Lost in translation

Radioactive34
Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
in Ovarian Cancer #1
Some of you know I have moved from the US to Denmark. I have not been here a month. I am set up as a resident so I have access to the health system.

I got referred to the gyn for cervical cancer....an error of course. The cervical cancer dept sent me a letter that referred me back to my doctor for labs confirming the diagnosis. I called said dept and advised it was OVC. I told them I already had all the labs, scans, treatment..etc documented for OVC. I just needed to know where I was supposed to go or which was the right dept to be referred to.

The cervical cancer people told me they do not deal with ovaries so I should go back to the assigned GP for the correct referral. OK, so since I was speaking to the gyn dept, I asked, "Ok which dept deals with ovaries?" They did not know go back to GP.

Great so I call the number on the back of the insurance card and tell them my story. Once I finish the lady tells me, this line is for Danish people who have had emergencies outside of Denmark and need care. But she was nice enough to repeat go back to GP for referral to gyn dept. I explained the run around and she said not much to do but go back for GP and hope for a correct referral.

Comments

  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #2
    Cross eyed
    I was literally lost in translation. Apparently the first letter was a form letter sent out so patients do not panic...or an outright mistake. I got the second mailing about my referral. I am currently trying to translate it....migraine setting in....but it does say I have an appointment scheduled with the major cancer clinic. It even has information on the research available. I just have to work on translating that portion.
  • AnneBehymer
    AnneBehymer Member Posts: 738 Member
    #3
    Radioactive34 said:

    Cross eyed
    I was literally lost in translation. Apparently the first letter was a form letter sent out so patients do not panic...or an outright mistake. I got the second mailing about my referral. I am currently trying to translate it....migraine setting in....but it does say I have an appointment scheduled with the major cancer clinic. It even has information on the research available. I just have to work on translating that portion.

    wow
    all I can say to that is wow good luck and I hope it gets easier

    Anne
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #4
    Runaround!
    I hate getting the runaround treatment! You certainly don't need this, on top of all the other adjustments you must be having. Keep us posted and keep pushing forward until they listen to you.

    Don't know anything about Denmark, but worked with a Danish lady for many years. Her name was Dora, and she never listened, only talked. But, she was very sweet! Needless to say, I was very frustrated. I thought about Dora for he first time in many years, when I read your post.

    Hugs to you Radio!
    kathleen

    PS Why are you in Denmark? Maybe you already posted earlier, and I missed it?
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #5
    kayandok said:

    Runaround!
    I hate getting the runaround treatment! You certainly don't need this, on top of all the other adjustments you must be having. Keep us posted and keep pushing forward until they listen to you.

    Don't know anything about Denmark, but worked with a Danish lady for many years. Her name was Dora, and she never listened, only talked. But, she was very sweet! Needless to say, I was very frustrated. I thought about Dora for he first time in many years, when I read your post.

    Hugs to you Radio!
    kathleen

    PS Why are you in Denmark? Maybe you already posted earlier, and I missed it?

    I am in Denmark because my
    I am in Denmark because my husband got a job here. He had been looking for one for well over 2 years. We could not pass this up, even though it came at the time of OVC diagnosis. He left and my family took care of me, until I could get here.

    I am having to start all over again with the treatment or at least until someone can review my history. Then they should push me forward to the right department. From what I have heard...they talk a lot because the langauge is super large. I am taking classes for the language and the words are superlong....sometimes it takes a lot to say a little.

    Not unlike the "ants" in The Lord of the Rings.

    Thanks for the hugs :)
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #6
    kayandok said:

    Runaround!
    I hate getting the runaround treatment! You certainly don't need this, on top of all the other adjustments you must be having. Keep us posted and keep pushing forward until they listen to you.

    Don't know anything about Denmark, but worked with a Danish lady for many years. Her name was Dora, and she never listened, only talked. But, she was very sweet! Needless to say, I was very frustrated. I thought about Dora for he first time in many years, when I read your post.

    Hugs to you Radio!
    kathleen

    PS Why are you in Denmark? Maybe you already posted earlier, and I missed it?

    I am in Denmark because my
    I am in Denmark because my husband got a job here. He had been looking for one for well over 2 years. We could not pass this up, even though it came at the time of OVC diagnosis. He left and my family took care of me, until I could get here.

    I am having to start all over again with the treatment or at least until someone can review my history. Then they should push me forward to the right department. From what I have heard...they talk a lot because the langauge is super large. I am taking classes for the language and the words are superlong....sometimes it takes a lot to say a little.

    Not unlike the "ants" in The Lord of the Rings.

    Thanks for the hugs :)
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #7
    AnneBehymer said:

    wow
    all I can say to that is wow good luck and I hope it gets easier

    Anne

    Thank you...it will get
    Thank you...it will get easier...just have to have patience...which I am low on. ;p
  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #8
    Radioactive34 said:

    I am in Denmark because my
    I am in Denmark because my husband got a job here. He had been looking for one for well over 2 years. We could not pass this up, even though it came at the time of OVC diagnosis. He left and my family took care of me, until I could get here.

    I am having to start all over again with the treatment or at least until someone can review my history. Then they should push me forward to the right department. From what I have heard...they talk a lot because the langauge is super large. I am taking classes for the language and the words are superlong....sometimes it takes a lot to say a little.

    Not unlike the "ants" in The Lord of the Rings.

