Comedy of errors....not

Less than a year post-dx on my colon cancer, my car was broken into. Not only did they take all my computer stuff (I'm a computer consultant), but they grabbed what they thought was more software. It was my FULL cancer folder, complete with pictures of my 2", fungating tumor on my rectum, which was on top. I LOVE to picture them opening that folder, and getting an eyeful of that icky, bloody mess!!!

After my second dx....breast cancer....my films mysteriously disappeared. To this day, they can't find them. These were all the record they had of my 10 year old lump...sigh...

So, I have faced the beast twice. You CAN fight and win, I did....now, 1.5 years COMPLETELY cancer free from both....and they only gave me 6 months to live on the rectal, 3 years ago.

Vent as much as you want, it SUCKS big time, especially the waiting and the redo's....

Hugs, Kathi

calgal98 said:

Thanks Kathi. Its nice to hear that it wasn't just me that crazy things have happened to. With all the things in my medical history that have had funky things happen I've been beginning to think I'm been signalled out for special treatment from the powers that be!! LOL. Thanks for the hugs and for listening and sharing your story. Hugs back to you!! Vicki

Ah no...you are not the only one, I fear. This year I got a letter in September telling me that a computer was stolen from the well-known hospital/university I go to. The laptop in question belonged to a researcher who had access to more than just my tumor characteristics--it also contained name, address, social security information on me and about all the other cancer patients that went there. The computer had been stolen mid-summer. I wasn't notified for almost two months. The hospital gave me free security watch service on my credit rating if I so desired it (I did), but fortunately everything turned out cool. I received a 2nd letter saying the computer had been recovered a few weeks after the first letter. It made my blood pressure rise a bit to think that my identity could be stolen so easily as a result of having cancer. No magazines mentioned that little side effect!!!It was amazing to me that the organization hadn't thought to encrypt the personal data so that it couldn't be tampered with so easily. In this day and age, they should have anticipated theft and the costs that would entail. It costs big bucks to have your credit watched in detail and they had to make that offer to all the victims. Apparently they thought to close the door only after the cows got out. It was only luck that all the theives wanted was the computer itself, not the information. With all the HIPPA guidelines out there, I never thought I'd come so close to having my identity publically hijacked, but then it happened. Thanks for sharing your story. I guess I will keep all those films from the past that are cluttering up my bedroom. The docs didn't want to keep them after the operations.

chenheart said:

Well, my film getting lost/stolen or otherwise destroyed has not happend to me, but it did make me think. As these films do belong to us...(wow! aren't we lucky?) I am considering using the safety deposit box that my bank offers to keep them in. That's where we're keeping our passports, birth certificates, etc...why not our medical stuff? Just a thought.
Hugs,
Claudia

Wow, you all have given me pause for thought! I have never had such an experience, but the safe deposit box is a good idea. The old ways are not necessarily bad ways. My Nephew (20 year old college JR) and my Dad (73 year old, retired from several different careers) had a discussion over Thanksgiving about the risks and benefits of being dependent on computers versus self-sufficient and able to do things by hand (you might guess which one was in favor of the computers and which thought we should have a low-tech alternative). I have paper copies of medical records in a file cabinet at home, but the safe deposit is a good backup plan. I hope it all goes better for all of you from here on out.

seof.

Hi Calgal....sorry for your terrible experience, we just don't need any more problems than we already have do we. Life sometimes takes many turns alright. I had a mammo in 05 and got a letter from the Breast clinic saying all is GOOD and see ya in 2 yrs....that was March 05, seen dr Sept asking for a mammo as I felt something, he said, no need your all clear according to the br. clinic.....went back to him in Oct/05 demanded a mammo...he felt the "lumps on my left br side..oh he said, well maybe a mammo is necessary...duh! Felt like knucles had grown there and it was much shorter by now than the other one. I knew then what it was, mammo, Ultra sound, biopsys 4, surgery, chemo, rads, lymphedema (lymph nodes removed 19) and chemo feet later.......you need to be your own advocate for sure. My daughter had to fight the 'same' dr for her mammo. He doesn't believe in them, but then he's a man!
They do lose files, and important info, so keep track of yours, glad they found your file.
God bless and hope you get great results...your in my prayers hon.