Episode #73: “Before you get any treatment…” With Dr. Parul Dua Makkar and Liz Durnan

…know what you’re getting treated for!” Dr. Parul Dua Makkar is a general dentist focused on education and bringing awareness to oral cancer. Liz Durnan is a healthcare disruptor for positive change and Chief Growth Officer for the Peace Advocacy Group. Parul shares the story of losing her only sibling, her younger brother, Dr. Manu Dua, who was also a dentist, to oral cancer, “I watched him come into the world, and leave the world.” She says no one was thinking cancer in a young, healthy patient, how quickly it spread, and took his life. Parul promotes self-advocacy and offers online CE for all healthcare professionals to promote a comprehensive approach to oral cancer. She sends a message to doctors and patients about what to be on the lookout for; “cancer doesn’t have to be painful!”Liz Durnan shares her experience of being misdiagnosed with depression at age 19, and the cascade of complications that resulted. She says, “I think in this day and age it takes a village to help someone through their healthcare…I needed my dad…you need that person in your corner.” “My dad has been diagnosed with cancer, now I want to help him through that.” “It’s ok to ask questions!” Parul speaks to the critical importance of asking questions as well, “I didn’t want his death to be just another statistic…I want this to be a change in movement in pushing for earlier diagnosis, asking questions…” Liz speaks to broken trust at various levels of healthcare, and what she is trying to accomplish with her work at the Peace Advocacy Group, whose mission is changing healthcare, one heartstorm at a time.