Medical Profession

M

Marie Mallory

Well-known member
I have to say that the nurses and doctors here are very nice and helpful. Although I don't accept most of their drugs or test like acans and meds.
99% of them are really sweet.
Like the old black man pushing to room singing to me ,called me a Golden Girl,said "not saying your old, we all old,lol."
He knew every word to song below,song below is just 58 seconds long,

 
Many people complain about the state of Medicine in the USA, but I'm not one of them. I am lucky to live in a large metro area where plenty of doctors and world-class facilities are available.

Marie, I have been appalled at the poor treatment that you have received during your entire ordeal. Back in 2021 when I saw my PCP and she said, "have that checked ASAP", I did as I was told and made an appointment at MD Anderson that week.

When I had my INITIAL appointment with MDA, I had a mammogram, ultrasound, and a guided needle biopsy all in a single day. It was a long day, but I knew THAT VERY DAY that I had a cancer diagnosis, that it had spread to a lymph node under my arm, and that treatment was imperative due to the aggressive nature of the type of disease.

After that it was a whirlwind of appointments, MRIs, scans, bloodwork, heart tests, etc. MDA scheduled all appointments and all I had to do was show up.

Even yesterday, five years after my treatment ended, I had a mammogram, ultrasound, and an oncologist visit scheduled one after another. By the time I got to the oncologist appointment he already had the results of my mammogram and ultrasound. An excellent medical facility just runs like a well-oiled machine and it's almost inconceivable to me that you have had to fight for every prescription while using the ER as your main source of care.

I wish things were easier for you during this stressful time, and it makes me so sad that you and Jake are basically on your own in this. I received such exemplary care that I am left speechless when I read the ordeal that you and Jake have been through.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
Many people complain about the state of Medicine in the USA, but I'm not one of them. I am lucky to live in a large metro area where plenty of doctors and world-class facilities are available.

Marie, I have been appalled at the poor treatment that you have received during your entire ordeal. Back in 2021 when I saw my PCP and she said, "have that checked ASAP", I did as I was told and made an appointment at MD Anderson that week.

When I had my INITIAL appointment with MDA, I had a mammogram, ultrasound, and a guided needle biopsy all in a single day. It was a long day, but I knew THAT VERY DAY that I had a cancer diagnosis, that it had spread to a lymph node under my arm, and that treatment was imperative due to the aggressive nature of the type of disease.

After that it was a whirlwind of appointments, MRIs, scans, bloodwork, heart tests, etc. MDA scheduled all appointments and all I had to do was show up.

Even yesterday, five years after my treatment ended, I had a mammogram, ultrasound, and an oncologist visit scheduled one after another. By the time I got to the oncologist appointment he already had the results of my mammogram and ultrasound. An excellent medical facility just runs like a well-oiled machine and it's almost inconceivable to me that you have had to fight for every prescription while using the ER as your main source of care.

I wish things were easier for you during this stressful time, and it makes me so sad that you and Jake are basically on your own in this. I received such exemplary care that I am left speechless when I read the ordeal that you and Jake have been through.
Click to expand...

The problem is that so many have all the answers, like meds for example, I must have refused 20 meds over last couple weeks alone.
They come in room with needle in hand, ,I ask what its for, then refuse to take it.
Last thing I need is a drug side effect reaction. Or to be knocked out and put under another scan ,like I told them I've had enough cat scans, mri's.
Radioactive Pet scan I took results will be at oncologist Monday,
 
Marie Mallory said:
The problem is that so many have all the answers, like meds for example, I must have refused 20 meds over last couple weeks alone.
They come in room with needle in hand, ,I ask what its for, then refuse to take it.
Last thing I need is a drug side effect reaction. Or to be knocked out and put under another scan ,like I told them I've had enough cat scans, mri's.
Radioactive Pet scan I took results will be at oncologist Monday,
Click to expand...

