Canadian Health Care

Rinna, I had the same feelings several years ago when the seasonal flu shot first started being available.  As I worked in a hospital, I felt obligated (although I wasn't dealing directly with patients, but still, there are a lot of germs floating around inside a hospital!).  I did manage to skip a couple of years, but then went back to getting the shot.

The powers-that-be have really no conclusive way of knowing how this so-called pandemic will spread - and therein lies the problem!  Yes, the pharmas are making gigantic bucks, but at the same time, wouldn't we all be vilifying our own government if it hadn't ordered the vaccine and made it available?  I did get it a week ago after finding out all I could about it, and discovering it's made the same way as the seasonal flu, just using a different strain of (dead) virus.

If I were undergoing rads and visiting the hospital every day, I would be inclined to get the shot -- but that's just my own personal opinion.  You need to do what seems the right thing for you.  Oh, decisions, decisions -- how did our lives ever become so complicated? <sigh>

Hugs, Linda

I have a question to ask you Canadian ladies. I finished chemo on Sept. 14. I did three rounds of FEC and then three rounds of Docetaxol. I had severe body aches when on the D. I am two months out now, and still have aches in my back and arms, and slight headache. Did anyone else have this linger so long? I'm asking on this thread because it doesn't seem that many of the American ladies had the same regime as me.

Rinna we had the same regime and I finished about three weeks ahead of you. I still have the body aches - but have been attributing them to the Femara. It would be lovely to think that it is the Docetaxol since that would end sooner than the five years I will be on Femara.

How is your hair? I am getting encouraged by some dark hair starting to join the white and think that maybe in a few weeks I can ditch the wig.

Rinna - once it gets to about 1/4 inch, it seems to grow more quickly - at least that's what I tell myself. I think everyone starts off with it much thinner on the top than on the sides and back.

Yes, I had rads - 16 sessions - finished the last one in spectacular fashion by having a flat tire on the 401 in the rain on the way. It took me til 3/4 through to figure out that the driving was much more pleasant by getting some books on CD from the public library. Otherwise that part was all right. It does take over your life though.

Lassie - great idea about the books on CD. I am spending 1.5 hours in the car daily. The first three times I listened to CBC, but it is hit a miss with them - sometimes very interesting but other times not so much.

Leslie, go to your local video store and rent a copy of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" to get an interesting demonstration of filibustering, U.S. style!  And yes, the "loyal opposition" here can resort to a filibuster but I can't remember under which conditions -- chemo brain lingers!

I see the U.S. mammogram debate is still going strong on this site.  I've been looking up statistics re breast cancer incidence and breast cancer mortality rates -- comparing Cdn vs Am.  Even with screening starting 10 years later in Canada, there is virtually no statistical difference between the 2 countries.  Is it because we can have a diagnostic mammo at any age with a doc's referral, and without having to pay (directly) for it, while our American sisters are dependent on their insurance company allowing it? Plus the fact that those without insurance simply aren't diagnosed until their BC has advanced so far as to be virtually untreatable?

Oh, you're so right about us living in our own little BC world!  But while it may be true that one in eight of us will develop BC, I bet at least 7 in 8 of us WORRY about developing BC and thus take steps to verify a lump as malignant or benign.  All my adult female relatives under 50 have had mammograms (except for one niece under 40 who lives in Michigan).

There looks to be an interesting doc on CBC Newsworld tonight (10 p.m.) called "Catching Cancer", about a group of women in Aussie-land who all worked together in close proximity for several years  and who all developed BC.  Some have theorized that it was a virus which caused it.  Should be an interesting doc

And we're so happy you're coming back too!

I look at the posts on the mammography threads and some of them are just so irrational!  In fact, if people took a really hard look at the facts -- both in the U.S. and in Canada, for example -- wouldn't they find that it's the health insurance industry that's going to change the screening ages, and that this wouldn't be an issue if they had a not-for-profit, single-payer system.   We can tell them until we're blue in the face that we can get diagnostic mammos here as an adult, and do not have to wait until we're 50 for a screening mammo....oh, and that it doesn't matter if we're poor, or have lost our job etc.  But oh no, they can't possible believe that anything good comes out of so-called "socialized" healthcare.  Well, they can live within their insurance-restricted guidelines, although they have my sympathy.  I am so completely thankful I live north of the border!

PIP:I second the LMAO!!!!

I stopped reading about how gov't run health care will destroy their rights. I can't believe the costs they have to incur. I even read about someone who had to make a decision in a week about lumpectomy/mastectomy/ within a week because her insurance would run out. That sounds like a great system.  And yes, it was serendipity that led me to find my lump, not formal BSE. A true  WTF moment. 

It is very worrisome when insurance dictates healthcare.  There are too many women having to make fast choices, poor choices, no choices.  It's turning into a real mess in the US -- If I was staying in Boston I would be very worried about my care.  I will miss my oncologist and nurses so very much though -- loved them.  My new team will have big shoes to fill.  But I am looking forward to getting the enormous burden of US-style healthcare off my back.  It has been so very hard money wise.

PIP, you are correct in stating that they cannot envision a different healthcare system.  It is foreign to them (ha! ha!).  The do not believe that the government does not tell our doctors what tests to perform.  

I am staying off the other threads dealing with American healthcare.  It is simply too vitriolic.

Konakat, welcome back to Canada!   

phew!I feel kind of bashed from being in that other thread. I think it might be a good idea for me not to post there for a while.

Maybe some of them have been listening to Sarah Palin: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091124/entertainment/palin_marg_delahunty

Hahahahahahaaa!!!!!!  Good one Rico!