So much of what we have been talking about for nearly three years is the science, struggles and successes of my cancer treatment journey. But one of the underlying realities of it all is that cancer (in the context of healthcare administration) is a business - unfortunately a big and booming business. Not necessarily by design or intent, but maybe simply due to the fact that medicine has gotten so good at managing all of the other myriad maladies, that that which remains is only the hard stuff - ie: cancer. I’m not going to wade into the debate or discourse on the cost of diagnosis and treatment of cancer, but I would like to use this forum to once again shine a pinpoint of light within the darkness of the disease.
Riffing on the topic of the business of cancer, let’s for a moment set aside the relationship of doctor/nurse and patient, and see them in an alternate characterization as service provider and patron. That is by no means intended to monetize the dynamic or trivialize the treatment, but indulge me. At least for me (this blog is based on an “n” of 1 after all) I have consistently found my oncologist (the incomparable Dr S) and his main support team to be accessible, patient, knowledgeable, engaged, involved, and most of all very responsive. Similarly, the amazing team at the Clinic is: attentive by instinct, compassionate by choice, and hustles more than a Mall chain-restaurant wait-person ‘performing’ for the reward of a big tip.
It would be naïve of me to ignore the realities of the "job" that these healthcare workers all do. It is a 9-5 after all (though those hours are never the norm - usually quite the opposite), and work is work. But it would be equally unfair of me to ignore the humanity and sensitivity that they also administer along with the drugs. So this moment is intended to see that balance of both of the aforementioned; that they professionally and personably bring to each procedural or routine action. I understand that they have a job to do. And they understand that I am in a fight for my life; a marathon battle that plays out like a long-smoldering skirmish rather than a blitzkrieg. In the process, they are treating me like a customer, while "treating" me like a patient who needs more than just the completion of the prescribed necessary procedures. They are truly "taking care" of me - for which I am very grateful.
