Patrick Swayze has Cancer

Sadly we are aware that Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer. Yet, as is always the case with cancer the struggle and sadness that it brings is accompanied by new beginnings and new hopes. Alas, while De Nile is a river in Egypt, De nial is a human characteristic that only accentuates suffering and grief. In a déjà vu all over again experience, with the same ridiculous deception displayed by the doctors for Pavarotti, the doctors for Swayze announced that this pancreatic cancer is responding to medical therapy and Swayze is working as usual. Now we see pictures of him looking gaunt and wasted, puffing on his reported 3-pack a day cigarette habit. Nowhere do we see spiritual peace or meaning to his life or this experience. Nowhere do we see attempts at public awareness of the realities of pancreatic cancer. Nowhere to be found are the heroic responses of Lance Armstrong and his legions of followers who understand that for those of us who survive, cancer is the gift of a new and enlightened life and for those of us who do not it is a spiritual beginning in a place we do not understand.

Happily, PanCAN, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, will hold its annual walkathon called Purple Stride Chicago on May 3 . We live in an age where government makes war and it is up to the people to make peace. The funding for the NIH and the NCI (National Cancer Institute) are woefully inadequate. We have trouble training researchers in cancer because we do not have sufficient funding to support their education and research. We have advances in cancer which cannot be duplicated in the community because health insurance does not cover “experimental treatments”. Translation: Clinical trials must finish phase 3 studies before we can all benefit from their results. We have a woeful public education program where many patients mistakenly think that subjects in a clinical trial may receive a placebo, no treatment at all. We operate in an environment where preventive medicine is available to the wealthy and most physicians do not promote preventive medicine. In short, we have an inadequate system for preventing and treating many illnesses, especially cancer.

Well, we also have opportunities to change all of this. The Chicago Purple Stride Walk is an opportunity to directly fund the researchers and doctors and institutions that can and do promote cancer research, cancer awareness, and cancer treatment. I am thankfully now alive 5 ½ years after my diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer. Each day is an adventure in living and I must always remember to treasure these moments because whether they are the first in a series or my last, this is a precious time I cannot waste. Cancer gave me insights. Cancer gave me caring friends. Cancer gave me a wife and new children whom I celebrate every day. My clinical trial group is still the longest surviving pancreatic cancer group in history. With more funding and commitment my group experience could be the norm and not the exception.

The Chicago Purple Stride Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Funding will take place on the beautiful Museum Campus of Chicago at 10 AM on May 8. As in the past, my office will collect donations for the PanCAN walk. Please make out checks to PanCAN and you can send them to my office at 2350 Ravine Way, Ste 400, Glenview, IL 60025, or send directly to PanCAN and mention Team Lack. Any amounts are welcome and if you are in the area I would love to have you walk with us. Either way, we take our fate into our own hands, wrestle nebulous exigencies from beaurocracy, and thank God for the blessings of love that we share with each other.

Check Your Skin for Cancer

I am perplexed. A woman brought her 16 year old son to see me. She wanted me to examine his body for changing moles. The boy had 2 normal moles on his body. He also had 6 scars on his chest. I asked the mother how her son obtained those scars. “His dermatologist removed some moles” she said. “Why did she do that”, I asked. She replied that the doctor said the moles were suspicious for cancer. “Oh, “I said, “and how many of them were cancer?” Why, none,” she replied.” “Well.” I said, “You are very lucky. You have a doctor who is always reliable. Every time she thinks your son has cancer, he doesn’t. So how many more scars does your son have to have before you seek a second opinion?”
On the other hand a cancer surgeon in Florida wrote a report stating that 7 out of 10 of his malignant melanoma cases were found incidentally by an observant physician, and the patient had no idea he had a problem. In the past 2 months I found a malignant melanoma in 2 patients who came to see me for other reasons. Last week I did a skin cancer screening at a church. Out of 40 patients I found 3 definite skin cancers and one possible metastatic cancer.
We have a two edged problem. We have a society that refuses to practice preventive medicine. We have doctors who are either poorly trained or so fearful of law suits that they will remove any lesion that they don’t recognize. We have patients who refuse to examine their own skin or listen to caring spouses who suggest they should see their doctor.
Every study done on the subject proves that dermatologists are far superior to other doctors at diagnosing skin cancer. At the same time the loss of rapport between dermatologists (all doctors) and their patients promotes an assembly line type of care that is way below the standard we are capable of delivering. Cancer is not a joke as those of you who know my history will attest. At the same time mindless surgery is no picnic either and does not make you healthier.
When in doubt get 2 opinions. Come to skin cancer screenings. They are free and worth more than the fee. And if you ever had skin cancer for God’s sake begin using Vitamin A (tretinoin, Retin A, Renova) topically. A small application each night will prevent 94% of new cancers from occurring on the face.
Edward Lack, MD www.metropolitanmds.com