I am just beside myself with anger and depression - surgery tomorrow just now canceled

[Coventina]

I'll try to keep this simple:

Our current medical "system" sucks donkey balls.

My doctor found a suspicious tumor in my abdomen, so she referred me to an oncologist.

Oncologist says probably not cancer, but should come out and be biopsied to be sure.

I am naturally in favor of this.

Surgery has been scheduled for tomorrow for weeks at this point.

I got a sub for my classes, explained everything about my short medical leave to my students. (Not to mention friends and family).

Got a call (while I was working on preparing materials for my sub) from the oncologist's office: We need a clearance from your cardiologist within the hour or surgery is canceled.

I call my cardiologist to find out he's not in the office today, but they will try to get clearance from him.

I call the oncologist back, and surgery scheduler says, we can't wait, we have to cancel and reschedule now!!!!

So, I'm rescheduled for Dec. 20th, and I have to unwind all the preparations I've made, which is going to REALLY confuse my students (they get easily confused, trust me on this).

My husband was livid and tried to call the oncologist back, got voice mail message saying: Our office is closed for the weekend, as of Monday we will be "Cancer Treatment Centers of America", call us back on Monday.

I'm seriously thinking of chucking them entirely and finding another surgeon.

This seems really bogus, irresponsible, and slipshod to me.
Should I really trust this surgeon with my life when his office seems so disorganized and shady?

I've been alternating between raging and crying the last hour.

[wryter2000]

1. If he needed some kind of clearance, he should have told you when the surgery was scheduled

Then, you could have contacted your cardiologist and had this fixed ages ago. I recently had hip surgery and had to get an EKG beforehand. It was scheduled at the same time my surgery was scheduled.

[Coventina]

3. Another bizarre thing: They DID order an EKG, which I did (as well as a chest x-ray)

But never said anything about getting a signed clearance from my cardiologist.

[wnylib]

22. I went through this for my

cataract surgery. At the very last minute, they said they needed my primary care provider's ok for the surgery because they had not looked at my allergy list until then. It included a med that they would have used for the surgery but there are alternatives that are easily available. Plus I have a latex allergy which blew the scheduler's mind as if she never heard of such a thing.

I had had other surgeries without problems over my allergies. I did get into my primary care office in time, but voiced to the doc my misgivings about the cataract surgery staff. He referred me to another office so I cancelled the surgery with the first doc.

The second doc and his staff were very professional. No hysteria over my allergies. Surgery went fine and my vision was so much better that it felt like a miracle.

I have since read online reviews of the first doc and his office that make me glad that I switched.

So consider switching if you lack faith in your doctor. HOWEVER, you said that you did have an EKG and then he wanted a cardiology approval, so I would find out what the EKG results were. There might be a good reason for the request for a cardiologist's approval and you should be informed of it.

[Bev54]

33. If they are closed now until Monday, were they looking to clear the calendar tomorrow

so they get a long weekend? If you were scheduled for tomorrow, should they not be open?

[cilla4progress]

2. Oh, Coventina...

I hear you and I understand and affirm your rage!

I think the truth of our medical establishment is being revealed. I can't even get a callback for a preventive visit.

This is what happens when you mix profit with health care. Just unforgiveable.

I'm so sorry!

Please keep us posted!

[Hortensis]

11. This is what happens when you mix PEOPLE with healthcare.

Since politics is introduced, though, let's just remember the record regarding quality and availability of care is not better for systems that remove the profit motive and competition for customers, and which are typically chronically underfunded at least somehwat by their governments. Often they're tragically poor.

And in most, patients would have trouble reschedulng quickly should they wish to change surgeons. Quick and flexible are not bureaucratic virtues, especially when patients are flooding in for care that was postponed because of the pandemic.

Coventina's fright is entirely understandable, and let's hope this delay is short so she can get this behind her. And for her sake all by itself, thank all the powers at once, that anti-tax, anti-government healthcare Republicans don't control -- and control the funding of -- a national healthare system Coventina depended on. As it is, they've been refusing government funding to keep the only hospitals serving many communities open.

[Hoyt]

4. Unfortunately, doctors don't spend a lot of money on office staff.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. How dreadful for you!

As far as trusting your surgeon is concerned, I would go with my gut feelings. Sometimes good doctors have lousy office staffers.

And right now, of course you're extremely upset, so I would hold off on chucking your surgeon till you cool off a bit.

It's hard to be rational when you're this upset.

My heart goes out to you and your family, my dear Coventina.

[markie]

6. so sorry

I can only imagine the frustration...

