Got it good

Posted on January 23rd, 2008 by Cam.
Categories: Let's talk.

I have to say that we have got it pretty darn good here in Western Australia as far as health care is concerned. People have said ‘If you are going to get sick, get sick in Perth’. These people, by the way, are not comparing the Perth option to that of being stuck sick in the bottom of a dry Simpson Desert creek bed with nothing but a band-aid wrapper and an enema kit. They know their stuff on the international medical circuit. My experience would back that up totally.

We have shopped around between private and public care, depending on what resources are available at the time. The majority of my treatment so far has been public. We have only used private to get earlier scans as an outpatient. So generally, my file is on the pile with everyone else’s.

I received a call yesterday from Katie at the Leukemia Foundation of Western Australia. She called me to tell me it should be OK for me to go to the Police concert in a couple of weeks. Apparently I am not the only cancer patient in Australia, but most days I feel like I am. Where else in the world do you have someone liaise with your specialist carers about my drug schedule and my immunity count predictions for the beginning of February in order to find out if I can personally make it to a concert?

I have had the privilege of dealing with Fremantle Hospital, The Mount, St John of God, Hollywood, and a lot with Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital, all in Perth. The departments have included Haematolgy, Radio/Oncology, Orthopedics, Physiotherapy, Day Surgery and Emergency. Every step of the way I have been looked after superbly. It is not going to happen all the time I know, but the ratio is certainly in the favour of the everyday patient it would seem.

I could have been anywhere in the world at this stage of my life, and indeed we were planning to not be here at this time. But I have to say that if you are feeling a sniffle coming on, or if you have coughed up your pancreas for the third time this week, Perth is a pretty good place to be.

9 comments.

Cuz Adam

Comment on January 23rd, 2008.

Amen to that. 700 people arriving per day can’t be wrong.
(although when I’m standing at the back of the line at Macca’s
I wish there were 5 less people in WA)
A concert could be good for you – it would be nice to be surrounded by people on more drugs that you are.
Have fun “king of pain”

guiltybystander

Comment on January 23rd, 2008.

I’m sure there is a “quick fix” cancer hospital in Thailand somewhere.

Toddy

Comment on January 23rd, 2008.

At the Police concert, will they play their bagpipes?

Oh, THE Police… I see…

Maybe you could organise someone to get Sting to dedicate this little number to ‘the brave young fella who’s really sick, little Cammie Harris’ or something… and a backstage pass would be good!

I’m with Adam… if it was good enough for Quentin…

Juan and Carms

Comment on January 23rd, 2008.

Yo Yo! The OT service at Charlies was pretty good too from what I remember, but I hasten to add that my diagnosic skills leave little to be desired. Never get a hand therapist to interpret a pelvic X-ray people! Round spots can be a fart in waiting, not a lesion.

In Vienna, doing our washing which is taking 3.5 hours. Very clean people here. After that hitting the town and hopefully getting a spot at the ballet tonight. John has a beard and looks like Wolfgang so he might not get in.

Guy in the white suit

Comment on January 24th, 2008.

I have just been convicted by the Lord that I need to put my faith into action. It’s not enough to say “I’m thinking of you Cam and Liz”. I need to do something. Here is what the Lord has told me to do.

“James, Liz needs rest. I want you to take her place and be Cameron’s carer for the Police concert.”

I am your humble servant.

Katie K

Comment on January 24th, 2008.

Hey Cam,

Please know that if you need anything else at Charlies I am happy to be your go-between for Accident and Emergency, Physiotherapy and Home Link or anywhere else you might need me! Pease pop in again soon for a coffee next time you are in :) See you at The Police concert – I’ll be your physio if anything goes wrong!

Lotsa Love to you and Liz … Katie xxx

Pip &Paul

Comment on January 26th, 2008.

Hoi Cam,
We had a preview over here in Holland, and we say go see if you can! We felt quite at home with all the other mid- thirtiers and early mid-life crisis-ers…
Enjoy!

Barbara Clough

Comment on February 3rd, 2008.

Don’t quit now, mate.

Barbara Clough

Comment on February 3rd, 2008.

If you find anymore good hospitals around, please post at this site, that’s if you are making a list and marking them off for efficiency and friendlinless, or is it ness.

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