Hi,
I am Steve from new Zealand. With myself I had pain/weird stools/bleeding last year and finally had a colonoscopy. Only to discover I have colon-rectal cancer. Yuk....
What I want to share is how here in NZ we are treated so well. Hmmm... well at least in this part of the country we are. We have a health system similar to the UK where our highish taxes fund all medical a bit like a compulsory medical insurance. We elect folk to manage our local 'Health Boards' at the same time we vote for our local body officials (Mayors/Councilors).
HOW NZ FOLK 'KIWIS' DO THINGS
As soon as it was diagnosed I immediately was assigned an oncology nurse/counselor who does everything for you. She continually phones after every event to see how you are and takes every question seriously. And we can call any time. Wonderful.
Because our town does not have a radiation therapy unit we (a patient plus a care giver - being my lovely wife) are paid to travel to another city, Christchurch city, and stay free of charge in a special motel like units. Called 'daffodil house' owned by the cancer society. In New Zealand 'Daffodil day, Daffodil house-lodge etc' are all cancer society links. It is wonderful here. There is a free shuttle to the clinics and amazing other '..inmates..' to interact with. We all get together for happy hour in the lovely common room almost every day. Depends who is up to it!? There is even an electric organ to wind up when folk need a sing along to boost spirits. And there are these volunteers who leave home cooking cookies/cakes etc every day. They call themselves 'The Good Bitches Baking'! TRUE! *Now please note that in New Zealand that title is not taken offensively at all it is like a wild compliment. PS-Here in New Zealand we call cookies 'biscuits' but I am married to a lovely US wife and gave up trying to convince her they were biscuits ages ago...LOL
FIRST DAY-I was so impressed as when we went to the oncology ward. We stood at the desk and advised we were new (we looked the part anyway) and everyone just took us in, gave us a drink (the waiting room has all of these free facilities) and took us into the family so to speak. And there are cancer society volunteers everywhere helping as they can. Listening to our moans and supplying little things like clothing (hats/scarves) and even jig saw puzzles to sit and do. These really help keep your mind off things.
Yes it is a pretty miserable thing to go through. I have combined radiation/chemo therapy for the next few weeks. It is early days and I am feeling '..BLOODY ROTTEN..' already. Then after a few more weeks I will have surgery. It depends on what they find as to the outcome. I jokingly share (well with some folk anyway) that I probably won't be able to take part in a 'farting contest' anymore... Please laugh with me over that.
Still I am a Christian (in the Salvation Army church) and have known my God from my youth so He can worry about it. Mind you in all reverence I want to discuss cancer with Him when we meet. Please laugh with me over that.
Thank you for this site. It has helped me a great deal.
Steve