NY Times article - 07-28-2007 04:16 PM
The New York Times has a very good article on the widely differing quality of cancer treatment depending on where you go, and some discussion that makes it clear just how hard it can be to be oyur own advocate with different doctors recommending different treatments, etc.
I didn't see this on the OCF news link (yet?) so I thought I would link it here.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/health/29Cancer.html?hp
I have often said that finding my way through the different treatment recommendations and differing opinions that I got when diagnosed, let alone the confusion after treatment about diagnosis and treatment related to my swallowing problems was extremely hard. And I have a Ph.D., know how to find, read amd interpret the research on my own, and didn't have to have a lot of arguments with my insurer about what they would cover. And all of my doctors are/were good, educated, people themselves.
I don't know how people with less support or ability to advocate and do research for themselves do it, and I assume many don't and that's why there's data that shows, for example, that up to 30% of women who should be taking estrogen replacement drugs as a follow up to breast cancer aren't doing that (that was in the article and really shocked me).
These data show again why this forum is so important. OCF's main mission may be early diagnosis but the information you can get here about types of treatments and how other people have managed is also invaluable.
Nelie
I didn't see this on the OCF news link (yet?) so I thought I would link it here.
http:/
I have often said that finding my way through the different treatment recommendations and differing opinions that I got when diagnosed, let alone the confusion after treatment about diagnosis and treatment related to my swallowing problems was extremely hard. And I have a Ph.D., know how to find, read amd interpret the research on my own, and didn't have to have a lot of arguments with my insurer about what they would cover. And all of my doctors are/were good, educated, people themselves.
I don't know how people with less support or ability to advocate and do research for themselves do it, and I assume many don't and that's why there's data that shows, for example, that up to 30% of women who should be taking estrogen replacement drugs as a follow up to breast cancer aren't doing that (that was in the article and really shocked me).
These data show again why this forum is so important. OCF's main mission may be early diagnosis but the information you can get here about types of treatments and how other people have managed is also invaluable.
Nelie