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Patients Have Responsibilities, Too!
We just came back from a wonderful weekend trip to visit friends. As it happens, my wife uses flight time to catch up on her reading - piles of Sunday NY Times, unread medical journals, and plenty of magazines.
"Here, this will keep you busy!" says my wife as she hands me the current copy of Martha Stewart Living. Like I need help organizing my collection of shrunken gourds! Anyway, I start paging through the magazine when I tumble across the health section. It is devoted to breast cancer awareness. Hmmm...given the readership it seems to be a perfect match.
My attitude changed after I read the tragic story of a woman with undiagnosed widespread breast cancer. I became enraged!
The physician author was attempting to make the point that everyone should undress and get an annual head-to-toe physical exam. Sounds reasonable. To reinforce that argument the doctor relates an anecdotal past encounter with a female ER patient complaining of fatigue. The woman had a regular physician monitoring her blood pressure but always skips 'the full monty'. Sure enough, the author discovers a huge, fungating breast mass and extensive metastasis. If only her primary care doctor performed routine comprehensive exams. Arrgghhh!!!
Here's a brief excerpt:
"How long has your breast been like this?" I asked.
"Three years," she replied, almost apologetically.
"Did you tell your doctor about it?"
Her answer was simple, direct, and tragic: "He didn't ask."
"Did he examine your breast?"
"No," she answered. "He only treats my blood pressure."
Click here to view the entire story online.
Every medical student in America knows this story and every licensed physician has had similar experiences. Given all that happened in this sad case (or didn't happen), the patient neglected some individual responsibility in this matter. "Doctor, I'm worried about a small lump I've discovered in my breast." The woman continued to revisit the doctor fully aware that no exam would ever be performed, nor would the doctor ever ask probing questions.
The bigger story is the woman's monumental denial of her breast disease to permit it to advance to such an untreatable stage. Of course a 'paper gown' exam would likely have led to an earlier diagnosis in this case, but the patient put herself in a situation where that would never happen.
So why does this sad tale turn up on a WebMD blog about healthy vision? Far too many people are afraid about their health - and this includes the fear of going blind. They are so fearful that they neglect to make appointments to see the specialists who could help restore their failing eyesight. Family history and knowledge of others' experiences often shape a person's decision whether or not to seek medical care. If a grandmother went blind after cataract surgery (back in 1957!) then the adult grandchild may be reluctant to seek help in 2007.
If I don't hear bad news there is no bad news.
Like the doomed woman with advanced breast cancer, if you fail to be proactive about your own health, darn few other people will care enough to intervene. Given the current managed care environment there are plenty of other people to blame for any misfortune and you will get exactly the kind of care you seek - no care.
Got a problem? Get over yourself and get help!
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: breast cancer, mammogram, cancer, wellness
"Here, this will keep you busy!" says my wife as she hands me the current copy of Martha Stewart Living. Like I need help organizing my collection of shrunken gourds! Anyway, I start paging through the magazine when I tumble across the health section. It is devoted to breast cancer awareness. Hmmm...given the readership it seems to be a perfect match.My attitude changed after I read the tragic story of a woman with undiagnosed widespread breast cancer. I became enraged!
The physician author was attempting to make the point that everyone should undress and get an annual head-to-toe physical exam. Sounds reasonable. To reinforce that argument the doctor relates an anecdotal past encounter with a female ER patient complaining of fatigue. The woman had a regular physician monitoring her blood pressure but always skips 'the full monty'. Sure enough, the author discovers a huge, fungating breast mass and extensive metastasis. If only her primary care doctor performed routine comprehensive exams. Arrgghhh!!!
Here's a brief excerpt:
"How long has your breast been like this?" I asked.
"Three years," she replied, almost apologetically.
"Did you tell your doctor about it?"
Her answer was simple, direct, and tragic: "He didn't ask."
"Did he examine your breast?"
"No," she answered. "He only treats my blood pressure."
Click here to view the entire story online.
Every medical student in America knows this story and every licensed physician has had similar experiences. Given all that happened in this sad case (or didn't happen), the patient neglected some individual responsibility in this matter. "Doctor, I'm worried about a small lump I've discovered in my breast." The woman continued to revisit the doctor fully aware that no exam would ever be performed, nor would the doctor ever ask probing questions.
The bigger story is the woman's monumental denial of her breast disease to permit it to advance to such an untreatable stage. Of course a 'paper gown' exam would likely have led to an earlier diagnosis in this case, but the patient put herself in a situation where that would never happen.
So why does this sad tale turn up on a WebMD blog about healthy vision? Far too many people are afraid about their health - and this includes the fear of going blind. They are so fearful that they neglect to make appointments to see the specialists who could help restore their failing eyesight. Family history and knowledge of others' experiences often shape a person's decision whether or not to seek medical care. If a grandmother went blind after cataract surgery (back in 1957!) then the adult grandchild may be reluctant to seek help in 2007.
If I don't hear bad news there is no bad news.
Like the doomed woman with advanced breast cancer, if you fail to be proactive about your own health, darn few other people will care enough to intervene. Given the current managed care environment there are plenty of other people to blame for any misfortune and you will get exactly the kind of care you seek - no care.
Got a problem? Get over yourself and get help!
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: breast cancer, mammogram, cancer, wellness
