A poet carrying creative writing prompts into an oncology and haematology day unit is not a typical scene, but it became a recurring one throughout 2025. The practice, born from a personal challenge, sought to offer a different kind of support to patients undergoing treatment.
The initiative began with a simple question: how to engage meaningfully with individuals navigating the complexities of serious illness? The approach involved approaching patients with a box containing tactile prompts – laminated poems, photographs of autumn leaves, shells, and other objects – and initiating conversation. The aim wasn’t therapeutic intervention, but rather a shared moment of distraction and creative exploration.
This unconventional approach unfolded against a backdrop of significant developments in haematologic oncology. The 2025 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, held in Orlando, Florida, highlighted promising data across leukemia, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma. Researchers presented updates on novel therapeutic agents and strategies intended to improve patient outcomes. However, the meeting also revealed disparities in care. A retrospective analysis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients undergoing chemotherapy showed Black patients experienced a 31.3% greater risk of disease recurrence or death, and a 21.2% higher risk of death, compared to White patients, raising concerns about equitable access to effective treatment.
The Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) also held its annual meeting in September 2025, in Houston, Texas, offering both in-person and virtual participation. SOHO, described as the only worldwide society specific to the field of hematologic malignancies, focused on advancing the understanding and treatment of blood cancers.
The poet’s work, while distinct from the clinical and research advancements presented at these conferences, operated within the same sphere of care. It represented an attempt to address the human element of illness, offering a space for patients to express themselves and find momentary respite from their treatment journeys. The initiative’s success, or even its reception, remained largely undocumented, existing as a series of individual encounters within the larger context of oncology and haematology care.
The ASH meeting also emphasized the importance of scientific innovation and stakeholder collaboration in driving advancements in haematology, even as regulatory hurdles persist. The focus on new therapies and strategies underscores the ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for patients with blood cancers, while the identified disparities in AML treatment outcomes highlight the need for continued research and advocacy for equitable care.
