Finally My Turn

Brenda3.16 said:

Kimby,
What does dx and tx
Kimby,

What does dx and tx stand for ? The volunteer work sounds very rewarding. I have had lots of offers for help. I still feel really good and accepting the help is not easy all the time. I had not thought of it being a gift to the person helping.

Where do you get your treatments ? I am getting chemo at a local Dr who I really like , and also seeing Doctors at Sloan Kettering in NYC which is very overwhelming. Have you ever heard anything about the Cancer Treatment Centers of America ? I really like the look of their website and read the book by their Chaplin. My two local Doctors think that Sloan is the place for me even though the Doctors are not very warm people.

Brenda

Brenda
Dx = diagnosis
TX = treatment

Sorry about the shorthand there. Bad habit. I get my treatments at University of Michigan. My oncologist team all are in the GI canzer unit and specialize in liver tumors. It is a very specialized group. You need to know that I don't pick doctors like a normal person. Bedside manner is ok but it makes me nervous. I like the geeky science guys that spend more time in research than with patients. I never ask patients for recommendations for docs because most people (in my experience) like the warm and fuzzy. I really like the old guys that have 'gotten over themselves' and are past the god complex. The geeky guy with a Nurse Practitioner that translates into human.

I have heard conflicting things about CTCA. I'm just not sure. I tend to stick to the NCI Comprehensive canzer Center list. That doesn't mean they can't be a good option, just my opinion. (My opinion is usually worth what you've just paid for it :P) My center (and many others I suspect) is starting to acknowledge the mind/body/spirit connection. At U of M there is a baby grand piano in the lab. Several times I've sat right beside or behind the harpist in the infusion room. They have snacks available for survivors/lovegivers: bagels, ice cream, sherbet, Popsicles, soda, coffee, juices, water, tea, hot chocolate, hot apple cider. They have a masseuse for foot, hand and shoulder massages during infusion.

Like I said, I think I have the best doctors available, but they are probably not what most patients would choose. I consider one of them the equivalent to Dr. House without the drug addiction. You may be looking for Dr. Welby.

Hugs,

Kimby