Who is coordinating my care?
Cancer is fraught with uncertainty. The healthcare received should never exacerbate it. I was left coordinating my own care, when I really didn’t know what was happening. At the same time holding the hospitals accountable for my care, while I was receiving it. If I…
Translation: A language barrier
In previous blog entries, we have discussed some of the challenges of communication in healthcare. In this blog, we focus on translation. Translation is a language barrier for many people, especially in the ever-growing globalised societies we live. We will touch on some of the…
Part 3: Confirm a diagnosis
After seeing the doctor in the emergency department, an appointment was made for me to see a specialist doctor (Consultant) at my local hospital. I needed to see him to confirm a diagnosis and plan my care. I waited two weeks for this appointment. When…
Part 2: Reflecting on bad news
As I sit at home reflecting on the bad news I have been given I feel a little embarrassed. Even with my experience and knowledge, I had simply taken what this doctor had told me as fact; without question. The truth is, that when our…
Receiving bad news about cancer
Part 1: You have lesions in your lungs So, how did I end up receiving a bad news about cancer? Well, after a testing day of cycling, I ended up in the Emergency Department (ED) with a suspected broken back. What happened? I cycled through…