Don't they have a record of your drug allergies? It seems like if they are keeping your chart and records updated, they would know which medicines you can't have. I don't have any medical allergies that I'm aware of, so I just took every medication they gave me without question.

Of course I didn't have any pain to deal with. In fact I was stunned to find that I had cancer because I felt great. (At least until chemo started, and that's when I was a "cancer patient" with no hair and circles under my eyes.)

It just seems to me that your care has been helter-skelter and random, with no actual diagnosis of the type of cancer, where it originated, or any course of treatment. Treating pain is not the same as treating the cause of the pain. I just want you to feel better and to get proper treatment.
 
I am one who complains about the state of American healthcare @Beth Gallagher. As I have said before, I blame a lot of it on Obamacare, but the mindset of many providers and the fact that many of the not-for-profit facilities have been taken over by for-profit corporations, and that was made easier by the passage of that terrible law. Obamacare put many of the single provider doctors out of business by design and many of our doctors now cannot speak English well, and others want a 9-5 practice. Mayo Clinic is one example. I have little contact with the Florida facility, so I can't comment there, but the Minnesota operation seems to have gone downhill dramatically from the reports I receive. My DIL had a serious condition that she was sent to Rochester, Minnesota for, and they did all sorts of elaborate scans and tests over the period of a week and arrived at no diagnosis. A few months later, she went to the Mayo facility in Arizona, and they arrived at a diagnosis is a couple days and scheduled surgery in an attempt to remedy the problem. I have heard a number of similar stories about the Minnesota clinic.

Healthcare in Alaska is particularly bad, but then most "star" doctors don't come to Alaska. I have known of a couple who were moved here by the military and elected to stay as they saw the need. Beth, you are truly fortunate to live near M.D Anderson, and I suspect @Tony Page is also in a good place as well.
 
I know that I brought it up in the old forum, but I'll repeat it here. As a paramedic, I have transported several cancer patients from the Rio Grande Valley to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. In each case, they had a team waiting for us in what was practically a red carpet treatment. They knew the patient's name, history, and needs, and were very kind, not only to the patient but to us. They had food prepared for us so that we could get something to eat before returning to the Valley, and I have heard very few complaints about MD Anderson. Not only that, but they have a great name, as well.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
Don't they have a record of your drug allergies? It seems like if they are keeping your chart and records updated, they would know which medicines you can't have. I don't have any medical allergies that I'm aware of, so I just took every medication they gave me without question.

Of course I didn't have any pain to deal with. In fact I was stunned to find that I had cancer because I felt great. (At least until chemo started, and that's when I was a "cancer patient" with no hair and circles under my eyes.)

It just seems to me that your care has been helter-skelter and random, with no actual diagnosis of the type of cancer, where it originated, or any course of treatment. Treating pain is not the same as treating the cause of the pain. I just want you to feel better and to get proper treatment.
Click to expand...
Ditto! To treat the pain, something should have been done with the tumors, but only after biopsy. If surgery wasn't viable, then radiation to shrink them to relieve the nerve compression should have been considered. It really upsets me @Marie Mallory , that you weren't sent to an Oncologist immediately!
 
Faye Fox said:
Ditto! To treat the pain, something should have been done with the tumors, but only after biopsy. If surgery wasn't viable, then radiation to shrink them to relieve the nerve compression should have been considered. It really upsets me @Marie Mallory , that you weren't sent to an Oncologist immediately!
Click to expand...

Faye, now that pet scan is done, doc should be able to know more ao maybe he will do something.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
Don't they have a record of your drug allergies? It seems like if they are keeping your chart and records updated, they would know which medicines you can't have. I don't have any medical allergies that I'm aware of, so I just took every medication they gave me without question.

Of course I didn't have any pain to deal with. In fact I was stunned to find that I had cancer because I felt great. (At least until chemo started, and that's when I was a "cancer patient" with no hair and circles under my eyes.)

