I fight for family.  I fight for my grandfather Ben, who survived the Nazi concentration camp Stuffof and forced labor camp at Buchenwald. I fight for my great Aunt Halina, a brave woman who survived leaving her home and family behind in Poland for a better life in America. Ben and Halina both lost their battles with cancer as older adults, in 2019 and 2009.  I fight for my Aunt Donna, who passed from pancreatic cancer in 2007.  I fight for Nana Ann, mother of Aunt Donna and my Grandfather Ben’s wife, who passed in 2021 due to her own complications related to cancer. I fight in memory of my mom, Susan, who died nine months later, while battling cancer, mental illness, and other medical conditions that are so often comorbid with psychiatric conditions.  

 

When my mom was first diagnosed with cancer, she did not tell a soul.  She decided to begin radiation treatments, but stopped after a couple of sessions due to the horrible side effects.  She’d later tell us that she did not share the diagnosis because she “didn’t want to worry Nana”.  My siblings and I found out about her diagnosis after nana passed away in April, and she agreed to start treatments again.  My mom died on December 21, 2021.

 

“Individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder die nearly 30 years earlier than the general population, and cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death among this group. People with serious mental illness are more than twice as likely to die from cancer, less likely to receive timely, high quality cancer care, and more likely to be excluded from clinical trials. Access to early, integrated psychiatric care may improve cancer treatment for patients with mental illness.”

 

That is why I am fighting—for Mass General Hospital’s Collaborative Care and Community Engagement Program whose mission is to, “promote equity in cancer care for patients affected by mental illness, and to support their families and caregivers. Through clinical innovation, research, education, and advocacy, the program aims to prevent premature cancer mortality and improve the quality of life of individuals affected by mental illness and cancer.” I am immensely grateful for the time that I had with my family and the strength that they shared with me, and I fight now so that hopefully one day good people won’t have to fight so hard to survive.

 

This fight isn’t just for the people I have lost, but for the survivors in my life. I fight for my sister Christel, a trauma nurse, and brother-in- law Adam, a firefighter, who fight for our community’s safety every day.  I fight for my dancey friend Kate Laramee, my runny cousin Cindy, my Switzerland-residing cousin Christine, and for the badass Mary Walsh. I fight for my aunt Kelly, a group home manager, who completed her treatments and immediately returned to work to coordinate care for two of her residents starting their own cancer treatment journeys.  I fight for for my ‘second mom’ Meg Perkins, who is currently undergoing treatment for metastasized lung cancer. Meg, if you could get through Bridge, Steve, and I as teenagers, you can get through anything. We love you.