My new book, Living with Multiple Myeloma, is back from editing and waiting for final revisions. It should be published before year's end. One of the chapters is titled "Doctors Are People Too!" The chapter highlights a number of mistakes and misteps made by my physicians while I was hospitalized last summer with blood clots in my lungs. I write that doctors make mistakes, get distracted and have bad days. Ultimately, we, the patient, are responsible for our own health care. It's not fair. We are sick. The doctor is supposed to have all the answers. Just tell me what to take and what to do and I'll do it! But as each of us moves through the "health care maze" and becomes a more experienced patient, we soon realize no one knows or understands our medical needs better than us! Listen and learn my fellow patients! Listen to your doctors and nurses carefully. Take notes. Read about your cancer and therapy options whenever possible. Communicate! Make sure that health care professionals from different departments understand your situation and have the updated information that they need to make good decisions. Most importantly, try to stay positive!
Feel good and keep smiling! Pat
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