Joan Zaslow’s Guide to Beating Cancer After minimally invasive surgery put her cancer into remission, one patient was inspired to donate to the department that saved her life By Leslie McMann | Photo: Staci Brimer
Joan Zaslow prefers to be called an optimist, not a cancer survivor. Born in New York City and raised in Miami Beach before moving to New Orleans for college, Joan was brought up to always try to see the good in any situation. Joan’s glass half full perspective served her well when in 2014, her dental hygienist spotted a precancerous lesion on her tongue. As a former English teacher, docent and attorney turned sculpture artist plus active philanthropist, the irony of a tongue cancer diagnosis was not lost on her. “I’ve always been doing something that calls for speaking,” Joan said. Thanks to the excellent care of Ochsner’s Head and Neck Surgical Oncology department, led by Brian Moore, MD, Joan has been cancer-free since 2016.
Seeking a second opinion Dissatisfied with the care from her initial doctor, Joan sought a second opinion at Ochsner. The Head and Neck Surgical Oncology department is one of the leading treatment centers in the Gulf South region, specializing in minimally invasive techniques and treatments designed to preserve quality of life. “The minute I walked in, I knew I was home,” Joan said of her first visit to the treatment center. It was there that she first met Dr. Moore, whose personable approach to cancer treatment has kept Joan a patient at Ochsner to this day: “He has my best interest at heart, which I’m telling you, I just appreciate so much.”
Patient-centered care Dr. Moore proposed surgically removing the cancer using a procedure called partial glossectomy. “They took out a small area on the right side of my tongue. I’ve had foot surgery and bone surgery. I’ve never had such pain as tongue surgery,” Joan 16
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recalled. Recovery from head and neck surgery can be quite painful—even swallowing can bring discomfort. But the bedside manner of Dr. Moore and his surgical team—and the post-operative care they provided—helped make Joan as comfortable as possible. “[Dr. Moore] is kind and he’s empathetic and he’s patient. You never feel rushed. You feel like you’re the most important person in the room,” Joan gushed. And Dr. Moore has no shortage of kind things to Joan’s dedication to her community is apparent in all say about treating Joan these her work. past years: “The ability to have relationships over time with they take a little piece of your tongue wonderful people like Mrs. Zaslow is one out, it changes the way you talk,” Joan of the main reasons that I went into head explained. “And my last name is ‘Zaslow’, and neck surgical oncology—and these but I couldn’t pronounce my S’s or my Z’s.” relationships and the ability to positively Speech pathologist Yvette Peevey taught impact patients are why I remain clinically Joan to pronounce her name again. active despite my other responsibilities Paying it forward around Ochsner Health,” he said. Joan is as active now as she always was Joan must keep monitoring her tongue before her cancer diagnosis: “I don’t want for signs of cancer, so Dr. Moore can to sit still and play cards,” she said. intervene should it return. “We have a Joan is on the board of several great relationship with her dental team, philanthropy groups supporting including Dr. Kitrina Cordell of the LSU performance, music and arts education Dental School,” Dr. Moore said. in the New Orleans area. She also creates Thankfully, Joan remains cancer-free sculptures, some of which she donates —which she credits entirely to Dr. Moore’s to auctions for charitable causes or to surgical expertise and rigorous follow-up. public institutions, such as the New “He saved my life. I mean, if he didn’t treat Orleans Ballet Association, and she me the way he did and get it right away recently took up Zumba. and continue to watch me?” Joan’s experience at Ochsner inspired Losing speech, but not heart her to donate to the Head and Neck Even when her biopsy at Ochsner Surgical Oncology department. Her goal? revealed cancerous squamous cells, Joan To directly support Dr. Moore’s continued was focused on recovery, not her disease. research. “It became very personal. I Following surgery, her primary concern think the world of him and also his staff,” was the loss of function in her tongue she said. “I’m so grateful for the incredible and the effect on her speech. “When care they give me.”
