"Thanks for the cheerful attitude, lady!"

[Gorn Captain]

I needed to go the the helpdesk at my medical insurance company.
As some of you may remember, my wife underwent cancer treatments during the last four months, and I needed to get her paperwork sorted out.

The woman at the desk checked the documents, and asked: "Is this her first bout with cancer?"
Me:"Yes. She seems to be doing OK now. Still very weak, but recovering."
Her: "If this had been her second time, you can forget it, she wouldn't make it."
Me: "????"
Her: "Yeah, once you get it again, it will always come back until it kills you. I've seen hundreds of cases like hers."
Me: "???"
Her: "And even people who have been clean for five years, before you know it, bang, they're dead in two-three months. I've got piles of files like that."

Any advice?
Should I send this Angel of Death to a good shrink, or just punch her in the face?

[jimsmegos]

Man, I don't know what is happening to people these days. I don't think a shrink could help this poor soot and a punch in the face will cause you more problems. However a note to the overseer of the office is surely in order. To be a complete smart *** I'd send her a balloon that says "Get Well Soon" and a card that reads, "Not Really".

What a *****. :yeah:

[lepage]

wow!

Was she a young girl?

If she was young, I would sort her out myself and let he know that , that kind of talk is inappropriate and unacceptable. If she is an older person who should know better then I would be speaking with their supervisor for sure!

That is very unprofessional!

[cjefferys]

I would definitely put in a complaint about her with the insurance company. No one in any part of the medical industry should be talking to patients or their families that way, that's completely unacceptable.

[Gorn Captain]

I was too tired myself to put up much of a fight. I was thinking "just get me the damn papers, woman!"
I hope she never gets a serious illness in her family.
"Mommy, I'm really sick..."
"That's because you're surely going to die soon, honey. You're as good as dead..."

[Gorn Captain]

wow!

Was she a young girl?

If she was young, I would sort her out myself and let he know that , that kind of talk is inappropriate and unacceptable. If she is an older person who should know better then I would be speaking with their supervisor for sure!

That is very unprofessional!

I think she was in her thirties. She could also have been a real witch and hundreds of years old, who knows, right?
Maybe she was suffering from depression herself...

[Mikey]

You have to report her whether you want to or not.

Her attitude and "opinions" could push an already depressed person over the edge to suicide.

If you don't report her, imagine the damage she will probably cause in the future.

[thunderbolt]

wow, what a great attitude. Man, what is the deal with people.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

I'm sorry and I hope your wife feels better really soon and has a complete recovery.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

You have to report her whether you want to or not.

Her attitude and "opinions" could push an already depressed person over the edge to suicide.

If you don't report her, imagine the damage she will probably cause in the future.

Completely agree with Mike on this. Totally unacceptable.

[jessica]

Wow. Pure suckage you had to deal with that. Life is tough enough as it is without someone having to rain on your parade.

[Doc]

Sorry but its true. Yeah if you see it a million times you get desenstized to it. Should she had said it that. Probably not. But yeah she probably is right.

Before everyone jumps. Yes I was an RN for 10 years. I have seen it over and over myself.

And yes I do have cancer and I have no illusions about what I have to look forward to.

Some people dont realize what its like to deal with pain and death every day....

[Hector]

I'm sorry you are battling cancer, Doc...did not know that...nor do I know the specifics...I wish you nothing but the best...please get well.

Having said that...there's absolutely NO excuse whatsoever for this kinda treatment...I don't care if professionals have to deal with that or not...they themselves are NOT the ones dying...they CHOSE that profession.

I had a similar experience when my father was dying of cancer...and one of the cancer doctors (oncologist) responded similarly...and I wanted to kill him with my bare hands...but my sister retrained me...then we dropped that piece of **** doctor...and demanded for a more compassionate one...and we got him...the new doctor was an angel...he made the awful experience much more bearable...and we are forever grateful to him...despite the fact that my father passed away anyway.

One was a kind and compassionate human being...the other was an *******...simple as that.

If I EVER see that OTHER doctor in the street...I will spit on his face...I kid you not.

[johnmiic]

Not trying to make light of it but the first thing that came to my mind was the Christina Yang doctor character from Grey's Anatomy TV series.
Sounds like she's one of those people with no filter.

I was thinking the same thing. Someone with no tact at all.

[Hector]

BTW...some clerical desk pencil pusher has absolutely no friggin' business spewing that garbage to you...it's not her place...if she doesn't care or is so-called desensitized...she should at least keep her trap shut...keep her opinions to herself...and just be a tad damn bloody professional about it...it's really not that hard.

There's absolutely NO excuse for that...NONE whatsoever.

[brent 1701]

im afraid id ***** slap her and not quit

[Gorn Captain]

Sorry but its true. Yeah if you see it a million times you get desenstized to it. Should she had said it that. Probably not. But yeah she probably is right.

