Pregnancy after radiation???

Marynb

mp327 said:

jcruz

I, too, was treated in my hometown at the local hospital (which is affiliated with a large hospital system).  I feel that I received excellent care there with state of the art equipment.  I don't believe any of my doctors are named as "experts" in the treatment of anal cancer, but their knowledge is extensive and they knew what they were doing.  I am close to being a 5-year survivor.  There are lots of survivor stories about getting excellent care close to home, which I believe has its advantages.  Primarily, for a lot of people, a support system of family and friends is already in place, causing less stress and resulting in more needed assistance.  I think that plays a role in successful treatment.  Personally, if I had been staying in a strange place in a hotel room or lodge facility for cancer patients, it would have been a disaster.  I think emotionally, I would have been a complete mess.  Anyone diagnosed with this disease needs to make sure their doctors are well-versed on treatment and follow-up and that their hospital or treatment facility is state of art.  All that said, I think for cases of advanced disease or complications, the whole decision process changes. 

Martha
The problem is most patients don't know the extent of their illness before diagnosis an treatment. In my case, if I had stayed at the local hospital, I would be very sick or dead right now. I did not know how complicated my case was until I went to the right hospital. I got 3 opinions. The local hosptial had me dead and buried!

mp327

Marynb said:

Martha
The problem is most patients don't know the extent of their illness before diagnosis an treatment. In my case, if I had stayed at the local hospital, I would be very sick or dead right now. I did not know how complicated my case was until I went to the right hospital. I got 3 opinions. The local hosptial had me dead and buried!

Marynb

That is true, as I had no idea I had cancer when I went to my first appt. with the colorectal surgeon.  I thought I was just going because my internist told me I had hemorrhoids.  So, I would say that a successful treatment of this disease does not start with a reputable hospital, it begins with a reputable doctor.  Many of us know this all too well.  I would agree that some small town hospitals would not be the best places to go for treatment.  I just happen to be fortunate enough to live in a very large metropolitan area with excellent facilities.  I still maintain that I would never have made it through treatment if I had had to be in a strange place, staying in a hotel, etc.  I barely made it through treatment staying at home, sleeping in my own bed at night.  Getting through this is as much mental as it is physical, IMO. 

Marynb

jcruz said:

apologies for overreacting a bit

Yesterday was a bad end to a very bad week.  I've been feeling like my nerves are on the outside of my skin and everything makes me jumpy right now.   I should have known to step away from the keyboard.  I like reading your posts and admire the strength I see when I read them.  

Jcruz
I do get it and understand that there are many who chose local hospitals for various reasons. I admit to advocating that every cancer patient get the best medical care possible. I have worked on too many malpractice cases that would make your blood boil! Just because a person has MD after their name does not mean they are competent, and not all hosptials are well equipped! It really does matter. But, as you said, if you have alreay been treated, and you had no complications and are now NED, that is all that matters to you!

Stay well and have a good week. I have one of those weeks coming next week.