Saturday 23 August 2008

Behind the previous rants

I have often thought when reading some persons rant about a situation "what is the total story behind this".
It happens every day, people from all walks of life have grievances about almost anything. These real or imagined insults have been keeping hundreds of reporters and columnists occupied for years.
Well just for the record this is a bit of what made me write the previous few posts. I am not looking for sympathy or indeed notoriety, this is just an explanation.
I have this warped idea that one should treat your neighbour as you would be treated. I try. I expect to be treated the same by those I come in contact, whether it be at the food bank Beth and I have been volunteering or at the finest hospital in the province.

Aug. 27th - beautiful Great-granddaughter Madeline dies- just a few months old - a great shock and deep sadness envelopes family.

Oct 2nd 2007 - Appointment with Dr fransen about my peripheral Neuropathy- numb and pain in feet - keeps me awake at night -there is evidently no cure. I didnt mention my knees to him in which I have Pseudo Gout - basically a form of Arthritis which can be very painful - -of which there also is no cure. Both had been bothering me quite a bit. Have been stumbling a little and have difficulty getting up with the knees.

Oct 5th - - told I have prostate cancer.

Oct 18th - appointment with Dr Nazif - cancer confirmed

Oct 19 th - Dermatologist burns a small lesion off lip with nitrogen - told to come back in six months (have been coming back every 4-6 months for a few years) - Secretary would not give me an appointment unless I went back to Fransen and get a re referral ???? 6 months rule etc -I then asked to make it five months - Oh no - ( extra pay for new referral etc etc?? - I was very upset - cost to medical plan etc.Very concerned that it appeared a Young receptionist could arbitrarily change this several billion dollar health plan.


April 29th 2008 - Dr Fransen - told him I was sure I had lip cancer. ( minor at this time - don't think he was to concerned - I was) made appointment with Dermatologist JUNE 15TH ( originally given a September time) Dr Fransen had it changed.

May 14th - Phoned Dermatologist office to enquire if I should use Ufedex cream on my lip. Receptionist advises he does not take phone calls - ever. She is not helpful and rather belligerent.

June 10th -Dr Fain - get broken tooth out - plus two metal inserts screwed into same jaw - three hour job - very sore jaw for a few weeks.

June 15 - Dermatologist -my lip is quit bad now - he is not to concerned - says no need to take a biopsy. I mention had operation a few years ago on eye-lid - it was Squamous carcinoma. We have nice discussion about him not receiving calls from patients - I decided to have nothing more to do with a person that treats his patients only like a number and seems to have no actual interest in them as a human being - he prescribes ufedex - I tell him I have some. . He tells me to come back in two months, I tell him I cannot remain a patient with a person that will not talk to me when I call in need. He says good by and walks away - no instructions of how to use ufedex on lips.I do start using ufedex the next day using my own judgement and the internet.The way this two tiered Dermatology specialist works is - you first have to get an appointment with one that does not do any cutting operations (other than biopsies it appears) - this takes usually three months or more. If he takes a biopsy, and it is cancer you are now eligible to apply for an appointment and wait another three months.

June 18th? Dr. Fransen gets me an appointment with another Dermatologist for Oct.

June 20th Appointment with Dr. Buffan- Opthomologist - (he cut a piece of skin from under my right eye four years ago - skin graft fron other eye lid - Squamous carcinoma) he notices my lip and askes what is being done - I tell him. The good news is that my Glaucoma is not getting worse.

June and July lip continues to get worse - discontinue Ufedex about July 20th.

Aug 4th - lips very sore I have Dr. Fransen do the biopsy - I carry it over to the Lab at SMH. The Idea is to have the Cancer clinic take over my case if I have squamous cell carcinoma as I suspect.

Dr. Fransen and I think this is reasonable since I attend the radiation dept every day. Aug 7th have my scheduled appointment with Doctor at Cancer clinic She is a new doctor as my regular one is on leave. My lip is very sore and bleeding. I mention to this person that I would like to become a patient if the biopsy shows Cancer. She has absolutely no interest whatever in my situation - does not look at my lip - or indeed show any compassion whatever - just advises to see specialist get referral etc etc. - start from the beginning.
I am in a lot of pain with my lip at this time and my bowels are starting to churn ( just finished the radiation treatment on Prostate).

It goes through my mind all the TV and written advertisements for the treatment of skin cancer - the instructions to see you doctor at the first sign of any unusual sign of color change, raised skin, red area, etc - don't wait - serious - time is of the essence etc etc.

Here I am sitting in the Cancer clinic, (a registered patient) - in front of an Oncologist - bleeding lip - several months of getting the run around - and what kind of compassion do I receive - more bureaucratic runaround.
I tell her in no uncertain terms that this will just not do - not do at all. she says there is nothing she can do - I say of course there is something you can do - she says "this interview is over" and walks out the door.

Times have sure changed since I had Larry Warshawski as my doctor in Vancouver!

Aug 11 th - Biopsy results indicate squamous cell carcinoma. I take Dr. Fransens referral and biopsy results to cancer clinic - they refuse to take them - say they must be faxed over - also I should not see results!!

Unbelievable!! I have everything faxed over.
Aug 13 - I check to see if Cancer clinic has received referral - they say no. Have it faxed over again within ten minutes.

Aug. 16th I still do not know if they have my papers - Next week is my last week in radiation.
The only relative good news is that my lip is healing a bit and not very sore.


Aug 18th - One of the radiologists checks my records for me - she says I am registered twice for the skin cancer - has no idea how long it will be before anyone will contact me. It is so nice to have someone take a few minutes of their time to be helpful.

Today is Aug 23rd - I am finnished with my radiation treatments - still no word from Cancer clinic.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

wow, do you have that good of a memory or do you keep track? You would think that living in the big metropolis of the lower mainland you could get medical stuff fast and efficiently. I kind of wonder if it would be easier to be a dog and get sick.

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