Today Pete's stay at the Comprehensive Cancer Center lasted a little over 4 hours. He was hydrated and his continuous pump was refilled with enough chemo to last until tomorrow when we return again at 9 AM.
I mentioned that during yesterday's treatment Pete was visited by several people representing some of the services that are provided to the patients. Today, B, the social worker came in to talk with Pete and I. He gave us a number of valuable pieces of information, offers of assistance in filling out forms and contacting agencies. He submitted an application for us to stay at Hope Lodge during these extended treatments. The most MSKCC did was give us a list of NYC hotels that were willing to provide "discounted" rates to cancer patients undergoing treatments and/or their families. When I checked into those rates, the cost per night was still in the area of $200 or more.
B also suggested that Pete speak with one of the other counselors on staff to discuss any concerns or questions that Pete may have about dealing with the issues his cancer diagnosis has raised.
O returned as promised and set up an appointment for Pete to have Reiki therapy next week and said she would speak with the doctor about the possibility of acupuncture for pain management. If his pain persists, the pain management doctor will come in to assess Pete's situation and perhaps make some changes to his current pain medications.
I don't know what experiences other patients/families have had with cancer treatment centers, but until now, we had only been to MSKCC. During our many visits to Memorial since Pete's initial diagnosis in 2008 we encountered wonderful nurses, physicians and staff, and I acknowledged that in earlier posts to this blog. Everyone we dealt with there was pleasant and professional, but I always felt a bit isolated and the atmosphere was that of a sterile hospital.
When Pete began his second type of chemo we went to a small, private practice medical oncology center closer to our home for his infusions. The atmosphere there is much more "homey" and personal, but all they provide is chemotherapy.
When he went to the local hospital for his craniotomy and tomotherapy the social worker came out to talk to us and gave us literature to read and explained some of the services the hospital could provide in terms of support.
Dr R had most recently been at St Vincent's, but that hospital went bankrupt, closing its doors this past spring, many of its buildings and services subsequently acquired by Beth Israel. Now, under Dr R's care, we've learned what a Comprehensive Cancer Center really is, or should be. We are not left on our own to figure out what may or may not be available. We are not expected to know what questions to ask or who we should ask to see.
A Comprehensive Cancer Center. In Dr R's biography it states that "He is also known for changing the way medical oncology is practiced by developing the first truly comprehensive outpatient cancer treatment center that functions 24 hours a day, seven days a week." How fortunate we are to have found Dr R and all the wonderful resources that are being presented to us. How unfortunate that the 24/7 care is no longer available because the hospital that provided it went bankrupt.
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