Dr. Jeremy F. Shapiro
Pediatrician
Dr Shapiro completed his undergraduate education at UC San Diego earning a B S in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a B A in Political Science He furthered his education at UCLA where he earned a Masters Degree in Public…
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LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA, USA
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The Tragedy of Death: An Opportunity to Educate
13
Posted in Cervical Cancer by Dr. Jeremy F. Shapiro on Jun 26, 2009
 

I was a product of the ‘70s and ‘80s and two pivotal and monumental entertainment players from that era passed away yesterday.  And while we wait to hear the details surrounding the death of Michael Jackson, we already have clear insight as to what Farah Fawcett had been battling these past few years.  But as we extend our sympathies to the families of these two individuals, I feel the need to take this opportunity and share some information about the cancer Farah Fawcett ultimately succumbed to...unfortunately, something not done when there was an opportunity to when her documentary aired earlier this year chronicling her battle with anal cancer

Not to be confused with the more prevalent colorectal cancer, approximately 5,000 new cases of anal cancer occur each year in the United States and nearly 700 die from it annually.  But what many are unaware of is the fact human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for developing this type of cancer...in fact, the same virus at the root of cervical cancer...the same virus in which a vaccine now currently exists for young women (and hopefully, for similarly aged males in the near future). 

For more of the specifics surrounding this virus and the Gardasil vaccine, I refer you to a recent immunization blog I wrote... http://www.dailystrength.org/blog/533-immunizations-iv-tweenteen-years.  But something I want to stress here and now is this vaccine needs to be viewed as a cancer preventing vaccine.  No, it will not prevent all cervical, anal, and penile cancers, but yes, some will be.  No, this would not have impacted Farah's personal battle with anal cancer, but yes, it may one day protect her son and our sons and daughters.

I was and still am a fan of what these two individuals brought to the entertainment world...to the lives of millions, even billions in respect to Michael Jackson.  I mean no disrespect to Farah Fawcett and her loved ones when I use this tragic situation as an opportunity to educate others...but her death may save many others one day.

 

Dr. Jeremy


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Displaying comments 13-1 of 13
13
Cancer is known on its deadly characteristics. Its awful to lose love ones. But prevention would be a good thing to avoid this growing cases of cancers. Washington came from a different era, in which modesty, dignity, and stoicism were desirable qualities in a gentleman of any class. The sort of qualities payday loans can't buy. Some people would pay big unsecured loans to get the original copy of the Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.
By ColbyE  Jul 11, 2009
12
I f eel terrible about Michael Jackson but he chose to take those pills Farrah did not choose to have cancer she chose to fight for her life. What kind of message are we sendindind to others about the people we idolize? Same with elvis he chose to drink and take pills do you really want to worship someone that is that weak? I dont I myself being a former abuser know what its like to hurt those who love u. Michael jackson was It he was the all how could he do this to himself and not want help. I personally am through crying over him he does not deserve our sympathy his family does and his children be he does not he swallowed those pillls. no one forced him. Do you know how many people have died this week: him,farrah,Jimmy Mays, Dom Deloise,Ed Mcmahon, and all of natural causes.
By lisadearlisa  Jun 29, 2009
11
There are several reasons why doctors are more cold hearted these days, the first being that more people are now going into medicine for the financial rewards it confers, rather than the desire to HEAL. They really don't care that much about you! Another reason is that more patients are using lawsuits against doctors, sometimes justified but oftentimes not. As the world in general becomes more materialistic and cold hearted, so will doctors, patients and pretty much everyone.
By deanna2150  Jun 28, 2009
10
Farrah's Story may help save others one day.She was educating us already, her death did not.
Perhaps we can be better educated to stop these tragic deaths from happening in the first place. What is causing so many people to have these horribly debilitating diseases? Help us change the things we can:nutrition, healthy choices for products, ways and means to insure clean water, air, and food.
Please stop shoving new drugs down our throats, tell us ALL the nasty side effects of treatments you are considering for us, and add huge amounts of kindness, understanding, and patience while treating us..and remember to first, cause no harm.....thank you...
By marymargaret  Jun 28, 2009
9
Tom, what that doctor did to you is unconscionable. He is clearly a very cold human being that is directed by his obvious fragile and/or huge ego. From what you are saying, it seems like you are not being treated anymore because of where you are located. I am not a proponent of negative energy, but if you are not being treated because of his actions, I think you should call your local news organization and get the word out. Best to you, Tom.
By judy269  Jun 28, 2009
8
Thorugh tragedy comes knowledge and experience. Thank you for taking the time to bring to light the importance of being informed. It is this information that helps us guide our own loved ones thorugh life.
By Sharman  Jun 27, 2009
7
From a personal and selfish point of view, it mattered Mike Jackson sang songs which meant a lot to me, before Thriller for the most part, and the song Ben meant the most , never mentioned, but it was not his millions which made me get emotional, but how my life was better in some ways in the early 1970s and yet Donnie and Marie also sang at the same time. I admired Farah Fawcett good looks and she was good in Charlies Angels, but I admired her much more since of her hard working attitude against cancer and although she died, it wasn't for lack of trying. I am not meeting the 'experts' of ADA although I am kicking butt with my Diabetes and her fighting helps me see I need to work hard too. When an actor, actress, singer or such makes a connection with you, all you know is when they die, its sad and I have shed a few tears for Mike since he has been through a lot and money won't alone length your life which was sobering to me. I have been reminded of good things Ed McMan did in his life and that blessed me, I talked lightly of him, and it got me emotional since I liked him, and yet I was making light of him too often.
By Vernonbro  Jun 27, 2009
6
I pray and and saddened about Farrah Fawcett's death because she was a icon.
By wep  Jun 27, 2009
5
I grew up listening to Michael Jackson's music, and I remember hearing his name often in my home. When I heard of his death, I really thought or hoped that it was a rumor or that the media received information wrong and that Michael was still alive. I haven't cried or show much emotion because it is a shock to me. I understand that he had a lot of sadness that surrounded him. I pray for is family because of the lost of a loved one. Like everyone in the world his death came sudden, it's just hard to grasp a hold of it. We lost a great singer, a genius in the music industry, and he had influenced others (weather it was a ordinary person or another entertainer). RIP in Peace Micheal Jackson.
By wep  Jun 27, 2009
4
Tom, do you belong to Generation Y, which apparently believes that what it blabs to the world on line is somehow different from the same slanderous talk delivered face to face? At least for the present, doctors and other professionals who serve the public can decide NOT to serve the public for any reason or no reason, and someone who chooses to slander their good name, upon which their business depends, is not going to get away with *No offence, maaaaaan!* for something that is posted on line is there forever and cannot be taken back. If you end up dying for your sin, that will be a harsh punishment. But next time you think of spewing on line, perhaps you will think again.

