Cancer in Antarctica
June 24th, 2009
Doctor rescued from Antarctica in 1999 dies at 57: I think it’s safe to say that this lady was kick-ass.
After finding the lump in June [while stationed as the sole physician at the Antarctica research station], she diagnosed herself with breast cancer and began treating herself using chemotherapy agents that the U.S. Air Force parachuted to the station the next month.
It was later revealed, according to a March 2009 article in the Detroit Free Press newspaper, that Nielsen — an emergency room doctor from Cleveland, Ohio — performed a biopsy on herself with the help of non-medical crew, who practiced using needles on a raw chicken.
While treating herself, Nielsen carried on her duties as the sole doctor for the 41-person research group. She consulted with her doctors in the United States by e-mail and teleconference. They recommended that she return as soon as possible for treatment.
Sad to hear she won the battle, but ultimately lost the war.