Hi all. I don't post much here any more but I do come and read the posts and worry and wish well for all oral cancer patients. I am, as you know, now dealing with terminal colon cancer.

We just had a brand new MD Anderson hospital open here very close to my house. I am now trying to get into that. I thought I could just call and get an appt. but not so easy. They want a list a mile long of records and I don't even know how to get them. I have called my oncologist twice to release my records and she hasn't called back. I am not in denial about the fact that no treatment is curable for my cancer, but as long as I am still doing scans and other treatments it would be great to have it all in one place. Anyone have suggestions on how to get the records they want so I can get an appt. set up? I am surprised at how picky they are about who they take as patients. I thought I could just call and make an appt. and they would do the work of getting my records.

Hi here - glad you seem to be doing ok! You have a right to your records. Go to the office and request them. Call The hospital you had treatment at, ask fo copies the have to give them to you - and never give up the fight! Hugs!

Hi,

I had to get all my records and take them with me to Moffitt Cancer Center. All the offices I called I had to go in and sign release forms nothing over the phone. I don't think Cancer Centers have the time to do this for everyone. It was the same with my meds for Acid Reflux, Moffitt told me to get a precription from my Internist. I had no problem doing this.

Hope this helps.
Connie

Hi Bloop!!! You are looking great and sounding better, you keep up the fight ya hear!
Miss you on here alot!
Please come back and visit when you get the chance, I know from FB your are traveling alot, well you just continue to have fun!!!

Hi Barbara:

When I had/have trouble getting copies of my records, I found out I could get them easier, or the hospital could, if I furnished the hospital's FAX number for the doctors, other hospital, etc. to send the information to where you want it to go. So, call the hospital and get their FAX number; then call the places that have your records and give them that FAX number and tell them the hospital requested them. Then wait several days and call MD Anderson and see if they've gotten them. If not, bug the crap out of the places you want records from and tell them they're YOUR records, and to FAX them now. Hope this works.

Hugs from julieann

Barbara, nice to see you posting! I also have had to physically go into my doctors offices and fill out a release form before any of my records could be given out. Hope you are able to transfer over to MD Anderson. Have a good time on all your travels!

It is so good to hear from you here Barbara even though I keep up on FB.
The last thing you need is the stress of getting all your records together so you can get your scans and treatments at the one hospital.
I do not know how all this works in the US but wonder if it could be similar to what happens in my country.
My GP (General Practitioner - think PCP for you) gets updated via fax or letter for most treatments by specialists in and out of the hospital. I do ask for copies of pathology reports at the hospital but also ask my GP to print me a copy of any correspondence he gets.
I suspect it varies state by state with you as it does here but so far so good getting my information.
Love and hugs during this time.
Gabriele

Thanks for the advice. This really is the GREATEST forum. I have been going on colon cancer forums and they are just not the same great people that are on here. I don't know why but it's definitely true.

I went to MD Anderson today and stayed there two hours getting my stuff together. My doctor had faxed it but they hadn't even gotten it together or to a doctor to review yet. I was lucky to come across the "head lady of paperwork" or whatever who was in answering some questions at the greetings desk. She helped organize my stuff as she could tell I was anxious to get into their treatment facility. I ended up with an appt. - YAY. It's not until Nov. 17th - that's how backed up they already are after only opening a few weeks ago. But that's okay because I am supposed to be on rest for the month after my 12-day hospital stay from Sept. 5 to the 17th. I have a PET scan scheduled for the 27th of October so they will have a current PET scan to come up with a treatment plan or a no treatment plan. I am already with Hospice so I may not have further chemo treatment, but I'll do what the doctors at MD Anderson suggest as they have such a great reputation.

Thanks again, Barbara

yay Barb! I'm glad you're back and I'm really glad that you got into MDA. I started making the calls today that we talked about, let's see if I can't get some good results like you did!

Love you lady!!

Eric

It is good to see you posting. I prat the MD Anderson can gie you better answer. I hate to see that you are on hospice. I will keep you in my prayers. You were always there for me when we were going through treatment at the same time. Pm me if you even just need to vent.

Hi there!!! So glad you got into MD they do have a great rep! I too am praying that they have some good options for you! Hugs... And relax while you can!

anybody hear from Barb or know anything on how it went or is going or what they said at all? I often think about her.
Miss you Bloop!!!

Barbara recently posted on her FB wall.

OK I'll have to check that out tonite thanks Christine