Canadians in British Columbia

That is horrible NVan. I would ask MO when you see them next to clarify how and when you are to call. Give the name of the on call doctor and tell them how he made you feel. As if you didn't have enough to deal with.

Bluesky I wish you were out enjoying the blue skies instead of being in an OR. Hoping all goes well for you. Update us when you are up to it.

Moth, I hope you are doing ok.

NVDobie I am really sorry that this happened to you. I don't accept that brilliance is any excuse for insensitive and inadequate patient care. The MO needs to get over himself and we should be able to speak up. Keep notes with dates and submit them at the right time if you aren't up to speaking to him directly, which I can certainly understand right now. Or you could fill out a patient comment card:

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/about/accountability/patient-family-experience/measuring-patient-experience

My friend is receiving care right now from a leading MO who has a reputation for an awful bedside manner. Not sure if this is the same one. I mentioned this in a general way when asking my surgeon to send me to a “friendly" MO. She then asked me for his name, which I provided. She said “oncologists have a difficult job" but I don't buy it. Maybe he will never become Dr. Kildare but he can learn to behave differently.

(You are probably too young to remember Dr. Kildare!)

This is not the standard of care we should receive from a leading cancer centre. Every cancer patient deserves kindness. It is an essential part of healing.You will be helping other women by reporting this when you are ready and have the energy for it. For now, concentrate on being kind to yourself and finding support where you can

I hope your allergic reaction has settled down a bit. Gentle hugs 🤗.

I felt chia to be stuck up but he did answer my many many questions ( probably eye rolling behind my back) and I think he does have brains to burn in the cancer field. I stayed with him and my agressive treatment plan. That was many years ago and I hoped if I ever had to see him again maybe his corners would have softened a bit. I didn’t prefer that I had new doc students asking questions but did understand this is how they train them. So I basically asked all the same questions when chia came into the room. I’m sure he heard them when the intern reported to him before he saw me. Oh well. Repition for emphasis!

He really disliked it when I told him I was on certain natropath and Tcm treatments. I shut up about it next visits Then we got along fine. Unless someone comes along that is five stars I guess id stick with him. My parting words to him were. Thx and goodbye I hope to never see you again ( meaning I don’t want cancer beast returning) we got a wee smile out of him

Dearlife I agree that they should adapt to us but I felt like the odds of me changing him were remote and at the time I didn't have the energy to track down a different (and possibly worse) doctor.

I hope things go well for you Thursday. I'm glad your MO/RO respects you. It sounds like it will be good for you. Keep us updated on how it goes if you are up to it. Take care.

Dearlife, I have a friend who joined a committee at the cancer agency a few months back to work on how things are going there. I understood (could be off) that they were finally addressing many patient complaints about the system at BCCA. My friend who has been unhappy with them for years is very hopeful that there will be changes coming eventually.

I am loving the sunshine. It makes such a difference.

I'll be thinking of you on Thursday and hoping for the best outcome.

What an amazing story moth! Hmmm seems like the Fraser Valley is the place to be!

Interesting commentary re MO's! Dr. Chia's name comes up often. NVDobie I do have a question re your comment about head of BC for BCCA. Your comments indicate it is a he but head of BC unless something major has happened, is Dr. Gelmon. Many years ago I wanted her because I had heard much about her and a friend who is an MO elsewhere thought she was the best. I could have had her but would have had to wait 10 days and my aggressive cancer wasn't waiting for 10 days said I and I could not have been happier with who I got. Names not going public but I missed her so much after I was assigned one here in Victoria. I was told by mo RO here that we could not ask for a preference and I was so much in shock I went with it. Having asked for a change last month after my MO in January suggested I was adversarial after I talked about a second opinion and the next month seemed wary of me, I made my way through the system. Yesterday I saw my new MO and I am so happy. If anyone wants names I don't mind but only in private. After almost 6 years BC I feel that I can navigate assertively. NVDobie, I am appalled by your treatment and do think you should document it as is our right.

My VR weeks are not in the same order as yours Wrenn or is it Hugz4u? Obduction is my last week and mindfulness (MBSR) was third week. I called Gordon yesterday to ask for a 2 days break. I had a yoga/hiking group reunion here from Sunday today and 6 women in one house meant no way I could start a new game yesterday! It was wonderful and those of you who know me are not surprised by my energy level to even contemplate such a group but it was great despite my total exhaustion. I am loving quiet tonight.

