Visit to "Memorial" or Mecca?

Mostly taken from notes that Elaine made during visit.

Kate and dear friend Elaine and I went to see Dr. Brown at “Memorial” Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. MSKCC. (I am overwhelmed with the basic size of the institution.There are thousands of employees. I also learned, it is not unionized.) I thought we were gong to get an update on what was learned from the new Catscan at our last visit. On the way home by cellphone we learned that growth in Pancreas was inoperable because it was on top of an artery. Also that there were spots on the liver that were suspicious that cancer had spread. Before leaving we were given our next appointment with Dr. Brown.

We had hoped that Dr. Brown could answer the question, If the liver and Pancreas cancer are the same, it is assumed in 99 percent of cases, then what can be done about it? Or what is the intervention ? Nope that didn’t work. Dr. Brown explained that she was just a “procedure doctor” who would do the Biopsy. An analysis of that effort would go through the lab and then we would hear about a plan for intervention. Of course my concern is if there is no really good intervention why bother? I prefer what good days I can pull out of this time of my life than some kind of Cheemo that will make what I have left miserable. What’s the point?

I do appreciate the work being done at MSKCC and yet an institution that big can’t help falling into role playing. “I just do this part.” Someone else on the 4th floor will do your blood work. The 3rd floor person will do your EKG. and so on. Each did their job well I am sure. What I am not sure is how this place can manage not to begin to feel like a factory with each person playing a role. “This is what I do so don’t ask me about anything else.” Here I am thinking as a Sociologist. How can that be avoided in an Institution the size of Sloan Kettering? Don’t know. Still would love to know the answer to my question?

We’re home. It’s late. I get an e mail from Elaine. Found a Doctor at Stony Brook who has developed an electrical shocking system for killing cancer cells with out destroying the surrounding organ. I’m curious. Its where my Internist works. He’s in Madagascar. Gets my e mail on the Doctor involved. He’ll speak with him when he’s back on Tuesday. I wonder is this just another “Hope Ring.” I remember one where a doctor in Mexico was curing Cancer with Almonds. People in my situation who are still feeling pretty good have a lot of trouble with just quitting. “Damm there must be something I can do beside pray.”

Well in the meantime I put in a nice day in the shop working on Thomas Jefferson's Stand Up Desk. Not a simple piece of furniture as it is built to do a variety of functions. Doing the best I can short of actually knowing him.