WOMAN CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER PUBLIC SAFETY, B1
Gallup Sun VOL 10 | ISSUE 481
www.gallupsun.com
June 14, 2024
A spouse’s guide to cancer FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SHARES HER HUSBAND’S CANCER BATTLE By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor
I
t’s been six and a half years since Fran Palochak’s husband Rick Palochak died, but she still remembers every detail of his battle with small cell lung cancer. And she wants people to take their story as a sign to go see a doctor right away if they’re not feeling well. THE BATTL E BEGINS The Palochaks’ journey with cancer began in January 2017 when Rick started coughing excessively. They thought he might just have a sinus infection, and when he went to the doctor, they sent him home with some antibiotics. But t he med ici ne didn’t help; Rick still kept coughing and coughing. In Februar y, he went back to the doctor to tell them the antibiotics hadn’t worked. They then gave him a different antibiotic to try. Fran said it was a struggle to even get her
husband into the doctor in the fi rst place. “He was one of those guys who just didn’t like to go to the doctor at all,” she said. Then, in March, his mother became ill and was sent to the hospital. Despite Fran’s concerns over his own health, Rick insisted he needed to stay with his mother in the hospital. She died later that month. Meanwhile, Fran said Rick was still avoiding h is ow n hea lt h concerns. She said he often wouldn’t come to bed during that time, choosing instead to sit in a recliner in their living room. He wasn’t sleeping much due to the coughing. He fi nally returned to the doctor in April, where they referred him to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. He was starting to lose his voice and he soon found out why. The Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor broke the news: Rick had a tumor near his vocal cords. The tumor was pressing on
Former Director of the McKinley County Bureau of Elections Rick Palochak was diagnosed with small lung cancer in April 2017. He died on Dec. 17, 2017, a little over six months after he received his diagnosis. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Fran Palochak his larynx. This caused the coughing and his voice loss. Once he received the difficult diagnosis, Rick decided to retire from his position as the director of the McKinley County Bureau of Elections. Fran helped him write his letter of resignation. The Palochaks’ next few months were filled with doctor’s appointme nt a f t er do c t or ’s appointment. F ra n reflected on the strain all of that put on her. “When you’re a caregiver, you have to pay attention to what the
The American Cancer Society kicks off the 24th annual Relay for Life event with the Survivors’ Lap at Courthouse Square June 16. File Photo
Fran Palochak juggled her role as a city council member with the responsibilities of taking care of her husband and going to his appointments when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Fran Palochak doctor is saying,” she said. “There’s no time for emotion because you have to write notes.” The doctors explained that Rick’s type of cancer didn’t have a “stage” like breast cancer or brain cancer. It was too aggressive for that. Fran took Rick to every appointment he had during that time despite her busy schedule. She ra n for city council in 2014 — at Rick’s suggestion — and often juggled her council responsibilities with his multiple appointments. THE CONDITION WORSENS
Fran and Rick Palochak married on Feb. 28, 1981. They were married for 36 years before Rick died of small lung cancer. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Fran Palochak By the middle of 2017, Rick was having trouble eating because of the location of the tumor. He lost 30 pounds in a couple of months, and he just kept getting weaker and weaker. Fran described what losing all that weight did to Rick. “When you’re in the battle and you don’t have enough weight, it just makes you worse,” Fran said. Meanwhile, Fran was just trying to keep everything straight. She kept a spreadsheet that listed all of Rick’s medications and tried to help him fi nd a solution for his nausea. They experimented with multiple ginger products,
from ginger candies to ginger beer. Eventually, a friend who also had cancer, Lydia Mazon, recommended Rick try medical marijuana. They signed him up for a medical prescription right away. A f ter mont hs of d r iv i ng to a nd f rom A lbuquerque for chemotherapy, the doctors finally had some good news: Rick’s tumor was shrinking. To celebrate, the Palochaks stopped at a casino restaurant on the way home so Rick could have some prime rib. Fran said he couldn’t eat much of it, but that didn’t matter. That was
See A SPOUSE’S GUIDE, Page A7
The luminarias are lit to honor those who lost their battle to cancer during the Relay for Life event June 16 at Courthouse Square. Over $6,000 was raised at last year’s event. File Photo
Gallup gets ready for 25th Relay for Life By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor
T
he Global Relay for Life movement started because of one person. In May 1985, Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington, raising money to help the American Cancer Society raise some money for cancer research. Friends, family, and patients watched and supported him as he walked and ran more than 83.6 miles, and raised $27,000 through pledges to help save lives from cancer. As he ran, a plan began to form in his brain: would other people want to run to raise money? The next year, 19 teams were a part of the fi rst Relay for Life event, which raised $33,000.
LOCALLY CELEBRATING 25 YEARS The Gallup-McKinley Chapter hasn’t been around as long as the global level, but they are nonetheless preparing to celebrate their 25th year as an organization at the Relay for Life event on June 14. To honor the 25th anniversary, or the “silver anniversary,” this year’s Relay theme is “The Silver Relay: What Will You Do to Sparkle and Shine Against Cancer?” To kickoff the silver anniversary, some of the participating relay teams took on a “25 Days Before Relay” challenge. Members had to post something to celebrate Relay each day for the 25 days leading up to the event. GallupMcKinley Chapter Coordinator Joyce Graves said some of the postings encouraged people to eat a healthy meal and post a recipe on Facebook; on another day they
had to wear cowboy boots to “kick cancer in the butt;” and then they honored another day by making cards and writing letters to cancer survivors and caretakers. Some teams have also started selling pink socks. They cost $5 a pair, and they will also be sold at the Relay event. Of course, there will also be some new and exciting things at the Relay itself. Graves said they’re bringing back Mr. Relay, an event where men dress up in women’s clothing and walk around the track during the Relay trying to get people to donate money. Whoever collects the most money wins the competition. Graves said any man who wants to join in on the fun can do so that day. “Anybody else who wants to
See RELAY FOR LIFE, Page A7
1045 S. Patton 3 Bed/2 Bath Totally updated, no high maintenance here. Say hello beautiful to your new home. I've been waiting for you. Contact George Anast (509) 330-1951 Keller Williams Realty 309 E. Nizhoni Blvd Gallup NM 87301 Office (505) 488-2344