Before everyone jumps. Yes I was an RN for 10 years. I have seen it over and over myself.

And yes I do have cancer and I have no illusions about what I have to look forward to.

Some people dont realize what its like to deal with pain and death every day....


I'm very sorry to hear that. The world is not a fair place.
And I do realize that your job exposes you to a lot of grief, which you also have to deal with.

Thing is, this was just somebody in admin with no medical training and without access to patients. She just does the paperwork.
You would hope that they would refrain from kicking someone when he's down. To be honest, I can't even watch a movie with the mention cancer in it at the moment.

I have the utmost respect for most doctors, my wife was treated very well, but honestly, that's what I expect from doctors. It's their chosen field, and they should handle people with care.

I know that if my wife gets cancer again, it'll be a bad sign. But I don't need to have my face rubbed in it. I confront myself with that reality every day already...

[Brad]

And yes I do have cancer and I have no illusions about what I have to look forward to.
Some people dont realize what its like to deal with pain and death every day....

You are correct. It would not be easy to see that every day. I have dealt with Nurses that are very straight forward about cancer. I fully understand that, but in this instance this is what I have a problem with...



I needed to go the the helpdesk at my medical insurance company.

What kind of help desk is that? This person is there to help and they should have a more compassionate person in that position! It's one thing to be blunt when talking to, and treating the patient but there is no need to be that way when you are working at a help desk. My wife and my son don't need to hear that crap! I would have been mad too!!
:enraged:

And yes, I too have cancer. I have Thyroid cancer. Just a small spot right now, but I am sure that eventually it will be removed. I take Levoxyl daily since my thyroid doesn't work anymore. I also have a small spot on my lung and COPD. I take Spiriva and Ventolin for that. The cancer, or maybe something else, will kill me some day but I really don't need to be reminded of it and I certainly don't need to have my wife and son reminded of it.
:yeah:

[huedell]

I can't believe the story you just told.... yet, I have to admit...
I know where you're coming from.

Recent example:
My brother's patience and feelings are being tried big time these past
few days because his whole lower body went numb recently,
he has a lesion on his spine that he doesn't know what it is, and people
are saying insensitive things left and right.... MEDICAL people in MEDICAL OFFICES just like you, man.

I felt I had to reassure him...
About 18 years ago, I had a bad injury that remained life threatening for a
few weeks due to an infection... I communicated to my brother that
all these insensitive unthinking people in offices ARE out there
and WILL make stupid comments EVEN THOUGH you are feeling like your
life is falling apart and possibly ending(!).

Sorry you had to go through that Gorn Cap.... NOBODY deserves that kind of treatment to themselves.... or the ones they love, but, meanwhile, it seems quite common due to the insensitivity of others. Keep strong!

[huedell]

Sorry but its true. Yeah if you see it a million times you get desenstized to it. Should she had said it that. Probably not. But yeah she probably is right.

Before everyone jumps. Yes I was an RN for 10 years. I have seen it over and over myself.

And yes I do have cancer and I have no illusions about what I have to look forward to.

Some people dont realize what its like to deal with pain and death every day....

All I know is that I lost a mother to cancer, and have had a darkly
fatalistic attitude towards it in the way you're explaining
...that being said, I know TWO women I grew up with who are in
their 60s that have battled cancer repeated times (long remission
periods included).... and AND ARE AS STRONG AS EVER.

It was not really expected because I feel pretty negative
due to my mother's scenario and stories like the one that started this thread, ... but, happily, it IS TRUE.... people DO actually live happy lives
after repeated cancer battles... people I know.

May all good things be with you.

[Mikey]

If she never gets reported nothing will ever happen and she'll keep doing it.

If you don't report her Rik, you're just letting the problem continue.

[Megospidey]

^^ You are right. And by reporting her, it may be the ONLY way she wakes up and realizes the damage she is doing with her words.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Yeah, right.

[Adam West]

Report her....I have seen some bizarre stuff from doctors and have had half a mind of giving them an earful. My aging mother recently had knee replacement surgery. She is really strong emotionally and has a tremedously high pain threshhold. The doctor had no bedside manners at all. He just responded to questions without giving any thoughts to feelings, emotions, etc. Told her it was going to hurt like ell and the recovery process would be long and painful. Just what you want to hear right before you go under the knife.

[ddgaff1132]

Has'nt the woman ever heard of Lance Armstrong. Cancer isnt alway the leathal diagnosis as in the past. I lost my favorite aunt to cancer long ago. Had it been in these times. She might have survived. The problem is that people who work around Doctors and Nurses begin to think they know as much as they do. Keep positive thought and I'll keep you both in mine.

[AAAAA]

write a letter to the management stating Please inform your staff to keep personal comments to themselfs. Its not professional in the work place it it upset the patients & families.

[Doc]

The more you take Chemo the less effective it will be. The more radiation you take the more damage you will do to your self.......