dr. Cole was the first Black physician Dr. Noel had encountered, and he was the one who encouraged young Dr. Noel to continue to do well in school and explore his interest in science.

As a college student, Dr. Noel found himself drawn to medicine, which combined science and his desire to help people. Thinking of following Dr. Cole’s footsteps and wanting to stay involved in sports by helping athletes, Dr. Noel thought about going into orthopedic surgery.

But during his medical school rotations, Dr. Noel found himself drawn to a different type of medicine – oncology.

Again, it was a personal interaction that cemented his path. This time, it was a patient. During his third year of medical school, Dr. Noel visited a man with advanced rectal cancer in the hospital every day at 5 a.m. “Despite his suffering, he took a great deal of interest in me. He asked me lots of questions, and our conversations focused more on me and my future than on him and his disease.”

This was the type of patient – selfless, kind – Dr. Noel wanted to interact with and to help.

Oncologist and researcher Dr. Marcus Noel fielded questions from the PanCAN community for our free virtual event, “Talk to a Doctor: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness in the Black Community.” Watch the recording.

Today, Dr. Noel is an associate professor of medicine and medical director of the Clinical Research Management Office at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and a member of PanCAN’s Scientific and Medical Advisory Board. He focuses on gastrointestinal cancer, with a special interest in pancreatic cancer. And he finds inspiration from his patients and their strength in coping with their illness every day.

“I’m humbled by my patients,” Dr. Noel said. “They give me such positive feedback and, despite all that’s on their plates, they take time to chat with me and show their gratitude.”

Although there are more treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients now than during Dr. Noel’s training, he is still frustrated by the disease’s low survival rates. So Dr. Noel conducts clinical research to advance new treatment options. His focus is on drug development and early clinical trials, testing new drugs and treatment combinations, such as a clinical trial that will evaluate experimental drugs in combination with chemotherapy in patients whose tumor may be surgically removable.

“It used to be more common to recommend patients to undergo surgery first and then chemotherapy after,” he explained. “But more evidence is suggesting that giving the patient treatment before – and often also after – surgery can lead to better outcomes.”

Dr. Noel is also passionate about ensuring that all patients – regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity or other factors – receive excellent care. But inequities and disparities remain. And for Black Americans, those disparities result in the highest pancreatic cancer incidence and death rates of any racial or ethnic group.

“Unfortunately, systemic racism and inequalities continue to exist,” he said. “It’s important for all of us to rally together and come up with solutions.”

Dr. Noel now brings his expertise to PanCAN’s Health Equity Committee, a diverse group PanCAN has brought together with a goal to eliminate health disparities and advance health equity for those impacted by pancreatic cancer.

His message to the Black community is to be aware of risk factors for pancreatic cancer – especially conditions like diabetes and obesity that are prevalent within that community. And, he encourages everyone to reach out to their healthcare teams when something feels wrong.

“Someone who’s losing weight, not feeling well, should really speak up to their physician,” he said.

“Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.”



Source link

Previous Post

Machine learning model helps identify patients at risk of postpartum depression – Medical Dialogues

Next Post

TADD 2020 – Benefits of Peer Group Participation: The Peer Factor – ADDA

MindNell

MindNell

Next Post
TADD 2020 – Benefits of Peer Group Participation: The Peer Factor – ADDA

TADD 2020 - Benefits of Peer Group Participation: The Peer Factor - ADDA

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RelatedTopics

John C. Fremont Healthcare District Board of Directors Special Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, June 2, 2025 – Sierra Sun Times

Neuroimaging insights into adolescent depression risk and development – Nature

1 July 2025
John C. Fremont Healthcare District Board of Directors Special Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, June 2, 2025 – Sierra Sun Times

MedSci Healthcare Holdings Announces Board Composition and Roles – TipRanks

1 July 2025

Should We Drink Kombucha 

1 July 2025
Recognizing the early Signs of Dementia

Recognizing the early Signs of Dementia

1 July 2025
John C. Fremont Healthcare District Board of Directors Special Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, June 2, 2025 – Sierra Sun Times

Evaluating the efficacy of rumination-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy in alleviating depression, negative affect, and rumination among patients with recurrent major depressive disorder: a randomized, multicenter clinical trial – BMC Psychiatry

1 July 2025
Origin Hybrid Pro Review – We Have It All…

Origin Hybrid Pro Review – We Have It All…

1 July 2025
MindNell

© 2025 MindNell  

Navigate Site

  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • Cardiovascular
    • Autism
    • Cancer
    • COPD
    • Dementia
    • Digestive Health
  • Wellness
    • Youth’s Health & Wellness
    • Women’s Health & Wellness
    • Men’s Health & Wellness
    • Aging Health & Wellness
    • Sexual Health & Wellness
    • Pregnancy & Postnatal
    • Mental Health
      • Anxiety & Depression
      • ADHD
    • LGBTQI+
  • Fitness & Gym
    • Work Out
    • Yoga & Pilates
  • Parenting
  • Food & Nutrition
    • Healthy Drinks
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Vegans
  • Weight Loss
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Health & Wellness STORE

© 2025 MindNell