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CHAPEL HILL -- N.E.D., a band made up of gynecologic cancer surgeons from across the country, will release its first CD on Tuesday. It is an eclectic mix of songs written by musicians turned M.D.s and inspired by their day-to-day work with cancer patients.
"It is really cool to blend your creative world with the medicine side," said John Boggess, a surgeon at the N.C. Women's Hospital. "This is just like a sort of bizarre outgrowth of that. It is bizarre, but I think it's wonderful."
And the music itself reflects this oddity with its range of genres from blue grass to rock 'n' roll. The CD, the proceeds of which will be donated to the newly formed N.E.D. Fund of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, encompasses six original songs reflecting the doctors' experiences.
But as personal as the songs are, the lyrics were written to be somewhat universal.
"They're not so overtly about the subject of cancer or survival," Boggess said. "We could be talking about all kinds of different things. The themes are more about those essential ideas of hope and overcoming adversity."
Serious topics to tackle as musicians. But even with cancer in mind, not all of the songs carry a heavy, dramatic tone.
"You have to remember that when you're dealing with life-threatening illness, that often there's anger involved," said Dr. John Soper, Boggess' colleague at the N.C. Women's Hospital. "It's not all sadness, and life, health, illness, death -- they're all part of the continuum of humanity. So there's some joy in the songs as well."
And the doctors seem to have done something right with their songs. After Dr. Nimesh Nagarsheth, N.E.D.'s drummer, pitched the band to Mot
