You ladies are so non-judgemental and I feel like i can come here and say whatever and no one ever has anything snarky to say.. and this isn't even flameworthy but i know someone, somewhere, would have something to say..
so anyways, my new job is for a surgeon who does gastrointestinal & oncologic surgeries..that oncologic part is what kills me.
Today was have a patient coming in, she has stage IV cancer. the tumor is to big to be removed. There are other options besides surgery, but I don't know how effective they will be. It just makes me so sad for her.
She had a scan done Tuesday, the Dr looked @ it yesterday and told me to call her and tell her to come in today that he needs to see her asap. =/
I think seeing cancer patients is going to be the hardest part of my job.
Oh, she is in her 70s. So she has lived her life, and what not ,BUT STILL.. she was diagnosed in May.. her case is kind of complicated, but in the last 3 mths her tumor has grown significantly. ..
i'm going to DD this later.
Re: can i just get this off my chest.
It has got to be tough seeing and working with cancer patients so much. I'm sure it is something you can't really understand until you've dealt with it. Hope you are able to talk with Chris or other close family/friends when you've had a particularly rough day. Glad you feel like you can talk with us about it.
Even though I don't know her, I will definitely pray for this lady. Hugs!
I totally wish there was something I could say to make it better, but I know that there really isn't. Like I said, I will say a prayer for her. I'm sure some days and/or some patients are just harder than others depending on what the issue is and how bad things look. I'm in meetings most of the day (got to go soon - eck) but I'll check back at the end of the day.
Also - I left a post for you on H&F.
Thanks. I don't expect anyone to be able to say anything. Nothing can solve her problem. I just wanted to get it off my chest. ugh.
i responded back to you on H&F. thanks!
I think that in time it gets "easier", but it never goes away. I think in this field you have to be some what hardened to it, otherwise you would be a basketcase. When I worked in the ER i was hardened to alot of things I saw, I could joke and what not w/ the best of them. Some things i could not get "used" to, I am glad I left when I did. The last person I saw die was a 21yr old kid. ugh.
Meagan said it perfectly. Just keep in mind why you decided to go into this field. It will be tough, more days then not. Stay strong. You can always come in an vent or lean on us. We dont mind!
That is one of the hardest parts about working in the medical field. Normally I get to see them get better, but then there are the patients that have to have something amputated or are told that they will never have use of a leg or arm again.
I had a hard time when i used to work in a continuing care retirement home, they had assisted through hospice. It was so hard seeing people doing so great one day then find out they were in hospice or nursing care the next. It broke my heart and I always had a hard time with it. Keep your chin up, and just remember you could make those patients day by just being nice to them or smiling at them.
What type of office/facility do you work in now?
I could never do a nursing home or hospice.. nope. couldn't. i'm way to sensitive for that.
I work in a physical therapy office that is connected with a orthopeadic office.
yes it was def. hard to work in the other enviroment.