Chemotherapy, Trastuzumab, and Pathological Complete Response: When Shall We Three Meet Again?

Abstract

Honest, sincere, and clear writing that appeals to cardinal virtues like truth, beauty, and goodness is strongly preferred. That may seem like a tall order, but it need not be. Although the bar to publication in the AOO section is high—our acceptance rate has been less than 25% of submitted manuscripts in recent years—we embrace brand new writers and new voices of all types, including yours. The only required qualification is that an author be able to express clearly something that is important and that hasn’t been said in quite the same way before. Because of the intimate nature of many reflective essays and personal narratives, some potential AOO contributors may worry that writing a personal commentary that will be seen by thousands of readers will leave them feeling exposed or vulnerable. It is true that writers of AOO articles cannot hide behind the anonymity of data tables and Kaplan-Meier curves or trust in the formulaic, stereotyped language of the Methods section of clinical trial reports. Still, we invite you to try to overcome such inhibitions and apprehension. Your contributions may enrich our professional culture or form the basis for productive discussions. The editors of AOO encourage you to share a case or an experience with us that you found moving, interesting, or difficult, or to tell us about an aspect of medical practice that you feel passionately about that has not been featured previously in AOO. Write about what you know and what you wish other people knew, too. If you have a good story to tell, but you do not trust your own writing skills, consider working with a colleague. Every group and institution has talented communicators;perhapsacolleague isa formerEnglishmajor, forwhom turningafirst-rate ideaorapromisingroughdraft intoasparklingessay is as straightforward as calculating body surface area is to you. The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are changing rapidly and unpredictably. The role of the physician is changing, too, in response to popular expectations, shifting regulations, and ongoing evolution in the structure of health care teams. But the human experience of serious illness, as well as the importance of the physician’s presence at the bedside, remain unaltered at core. Meaningful and concise articles about those bedside experiences will engage and inform readers and shape our professional culture. We look forward to hearing from you.