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Healthwise Maui

Q: I was just diagnosed with cancer. What are the most important things that I can do, right now, to help me through this?

Dr. Derrick Beech, surgical oncologist: A diagnosis of cancer presents a life-changing moment for patients, their friends and family. As a surgical oncologist with more than 25 years of experience treating cancer patients, I’m honored to now be a part of Maui’s medical community, working alongside many world-class physicians, and able to provide these recommendations to you. These suggestions represent a starting point and are not meant to be comprehensive.

• Nurture a supportive environment. Often patients want to isolate themselves; however, a diagnosis of cancer brings about strong emotions that can potentially influence one’s judgment. Having family or friends present during discussions with providers (surgeons, radiation therapist, oncologist) is very helpful. Love and support can go a long way when it comes to developing a strong foundation to manage the initial diagnosis and ultimate treatment.

• Review and understand all options of therapy, ultimately understanding that the final decision for all treatment (or none) is yours as a patient. Communication is key — as a cancer surgeon, my role is to make sure that every patient is fully aware of treatment options and the risk and benefits of each treatment.

• Maintain a strong sense of hope and faith. Certainly, it’s important to be realistic about the prognosis and potential outcomes, but always remember the interconnectivity between the body, mind and spirit. Don’t neglect the mind and spirit, as they are just as important (or even more so) as treatment that is provided physically. Never give up hope.

Q: Are there any opportunities to volunteer at Maui Memorial Medical Center for people who don’t have any medical background, education or training?

Barbara Potopowitz, MMMC auxiliary president: Yes, absolutely! The MMMC Hospital Auxiliary is always looking for volunteers to help during the week and on the weekends. Our members help with a variety of tasks at the hospital including operation of the gift shop (all proceeds go to funding hospital needs), providing weekly iced tea and cookie cart service to hardworking staff and visitors, visiting patients through the Aloha Committee, assisting with comfort cart services for families in need, serving as a liaison between patients’ families and the operating room and ICU, fundraising for medical equipment and scholarships for medical staff, and many other activities that support our staff and patients. Also important to note that many people may not know is that we are now accepting volunteers under the age of 55 (previously limited to ages 55 and over) to help engage more community members and expand our services to the hospital. We are currently accepting new member applications to join our ohana.

To provide a little background on our organization, this year we celebrate 51 years of service. Since we started in 1968, we have provided more than $1 million in new equipment and employee scholarships. Each year our members provide more than 10,000 hours of volunteer time. The equipment donated and many volunteer hours have benefited 15 different departments, and many, many, patients and staff. Equipment donations include basic necessities like wheelchairs, walkers and blanket warmers, as well as lifesaving machines like a CCU monitor, fetal heart monitor respirator and additional equipment for the ICU.

If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering with the MMMC Hospital Auxiliary, please call me, Barbara Potopowitz, at (808) 280-4707.

* Physicians, providers and administrative staff who practice at Maui Health System hospitals and clinics answer questions from the public in “Healthwise Maui,” which appears on Thursdays. Maui Health System operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lana’i Community Hospital and accepts all patients. To submit a question, go to the website at mauihealthsystem.org/contact.

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