Love to you all,

Marian

Hello folks. I got an email about this workshop and thought I would pass it along here. I have no idea if it will be worth anything to anyone since most people here know more than many doctors already but I like that she is an internal medicine specialist who then specialized in radiation oncology and went on to get a masters in Chinese medicine and trained under Andrew Weil (who is usually careful about what he promotes).

Here is the link

https://www.lisaschwartzmd.com/p/video-1-the-nutrition-clarity-framework-EG

Hi BCers, I found out about a group that explores poetry for stress management for cancer patients. It is group therapy starting on the 31st of this month but the Dr. running it will need to have a physician referral before the 17th because she is doing interviews on the 17th and 24th to check suitability.

Here is a link:

https://www.drtmkope.com/patients

Hope all enjoyed the sunshine. I think tomorrow will be grey and cooler just to remind us that we live in Vancouver.

How is everyone going in virtual reality study. This is my last week and doing butterflytrek. It makes me dizzy. I might have trouble with this one. Looking forward to the 400 hundred dollars. Donating it to relief disaster work! It feels good to do this for a good cause.

project manager crystal sun told me in her introduction email. Have fun spending!

I hated cape Lucem. Basically did the ones I knew over and over but I found a few easy ones that players thumbs up.

Found out the trick to butterfly one is to pull trigger real slow and then not to suddenly turn the track paid fast. It keeps u in a straighter line otherwise you get a spinney dizziness.

5 more days and I’m done. Was interesting but I’d like to be a bit free from being home so much. I think it worked while I was doing it but pain came back as soon as I was done distraction VR

Blurg! I just wrote an update that disappeared!

Will work on another...

Hi all;

Apologies for the delayed update. I got the all clear on Tues May 15th - feels like I just got off a Tilt-A-Whirl. I go from thrilled to nauseous to stunned to overwhelmed, w a few other emotions in that cycle. I had keep everything so compartmentalized for myself and my boys, I think this will take awhile to settle.

I was told my surgery went as well. I asked for an additional lidocaine plus magnesium block (I had read sci papers, outcomes were better w the block for chronic breast pain after surgery). I was pleased the aenesthesiologist immediately said yes. I felt confident in the team working on me, and was calm. I downloaded a surgery guided meditation which helped me. I pictured all my supporters around me, holding the space around the OR table, protecting me and guarding me no matter the outcome. With some effort haha I replaced the fear w love - even from the trees and flowers - and drew on that to keep calm. You all were around me. Hope that's not too smarmy.

I had a skin and nipple sparing Mx w a TE. First night was awful, home the next day happily. Had my drains removed May 15, same day I was given the all clear. I can put my own socks on! Bath! Even drive now. Feeling better, still discomfort but definitely through the tough post op part.

I feel very unsettled - topsy turvey. Had a couple curve balls thrown my way this week - same day I was given all clear I was told my ex mother in law dx w lung cancer, unrelated to her 2 BC, not mets and non smoker. The next day I opened my computer to send out my good news to a friends mother who has supported me - l've always held her in high esteem, always adored her - to see an email that she had passed away two days earlier of lung cancer - inoperable. Not BC mets either (she went 2 rounds), non smoker. She didn't want to tell me, she wanted to support me and save all her energy for her family. Was a blow to my solar plexus, really has taken the wind out of mw. She had been texting and emailing me the week earlier. She only found out a month ago.

She recco'd I join a dragon boat team, which I may do after I'm healed. She also recco'd a support group. She's wasn't a group person - neither am I - but said it settled her somehow. Does anyone know of a BC support group?

I don't feel like jumping back into a full schedule yet. Need some sunshine, walks and nutrition. Trying to hold back the demands, the administrative part of life for a bit longer. Boys are back, so not that quiet around these parts.

Thanks for reading. Deep thanks for coming along side me for the last few months - It would've been so difficult without you all, xo P

No idea why my surgery date shows as Apr 30th when it was May 1st - checked the info, reads as correct but once I post it changes to Apr 30th?