title: The physician becomes the patient: how my breast cancer journey taught me to be a better doctor.
abstract: On April 1, 2013, I received the shocking news that I had Stage II breast cancer. Despite my medical knowledge, at the time of my diagnosis, I was unable to grasp the magnitude of the ordeal I would experience. However I also received an unexpected gift: being a patient made me a better person and a better doctor.
authors.affiliation: Midwest Heart Specialists-Advocate Medical Group, Edward Heart Hospital, Naperville, Illinois. Electronic address: mariarosa.costanzo@advocatehealth.com.
authors.forename: Maria Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Costanzo
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: breast cancer; heart failure; patient; physician