From: joan_kaapke@nosyahoo.com (JoanKaapke)

Over all, the medical care I have received in California and in Texas
has been very good, and sometimes, outstanding.

An early diagnosis by a competent specialist, of colon cancer, saved my
life, and I did not require chemo after surgery. That was 25 years ago.

When I went into shock following a hysterectomy, the doctors and staff
again saved my life, and I made a complete recovery, after a blood
transfusion.

A year ago, an early diagnosis of breast cancer was made, and I had
options regarding surgery and treatment.

I made all my own choices, and though chemo was recommended, I decided
that it was not right for me.

Radiation, however, was a very positive experience.

I have had a few incompetent doctors along the way. When I belonged to
an HMO,

I wrote letters to the doctors and the grievance committee to obtain the
treatment I needed, and filed complaints against doctors I felt were
incompetent.

I simply presented the facts in a logical fashion, and attached
supporting documents to prove my position. They responded favorably.

Joan

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Hi Joan,

I'm glad that you had good experiences, & didn't get badly harmed, when
you sought medical care.

Even though I did things correctly, over & over, & for many years, .....
I did Not have good experiences when I sought medical care for injuries
& cancer. Or earlier than that, when I sought counseling for severe &
ongoing birth-family abuse.

For the most part, I experienced the worst of the medical community &
industry here, ..... & experienced doctors trying to cover up for each
other, trying to do more & more harm, trying "to bury their mistakes" &
crimes.

So we don't have the good experiences in common.

Also, didn't you say you were in West Texas? I'm in the East Texas, West
Louisiana area. They're two very different worlds. I've also been told,
that coastal Texas is very different from both East & West Texas.

I visited my uncle in West Texas once, Ozona I believe.

East Texas is a very humid, green, creepy-crawly jungle. I was shocked
at how dry & barren West Texas was, .... the big spiders, the herds of
sheep, the windmills, ..... & that they used small airplanes to get
around the ranch.

In East Texas, there'd basically be no clear space to land in an
emergency, unless a farmer/rancher kept a field bush-hogged & cleared.

Then, if it had just rained on it, the ground probably wouldn't be fit
or firm enough to land on.

Susan, Su_Texas  my opinions

*******************************
Susan, I am very sorry for the bad experiences you have had in your life.  I
hope you will finally get the care and help you need now.

I live in El Paso, which is very much like living in Mexico.  Everyone here
speaks Spanish, and all my neighbors are Mexican.  The economy is poor, the
land is harsh and dry, and the summers unbearably hot.  There is a shortage
of doctors here, so it is difficult to find a good doctor.  I was just
lucky.

I do believe I made the right decision in not taking chemo.  I felt that at
my age, 75, it would do much more harm than good.

Best Wishes,

Joan