Dr. John Inzerillo: A Helping Hand | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Publisher's note: We are most pleased, and quite humbled, to have the opportunity to bring to our readership the often reflective, and always knowledgeable words of Oncologist John Inzerillo, MD.

   This is the fifth installment of a multi-part series, which began on June 2, 2012.

    Thinking of the word help reminds me of the Beatles song, "HELP." Mid 1960's as I recall. Beatle boots- I actually owned a pair. I also had a pair of engineer boots when they cost $15. Now I see them in the Hammacher-Schlemmer catalog for $150. Help indeed.

    I am in the helping profession. As a doc, I get to help people everyday. Not only do I help them understand their illness, but I hope I help them successfully deal with the worst illness known to humankind- as they used to say in the 1960's- the big "C". Now we are not afraid to say the word cancer, but it is still a fear provoking illness. Think about it, one in three of us in our lifetime will have a brush with cancer. The good news is that being diagnosed with cancer today has a whole lot better prognosis than it did in the 60's in that today, we are reading about 65-70% five year survival rates. Many of the cancers are now beginning to be viewed as chronic diseases.

    I get a lot out of helping people, but it sometimes takes its toll on my energy. At the end of many days I get home whipped and just want to take it easy. That's great when all is at peace in my world, yet other times such is not the case. Getting home to unpleasant news can get a soul down, but I have recently begun to understand that even bad news can be the stimulus for good things to come. I have been struggling with the idea of finding joy in every moment, especially those tough moments that we all experience. The bad news moments, the frustrating moments, the moments that we think will never end - you know what, they all pass.
A reflective moment for Dr. John Inzerillo: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage
    I have decided that I have to take charge of my old way of thinking, stop telling myself, "Oh crap", at the bothersome stuff and intentionally look for the joy of the moment. I recall the other day asking one of my patients how they were doing. After the reply, "Not good," I retorted, "But you walked in here, didn't you." Sounds like a harsh response for a doc to give a patient, but I knew this individual could take it. He had to agree that things could be a lot worse. Actually we were glad to see each other.

    No matter how good someone else's life looks from the outside, we all have a cross to bear. It is obvious when someone is ill, and they are weakened from their condition, that they need help. At these times is it easy to see what they need. Even so, some find it hard to accept help from others. My aunt, the woman who put me through medical school, who has been like a mother to me, (my mom took ill when I was twelve), needed my help today. Her ride to her doctor's appointment in Greenville cancelled at the last moment. Since I was off work I offered to take her. Walking out of her doctor's office into the beautiful midmorning sun she said to me, "Thank you for spending so much time with me." That simple statement had me feeling sadness and joy simultaneously. I was sad in that she even felt that she had to say that, yet I was joyful in that I was able to help. I chose to dwell on the joy and was glad that we were able to help each other.

    Let us all learn to give and receive help joyfully. And by the way, I have traded in my engineer boots for a pair of flip-flops.