It just seems to me that your care has been helter-skelter and random, with no actual diagnosis of the type of cancer, where it originated, or any course of treatment. Treating pain is not the same as treating the cause of the pain. I just want you to feel better and to get proper treatment.
Click to expand...

Beth since I've smoked for 64 years and they are saying my lungs are full of small to meduim spots, they are saying it started in the lungs and spread all over my body.
Like many other youth in the 50s, 60s I bought my first pack of cigs with money I made washing dishes in restarant.
Some of my friends quit in the 80s, still a few still got cancer and passed.
Back then if you could reach over the 3 jumbo sinks ,you had a job, no worry about child labor.
 
Ken Anderson said:
I know that I brought it up in the old forum, but I'll repeat it here. As a paramedic, I have transported several cancer patients from the Rio Grande Valley to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. In each case, they had a team waiting for us in what was practically a red carpet treatment. They knew the patient's name, history, and needs, and were very kind, not only to the patient but to us. They had food prepared for us so that we could get something to eat before returning to the Valley, and I have heard very few complaints about MD Anderson. Not only that, but they have a great name, as well.
Click to expand...
That was it in Ft. Worth. I pulled into a doc in the box with squealing tires, SO in garage bibs with a cotton towel wrapped around his hand. No paper work until they had him stabilized, portable X-ray, telecom with hand specialist. Paramedics, bless them, had him in and told me to stick to their bumper. Boy, did I stick! They actually checked on me. He was checked in, had a room, surgeon extended his shift and at 22:00 nurses found some scrubs as his garage clothes were vile. Doctor managed to save the nail bed but not the whole finger tip. SO shot a major match left handed four weeks later! Yes, I sent in condos and then some.
Hospitals here in Oklahoma had family accommodations, access to meal plans, actually told me to go to SO’s permanent room to work undisturbed.
Medical support including after release is unbelievable.
 
Marie Mallory said:
Beth since I've smoked for 64 years and they are saying my lungs are full of small to meduim spots, they are saying it started in the lungs and spread all over my body.
Like many other youth in the 50s, 60s I bought my first pack of cigs with money I made washing dishes in restarant.
Some of my friends quit in the 80s, still a few still got cancer and passed.
Back then if you could reach over the 3 jumbo sinks ,you had a job, no worry about child labor.
Click to expand...
Marie, my grandfather smoked. He smoked cigarettes and cigars. He was a cook. A good cook after he retired and always had a cold cigar in his mouth. The living room haď a door to the bedroom. There was one TV in the living room and rug rats were allowed unlimited hours as long as we were quiet. There was a layer of smoke. He died in his 80s of a broken heart.
SO quit cold turkey when ENT told me to buy a small piece of property at 24/25.
 
Marie Miller said:
Marie, my grandfather smoked. He smoked cigarettes and cigars. He was a cook. A good cook after he retired and always had a cold cigar in his mouth. The living room haď a door to the bedroom. There was one TV in the living room and rug rats were allowed unlimited hours as long as we were quiet. There was a layer of smoke. He died in his 80s of a broken heart.
SO quit cold turkey when ENT told me to buy a small piece of property at 24/25.
Click to expand...
Some beat the odds, including me considering how long I smoked. Although we never smoked in the house.
Old man smoked till 112 always had a cigar in his mouth in his house, car, etc.
 
When I was suffering through head and neck radiation therapy 20 years ago, the staff and nurses were absolutely awesome in how well they took care of me. The oncologist and I had a few disagreements, but he was competent.

Afterwards the treatment and lack of care I was subjected to was totally unacceptable and completely lacking in any meaningful help. I had to research and figure out for myself how to rebuild my health. At least half a dozen doctors were useless and incompetent.

