You never know what people are suffering from Krishan
I was so sad and shocked this week to learn Chadwick Boseman, had passed away at the young age of 43
THE worst part of a doctor’s job is to be that person who has to break bad news. There’s been many a time where a result or a letter from secondary care has come back and has caused my heart to sink.
You get to know your patients and over time they become an extension of your reality. You hear about their livelihoods, you may even be managing their other family members, so to be that person that has to impart bad news requires much effort. I often wonder, if it’s so hard for me to say it, how hard must it be for them to hear it.
However, over the years, I’ve learned that people react to news differently. The most common reaction is to go silent and to pause. The majority of people hear the word cancer, for example, and freeze up. The mind can’t compute beyond it. It’s understandable because the word cancer carries all sorts of doom and gloom connotations.
We rarely focus on the thousands upon thousands of people that survive and thrive after cancer. Instead our minds become encapsulated in the thoughts of,
“is this the end?” This also goes for any rare, complex or other terminal conditions. Support, in these cases, is everything along with a quick acting plan of action, focusing on all that can be done.
Above is perhaps the classic reaction to a diagnosis of a terminal condition. I was so sad and shocked this week to learn that Chadwick Boseman, had passed away at the young age of 43 after a silent four- year battle with colon cancer. A stark reminder to us all that we just don’t know what people are suffering from behind the scenes.
It reminded me of a patient of mine that I managed several years ago. This patient had been battling from depression for a decade but one day developed an unusual cough with some blood stained phlegm. I organised a chest X- ray and to our mutual shock, it showed that he had lung cancer and that it had already spread. I expected his mental health to deteriorate but instead was surprised when he said, “I don’t want anyone to know. I’m going to live my life to the fullest for as long as I have it. I’ve wasted too much time doing nothing. I’m going to make my life count.”
I hadn’t come across a case like this before, which is probably why it still holds a place in my heart. I cared for this patient, seeing him fortnightly and was in awe of the way he handled what would otherwise be a devastating outcome for most.
I watched him complete a bucket list over those six months. His friends and family knew nothing but were taken aback by the sudden change in character.
A once very lethargic, sad and isolated man was attending parties, hosting gatherings, travelling and laughing. Only I knew his secret.
He would break down during consultations but he was on a mission to thrive in the time he had left. I’ll never know what he thought about in his lonely hours, but he left a mark on all of us about how to make the most of life.
In the UK, bowel cancer is the second most common cause of death secondary to cancer. Though it typically presents in older people ( which is why we screen everyone over the age of 50), I want to take this moment to tell you that bowel cancer can affect the young too. Bowel chats carry a degree of shame and taboo when it shouldn’t. Any change in bowel habit that feels unusual should not be ignored but should be raised to your GP.
Often there are no signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, in the early stages, which is why screening is so important in helping to pick up early disease.
However some of the symptoms to watch out and take action for include a persisting change in your bowels ( diarrhoea/ constipation), change in frequency, blood or mucous in stools, unexplained abdominal pains, feeling like you’ve not emptied your bowels after going to the toilet, unexplained weight loss or fatigue.
Get to know your bowel habit! The NHS website is an excellent resource but most of all, if you are worried about your gut health, please speak to your GP.
The news of Chadwick Boseman has shocked us all. While for some, moving on with life as normal, is their way of coping, others may not feel this way. It’s very personal but always know that you’re not alone. There is a lot of support out there, your GP will be there for you if you need to talk.