Anyone getting jerked around by their health care provider????

Must vent because this seems to be a continuing theme for me!!! 

1.  When I went in for my first mammography after a suspicious mass was seen on a CT scan, the radiologist told me,  "You have CANCER."  (that was before a biopsy)

2.  After the biopsy, I was scheduled for breast conserving surgery.  The day of the surgery I went in to hospital's admitting to find out my surgery had been cancelled because the doc called in sick. (I teach school and it takes 2-3 hours to write plans for a substitute, not to say I just wasted a precious sick day!!!)

3.  A week later, I was scheduled for breast conserving surgery, I went to radiology to get the dye, the wires, etc., when they said the radiologist said he had found a second tumor on the 2nd CT scan and decided it was too far from the biopsied tumor to consider breast conserving surgery.  He asked, "What do you want to do, get a mastsectomy NOW or put the surgery off AGAIN and biopsy the second tumor?  I hate snap decisions!  I waited.

4.  I was considering internal radiation, but knew that if I had positive nodes, I would not be a candidate for internal radiation.  I'm wondering, why then did they go ahead and place the catheder in my chest when they found suspiciously enlarged nodes that they commented in my surgical report that were thought to be cancerous?  I had to walk around a week with that tube sticking out of my chest before they yanked it out!  Now I have this bullet hole that wasn't stitched or closed, just a gapping hole...  very pretty! - 2 positive nodes.

5.  Okay, still trying to stay positive!!!  Went to talk to my Onc Doc. I opted to participate in a clinical trial for reoccurring cancer.  I figure something good should come out of this.  I'm a science teacher, I talk the talk, then I should walk the walk... right?  No one said anything about a port???  I stumbled upon info about ports on this site, Thank God!!!  

6.  I was first scheduled for my first chemo last Tuesday.  Yep, they cancelled it because they still hadn't received a test that would allow me to be enrolled in the clinical trial.  I'm not an idiot, they didn't say anything about this test or the results when they scheduled me for the chemo???  Fine!  I asked for a port instead!  Onc's nurse said they like to try an IV the first time and then if a port is needed then they'd do it.  She said there is more of a chance of infection.  I asked, doesn't the chemo drugs literally destroy the elasticity of the veins and arterties? And don't I only have one arm to use?  And isn't healing more difficult once chemo has started?  The Onc Doc's nurse said they'd talk to my surgeon.

7.  I was scheduled to visit with the Cancer clinic so they could give me "Chemo Training" (whatever that is), I may never know, they cancelled it because the clinical trial test is still not in... and that determines the kind of treatment I'll receive.  I love being in the dark!  I love being jerked around as they called 30 minutes before I was to leave from school early.  Yes, I had already written my DAMN lesson plans.  On the bright side, I didn't waste any sick leave time, but did hack off the substitute!   

8.  The Surgeon's nurse called me up while I was at school 20 minutes before lunch to ask if I could come and get my port in 90 minutes.  I thought this is weird, I thought this was a surgical procedure and had read that sedation was used, etc. I wanted to get going on this, I wanted some action, so I said I could be there.  I wrote my dam lesson plans, drove like a maniac to get there on time.  Yep, stupid me, they cancelled it, said they wouldn't be able to do until after December 1st...  I didn't cuss, but I was very clear in communicating that I better get that port tomorrow, no, not just a port, but a POWER PORT!!! (Tim Allen...ar-ar-ar-ar)

9.  While I was talking to the surgeon (I had 17 nodes removed) I complained of the cording that I had, the numbness that was traveling to my middle two fingers, told him I was afraid of lymphodema...  He had never heard of cording?  Period.  End of discussion.  Isn't this B***S***?

10.  I'm laying in bed recovering from today's POWER PORT surgery!  Yea me!  

Thanks for listening!  Trying to be strong as I am STILL waiting my first chemo treatment.

Love you all, Sara