Spring Break
Assertive Cancer Patient speaks to writing as help
Author Jeanne Sather speaks out on cancer, being assertive with doctors, health care
Daniel Acee
Issue date: 5/21/08 Section: News
Sather moved from the column and found that writing an online blog - a medium in which others could contribute - would be a way to calm down and let others share similar experiences.
"I am more relaxed after I write my thoughts out, and it lowers my blood pressure too," Sather said. "Blogging is great because others can share similar stories and problems they encountered in treatment."
Through the interactions between blogs and comments, cancer survivors are able to learn from each other and create support groups online.
Despite the serious topic at hand, attendees of Sather's presentation found laughter in comments made by Sather and audience members.
Sather outlined the discussion with a list of topics referencing moments of her life with cancer: death, health and happiness, health insurance, her search for a Canadian husband, high cancer-drug costs and errors in medical bills.
Sather said that if the United States had national health insurance, cancer patients would not struggle with money as greatly as they do now.
"There is an underground movement right now involving brave social workers, nurses and poor cancer patients that cannot afford the high cost of cancer meds," Sather said.
"Cancer patients donate their extra medicine left over after treatment and give it to others that cannot afford it. This is much better than the government's recommendation of mixing leftover medicine in dirty kitty litter and throwing it away."
At one point Sather ran an article in newspapers of countries around the world that have national health insurance. The focus of the article was her hope to get someone to marry her so she could make her cancer treatment affordable.
The article told of her struggles with supporting her kids while being able to pay for her treatments. Her many costs include a $10,000 bottle of medicine that she has to purchase every three months.
Overall, Sather's main message to cancer patients is to be active in the process of receiving treatment.
"This is my life, my disease, and I am in charge," Sather said. "If you tell me 'this' is what I have to do, I will question it.
"Don't be afraid of making your doctors angry - assertive patients should train their doctors to not become upset no matter how often you call about symptoms. If you can't train a doctor to help you, then find one that works."
Sather's blog has created an uprising of cancer blogs since she began hers one and a half years ago.
If you are interested in reading Sather's blogs or would like to contact her, go to assertivepatient.com.
Daniel Acee, senior reporter
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
"I am more relaxed after I write my thoughts out, and it lowers my blood pressure too," Sather said. "Blogging is great because others can share similar stories and problems they encountered in treatment."
Through the interactions between blogs and comments, cancer survivors are able to learn from each other and create support groups online.
Despite the serious topic at hand, attendees of Sather's presentation found laughter in comments made by Sather and audience members.
Sather outlined the discussion with a list of topics referencing moments of her life with cancer: death, health and happiness, health insurance, her search for a Canadian husband, high cancer-drug costs and errors in medical bills.
Sather said that if the United States had national health insurance, cancer patients would not struggle with money as greatly as they do now.
"There is an underground movement right now involving brave social workers, nurses and poor cancer patients that cannot afford the high cost of cancer meds," Sather said.
"Cancer patients donate their extra medicine left over after treatment and give it to others that cannot afford it. This is much better than the government's recommendation of mixing leftover medicine in dirty kitty litter and throwing it away."
At one point Sather ran an article in newspapers of countries around the world that have national health insurance. The focus of the article was her hope to get someone to marry her so she could make her cancer treatment affordable.
The article told of her struggles with supporting her kids while being able to pay for her treatments. Her many costs include a $10,000 bottle of medicine that she has to purchase every three months.
Overall, Sather's main message to cancer patients is to be active in the process of receiving treatment.
"This is my life, my disease, and I am in charge," Sather said. "If you tell me 'this' is what I have to do, I will question it.
"Don't be afraid of making your doctors angry - assertive patients should train their doctors to not become upset no matter how often you call about symptoms. If you can't train a doctor to help you, then find one that works."
Sather's blog has created an uprising of cancer blogs since she began hers one and a half years ago.
If you are interested in reading Sather's blogs or would like to contact her, go to assertivepatient.com.
Daniel Acee, senior reporter
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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