July 1, 2020

By Anne Dabbs, 
NCAN TN Chapter Leader, NET Patient

Recently, I read an online article which quoted a University of Michigan scholar, Jane Dutton, who has studied the roles of the “invisible workers” within our health care systems. Ms. Dutton states, “It only takes 40 seconds of a caring interaction to change a patient in a way that affects their whole health trajectory”.

This reminded me of a nurse’s aide caring for me late one night following my debulking surgery. I was having trouble sleeping with all the racing thoughts of what was to come. She was a very young girl, probably in her first job. She offered to wash my hair, hoping to comfort and soothe me enough so I would finally fall asleep. I was skeptical, but her offer was better than lying awake with my mind spinning. She was with me less than 30 minutes, but her small act of kindness remained far longer. After she left, I remember feeling human again. I felt a new sense of hope that I would recover. Yes, from simply washing my hair.

One of the silver linings of a Neuroendocrine Cancer diagnosis, is our active and supportive Neuroendocrine Community. We are strong in our ability to empathize with other patients who share our frustrations with a poorly recognized disease. We all have at least one story of being misunderstood or misdiagnosed. We’ve all felt dismissed by physicians or family and friends. Once you have walked down our path to a correct diagnosis, most NETs patients are eager to help others navigate their journey with less frustration.

40 seconds. Less than the time it takes to brush your teeth.
40 seconds. Less than the time it takes to leave a typical phone message.
40 seconds. Less than the time it takes to make tea.
40 seconds, even from an invisible source, can have a tremendous impact on someone’s well being!

So, let’s continue to encourage each other in NET Community fashion! Reach out to a patient in need, answer a question, share your story, like a photo, or attend a Chapter Support Group Meeting. Even a simple heart, or thumbs up emoji can leave both the sender and recipient smiling.

And remember, if you find yourself needing 40 seconds, or more, please don’t hesitate to CALL US.
It’s what we are here for!

 

Find out more about how YOU can help the NET Community.

 

Disclaimer: NCAN blog posts are the opinions of its writers and are not intended as a replacement for medical advice. Please consult your Health Care Providers for individual concerns.