Hello! My name is Margie and my father was just diagnosed with colon cancer. We are still in the early stages of the diagnosis as we do not have a stage or a treatment plan yet, we find out on Monday.
I am up in arms already about the way he has been treated. When the doctor ordered a CatScan one of the ladies was so rude to my dad. He literally got in a fight with her and walked out. No one remembers my dad had an injury 6 months ago at work, and if he lays down he will be in severe pain..... So after that more tests were run and so on...my dad gets a call. He is at work and the doctors tell him "You have Colon Cancer, we are not going to operate, and we are going to try a new procedure" the doctor then proceeds to cancel all of my dads appointments. My dad has to say no I want to keep the Monday appointment so I can atleast talk to you and ask questions. The doctor so willingly agrees. So after the cancer doctor calls him, the next day his PCP calls him again at work and goes through the same spill...you have colon cancer etc... He then tells him "if you had got the Colonoscopy 5 years ago like I had asked it might not be this bad" now what kinda doctor says that! So now we are seeing the doctor on Monday and we are waiting on an appointment for a biopsy.
My dad called me yesterday to ride with him to pick up some pain pills and to have lunch. He started making confessions to me. I had to do everything not to cry. I felt like he was already feeling like he was going to die. My dad has always been the guy who everyday when he came home from work and you asked how was your day, he would ALWAYS say "wonderful!" He got so upset with me yesterday saying that these doctors were treating him like a number he felt. He asked me "where is their compassion Marge? I ask the same and had no words of wisdom for him.
My major right now is Nursing and I am thinking twice now after this round of nice medical staff. I sure hope I get a better taste in my mouth soon.
I decided I was going to take control into my own hands and call Cancer Treatment Center of America. I read some good and bad things, but mostly good.
I just feel like I am in such a weird place, my head is not on straight, and I just need someone to tell me how I fix this mess for my dad.
I need some help with coping....no one has told us or even tried to help us start to understand this or cope with it as a family.
Thanks for ready my long note..
Margie P.