- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." — Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's health information websites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the website) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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Jan. 26, 2011
Fight for your life
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
I often point out the importance of taking care of oneself. I recently visited with a woman for whom it was a matter of survival. She had a cancer arising from the throat and participated in an aggressive program involving daily radiation for six weeks in conjunction with weekly chemotherapy. The side effects of this treatment can be devastating in terms of weakness, fatigue and a decrease in quality of life. The patient lived close enough to our facility that she could have driven in each day. However, she had the insight to shift the odds in her favor and do everything possible for a cure.
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She resigned her academic positions. She told her husband and young family, "I love you, but you're on your own because I'm in the greatest fight of my life." She rented a room in a hotel near the treatment facility, ordered nutritious meals, worked out as she was able, and focused on getting at least eight to 10 hours of sleep a night.
As of the last checkup, the patient appears to be cancer free. Which of these actions saved her life? I don't know, but I do know that she maximized the healing potential of treatment by taking care of herself.
Likewise, when you are injured or tired, when you anticipate a stressful time in your life, a light bulb should go on reminding you to: slow down, focus and eliminate distractions.
What did I miss? What advice do you have to share?
3 comments posted
February 1, 2011 6:11 p.m.
This article is just what I needed for support. Just learned half way through my chemo treatments that my white blood cell count is down. I am going to stop working half days and take care of myself.
- Char
January 27, 2011 8:05 a.m.
Qigong helped me beat four bouts of "terminal" bone lymphoma in the early nineties. It's also helped me manage the pain--physical and emotional--wrought by the cancer in the years since. Qigong also is an excellent stress reducer; after consistent practice life's "slings and arrows" bounce off one like pebbles plinking off a breastplate. Clear 14 years and still practicing every day!
- Bob
January 27, 2011 7:58 a.m.
Taking care of yourself and focus on the future. Plan fun things to do and people you want to be with.
- Delores
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3 comments posted