How to deal with healthcare burdens
“The doctor has just told me I have pancreases cancer. I didn’t hear anything he said after that, would you please explain to me what does this mean again.” “Can you check for me again the diagnosis, I thought I have lung cancer but the papers mentioned something about kidney cancer and you said the drug is for kidney cancer, correct? I thought I have only one cancer.” A patient in his early forties sounded brilliant, full of energy and so friendly over the phone. He thought he had a cold but was told it is a late-stage cancer with a very low survival rate. A woman in her twenties said, “I take my transplant medications every day. I almost lost my kidney functions. I don’t want to lose this kidney because my previous three transplants have already failed. “ The last clinical note read, “He was upset he needs a bone marrow transplant. He knows his chances are not high” I prepared my call, trying to be encouraging, and when I called, I was told he passed away. How do you dea