The book “In Sickness: A Memoir” shares the unbelievable story of Dr. Barrett Rollins, professor at Harvard Medical School and Chief Scientific Officer Emeritus at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and his wife Dr. Jane Weeks, a prominent researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In 2008, Dr. Rollins discovered a secret his wife had been keeping from him …. she had been suffering from untreated metastatic breast cancer for six years. As the couple went about their public roles as authorities on cancer research and treatment, Dr. Rollins helped his wife continue to hide her breast cancer and delay treatment, until it was too late. Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, speaks with Dr. Rollins about his journey, the cancer research community’s reaction to his wife’s diagnosis and death, complex questions about healthcare, relationships and medical ethics, as well as why he decided to publish a memoir about his experience.

What do YOU think about this incredible conversation! After listening, we invite you to call our Bench to Bedside Hotline at (913) 588-3880 and leave us a voicemail message with your comments or questions for Dr. Rollins and the podcast team. You can also send us an email at benchtobedside@kumc.edu. Your comments and questions may be shared on an upcoming episode!  

Links from this episode: 

• Buy the book "In Sickness: A Memoir" on Amazon: https://a.co/d/bVe2hPw
• Visit Dr. Rollins' website: https://barrettrollins.com/
• Dr. Rollins’ Spotify Playlist - This collection of songs spans several genres and decades, but each of them plays an important role in the life and relationship of Barrett and Jane. The playlist features everything from an achingly beautiful classical piece by Brahms that was played at Jane’s funeral, to the sweetly romantic pop songs that punctuate the couple’s relationship: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ZJh2yeXFVLFluSli6FrBV?si=a5d784745ad643d8
• “In Sickness” official video trailer: https://youtu.be/vIIeyvMnrEc
• “In Sickness” official book club guide: https://barrettrollins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BR_InSickness_BookClubGuide-latest.pdf

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