Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month

Why would we bring attention to this month on a sarcoma blog? Because we also want to raise awareness about women with pelvic sarcomas, many of whom get their first diagnosis and surgery from a gyn oncologist.

I took this photo of N.E.D., a band comprised of gyn oncologists at the Society of Gyn Oncologists meeting in February. They rocked the San Antonio convention center.

Seeing them play reminded me that doctors are people. I shouldn't need reminding. After all, I have friends who are doctors. In treatment, however, it's easy to treat MDs like Minor Deities, forgetting that they are only humans, and they have human emotions.

N.E.D. stands for "no evidence of disease," a state that many of us treasure. The band's first CD, "Rhythm Heals," went on sale Tuesday. In the clip below, Dr. Joanie Hope sings lead vocals on the title song. This is what their record company says:

The mission of the band is to enhance knowledge about gynecologic cancers and bring hope through rhythm for women undergoing treatment. The doctors strongly believe music heals. In fact, more than 250 journal articles report findings investigating the beneficial effects of music on pain, anxiety or depression. In a recent study at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, investigators found that patients who received music therapy while undergoing chemotherapy reported 37% less mood disturbance than other patients and 28% less anxiety. Other studies have shown that music can assist patients in coping with difficult illnesses. N.E.D. is focused on using music to convey this comfort.

My only suggestion would be that the band mention sarcoma on its page that details gyn cancers. Some of us are patients, too.