Comments on: Many cards in our favor, some we dealt ourselves

By: Francisca

Francisca — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:58:40 +0000

I am glad (super glad!) you learned how to be a self-advocate with doctors and nurses. Doctors know a lot, but they don’t know all. They are busy and have many patients. Patients are different and know their bodies better (at least some). The patient is always the most interested in the treatment, so they should participate, ask, and demand more. I wish I could. I have a really hard time talking to doctors and it has brought me a lot of suffering. I am trying hard to change my attitude and you are inspiring me. I am also really happy that you are feeling better and having a fast recovery.

By: Hunter

Hunter — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:47:54 +0000

Kurt,
Although I agree with much you say, I feel that you present an unfair bais against nurses in this piece that was not intended. I told you many times that those nurses were wrong and using incorrect technique. I also recall that it was a surgical nurse that informed you about sterile technique for accessing your port. So just try to keep in mind that nursing is like any other proffession, you have good and bad in the field and try not to lump all of us together.
-H-

By: Johanna

Johanna — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:17:29 +0000

Whew! I hadn’t realized how important it is to be REALLY educated and to be an assertive self-advocate. Kurt, you continue to be an activist in helping people to be their own best advocate.
I put my life in my care team’s hands because they know a hell of a lot more about cancer than I do, but they’re not gods. Thanks for cutting them down to size for us.
Score: David – 3, Goliath – not perfect.