#86048 12-13-2008 02:22 PM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Does anyone give a token of their appreciation to the staff (physicians and staff) at their CancerCare centers? If so, what and if not, why?
Just curious
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | LOL I don't have enough left for me after making payments to the Drs and the Hospitals. My daughter is the charge nurse in the heart unit at a local hospital and she makes enough. They all make a nice wage .
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | If you want to do something, send a nice Thank You card -- Personally, I give out many plastic flies!
Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Take them a box of candy or a basket of fruit,, that way they can share and all have some.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Guess the situation is different here where we do not "directly" pay our physicians. I have found that the relationship with the CancerCare team (from surgeon through scheduling clerk) is one that is enhanced with being considerate of each other. I guess that-to me-does include a gift at the holiday season to say Thanks. Maybe if I had to hand over a credit card each time I went to visit I would feel differently. I am curious about how people proceed.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 | i send or take thank you card every once in awhile to remind them i appreciate their care and their help ... they have loved this and said how much it meant to them ... I am also one who likes to give at holiday time ... to the mailman, the garbage man, my MD, my dentist, and all of my specialty care docs too ... I uaually do like a $10 gift card to starbucks because even if they do not like coffee, there are other things they can buy ... and it is lightweight, easy to mail or carry and is one that does not depend on gender to work ... i am sure a pumpkin pie, or basket of fruit or a bucket of christmas candies or a tin of cookies would all be well appreciated too. even homemade christmas cookies are always a wonderful gift and then they know it comes from the heart.
Rita - Age 44
wife, mother of 4 - ages 3,16,21,24 & grandma to 1
(R upper) Maxillectomy 8/8/08 - UW / Seattle, WA.
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"Those who think by the inch and speak by the yard, should be kicked by the foot."
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | The money I have to pay out that my ins. doesn't cover is in the thousands. I wish I did have just a few dollars co-pay. The Ins I had didn't even have Ohio State or West Virginia University Hospitals in their coverage area. Sorry, but when you owe this huge amount and are on a fixed limited income, you just don't pass out your bucks when you need it to live a half decent life. I can't forget all of the Drs I pay monthly plus scripts. LOL would be wearing rag shoes. LOL
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 | When dad was going through treatment he had appointments that fell directly on holidays (Valentines Day) or around holidays (Christmas). They use to take in a big tin of cookies with a nice note attached. They would do the same for the people at the valet parking area as well since they used their services every day. Nothing big just a small token of their appreciation. Had he not had appointments during the holidays I'm sure they would not have made a special trip over to take a tin of cookies as the hospital was an hour away from their home.
Doctors certainly don't expect gifts from their patients, but I think if you felt so inclined to spread a little holiday cheer I would keep it simple. JM2C.
Joy
CG to Father, 75 yo with SCC of the mouth; upper maxillectomy and neck diss. performed on 5/23/07. Father also suffered heart attack during surgery and now has CHF. RT complete on 8/28/07. Cancer back 11/27/07. RT and Chemo to start on 12/17. Cancer back 6/17/08. Finally at rest 08/08/08.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 | I give hugs...great big smiles and thank you...and I am a lot like Jim...even though I don't pay for medical services those fixed incomes bite. We have dollar stores here a It is even expensive to make those homemade goodies. I haven't done it in years since the kids were in school. But that really does work. Maybe I should get back to it...But for now a note, smile, hug and thankyou work for me..
Dianne..treatment at cc at Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario...insulin dependant, Surgery Sept 8/08 Tracheotomy,composite resection and bilateral neck dissection, left radial forearm free flap... T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma. No radiation A little over 2 yrs clear YAY
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 | I hear ya Jim, When one is unable to do so they should never feel bad. I am sure they do not expect anything, and if they do, they do not deserve it anyways LOL ... and hey - you keep them in those nice cars so they should feel blessed by you already  I think it is a nice gesture when one wants to, but definitely not an obligation in any way. ... and hey, a nice thought written in a christmas card goes a long way to brighten their day when you wish to express gratitude to those special ones along the way.
Rita - Age 44
wife, mother of 4 - ages 3,16,21,24 & grandma to 1
(R upper) Maxillectomy 8/8/08 - UW / Seattle, WA.
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"Those who think by the inch and speak by the yard, should be kicked by the foot."
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