[leftieNanner]

7. That is so Wrong!

It seems like there was plenty of time between the original referral and the scheduled surgery date. So why didn't they notify you that you needed pre-clearance from your cardiologist right away? My husband had a hip replacement last month and he had to do that. But they didn't notify him of that so close to the surgery itself.

That sounds flaky to me. Can you do any scouting online to check the doctor out?

Take good care of yourself.

[LisaL]

8. If they needed a clearance from cardiology, they should have told you ahead of time, not at the last

moment.
My relative had surgery and needed clearance from cardiology. He was told ahead of time.

[Poiuyt]

29. Of course! Someone in the surgeon's office dropped the ball.

[Rebl2]

9. Strange they

didn’t tell you this when your surgery was scheduled.

[DFW]

10. I don't know what to tell you

If I had an alternative, this surgeon would scare the hell out of me, and have me doubting his competence. On the other hand, if he is "the only game in town," or seemed otherwise competent, he is still disorganized and a little heartless. He may be good at what he does, but his bedside manner rivals that of Snidely Whiplash.

[Phoenix61]

12. I'd want a PET-CT scan first.

https://news.cancerconnect.com/treatment-care/the-role-of-pet-scans-in-the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-cancer

[japple]

23. Thank you for this link. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, I asked the

surgeon if I could get a PET scan then. He told me that it wasn't the protocol for the American Cancer Society.

Incidentally, my surgeon's office called me the day before I was scheduled for surgery and cancelled because he had Covid-19. This was before the vaccines were released, and I did eventually have surgery a month later, and they didn't make me go thru all of pre-op requirements again. As I am retired, it didn't make much of a difference to me, but I am sorry that the OP's experience is so traumatic. I hope everything will eventually work out well.

[moreland01]

13. TRUST

YOUR INSTINCTS! If you're not 100% comfortable with the surgeon, his staff, the facility, the scheduling, don't risk it.

[W_HAMILTON]

14. Sounds like the oncologist is kinda questionable.

When my elderly mother went to an orthopedic specialist to potentially have hip replacement surgery, he told us that she would have to get a cardiologist clearance to have surgery beforehand. We knew for this and planned for it ahead of time. For them not to inform you ahead of time, well in advance of the surgery, makes me think the oncologist is sort of sketchy. And them switching management or ownership? And to Cancer Treatment Centers of America? Yeah, I would probably call your primary care doctor or someone that might have an "in" with a reputable oncologist and see if they can maybe get you in to see you ASAP.

[ms liberty]

28. This. n/t

[Botany]

15. This is bullshit

The surgeon, the oncologist, the cardiologist, and their staffs should have all done this work sometime ago.

Scheduling the sequences of what needs to be done
prior to surgery should not be your job.

If the growth is malignant waiting for surgery is not a good option. I would find other people ASAP or you or your lawyer tell whomever that this status quo is unexceptable.

Contact your local American Cancer Society and ask if you can talk to someone.

[No Vested Interest]

20. Agree. Find another oncologist and get on with your life.

You will be working on the problem instead of just waiting another six weeks.
Find the best doctor available for your own peace of mind.

[Generic Brad]

16. I can't imagine the stress you are feeling

I extend my best wishes to you. Do keep us all informed on how you're doing!

[Scrivener7]

17. I am so sorry. I agree with Moreland01. Trust your instincts. Maybe get a second opinion.

If I am not mistaken, Cancer Treatment Centers of America is a for-profit organization. If they're switching over to that, I'd maybe try a different oncologist.

This is awful for you to experience, and I can't imagine the frustration, but maybe it gives you a moment to find a doc who will be better.

[SergeStorms]

18. I don't blame you for being upset.

You're far cooler about it than I'd be. I'd be totally enraged.

And they sold out to "Cancer Treatment Centers of America"? I've only known one person who had any treatments with them, and she wasn't impressed.

Hang in there, Coventina. I know it's a huge inconvenience for you, your family, and your students. This too shall pass. I'm sure everything will work out for the best. We're here for you if you need to vent your spleen, or any other body part, again.

[question everything]

19. Not all oncologists are surgeons and surgeons who remove tumors are not

oncologists. See if your doctor ca refer you to a surgeon who in turn will refer to an oncologist.

I am so sorry for your frustration and rage. Perfectly justified.

Instead of just siting helpless until Dec 20, see if you can find different providers.

And let us know.

[FloridaBlues]

21. A lot of surgeons want cardio clearance but he should have requested this earlier than 24 hrs

Don’t blame you for being angry. I have been in medical field for some time, trying to get a new surgeon and oncologist will not be easy either to take over your case.

