Tag: cancer support

Greek to me

Joanne Dragun, M.D.

As a college freshman sorority pledge, upperclassman would randomly stop and demand that you rattle off the Greek alphabet. Never knew it would come in handy. Skipping over “XI” to avoid a variant name for the Chinese president brings us to Omicron. As we all know, “virus gonna virus”. Researchers research and so they make tweaks to the vaccines and therapies and frankly, we do not need to know all the boring and frightening details. Presently, in vaccinated adults, Omicron seems to cause two days of fatigue, in fact the flu is now worse. (get your shot)

Viruses that are exceptionally lethal like Ebola die out because there is no one left to transmit. Covid had a remarkable run the first year with catastrophic impact until vaccines. As long as mutations stay within certain parameters, vaccines will offer protection. We are not surprised that the new variant is more contagious. That’s how viruses survive. They can mutate thousands of times. Your protection is to get vaxed, get boosted and prepare to be boosted again.

At the medical staff meeting this week, the presentation on covid sums it up: Over 1700 cases, but not one fatality at that hospital in a vaccinated person. Unlike 2020, hospitals can currently manage cases and are not overwhelmed. So imagine physicians’ dismay over New York state instituting preemptively a ban on all elective procedures again. This is why we are finding patients with extensive cancers now instead of smaller, curable disease. The delay in diagnosis has been tremendous. Data suggests there are over 700,000 cancers that have gone undiagnosed or untreated due to delays. I am seeing it everyday.

What’s my recommendation? Live your life. If in a group, mask (even vaxed can transmit), be up to date with vaccines, don’t delay. If you need medical evaluation, see your doc in person for best exam. You cannot telehealth breast and prostate exams, colonoscopies (all the most common cancers), derm checks, MRI, PET and CT scans, endoscopies, I cannot palpate lymph nodes over the internet.

Alice was in this week, “Doc remember when no one would see me- but you examined and found my breast cancer?” Joan “saw” by telehealth her primary for Medicare yearly check. When she called to say something wasn’t right, I examined her in person and detected a loud wheeze and a CT found a lung cancer lurking. We cannot make up for the months missed caring for other diseases at the alter of covid. Too many people lived a terrible life these past almost two years and they weren’t even sick. We are sick of being told we are sick.

Bottom line: get seen, get care, get vaxed, get help, get back to a real unafraid, unsheltered life. We are not naive pledges. We are intelligent savvy grownups who will not be intimidated. We need to take back control. I promise you that no bureaucrat is smarter than you or knows what is best for you (look how they designed a vaccine card you must carry but doesn’t fit in the wallet- stupid). Covid is continuing to be an excuse for a power grab and enough is enough.

A Mother’s Love

Joanne Dragun, M.D.1 Comment

Happy Mother’s Day to every woman reading this message today!

We know who you are: the selfless champion of other’s dreams. The biological, adoptive, fostered, relative, friend, champion, devoted women dedicated to the wellness, growth and success of others. The Grandmothers and Great grandmothers who inspire and support through sickness, family strife, economic burdens, a team during deployments, confidants to the young, so many roles and responsibilities that define your own life long after giving birth.

Motherhood is for life. Only one person can give birth to one person and so mothers are a precious link to the divine. A force we call on throughout our lives as burdens are shouldered, successes are celebrated and always love is shared.

This is an ambitious topic so please know that I respect that no message could conceptualize a mother. From my own perspective in the cancer center, motherhood has its own unique place both with the caring team, and the patients and family entering the doors putting theirs lives and concerns in our hands. The lifting and hope we give to each other, all with the knowledge that these precious women have a sacred bond.

Dealing with the magnitude of a cancer diagnosis is so often the least of patients’ issues. I witness connections daily: the children gathered around the mother, the woman with tears for her own child diagnosed, the grandmother holding everyone together trying to minimize her own drama, the child carefully walking the grandmother down the hall to therapy. Every single interaction bears the weight of a mother’s role. Often they protect and stand stronger than they feel to limit the fear for the family. Great Grandmothers sense the time has come for independence to end and are concerned about becoming a burden. It is always always always about caring for others. Motherhood by nature is selfless. No matter the illness or pain. Somehow they are all gifted with the grace and fortitude, wisdom and fierceness of a soldier.

There is no training. We are all humbled by the work of motherhood and learn as we go, rarely confessing this to each other. Mother’s do not have the luxury of doubt. They need to be decisive, deliberate and self directed. Often the mission feels spiritual.

Allow me to offer on this Mother’s Day: if you are blessed to still have your mother, celebrate her. If she is gone, pray to her and thank her, if you are a young mother, have faith that you have the strength of generations. If you are a grandmother, know that your power is in your legacy. If you are a husband, friend, father, give praise that there are women in your life who represent the angels.

Thank you all for sharing this day with me. Know that you are a blessing to others forever.

Birthday Wishes

Joanne Dragun, M.D.

Celebration,balloons,gifts,cake (my favorite) and expressions of love and happy wishes. The month of May happens to be an especially busy time for my family. My husband (today!) mother, sister, Godson and grandson all share the Taurus sign (that is a significant amount of strong wills in one family (oops I meant strength!) Did you have a birthday this year? Of course you did so let me offer my own birthday greeting even if belated.

As spring blossoms and new life in all forms enjoy rebirth, we have an opportunity to savor the delicious day ahead. Having expectation is critical to a good life. Striving for happiness, connections, love, activity, valuable work, contributing to other’s wellness increases our ability to heal.

So here is to our immune systems providing for long and happy lives, not avoiding the pain and trials it may bring, but celebrating our strength and purpose. Gift yourself with a “re-birth day” with a list- not of things you could wish for, but of all the blessings you are grateful for. As you physically write your list envision how each and every pleasure, truth, joy, satisfaction, relative, friend, job and health is providing you with gifts.

Gratitude brings so many blessings into our lives. It can provide courage, vitality, wisdom, fortitude and peace. Enjoy the anticipation of an exciting future today then re-gift yourself with that thought every day. Plan for many re-birthdays!

Happy Birthday to all our loved ones and to you. Happy re-birth to many of you who battle cancer. You have a unique and special place in this world. Your amazing spirits teach us the value of living each moment. Everyday provides us all with marvelous opportunity. Take hold and don’t wait until the next year to celebrate you.