On Monday, I was able to see craniotomies and stereotactic injections of glioblastoma cells into mouse brains to establish models that will be used for radiation and immunotherapy in the coming weeks. On Tuesday, Eleana and I presented our research and an immersion project proposal at a joint meeting for the labs of Dr. Demaria and Dr. Vanpouille-Box, and we have been working with members of the labs to create experimental plans and get materials together. I have spent the past two days in the anatomical pathology department shadowing Dr. Demaria and a resident and fellow in breast anatomical pathology. In the mornings, I have seen how histology slides of breast, lymph node, and skin biopsies/lumpectomies are analyzed to diagnose cancer. I have also been able to attend multiple conferences, including consensus conferences to see how more complex cases are discussed between clinicians to agree on a final diagnosis, and a grossing conference to walk through uncommon incidences of kidney cancer and a brain cancer autopsy. I went on a tour of the histology and immunohistochemistry labs to understand how a tissue sample goes from a patient in the OR to a slide for diagnosis, and was able to shadow the process of preparing a lumpectomy for histological staining. Overall, I have been able to learn a significant amount about how cancer is diagnosed, and I have a much better understanding of what tumors actually look like in the body.
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