[Maeve]

24. Co-ordinating doctors can be so very frustrating!!

I've been dancing with my mom's various health providers trying to help her and patience isn't a virtue, it's a necessity (but a near impossibility!)

with you

[HUAJIAO]

25. For what it is worth, I've heard somewhere of Cancer Treatment Centers of America,

and none of it was good..... It's a FOR PROFIT, for starters....

Good luck , though, with your surgery. Hope it proves benign.

[vlyons]

26. Calm down. You't don't need to the extra stress

Your oncologist is an asshole. There's no reason why the oncologist scheduler could not have called 1 or 2 weeks earlier, except whoever runs his office is completely incompetent. My oncologist scheduler always sends me to phone menu Hell. Hell yes, get another oncologist. At least now you know to get your cardiologist on board. I would complain bitterly in a written letter to the oncologist that his office is piss-poorly run. Surely you're not the first patient, whose Dr's malpractice insurance has required a cardiologist's ok. Surely that's a standard practice. Was the scheduler smoking dope? Meanwhile, do what you can to calm down. Meditate, go for a walk somewhere pleasant, go do something that you enjoy.

[Lucinda]

27. This should have been handled through the offices of both docs.

And you should have been notified well ahead of time...
If you trust the surgeon to do the job - I'd stick with it - if not, move on, but know there will likely be an even greater delay in getting answers...

[Evolve Dammit]

30. "Our current medical "system" sucks donkey balls". It certainly does. Best wishes.

[RainCaster]

31. Your oncologist is being bought out

Judging by the recording on their phone system, that office has been bought out and is changing hands. You will have a whole new set of paperwork to do starting next week if that is the case. IMO, you should find another oncologist. Ask around, personal references are priceless.

[Beaverhausen]

32. Something similar happened with my mom the day of her mastectomy

Long story short she should have had a stress test and other tests that either the doctor didn't set up or he told my dad to set them up and my dad, being elderly, didn't do it.

She finally had the surgery late in the day after getting tests during the day but it was beyond stressful for us.

I learned then that sadly, we have to all be very proactive about every aspect of our healthcare.

[gldstwmn]

34. I am so sorry this happened to you.

I would definitely look at another oncologist if that works for you. This is so unprofessional.

[Peregrine Took]

35. My brother had to wait 6 weeks for his aggressive prostate cancer surgery years ago.

I don't know how he did it but he did.
He's 84 now and, although cranky, is doing very well.
Good luck.

[XanaDUer2]

36. So sorry

This last-minute clearance-from-the-cardiologist thing happened to my cousin right before the hysterectomy she had scheduled. She was beyond stressed, and I didn't understand why it was so last minute. She got the go-ahead, but it was stressful.

Sending you peace and healing light

[helpisontheway]

37. I'm so sorry..😕nt

[NNadir]

38. I would cancel and start over.

Of course, we all hope it will be benign, but if it's not, this is going to be a very involved matter, involving co-ordination of a lot of moving pieces.

I know this because my wife - who is exceptional at organization - helped my sister-in-law through her breast cancer (which is now five years in remission.)

My sister-in-law was treated through the Sloan Kettering system, one of the best in the world (and I recommend them highly) but even with their experience it still took a lot of coordination on my wife's part, never mind her sister's part.

If an organization treating cancer patients has to run sleazy marketing TV ads - as the Cancer Center of America does - particularly implying a certainty of success where no such thing exists (yet), they are not worthy of trust.

[Grammy23]

39. When I was scheduled for knee replacement surgery five years ago

I had to get clearance from my cardiologist which turned out to be routine. Mostly just paperwork. I, however, had a urinalysis that came back positive for a possible urinary tract infection. Not quite routine. So I needed to get a catheterized specimen at a gynecologist office.
My knee surgeon’s office handled everything. Called me to inform me of the problem. Then called the gynecologist’s office to schedule the procedure. Informed me of appointment. All I had to do was show up for the test. Test was negative and surgery went off as scheduled.

That is how things should be. Don’t dump a bunch of stuff off on the patient at the last minute. The surgeon’s office can and should handle these things. It’s stressful enough to be the patient without last minute snafus screwing things up. Sadly, the health care system these days doesn’t always function with common sense or compassion.

I’ll spare you the details of my encounter with the health care system when I had breast cancer in 1990. Suffice it to say it was a nightmare until I finally learned the ropes. Being a patient with a serious, months or years long treatments toughens you up but in the beginning I was naive and scared. I learned a lot but unfortunately, many things about the system are not better. 😵

[Takket]

40. do you have other options/medical systems you can go to?

Honestly if they are that level of "not having their shit together" that they give you a 1 hour time limit for something they should have asked for weeks ago, i wouldn't want people that incompetent cutting on me in any way.

[Skittles]

41. this behavior is inexcusable

find another oncologist pronto