I’m Marcin Chwistek, a cancer pain and palliative care physician in Philadelphia. For over two decades I’ve treated patients with advanced cancer and cancer pain, taught, led a clinical program, and written about the work. The writing lives here: about pain and how we treat it, about conversations with patients, and about what AI is beginning to change in that room.
What I do
In the clinic
Supportive oncology and palliative care, research on cancer pain, and fifteen years with the NCCN Adult Cancer Pain Guidelines Panel.
On the page
Essays and editorials in JAMA, JNCCN, and Tygodnik Powszechny. A selection is on the Articles page.
With teams
Advising healthcare organizations and digital health startups, plus talks and workshops. Details under Work with me.
Recent essays
- Some patients tell us their goals only by what they refuse.
- From Pufferfish Poison to Precision Pain Relief
- What if, with the chemotherapy, I am going to feel worse than I am now?
Stay in touch
New essays appear here, on Substack, and on LinkedIn. If you want them by email, subscribe on Substack.
Marcin Chwistek, MD 