Aggravated

MandaJarvis11
MandaJarvis11 Member Posts: 37
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

I have had alot of time to reconsider the biopsy. And I finally decided to just get it removed instead. So I called the cancer center and asked questions. Left 2 voicemails. Never got a response back! I am really getting depressed. I feel worthless at this point. Even when I want to change something or have questions they won't answer me. It's defeating :(. I'm just lost. I even called a well known cancer center to see if I could transfer and I never heard back? I know I am not dying, or even diagnosed with anything. But I believe I deserve some answers and more comfort in all that is going on right? :'(

Comments

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    #2
    PHONE CALLS

    Manda:

    I would not leave voice mails, since they are not being answered.  How frustrating!  Do you have an oncologist??   If this happened to me, I would proceed to get very aggressive.    Call your doctor's office.  Start making calls.  Is this center connected to a hospital?  If so, get pushy and call top level people at the hospital.  Whatever it takes.  This is important.   I am like a "dog with a bone" when it comes to something like this.  If you don't have an oncologist, you need a reference to one.

    This is very upsetting.   Call, call, call.   Push, push, push.  You go girl!

    Nancy

     

  • MandaJarvis11
    MandaJarvis11 Member Posts: 37
    #3
    NANCYL1 said:

    PHONE CALLS

    Manda:

    I would not leave voice mails, since they are not being answered.  How frustrating!  Do you have an oncologist??   If this happened to me, I would proceed to get very aggressive.    Call your doctor's office.  Start making calls.  Is this center connected to a hospital?  If so, get pushy and call top level people at the hospital.  Whatever it takes.  This is important.   I am like a "dog with a bone" when it comes to something like this.  If you don't have an oncologist, you need a reference to one.

    This is very upsetting.   Call, call, call.   Push, push, push.  You go girl!

    Nancy

     

    Agreed

    Yes I do have one that's who won't call me back

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    #4
    MandaJarvis11 said:

    Agreed

    Yes I do have one that's who won't call me back

    AGREED

     

    Manda:

    I do hope you find another oncologist.  I had a regular checkup last year in January.  My internist found that my white blood cells were high and she sent me right away to a nearby cancer center and Oncologist.  After blood tests, CT-Scan, PT-scan, Endoscopy and bone marrow biopsy, the diagnosis was lymphoma.  I have Rituxan infusions and they are helping quite a lot.

    Good luck and let us know.

    Nancy

     

     

  • illead
    illead Member Posts: 884 Member
    #5
    health ins

    I wonder if calling your health ins. company would help.

  • MandaJarvis11
    MandaJarvis11 Member Posts: 37
    #6
    illead said:

    health ins

    I wonder if calling your health ins. company would help.

    I will try

    I am just so worked up over it. It seems so silly.

     

    my other question is, since my left lymph node hurts and is sore, the means its not cancer? Because cancer does not hurt?

  • Joemory21
    Joemory21 Member Posts: 41
    #7
    MandaJarvis11 said:

    I will try

    I am just so worked up over it. It seems so silly.

     

    my other question is, since my left lymph node hurts and is sore, the means its not cancer? Because cancer does not hurt?

    New onc

    I would find a new doc if you can. As far as pain cancer for the most part does not hurt but if you are like me I had a node I would not stop playing with and it started to hurt :).  first onc would not talk things out with me and i could never get him on the phone so I found one I like and it made things much better for me. 

    Best of luck

    jonathan 

  • anliperez915
    anliperez915 Member Posts: 770
    #8
    MandaJarvis11 said:

    I will try

    I am just so worked up over it. It seems so silly.

     

    my other question is, since my left lymph node hurts and is sore, the means its not cancer? Because cancer does not hurt?

    Hi Manda

    Hi Manda,

    And again I'm sorry for all the stuff you're going through. I'm wondering if you could start all over again, by that I mean going to another GP and for him sending you to another Oncologist or get him to do more test (CT scan, MRI, etc.). About the pain issue, I don't know if that's true, I've had constant pain all over my body. Especially in my lower back, elbows, shoulders and stomach area. I never had pain before my cancer dx, I'm sure that the cancer was/is the cause for it, and don't forget that everybody is different, what one person might feel won't necessarily apply to another. Hopefully you'll get answers soon and if you can't get another dr. I would go to the clinic in person and talk to a social worker from the clinic. Good luck and sending you positive vibes and I will be praying for you! Take care

    Sincerely,

    Liz

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #9
    Contacting Doctors

    You can usually call the reservations desk and ask them to connect you to someone who can help. I am sorry to say that many Drs don't call back because they don't get paid to do that. They usually let you deal with a nurse. You can try that.

    I have become very forward about it. If I cannot reach anyone I march into the office.

    As far as documentation, you have the right to copies of that. For example after a scan or sonogram I go straight to the radiology center and say I want to pick up a CD of the results. In a matter of minutes. I like to read the radiologist report first hand before I see the Doctor. I am not a Doctor but I am not a dummy either.

    Also remember that you have to be available to answer a call. Generally they will not leave private medical info on a voicemail unless you sign a form allowing them to do so. So if the phone rings and no one answers, they will generally not leave a message except possibly a callback number. State your name clearly on the voice mailbox greetings so there is no doubt they have the right person.

    And there is also the fact that there are good doctors and some who are not worth their salt. I was fortunate to get a very good oncologist (excellent in fact) because he cured my wife's breast cancer almost 15 years ago. Still he is a very busy man dealing with very sick people, every single day of the year. He is not always responsive to requests for call back and may take a few days to get back to me. But thats ok because I know I am lucky to have him and I know in an emergency he will be there. He gets overwhelmed just like we all do from time to time.

    Goog luck. I am so sorry you are going thru this. But learn to be tough about. Very polite and courteous let them know you mean what you are saying.

    Go out there and kick some ****. You can do it girl! You are brave and you are strong!

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