Sad to say that in the 20 years since, I only saw one doctor who genuinely wanted to help, and unfortunately he has retired🙁
 
Don Alaska said:
I am one who complains about the state of American healthcare @Beth Gallagher. As I have said before, I blame a lot of it on Obamacare, but the mindset of many providers and the fact that many of the not-for-profit facilities have been taken over by for-profit corporations, and that was made easier by the passage of that terrible law. Obamacare put many of the single provider doctors out of business by design and many of our doctors now cannot speak English well, and others want a 9-5 practice. Mayo Clinic is one example. I have little contact with the Florida facility, so I can't comment there, but the Minnesota operation seems to have gone downhill dramatically from the reports I receive. My DIL had a serious condition that she was sent to Rochester, Minnesota for, and they did all sorts of elaborate scans and tests over the period of a week and arrived at no diagnosis. A few months later, she went to the Mayo facility in Arizona, and they arrived at a diagnosis is a couple days and scheduled surgery in an attempt to remedy the problem. I have heard a number of similar stories about the Minnesota clinic.

Healthcare in Alaska is particularly bad, but then most "star" doctors don't come to Alaska. I have known of a couple who were moved here by the military and elected to stay as they saw the need. Beth, you are truly fortunate to live near M.D Anderson, and I suspect @Tony Page is also in a good place as well.
Click to expand...
So true! Many of the doctors barely speak English. And degrees are handed out like candy.
The campus looks like a meeting at the united nations.
I'd never moved here if I knew liberals ran things in Florida.
Desantas seems to do what he can to get elected.

Some bad lango, but true,

 
Last edited:
Marie Mallory said:
Beth since I've smoked for 64 years and they are saying my lungs are full of small to meduim spots, they are saying it started in the lungs and spread all over my body.
Like many other youth in the 50s, 60s I bought my first pack of cigs with money I made washing dishes in restarant.
Some of my friends quit in the 80s, still a few still got cancer and passed.
Back then if you could reach over the 3 jumbo sinks ,you had a job, no worry about child labor.
Click to expand...

Oh, OK. I'm sorry Marie, I must have missed the news that you have lung cancer that metastasized; I thought I understood that you had not had a formal diagnosis yet. The PET scan is looking for other possible metastases. Will you have any actual curative treatment or are you strictly palliative care?
 
Beth Gallagher said:
Oh, OK. I'm sorry Marie, I must have missed the news that you have lung cancer that metastasized; I thought I understood that you had not had a formal diagnosis yet. The PET scan is looking for other possible metastases. Will you have any actual curative treatment or are you strictly palliative care?
Click to expand...
Both they said they know it lung cancer just not what kind yet, low or fast growing.
I just called my friend on cell since no answer on landline. She had heart attack Monday been in intensive care till today, may move her to room tomorrow.
My goodness what else?
Been friends since 11. She is same age as me 76.
She is doing better now.
 
John Wick said:
When I was suffering through head and neck radiation therapy 20 years ago, the staff and nurses were absolutely awesome in how well they took care of me. The oncologist and I had a few disagreements, but he was competent.

Afterwards the treatment and lack of care I was subjected to was totally unacceptable and completely lacking in any meaningful help. I had to research and figure out for myself how to rebuild my health. At least half a dozen doctors were useless and incompetent.

Sad to say that in the 20 years since, I only saw one doctor who genuinely wanted to help, and unfortunately he has retired🙁
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that you were left with physical problems after treatment, John. That is actually very common, unfortunately.

Many people survive cancer to be faced with other health issues caused by the cancer treatment.

The issue with oncologists is that they are cancer specialists. They aren't concerned that chemo affected heart valves or caused disintegrating joints; they are concerned with cancer... period.
 
Last edited:
Marie Mallory said:
Both they said they know it lung cancer just not what kind yet, low or fast growing.
I just called my friend on cell since no answer on landline. She had heart attack Monsay been in intensive care till today, moved her to room.
My goodness what else?
Been friends since 11. She is same age as me 76.
She is doing better now.
Click to expand...

Sorry about your friend and I hope she makes a full recovery, Marie.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top