MD Anderson Hospital in Texas

Bloodproblems
Bloodproblems Member Posts: 31
edited June 2020 in General Cancer
I am getting frustrated with my current care. I feel like they do not have a sense of urgency on my case. They will decide we need to do a test/procedure/whatever and schedule it, 3 weeks later the procedure/test is done. One week later I get the results. Then, it didn't tell them what they wanted, so another is scheduled, same routine. By now 2 months has passed. People die in less than 2 months! I want to go get checked at MD Anderson, but other than picking up the phone and calling them, I don't have a clue what to do, how to go about it, or even if a person can just show up there. Has anyone here done this before?

Comments

  • LiveWithCancer
    LiveWithCancer Member Posts: 470
    edited June 2020
    I would definitely pick up the phone and call. I wouldn't just show up there - especially in today's climate. If you make the call, and that's not the route you need to go, I bet they can at least point you in the right direction. As one of the best-rated cancer centers in the country, I feel sure they field calls all day long from people hoping to go there for treatment.

    I don't blame you for being frustrated with the amount of time that is elapsing. When my chemo quit working and I had decided to get into a clinical trial, the first facility where I was referred was not in nearly as big a hurry as I thought they needed to be, given my condition.

    I wanted to go to UTSW, which is part of the whole UT system (as is MD Anderson) so I asked my primary care doctor if she knew a doctor there. She did and referred me to him. Best decision I EVER made. He saw me and accepted me as a patient within days and I've been there ever since 2013.

    Good luck!!!! Call now!!

  • JaneA
    JaneA Member Posts: 335
    edited June 2020
    You don't even need a referral from a doctor. Here's the link to an online request for an appointment.

    https://my.mdanderson.org/RequestAppointment#:~:text=You can call 1-877,to request a new appointment.
  • Jayne
    Jayne Member Posts: 134
    edited June 2020
    This breaks my heart - remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease in medical care a lot of times. Call, email, persist until you get your answers. Also, the portal might be a faster way to see your results. I hate this for you.
  • Livonia
    Livonia Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2020
    Contact a Multiple Myeloma Specialist you may live longer.
  • GregP_WN
    GregP_WN Member Posts: 742
    edited June 2020
    Good advice from all, the main thing is that you take action and don't wait. Sometimes we get swept under the rug or lost in the paperwork of the thousands of people that are getting treated.
  • JustGrateful
    JustGrateful Member Posts: 72
    edited June 2020
    We have to be our own advocates! Don't let others hold all of the decisions in their hands about your survival!
  • JazzQueen
    JazzQueen Member Posts: 20
    edited June 2020
    REMEMBER .. YOU ARE PAYING THEM TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. I tell everyone this. They're like the coach to you being the athlete. They know a lot but it's up to you to execute the plays. You don't like what they're doing?? TELL THEM. They're not moving fast enough .. TELL THEM TO MOVE FASTER. And you can ALWAYS call to change your appts after they have been made. YOU have to expect full understanding BEFORE you leave your appt. As we say in my family at the end of a meeting .. "ALL MINDS CLEAR?" 8=)

    Now, about MD Houston .. SET IT UP. Check their website ... some hospitals will let you register as a new patient and either set up your first appt automatically, or let you set it up yourself. I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU. PLEASE KEEP US UPDATED AS TO YOUR PROGRESS! Best of luck!! See if you can find a Multiple Myeloma Center, or Dept ..

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