Who is in charge of my care?

Thanks Paula,  the breast care nurse is the surgeon's wife.  She doesn't visit at all (I'm told).  She didn't ask if I had questions just sold me a bra and insert, took the original dressing off and replaced it with a breathable one and that was it.  I saw her once in my post op visit to my surgeon.

You know, I would have thought that the hospital would want to do some follow up of it's patients.  I had to send an email to them to tell them about being left in waiting rooms for 5 hours.  I found out afterwards that their policy is no more than 90 minutes in a waiting room in any one day.  5 freaking hours and I had to have a major hissy fit so that they would take me to a ward (to wait another 2.5 hours for surgery).

This flat out or not moving at all manner of patient care within the cancer framework is seriously flawed.  There needs to be facilitators who can smooth out the bumps and hollows.  Someone who can say, right, you've had a huge shock from your diagnosis.  Now lets sit down and work out what your options are, who is available for you to see, surgeon, oncologist and let's talk about what to expect and allay some fears and misunderstandings.

If there were such a person, even if it is a group situation such as at the local cancer council, I think a lot of people would be a lot happier than just being railroaded into choosing a surgeon in a hurry (I was berated by my mother for not wanting to stay with the first one I saw), then shunted onto the first surgery list as an afterthought, pushed through the hospital system and out as fast as possible and then virtually abandoned.

The oncologist who I am seeing was recommended by my surgeon.  When my surgeon's receptionist phoned the oncologist's office to make an appointment for me, the options were 8th November or 22nd November.  8th was out because I was booked to be elsewhere so I've waited.  My appointement has been brought forward to 20th because the oncologist is so booked out on his normal clinic day that he's had to arrange a second clinic.

You know we aren't waiting for appointments for tooth cavities or chicken pox here.  We have cancer, and common as it might be, it is a life threatening illness.  I'm just so appalled at the system and not just for me.  There are women out there waiting months on the public hospital triage for the first consultation for breast cancer.  This is not right.  We're in Australia not in the highlands of PNG, not hanging of an iceberg in Antarctica and we can't look after our sick and dying in peacetime.  God help us if we ever face war or disaster.

Cas (gets off soapbox before she falls and splits stitches)