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Both my son and I can’t get into see our doctor. We have been trying. They don’t pick up the phone, the voice mail is full so you can’t leave a message, and there are no online bookings. Wtf!

I will have to drive to the office to book an appt.

It irritates me because I am pretty sure I have a skin cancer spot on my face. My first and it came on in a nanosecond. Nor is it small.

How can they make it so difficult?

And yes I am in Canada

They don't answer the phone!? What!?!?

I hope you get an appointment soon and get your spot taken care of.

Tall Girl, I have lost one dear friend in Ontario and another is at stage 4 cancer. Both of them might have had a chance if they could have gotten in to see doctors last spring and summer. I understand about the pandemic and all but thank goodness I didn't have that problem last March when cancer was found at the top of my right lung. My friend that's still alive -- he is finally getting chemo and radiation but his doctor keeps telling him it won't save him and he's fighting SO hard. The treatment is showing the cancer in his lungs is now gone and he was happy about that. His wife said it was such good news but then the doctor said the cancer is still in so many other places, lymph nodes and chest wall -- and doesn't give him any hope. He's a stubborn man and the fact the doctor is telling him there is no hope, he keeps fighting.

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. I read that there is a M.D. Anderson cancer facility in Ontario now but now sure where it is or if it's covered under your Canadian health care center. I hope you get an appointment very soon.

Really sorry you are going through that.

Sending positive thoughts. Hope this gets resolved soon.

I'm sorry Tallgirl.

How about a walk in or urgent care clinic? Just to get things started?

I didn't want to start a new thread so hopefully this one will do.

As you all know, I had the top lobe of my lung removed last June because of cancer. They said they got it all and I didn't have to go through chemo or radiation. I've had regular checkups since then. The latest checkup with the lung doc was 13 days ago. Just prior to that I had a CT scan and was called and told everything looked fine. Then the doc told me on the visit that it looked fine. HOWEVER, I saw the PA before I saw the doctor that day and she came in and said .."Okay! You got through thour chemo and radiation and it's all done!" I QUICKLY informed her I didn't have to go through chemo or radiation and she looked confused and said ...'okay, sorry.' So she had to be looking at someone else's chart - or something.

Fast forward to this morning. I get a phone call from the scheduler for my lung doc. He said the doctor wants me to come in as he needs to talk to me. When I asked why, he said he didn't know, he's just the scheduler. So he set an appointment for me for May 4th. Long time away! I totally got scared and called back and told them I NEED to speak to either a nurse, the PA or the DOC because NO WAY can I sit here until May 4th, worrying!!! I haven't received a call back yet. Maybe I am freaking out over nothing. I DID have to go to the heart and lung hospital last Thursday morning because I have (had) Bronchitis and was having breathing issues -- so I am HOPING he just wants to check on me about that.

But until I know for sure, it's scaring the bee-jezus out of me!

Tush, should I remind them they seemed to have my chart mixed up when I was in for that visit and made the statements about me bring through with chemo and radiation? I feel MISTRUST right now. I wasn't even scheduled to see the lung doc again until September and not have another CT scan until the end of the year.

Jeaniegirl I'd have a tonne of mistrust as well if that happened. You are within your rights to feel uneasy and upset. I'd keep calling back until you can speak to the doc or someone who can answer your questions and YES bring up the fact that they seemed to have the wrong chart.

Hugs

After three years in our new home, 2000 miles away from our previous, I am just starting to feel like I've broken in all my new doctors/specialists. And that's having a concierge doc as my primary. He has referred me to some excellent specialists that I've finally gotten to know. But it's hard when you can't see your regular doc when you need to.

Within a year or two, we expect to move to New England, as that's where our other daughter lives, and we will soon have our first grandchild. I absolutely DREAD having to start over again with all new docs, although the city we'll be moving to, has outstanding health care. It'll just take time for them to get to know me, and me them.

Jeaniegirl - I am SO sorry you are having to go through this. How upsetting to have them screw things up like this. That all being said, my first guess would be that the lung doc does want to check you out based on your symptoms (and not the scan). Can you imagine the shit he'd be in if something had returned and he missed it because he wrote it off based on what some other doctor told him?

And... if it were really something they were worried about, they would get you in before May 4th. He probably just wants to see how your lungs have recovered from the lower respiratory system, given your vulnerabilities. He wants to make sure it all cleared out, and needs to give it time to do so. Again, this is my non-medical training opinion.

Tallgirl, I apologize for thread jacking. I just didn't want to start a new thread.

RELIEF, ALL IS OK!

PA called me back and she said it's standard procedure to have a doctor follow up visit after a trip to ER. Wheeeeeww. I had thought THAT might be the reason because they did a lung x-ray at ER. Then I panicked, thinking they had seen something on the lung X-ray. I am normally not one to panic but I DID. Until the cancer, I was hardly ever sick and just went for routine checkups and mammograms, etc. I don't take any meds and I WAS healthy until the cancer. So this going to the doctor stuff is new to me.

Back to your normal programing.

Number, if you are coming to the greater Boston area, it's got some stellar doctors and facilities. My treatment for breast cancer was head and shoulders above what both my sisters experienced.

Cat

Number, if you are coming to the greater Boston area, it's got some stellar doctors and facilities.

Thanks, we will be in the greater Boston area. I feel very confident in the health care I will have available to me. I also have a history of psychiatric issues, and although I have been relatively stable for a number of years, other than some unrelenting anxiety, I know Boston has some excellent psychiatric facilities and providers as well. I'm probably more worried about that than I am any other health issues I have. Southern CA has some excellent facilities, too, but I've never been able to get a handle on which hospitals serve which conditions best. In Houston where I grew up, we had the Texas Medical Center, and you had a major hospital for almost every need (except psychiatric), and it's what I knew. If you had a problem, it could be dealt with in one (large!) location. Southern CA is definitely not like that - it's spread out. I think Boston has most of its major medical services in the downtown area, if I'm correct.

Jeaniegirl, no kidding you were freaked. I would be too! Communication is a good thing. Vent away, medical systems are a bitch to navigate. Glad all is ok!

Jeaniegirl

That's wonderful news! I am glad they are on top of everything. Even if it scared you. At least they are making sure you get thr tests and are seen.

Hugs.