Thirty days, Day 13

[gridlore]

Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

Honestly, I can't think of anyone who deserves a letter of this sort. I've grown a thick skin over the years, and for the most part my dealings with people have been pleasant for the past year or more. But if you insist on one...

Dear Oncologist,

This letter is a form of communication. Communication is an essential part of our culture. I have two phone numbers, an email address, a physical address, and am signed up with your employer's/my health care company's website. We live in an age of instant communication and an unprecidented free flow of information.

So, why is getting so much as a test result out of you like pulling teeth? (Something I'm overly familiar with, BTW.) Maybe I've been spoiled by excellent doctors both in my past and in other departments at your facility, but you'd think that you could spend five minutes telling an office assistant to forward me my test results with a quick note.

This is oncology, after all.. you think I'm not interested in the lurking potential of a relapse or a new outbreak?

Speak to me, oh, Sphinx-like MD!

Yours in frustration,
gridlore

Really, not hearing about follow-up tests is the biggest peeve I have right now. Not really a hurt, more an annoyance.

Comments

[drewkitty.livejournal.com]

Not to alarm you or anything . . . but my mother died because a screening test was mis-read. Her cancer came back at Stage 2, and they didn't notice until the next screening test. Stage 4. She died six months later.

I'd cheerfully have sent such a note to her oncologist, if it had the potential to the slightest bit of good.

Sharing the story just to encourage everyone to keep up with test results and screenings.

[claidheamhmor]

Ugh. Why do some people need to have communication forced on them?