Parker County Today OCTOBER 2018 | Page 47

TOP DOCTORS Dr. Nichole Bartosh — Battling Cancer, One Day And One Step At A Time physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being,” she said. Dr. Bartosh believes, as many doctors do, in the importance of screenings, because often cancer is highly curable if detected early. She also advocates for patients to take an active role in their healthcare. “Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, by exercising, eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, and refraining from smoking are easy steps that people can take to help reduce their risk of developing cancer. Every life that is extended just one day, because we are beating this terrible disease, is a success. It’s both the little and big successes I witness daily that make my job incredibly worth it,” she said.  Dr. Nicole Bartosh, DO, MS, of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders has always been interested in science, a love she shared with her father growing up. “My father loved science, and as a young child we were always looking through a telescope or microscope, or having some adventure,” Dr. Bartosh said.  This interest continued throughout her education and brought her first to the study of medicine and then specif- ically to oncology because of working closely with breast cancer patients while she was finishing her master’s thesis. She earned her Master of Biomedical Science in clinical research at UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth, where she also earned her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine. Her undergraduate degree is from Texas A&M University and she is board-certified in inter- nal medicine and medical oncology. She lives in Fort Worth with her husband and son. In her free time she enjoys traveling with her family, scuba diving and attending her son’s sporting events. Dr. Bartosh describes the specialty of oncology as fascinating, because of the science behind it and the patient care aspect. “The field of oncology is ever-changing, and currently it is a very exciting time, with new treatments being developed daily. I also chose oncology for the human aspect. Oncology is like no other specialty in regards to the relationships that you develop with your patients and their families. I have the great privilege of helping many of my patients reach very important life milestones (such as seeing a grandchild be born, or a child get married). It is a privilege for me to not only be their doctor, but also a small part of their lives as well,” she said.  She was influenced to go into oncology by the death of her grandmother who died from metastatic breast cancer in the 1970s. Her father would tell her stories about the amazing woman that she was, despite her life being cut short by cancer. “Although I grew up without my grandmother because of this terrible disease, her life and story inspires me every day. My only hope is that I can provide lifesaving treatment to my cancer patients, so they can be around for years to come,” she said. The days of Dr. Bartosh are busy and include seeing patients, administering chemotherapy and having patient and family discussions regarding staging, treatment options, etc., on clinic days. Personalized medicine is part of her daily routine. “Every cancer patient and diag- nosis is different. My goal is to develop an individualized treatment plan that incorporates the most state-of-the-art treatment options, while also focusing on my patient’s 45