http://after-cancer.com Verite Reily Collins writes about Cancer Side Effects Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:09:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://after-cancer.com/about-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14330 Verite Reily Collins Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:50:51 +0000 http://after-cancer.com/?page_id=2647#comment-14330 Sylvie, Thank you for writing, which I take as a great compliment. As you say, what about those afraid to ask - I fear that many of those just get discouraged, and eventually fade away. The statistic that 60% of UK patients come off hormonal drugs because of side effects shocks me - but doesn't seem to worry the doctors! But they are one of the reasons why I started the web site, to try and reach out to them and say there ARE solutions. As you say, I know that the French system isn't all roses, but overall I am very impressed. I did find one person who complained bitterly though. He had had to wait six hours in A & E to be seen when he broke his leg. Afterwards his wife told me (and you will understand this) he broke it on August 1st! Do go and see the latest story I have posted on NHS Watch - re doctor-speak ! www.after-cancer.com/NHS-watch. Best wishes, and if OK with you I will put you on my list to let you know when I have more stories up. Verite. Sylvie, Thank you for writing, which I take as a great compliment. As you say, what about those afraid to ask – I fear that many of those just get discouraged, and eventually fade away. The statistic that 60% of UK patients come off hormonal drugs because of side effects shocks me – but doesn’t seem to worry the doctors! But they are one of the reasons why I started the web site, to try and reach out to them and say there ARE solutions.
As you say, I know that the French system isn’t all roses, but overall I am very impressed. I did find one person who complained bitterly though. He had had to wait six hours in A & E to be seen when he broke his leg. Afterwards his wife told me (and you will understand this) he broke it on August 1st!
Do go and see the latest story I have posted on NHS Watch – re doctor-speak ! http://www.after-cancer.com/NHS-watch. Best wishes, and if OK with you I will put you on my list to let you know when I have more stories up. Verite.

]]> http://after-cancer.com/about-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14319 sylvie Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:34:17 +0000 http://after-cancer.com/?page_id=2647#comment-14319 Hello Verite your name in French means truth as you probably know it. I also had a cancer journey, not for breast cancer but for lymphoma and I am just finishing chemo. I happen to be French and a doctor who has worked for the NHS for the last 9 years after my husband was transferred in London. I couldn't agree more with your comments about doctors listening. I had various side effects during my chemo and almost every time was dismissed as it wasn't life threatening. Serious infections would have been dealt with but various pains, loss of voice or other "unusual" effects were qualified as either not bothersome or impossible to have (was I faking it? you don't get pain in your chemo arm that wakes you up just for the fun of it!). I was lucky because as a doctor I was able to monitor myself most of the time and to search the internet for information. I came across most of the help you mention, acupuncture, massage, diet and they helped me tremendously. I do not live far from a Maggie centre and they were great but what about those afraid to ask, too tired to move or unaware. Where do they find the support? By the way, I like your enthusiasm about the French medical care but we also have our non listeners. Thanks for all the info on your website, I wish I had found it when I started my journey, it would have saved me time. Hello Verite
your name in French means truth as you probably know it. I also had a cancer journey, not for breast cancer but for lymphoma and I am just finishing chemo. I happen to be French and a doctor who has worked for the NHS for the last 9 years after my husband was transferred in London. I couldn’t agree more with your comments about doctors listening. I had various side effects during my chemo and almost every time was dismissed as it wasn’t life threatening. Serious infections would have been dealt with but various pains, loss of voice or other “unusual” effects were qualified as either not bothersome or impossible to have (was I faking it? you don’t get pain in your chemo arm that wakes you up just for the fun of it!). I was lucky because as a doctor I was able to monitor myself most of the time and to search the internet for information. I came across most of the help you mention, acupuncture, massage, diet and they helped me tremendously. I do not live far from a Maggie centre and they were great but what about those afraid to ask, too tired to move or unaware. Where do they find the support?
By the way, I like your enthusiasm about the French medical care but we also have our non listeners.
Thanks for all the info on your website, I wish I had found it when I started my journey, it would have saved me time.

]]>