- December 1,2016 | ISSN 1940-6967
- American Society of Registered Nurses ®
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Oncology Nurse Writes Apology To Her Patients After Getting Cancer Diagnosis
By Eun Kyung Kim
Lindsay Norris walks miles every day in her job caring for cancer patients. But the Kansas nurse never walked a mile in their shoes until after getting a cancer diagnosis herself.
Now she understands all their grief, rage, panic and confusion in a way she never could before.
“Dear every cancer patient I ever took care of, I’m sorry. I didn’t get it,” she wrote in a powerful blog post about a month into her treatment for Stage III colorectal adenocarcinoma.
“I didn’t get what it felt like to actually hear the words,” she continued. “I’ve been in on countless diagnoses conversations and even had to give the news myself on plenty of occasions, but being the person the doctor is talking about is surreal.”
Norris, 33, said she also didn’t truly recognize how difficult it is to wait — for everything.
“It’s literally the worst part. The diagnosis process takes forever. The different consults, the biopsies, the exams and procedures ... and the scans. Ugh, the scans,” she wrote in the post, which has since gone viral.
“Knowing the cancer is there and knowing you’re not doing anything to treat is yet is an awful, helpless feeling. I’m sorry. I didn’t get it."
Norris was diagnosed late September after following up on numerous symptoms she previously attributed to her second pregnancy. She gave birth to a daughter in April but the gastrointestinal problems, hemorrhoids and what she thought was nerve pain failed to resolve themselves months later.
Norris, who also has a 3-year-old son, said she simply intended to share her blog post with friends, particularly her colleagues, to share deeper insight into what their patients experience.
COMMENTS
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Daniel
September 23, 2023 15:30 56Can I sue walgreens for delaying my pain prescription being filled if it is a legitimate prescription by a licensed pain management dr. ?
Articles in this issue:
- The Amazon Of Drug Trafficking
- Sofia Vergara Is Being Sued By Her Own Embryos
- America To Change National Anthem To "Livin' On A Prayer"
- Blood, Flies, Agony Inside Venezuela
- Magic Mushrooms Ingredient May Lessen Depression Symptoms
- Oncology Nurse Writes Apology To Her Patients After Getting Cancer Diagnosis
- Antiseptic Invented In 1912 Could Battle Viruses And Superbugs
Featured Sponsors
In This Issue
- The Amazon Of Drug Trafficking
- Sofia Vergara Is Being Sued By Her Own Embryos
- America To Change National Anthem To "Livin' On A Prayer"
- Blood, Flies, Agony Inside Venezuela
- Magic Mushrooms Ingredient May Lessen Depression Symptoms
- Oncology Nurse Writes Apology To Her Patients After Getting Cancer Diagnosis
- Antiseptic Invented In 1912 Could Battle Viruses And Superbugs
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Editor-in Chief:
Kirsten Nicole
Editorial Staff:
Kirsten Nicole
Stan Kenyon
Robyn Bowman
Kimberly McNabb
Lisa Gordon
Stephanie Robinson
Contributors:
Kirsten Nicole
Stan Kenyon
Liz Di Bernardo
Cris Lobato
Elisa Howard
Susan Cramer
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Candy Dolan
September 24, 2023 12:40 16I have been on the same pain medicine with the same physician for 6 years. I used to be able to get my medicine filled right away when I went to the pharmacy at Walgreens. Last month I was without my medication for 8 days waiting on Walgreens to get stock in. I went in this past Wednesday and was told they had them but it was too soon to fill, (hence the previous 8 day delay). I was told to come back on Sunday. This particular Walgreens will not hold your prescriptions so that you will be in the queue when stock comes in. I went in this morning, Sunday September 24th and was greeted by a pharmacist I don't know and told that they don't have them. He did not even bother to go check; he just said we don't have them and we're having trouble getting them. I said when do you think that you might have them in stock. He said maybe Wednesday, you'll have to come back and check. So now my 28 day prescription has to last me once again 32 to 35 days. His attitude was an up and down look and a "No". I will be 69 tomorrow. I'm an old lady, not some junkie off the streets. These are legitimate prescriptions that I need every month. Every month for the last 9 months I have been turned away and made to wait anywhere from 3 to 10 days to get my prescriptions filled. As they won't hold the prescription I have to drive back and forth several times just hoping that they will have something in stock. It's infuriating and I am tired of being treated like a drug addict. The medication is medically necessary and I should be able to get it. I have tried other pharmacies but because I don't have a history with them I am immediately told no. I just don't know what the answer to this problem is. It's a serious situation for people dealing with chronic pain. I need surgery but I am afraid to schedule it because I may not have the pain medicine I need for post surgery. Now I'm trying to "stretch" my medication every month to "accommodate" the pharmacy (which is BS) I should not have to do that! I keep trying to find a different pharmacy that will treat me with respect but no luck thus far. Good luck to everyone suffering out there. Just know that you are not alone!