Every person confronted with a difficult medical challenge approaches it in his or her own way, and many find that sharing their experience publicly helps them to process it. The same can be said for the medical community who treats the patients facing those challenges. Physicians, nurses, and caregivers also write about their interactions in the often confusing and off-putting realm of health care. This morning, a conversation about this relatively new and fast-growing area of what’s known as "narrative medicine".
Tom Hall talks with Ellen Ficklen, one of the editors of a collection of essays called Narrative Matters: The Power of the Personal Essay in Health Policy. Also with us is Robert Ginyard, a prostate cancer survivor, who has spoken about his experiences to audiences throughout the area. He’s also writing a book about it.
This weekend, the actor and storyteller Jon Spelman will be presenting the premiere of a one-man show at the Theatre Project about his experience being diagnosed with, and later cured, of prostate cancer. The show, entitled The Prostate Dialogues and Tales of the Tellywacker, will be running through February 8th.
Audio for this segment will be available by the end of the day.
