Category Archives: Physicians

Paincation Redux

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Scorchy

I’ve been on a two week paincation. I apologize that I forgot to take pictures of the great time I had. You know, of the television tuned into Game of Thrones and MSNBC, the Kindle versions of B.V. Larson sci-fi … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life, Physicians | Tagged advocacy, awareness, Diagnosis, facet joint injection, fluoroscopic-guided injections, fluoroscopy, Information resources, Marcaine, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, pain, pain management, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, steroid, support, Treatment, vulnerability | 20 Comments

Me and My Shadow

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Scorchy

I have to be honest: it’s been a conscious effort to think about cancer recently. Not that I’m complaining, who the heck wants to think about cancer all the time? Who knew it could be so easy? I love being … Continue reading →

Posted in Career Conundrums, My Stage IV Life, Physicians, Stage IV Musings | Tagged "Alright Tit", Attitude, bone metastasis, bone mets, breast cancer, captain picard meme, career, denial, Diagnosis, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, Tamoxifen, Treatment, vulnerability | 48 Comments

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Scorchy

I write so often about my physicians. I have expressed confidence in their work, been critical of office operations, praised one, and when it was warranted I railed against indifference. As we all know, there are two sides to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Physicians | Tagged different strokes, gregsmithmd, respect | 8 Comments

Doctortown

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Scorchy

I never stopped to think about how much things can change in just one month. In our day-to-day linear embrace of time it is not something we often think about. We think in terms of days, perhaps two weeks at … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life, Physicians | Tagged advocacy, breast cancer, Florida Gulf Coast, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, partnership, physicians, professional, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, Treatment, vulnerability | 33 Comments

The Road to Ruin

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Scorchy

I have been blessed with relatively good health all of my life. I did go some years without health insurance as a professional student, but I came through that okay. The closest I came to chronic disease was reading about … Continue reading →

Posted in Finances, My Stage IV Life, Physicians, Stage IV Musings | Tagged awareness, breast cancer, co-pays, finances, financial assistance, financial hardship, frustration, health insurance, Information resources, insurance, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, Politics, support, Treatment, vulnerability | 22 Comments

The Meltdown

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Scorchy

Change is never easy, but as a change agent in my professional life I’ve always been willing to suck it up. I don’t always like it, but I can usually find a opening that appeals to me and warms me … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life, Physicians | Tagged Attitude, bad customer service, breast cancer, condescension, customer service, Diagnosis, disrespect, emotional meltdown, frustration, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, oncologist, pain, panic, respect, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, Tamoxifen, Treatment, vulnerability | 53 Comments

Change and Some Thanks

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Scorchy

I am a big fan of change. Well, what I mean is that when change happens I usually adapt pretty quickly and deal. But a change is afoot and I’m finding it hard to accept. My oncologist is leaving the … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life, Physicians | Tagged advocacy, Attitude, breast cancer, breast oncology, Dr. George Raptis MD, Dubin Breast Center, Health Care, lij, medicine, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, Mount Sinai NYC, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, northshorelij, oncology, physicians, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, thanks, Treatment, vulnerability | 13 Comments

The Most Interesting Boob in the World v.2

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Scorchy

In all seriousness, the decision to change lanes on the Healthcare Highway may be one of the very best I have ever made. I was treated with compassion, care, respect, and I will never forget it. Dr. Y, you are … Continue reading →

Posted in Just for Laughs, My Stage IV Life, Physicians | Tagged Biopsy, breast cancer, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, Mount Sinai NYC, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, Treatment | 3 Comments

Physician, Know Thy Patient

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Scorchy

When I meet a physician for the first time, I immediately begin evaluating that potential relationship. Everything from how they greet me (or not), whether or not the environment is a good one (or not), how convenient it is for … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life, Physicians | Tagged advice for patient, advice for physician, advocacy, Attitude, biology, breast cancer, Diagnosis, friends, frustration, Humor, Information resources, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, negotiate, negotiations, patient-doctor, Philosophy, Research, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, Treatment, vulnerability | 13 Comments

Exhale

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Scorchy

Remember the oncology suite in a certain unnamed hospital in New York City? I still can’t get over how accurate that is. Well, since I fired my oncologist due to the uncomfortable fit and horrific public service in the unit, … Continue reading →