As for Gardasil, it is an untested, untried vaccine with no history, and personally, if I were susceptible to sexually-transmitted diseases, I would consider that by far the better way to avoid most of the cancers caused by sex with strangers or unfaithful spouses is to stop doing the behaviour that leads to the disease. Remember, during the last alleged Swine Flu *epidemic*, only one person died of the actual disease, but more than 60 people died of the untested, untried vaccine that the government -- as it is doing with Gardasil -- tried to force upon the population at large.

And as for Michael Jackson, he is probably better off where he is now. Watching a freak self-destruct in public is not what I would call entertainment; reports are he was over $500 million in debt when he died and his family are left to sort out the debris his self-destructive lifestyle left behind. Including his children, who cannot possibly live a normal life.

Moloch is a popular and jealous god. Michael Jackson and his worshippers are living proof thereof.
By Appleby  Jun 27, 2009
3
However, these 2 icons had been diagnosed and died. We hope, as most would, they or their closest support have done, what they had felt what was best. In my opinion: It is more important to how one lives.
By it2speaks  Jun 27, 2009
2
Tom does seem to have a valid point if indeed he was not given a month to find medical care (as is the legal norm). I applaud your using this forum in the tradition of Hypocrates as a means of educating--which is the obligation of all physicians. However, there is the moral obligation to provide care or assure that an alternative is available. It is Tom's Constitutional right to speak--but not to slander. Unfortunately, it is not his legal right to have the best medical care that can be provided.
By shakysara  Jun 26, 2009
1
yeah this doesn't surprise me Jeremy,

I have what they call Crohns Disease, and along with that, something called Fistulas.
I've had routine scopes every 3 years, up until recently when my local rectal surgeon decided
to dismiss me as a patient, after reading something on my blog over the computer about him and my
condition. I didn't think I mentioned his name, if I did I didn't mean to, but what got me, is a doctor
can just decide to dismiss a patient for any reason he feels like it? That doesn't seem right to me!

I mean, ok sure, even if I had mentioned his name on a public blog, how can a doctor and his whole team, just dismiss me as a patient like that? leaving me without any medical care at all? I just don't understand how a doctor can let that happen to a patient.

I mean, granted, this happened 5 years ago, and I can't say enough how sorry I am that the incident happened, for if he had come to me and talked to me about it, I would have been happy to take the blog post down, and write out a public apology, but no, he decided to send me a certified letter in the mail saying him and his whole rectal team, would no longer see me as a patient anymore.

The part about that decision that bothers me, is what if I develop colorectal cancer? I mean, its a good possibility seeing as how my Fistulas are way out of control now. The last scope I had showed many internal Fistulas that are spreading branching off from the main one, and I don't have a clue how bad its getting now, because family doctors and ER doctors won't treat it, they don't have the medical knowledge to...

So what am I supposed to do? just wait for me to DIE from colorectal cancer? or something possibly more serious? Rather I have developed something like that or not, the point is, it could easily happen, and without GI / rectal team medical care, I could easily DIE from this now, and there's nothing I can do about it no matter how sincere of an appology I send to this lcoal doctor, for the other doctors in South Bend, and Indianapolis, will not treat me either because I live too far away from those places. The one rectal surgeon in south Bend looked at it, and suggested seeton placement surgery for now, but would not perform the surgery because I live too far away, so what, these doctors are just going to sit there and watch me DIE from this??!! I'm sorry, but if I was a doctor, I would NOT let that happen, I wouldn't care how bad a patient tried to discredit me, I would treat that patient as best I can regardless, because I would not want to watch that patient DIE from something I as the doctor had the power to prevent from happening.

So I just don't understand these doctors anymore, I really don't, how they can be so darn cold hearted.
For this type of thing, was how I got to posting a blog post about my condition in the first place. Just blows my mind.....

Tom
Fort Wayne, Indiana
By fullerr81  Jun 26, 2009
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