    Thanks for the hugs :)

    Ovary dept.
    So, Radioactive, have you finally gotten referred to the ovary department? Please keep us updated.

    I find your posts so interesting even though you are dealing with a lot of garbage. I hope things have improved for you.
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #9
    carolenk said:

    Ovary dept.
    So, Radioactive, have you finally gotten referred to the ovary department? Please keep us updated.

    I find your posts so interesting even though you are dealing with a lot of garbage. I hope things have improved for you.

    Lol, no ovary department yet
    The initial appointment is not until late February. Sigh, I am not being monitored until then. So...anxiety varies because no CA 125 but then again no CA 125 to necesairly worry about...the paradox..of do I really want to know?

    I cling to the healthier eating and exercise as security blankets. Maybe they will keep the monster at bay.
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #10
    Finally some movement on this
    They did not know what to do with my type of cancer. I gave them the report from Harvard and the oncologist who treated me. That still did not give them a clue where to stick me. So, I ended up in the female and brain cancer section of the oncology department.

    Either way, they understood small cell cancers required constant monitoring. I am going to have a CT and blood work next week. Then for the next few years a CT every 4 months. Language was an issue, but a nurse liason helped.

    This feels like getting a car serviced. The break specialist will only touch the break. The muffler shop only the mufflers....etc.

    They said they were a highly specialized department and could only deal with the treatment of cancer. I asked for a referal to a shrink who dealt with people with cancer diagnosis. They looked at me like a nut and said they did not do that type of thing. They referred me to a website which might help me.

    Either way things are looking up.
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #11
    Radioactive34 said:

    Finally some movement on this
    They did not know what to do with my type of cancer. I gave them the report from Harvard and the oncologist who treated me. That still did not give them a clue where to stick me. So, I ended up in the female and brain cancer section of the oncology department.

    Either way, they understood small cell cancers required constant monitoring. I am going to have a CT and blood work next week. Then for the next few years a CT every 4 months. Language was an issue, but a nurse liason helped.

    This feels like getting a car serviced. The break specialist will only touch the break. The muffler shop only the mufflers....etc.

    They said they were a highly specialized department and could only deal with the treatment of cancer. I asked for a referal to a shrink who dealt with people with cancer diagnosis. They looked at me like a nut and said they did not do that type of thing. They referred me to a website which might help me.

    Either way things are looking up.

    I am glad to hear things
    are looking up for you. I can't imagine going through this is a foreign country although most of what we go through is so foreign. Do you have friends or family there?

    Karen
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #12
    Radioactive34 said:

    Finally some movement on this
    They did not know what to do with my type of cancer. I gave them the report from Harvard and the oncologist who treated me. That still did not give them a clue where to stick me. So, I ended up in the female and brain cancer section of the oncology department.

    Either way, they understood small cell cancers required constant monitoring. I am going to have a CT and blood work next week. Then for the next few years a CT every 4 months. Language was an issue, but a nurse liason helped.

    This feels like getting a car serviced. The break specialist will only touch the break. The muffler shop only the mufflers....etc.

    They said they were a highly specialized department and could only deal with the treatment of cancer. I asked for a referal to a shrink who dealt with people with cancer diagnosis. They looked at me like a nut and said they did not do that type of thing. They referred me to a website which might help me.

    Either way things are looking up.

    Glad to hear things are looking up
    Will they be honoring a guarantee like my local muffler shop :)
    (((HUGS))) Maria
  • kimberly sue 63
    kimberly sue 63 Member Posts: 421 Member
    #13
    Denmark
    What a coincidence...My husband is Danish. I met him after he was in the states 1 year. That was almost 28 years ago. His whole family lives in Denmark and my youngest daughter who is 18, has lived there for two years.

    What part of Denmark are you in? My husband's family lives on FYN. If you are close, I could link you with one of his sisters who is a nurse.
  • kimberly sue 63
    kimberly sue 63 Member Posts: 421 Member
    #14
    Radioactive34 said:

    I am in Denmark because my
    I am in Denmark because my husband got a job here. He had been looking for one for well over 2 years. We could not pass this up, even though it came at the time of OVC diagnosis. He left and my family took care of me, until I could get here.

    I am having to start all over again with the treatment or at least until someone can review my history. Then they should push me forward to the right department. From what I have heard...they talk a lot because the langauge is super large. I am taking classes for the language and the words are superlong....sometimes it takes a lot to say a little.

    Not unlike the "ants" in The Lord of the Rings.

    Thanks for the hugs :)

    language
    Danish is hard to learn. I know very little and when we visit it is always hard because everyone starts in English and then finishes in Danish. I can usually get the topic of conversation when listening, but I never really can participate in the Danish conversation. Just know most Danes know English unless they are elderly.
  • JoWin615
    JoWin615 Member Posts: 150 Member
    #15
    Mwee said:

    Glad to hear things are looking up
    Will they be honoring a guarantee like my local muffler shop :)
    (((HUGS))) Maria

    LOL, Maria!

    LOL, Maria!
  • JoWin615
    JoWin615 Member Posts: 150 Member
    #16
    Hope things get easier soon
    I lived in Germany for two years and my first child was born there. We were not in the military. My (ex) husband is German, and he stopped speaking English to me the minute we stepped off the plane. I learned German quickly, but it was difficult and exhausting. I cannot imagine doing that and having ovarian cancer at the same time - I salute your strength and courage!

    Cheers,
    Jo

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