Cancer as Poetry

UCI oncologist Frank Meyskens writes poems based on experiences with patients and their families.

As a young medical student, Frank Meyskens began writing poetry to relieve stress – and then stopped writing for nearly 30 years. Now a practicing oncologist and director of the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Meyskens picked up his pen again several years ago after the tragic death of a young patient. His first collection of published poems, Aching for Tomorrow (Fithian Press, $14), are written in short, poignant bursts based on his own experiences with patients and their families. Meyskens eloquently pulls back the curtain on the most gut-wrenching aspects of cancer, from diagnosis and treatment to the agony of loved ones.

Have any of the patients who inspired your work read “their” poem?
Only one, and I had to be encouraged by my nurse to share it with him. The poems are pretty emotional and people have their own troubles to deal with. I don’t think they need to be exposed to my reaction to it. But I had taken care of this patient for a long time. His wife and I had talked about the situation and I mentioned that I had written a poem about an encounter with her husband. After I read it to him, he was sort of stunned that I cared that much. His wife broke into tears.

Are people ever surprised to find out that a practicing oncologist is also a poet?
Most people think of me as pretty unemotional and hardcore scientist, so it takes some people by surprise. It’s like learning your next-door neighbor is a plumber and has also written a novel.

Who are your favorite poets?
Probably the one with most philosophical influence on me is Rainer Maria Rilke, a German lyrical poet who had some very deep thoughts about life. Another one is Jane Kenyon, who wrote about illness and died herself from cancer. Her poems are simple but very perceptive.

Who do you hope will read your poems?
I hope that physicians in training read them. So much of medicine is denial in dealing with the emotional aspects of it. Going from a student to a doctor is a huge transition. Hopefully, reading the poems will humanize other caregivers and allow them to practice their craft better.

To purchase the book: www.danielpublishing.com/bro/meyskens.html. Dr. Meyskens is donating all royalties from sales of the book to the Chao Family Comprehensive Care Center.

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