The stories of patients and their families are humbling and pay tribute to the tremendous work that OSUCCC – James physicians, researchers and care teams do each day.
On March 30, we celebrated National Doctor’s Day, and patients sent close to 1,000 notes to physicians at The James to thank them for their care. One of these notes came from Anita Bartlett, a lymphoma patient, to her physician Pierluigi Porcu, MD, associate professor in the Division of Hematology and a member of the Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James.
Anita shared about her experience at The James…
…The education given to me about my cancer and treatment options appears to be rare among other cancer patients I’ve met who have been treated by other centers. Obviously, The James wants to be a team along with the patients so much education is imparted. When I’ve spoken to people who were not treated at the OSUCCC – James, I’ve been surprised at their blank looks since they were not told much about medication side effects, treatment options, palliative care or reasons for their care plan. I received detailed answers to my questions and ongoing reassurances, too. The smiles, eye contact and patience are so much appreciated.
I was shocked at the attention and action that one suspicious CT scan brought two years ago. Waiting on a biopsy to confirm a possible reoccurrence of my Lymphoma, I was told that I would be put on the schedule for more chemo and another stem cell transplant as soon as they knew the need. Knowing that I would be treated immediately was a great relief, but the biopsy showed a probable infection being the cause of the CT scan changes, so nothing needed to be done. Dr. Porcu has decided that I only need to see him every 6 months and have a CT scan only once a year for now, but I know if I need more, I will be given the best care I can get anywhere. I recommend The James to everyone.
Sincerely,
Anita Bartlett