Tag: warrioe

Cancer Awareness Months

There are many different cancer awareness months with focused awareness on certain cancers. January is cervical cancer awareness month. February is Nation Cancer Prevention Month and Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancer awareness month. March is Colorectal Cancer awareness month and Multiple Myeloma Awareness month. April is Esophageal, Head and Neck Cancer and Testicular Cancer Awareness month. May is National Cancer Research Month, May is also Bladder Cancer, Melanoma, Brain, and Skin Cancer Awareness month. June is National Cancer Survivor Month. July is Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness month. August is Appendix Cancer Awareness month. September covers a lot of cancer awareness. It is Childhood Cancer, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Ovarian, Prostate, and Thyroid Cancer Awareness month. October is Breast and Liver Cancer Awareness month. November is Neuroendocrine Tumors, Gastric, Lung, and Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month. Somehow December is not any kind of cancer awareness month.

These are all well and good and should be acknowledged. As a two-time cancer warrior, I guess I would fall into the May and September category, having had lymphoma and brain cancer. Whenever I see postings about these months, I try to educate people and patients about the particular cancer that the month concentrates on. Still, I believe that there are so many additional unmentioned cancers that also deserve attention. I realize while saying this that it would be impossible to list them all. I get that. I guess what I am really trying to say is that cancer is something that we should remain vigilant for and attempt to screen for and diagnosis every single day, not just for a month or a day or a year.

As patient I realize that my particular battles and surveillance will never ever really be over for good. I will always have to be vigilant and follow up. This is why I even stay away from the word survivor because it implies a kind of finality that I don’t really think I have the luxury or confidence to truly embrace. That is ok. I am so happy just to still exist that the lifetime of surveillance does not trouble me. I plan to be in it for the long haul and whatever I have to do to help make that happen, I am in!

Digest these thoughts for a bit and have an amazing and grateful day!

Dr. Katz

Let’s Talk Therapy

Did you know that about 50 percent, if not more, of cancer patients/warriors/survivors have some form of ptsd? Ptsd stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. Ptsd occurs when someone has experienced or witnessed a shocking, scary, terrifying, traumatic, or dangerous event. This leads them to over respond to any sort of trauma from thereafter in an often debilitating or exaggerated way and could affect the rest of their life. It is a terrible condition. Therapy is an absolute must to try to combat this condition.

As a two-time cancer patient, I can tell ya, this crap is real. It can be devastating, debilitating and down right crappy. You find yourself freaking out at the slightest twinge, expecting the worst and not even considering the best. You have a scan coming up and find yourself grabbing for the ativan just to make it through it. It can get pretty ridiculous. Logic tells you that everything will likely be fine, but it is tough to believe it because your past experiences have taught you otherwise.

Ok, it sounds awful right? Heart pounding, sweating, pulse racing, fear coursing through your veins, ibs gettin all crazy. But, here’s the good news. There really is help out there, if you are willing to pursue it. You do not have to remain a prisoner of this terrible thing. That option is therapy. I mean actual, dig deep, deal with your demons, full disclosure psychological therapy. As difficult as it is, it can help you deal with your demons and identify your triggers and develop strategies that can either help you deal with these episodes when they happen or prevent them from happening in the first place. It’s truly a possibility of all wins.

The bottom line is that if you really want to start living after fighting your toughest enemy ever, you have to deal with the leftovers. You just have to, or else the fight won’t seem worth it in the first place.

On that note, I’m off to my regularly scheduled therapy appt. Peaceful vibes and power wishes.

Dr. Katz