Canadian Health Care

Barbe,

Felling tired I know all about it, haven't ben able to go out for supper since around 3 years. One thing I remember my doctor telling me is that first the iron in multi vitamins is never strong enough to raise our level and second if we start on a iron pill it takes a long time to show a difference. So maybe you haven't been on them long enough. Now the big question for us is are we losing blod or are we not absorbing the iron well. Neither are encouraging, the only thing that I try to tell myself is that it has something to do with my system and I'm just made like this or age has an influence on anemia. Have a nice day,

Thanks for reminding me that, Elizabeth. I just felt so anxious sitting at work while Olga was at home alone.

Yan I empathize.  My husband now has cancer and I am alternately driving myself nuts with stats and telling myself that the stats don't matter they are all old info anyway.  Honestly for me, the sidelines are as bad as being in it - maybe worse.  I had the first panic attack of my life after hearing the details of my husband's diagnosis - it wasn't pretty.

Being at work must be hard, I've sort of gone on leave from work.  Well, hang in there and scream here if you need to, I sure feel like it sometimes.

I agree this is where stats belong.

A nice one, indeed.

Tamox is very good or it wouldn't be so widely prescribed.  It helped make my Mom a 12 (or 15?) year survivor.  However, it didn't work for me and the BC came back in less than a year in my liver and spine.  However (again) that is not the expected outcome of being on Tamox. 

I wouldn't freak out Mary (easy to say, I know).  It is highly unlikely that it has come back since you're Stage 0.  It could be a blocked pore or something.  I would bet a very large sum of money on it not being BC.  I'm not just saying that, I believe that it is OK.  Make an appt and have it looked at to put your mind at rest.  Hugs,

Elizabeth

Thanks Elizabeth and Rinna. What would I do without the wonderful people on this board?

I know I should trust that tamox is working.  I will wait to see if it goes away.  I should be getting my period next week.  If it doesn't go away, I will go see my doctor.  Again, thanks ladies.   

I had the same thing.  A small hard pea sized lump under my "good" side mast.  My surgeon removed, it mostly to relieve my anxiety level.  It was a a benign lump that usually appears on the hands or feet.  A little surprising but obviously better than bc!!

I would ask if they could do the same for you.  Just get rid of it so you can move on. 

{{{{{Mary}}}}} 

It is not "wrong" to feel like this.  You are not complaining, you are expressing a genuine fear.  It is very normal.  Everyone worries about this stuff.  We absolutely understand and want to be here for you when these worries creep up on you (or anyone). It's OK.  Hugs,

Elizabeth

Mary, I just wanted to chime in and encourage you to get the lump checked out, just for your peace of mind.  Here's my confession: a couple of months ago, I had a persistent, pimple-like growth by my armpit, right on my mastectomy scar line.  After a month, and feeling very sheepish and apologetic, I called my Dr.'s office to get it looked at.  They did, and pronounced it an "incisional cyst," which is a fancy way of saying . . . a pimple on my scar line.  But you know what?  They were really nice about it, didn't make me feel stupid or nuts, and definitely eased my mind.  I didn't even realize just how worried I'd been until afterwards.

 Linda

Great news Mary!!

Mary -- now that's news we LOVE to hear! Celebrate!!

Yeah Mary!!!!!  We need lots of news like that. Enjoy a celebration!!!

My heart is aching and my head is spinning with some of the latest posts over the last couple of days.  People who need tx and have no or not enough health insurance.  I just wish they could understand that there are much better ways to do this.  They are spending so much precious time arguing across party lines. It is a long process to get to a better system in place and they need to start somewhere.  I fear that they will look back in ten years and find that nothing has really changed for them.  The insurance companies will still  be in control of their lives and their pocketbooks. 

It seems that now the insurance companies are even having the hospitals collect the deductible payments as well. Patients are expected to show up with their check books.  Some are saying that they will still get tx if they are unable to pay.  Others claim that their procedure will be delayed if they show up empty handed.

It is so hard to watch from the sidelines, unable to have any impact.  We can't even convince most of them how easy it is for us to get good, timely care here in Canada.

Hope you Canadian girls don't mind my venting.  It is just so frustrating. 

Hey PIP -

I had to show up at the hospital with a checkbook to get my oopherectomy.  I'm fortunate in that I have one of the better insurance policies and enough in my checking account to pay the deductible.  That won't always be the case since I'll likely go on disability within the next few years.  What then?

I would love for us to have a system similar to Canada's, but I fear that won't happen in my lifetime.  Until then, we're at the mercy of the health insurance companies and our costs will continue to spiral out of control. 

Frustrating for sure.

E