Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Dear Sir/Madam

I'm not standing for being treated badly without speaking my mind anymore. The following is a letter that I sent to Hillman C***** Center regarding my latest appointment. 


Dear Sir/Madam
 
A few weeks ago I had an appointment at the Hillman Cancer Center. The purpose of my appointment was to monitor the known cancerous mass in my right breast. I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma- triple negative in February of 2013. After two rounds of chemotherapy I decided to seek alternative therapy which I have been doing for over a year now with success. I say with success because the original biopsy used to diagnose the cancer also showed that it was incredibly  aggressive, having a 90% infiltration rate. So even though I still have cancer, it is confined to the original tumor and has not spread. My husband and I have put a lot of consideration into my decision. We have read and researched and have spent a great deal of money on my treatments. 
 
With that being said, I would like to tell you about my recent visit to your facility. 
 
Upon my arrival, I filled out the appropriate paper work in the waiting room, writing directly on the form that I currently have cancer, the type I have and the date of the diagnosis. My script from my doctor also stated that I had a known carcinoma and that I was there for a bilateral breast ultrasound. My name was called and I was escorted to the next waiting room and given a gown to change into.
 
While I was waiting I noticed the mission statement of your hospital stating that it is goal of your facility to treat each patient with dignity and respect. I had hoped this would have been the case, but as it turned out for me it was not. 
 
After a short wait, I was greeted by a mammogram technician named (Blah, blah, blah). (Blah, blah, blah) asked me my name and birth date to verify my identity and led me down the hallway towards the rooms where the mammograms are done. She informed me that I would be starting with a mammogram since I had found a lump and also since I had not had a yearly mammogram since 2010. I'm not sure why at this point she was not aware that I currently have cancer since she should have had both the form that I filled out and the script from my doctor that both stated my diagnosis. She also had the wrong medical records as I had never had a mammogram in 2010. In fact, I had never had a mammogram prior to 2013 when I was diagnosed because I was only 36 years old at the time. I informed her of this. She had me sit in the waiting room while she retrieved the correct medical records. But this really is the lesser of complaints from my visit.
 
Once back with the correct medical records she began asking me some questions regarding the gaps in my treatment. I explained to her that I had decided to seek alternative treatments. She said and I quote " oh, that's great, good for you", which by itself, I suppose, would have been fine, but she followed it with a story of a woman. (Blah, blah, blah) said "I knew a woman who tried to do it [cure her cancer] the way you are doing it, but she didn't use any common sense about it. When it became obvious that it doesn't work she still refused treatment, and well, you know." I was a little taken back that she would be sharing this with me.
 
Then she informed me we were still going to start with a mammogram. When I informed her that I wasn't interested in having a mammogram she became very irritated with me and arguing with me about my decision. I ultimately ended up giving in but I still believe that the mammogram was unnecessary. I don't think I should have to debate whether I get a mammogram or not with the technician when my prescription from my doctor was clearly for a bilateral breast ultrasound. If I say I am not interested in having a mammogram done, I don't think the technicians should argue with the patients about their decisions. But, even this is not the biggest part of my complaint.
 
While she was performing the mammogram she asked me about the types of treatments I am doing, which I didn't mind answering. What I did mind was (Blah, blah, blah) then saying to me, "you should be careful what you are reading" and also, "there's just no scientific prove of what you are doing". 
 
 I have had ultrasounds done every three months for the past year. I have had them done elsewhere and have gotten conflicting reports. I chose Hillman for my testing this time because cancer is what you do. I consider the doctors there to be experts. I do not expect people in the medical field to necessarily understand my decision,  but what I do expect is quality care regardless of my course of treatment. I expect the same respect as a patient as someone who has chosen chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. I do not expect to go to an appointment and argue and debate my views or my choices. I do not expect to get unsolicited advice or to be belittled, or to have my intelligence insulted by the technician. But yet this is exactly what has happened.  
 
I hope that this kind of behavior won't be continued to be accepted by Hillman Cancer Center. I am extremely disappointed that all patients aren't treated equally at your facility. And maybe (Blah, blah, blah) would benefit from some sensitivity training because although my fight may differ from others with cancer, I am still fighting for my life. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Mrs. Tara McCreary