- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward T. 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 Web sites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the Web site) 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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Dec. 1, 2007
Making the best of each day
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Yes, we do learn from each other. Not only in the Internet community of our blog but also from professional, casual and social relationships. Let me explain.
I recently visited with a remarkable gentleman who had a serious situation of far-advanced lung cancer approximately one year ago. The patient underwent extensive surgery, radiation and chemotherapy; experienced considerable toxicities; yet, today, on the basis of our evaluations he remains cancer free. Now, for the rest of the story.
He shared with me that one day several months ago he lost virtually all of his earthly possessions in a devastating flood here in Southeast Minnesota. The gentleman is a widower; has no close family or relatives; and in the course of approximately one hour, lost his home and all of his possessions.
The situation became very complicated because of his frustrations in trying to resolve myriad financial and insurance issues.
I asked him how he was able to deal not only with cancer, but with this current setback. He simply said, "I am just not going to let them wear me down. I am a strong person and I will not give up one moment of my peace and my well-being to deal with these people."
This gentleman shared with me that should he have a stroke or a heart attack or some major health consequence of dealing with these agencies, obviously, not one of them will really care about his well-being. He shared with me a determination, a focus, and the need to make the best of each day and not become distracted by situations and circumstances over which he has no control.
This was a powerful lesson for me and I would be most grateful for how some of our blog participants not only deal with serious medical problems but also the bewildering number of financial and business-related problems that threaten our serenity and peace of mind.
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