You may remember that when I was in Canada I trivialized over writing a best selling book “Guide to Inter-continental Cancer Centres” – based on personal experience (see my posting “The Impossible Dream” dated 15th February 2012).
Today, I had my first treatment at Ichilov Hospital. I now feel suitably “experienced” – based on that unacceptable statistical sample of one – to share my findings. Today was, of course, the first working day after a long holiday weekend, so the results maybe even less representative. Hopefully the table of comparisons will help. I realize that it is more relevant for those in the Tel Aviv area but I’d be interested to know the experience of cancer patients wherever you are:
|
|
Subject |
Tel Hashomer |
Ichilov |
|
1 |
Arrival Time |
Never less than 45 minutes |
Half an hour |
|
2 |
Parking |
Free parking right next to oncology dept |
Free parking, 4 escalators, 5 mins walk & lift to department |
|
3 |
Registration |
Maximum 7 minutes |
Over 1 hour wait |
|
4 |
Blood Tests |
Results within 45 minutes |
Results took an hour an half |
|
5 |
Vital Signs |
Not taken |
Blood pressure, temperature & weight |
|
6 |
Pharmacy |
Drugs arrive within an hour |
Drugs arrive after an hour and half |
|
7 |
Chemo Management |
1. Sterilisation kit 2. Mechanical drip counter |
1. Manual hand scrub 2. Electronic speed control |
|
8 |
Nursing Care |
Excellent |
Excellent |
|
9 |
Catering |
Free tea, coffee & soup |
Free tea and lunch |
|
10 |
Physical Conditions |
1. In need of restoration (British under-tement) 2. No view 3. Possibility of private bed |
1. Brand new tower block 2. Sea view 3. Comfy-chair in cubicle |
|
11 |
Treatment Time in Total |
About 6 hours |
About 9 hours |
|
12 |
Getting Home |
About 40 minutes |
About 40 minutes |
At the end of the day you look up to see whether the Sword of Damocles is still hovering in the same place or inching slowly downwards.
If it’s the latter, the travail turns from triumph to trivia. Time will tell.
In the meantime I’m more than aware of both options.
fightingpancreaticcancer 
I would like to show thanks to this writer for bailing me out of this condition. After surfing throughout the internet and coming across recommendations which were not powerful, I thought my entire life was over. Living without the approaches to the difficulties you’ve solved by means of this guide is a serious case, as well as the kind which may have in a negative way affected my career if I hadn’t discovered the blog. Your primary know-how and kindness in handling all things was very useful. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t encountered such a subject like this. I am able to at this moment relish my future. Thanks for your time so much for the specialized and amazing help. I will not hesitate to recommend your web sites to any person who would like assistance on this subject.
I’m so glad Janean, that your life is getting back on track. Ultimately, the battle is lonely, but if I’ve managed to help that is truly gratifying. There is a saying that “If you save even one life – it’s like saving the world!” May your world be a better, healthier place. By the way, are you a pancreatic cancer sufferer and – out of curiosity – where do you come from?
You had me at Free Parking. Every time Mike goes to The Royal Free Hospital he arrives in a worse state due to scouring for a parking place than after the treatment. Usually the car park is full, street parking is for residents only and if you are lucky enough to find a meter you have to make sure someone is with you to keep feeding it! When he’s hospitalised Jenny depends on kind friends who live near to give her their parking permits. Nightmare!!
The best of luck! With my son Eyal’s rhabdo, he received top of the line care at Ichilov that would have had us selling all we own and ourselves on the street if we’d have had to pay for his cancer treatment ourselves, even for the short (5 1/2 weeks) he lived after the preliminary cancer diagnosis was given. Ichilov nurses and doctors were excellent, and some of them informative as well, the facilities, as you note, superb. Near the end they fed us, too (he had his intravenous feeding tube and a special diet he couldn’t keep down). At least we know all that could be done was, in spite of the fact that they considered, medically, that he had an extremely slim chance of surviving.
May your treatment be successful. Michal
Dear Michal, You are truly special. Unlike so many of us, notwithstanding all your pain and suffering, you still find the time and concern to write such a beautiful and touching comment. Thank you so much.