continued from chapter 7: part 4
This is about clinic visits----or---HOW TO GET YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS
The most efficient way to process a huge volume of cancer patients is through the clinic system. If you are living in a smaller area you may be relying on regular visits with the family doctor and perhaps interspersed with occasional clinic visits. The philosophy is the same so read on.
Imagine an unbroken line of men and women slowly winding their way through miles of hospital corridors and at last winding their way back out to the street. This is a metaphoric picture of your life for the next while. When you become part of this human chain you may anxiously wonder, "How will the medical staff ever get to know me? ", which really means, "How do I know I'll get the best care?"
This becomes your next assignment: making yourself known, or, ta- da, getting your name in lights. It's about getting to know the medical staff and for that matter, others around you. Does it really matter whether anyone gets to know you? You bet. What comes to mind when you read about a person " fighting for his life "? Do you have a picture of an unconscious form on a bed surrounded by doctors and machines? Well, here you are, on your feet, and you're fighting hard for your life, doing it one step at a time. I firmly believe, with some medical evidence to back me up, that every positive step you take prolongs your life. That's how you fight for your life. Getting medical people to know you means you're a special face in the crowd, with a name and a personality. If the doctor knows you on sight, chances are you're going to feel more secure about your care. If you’re shy and so is your partner, then make sure you show your best side. Polite, firm about your needs and providing concise factual reports.
This isn't the time for you to slide into passive behavior. I'm not suggesting that you regress into an arrogant demanding monster, but demand your fair share of attention. The payoff is that you'll feel more confident. You are dealing with the clinic medical system on your own terms and you're making it work for you.
continued in chapter 8: part 2
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