Kristin Molven

When I was first diagnosed, I had a lot of different doctors. I saw a new doctor every time, and that made me feel insecure. And then I was assigned one oncologists that were to have the overview that were to know exactly where I was in the process of my cancer treatment at all times. And he is still, my primary oncologist. And he he actually even gave me his phone number so that I can, I could call him. And I did that on a few occasions. And for me, that was so important to have one doctor that I knew was overlooking everything and making sure that everything was doing was being done correctly. I don't know if everyone feels the need to have a one doctor like that. I don't know if I felt the need for it because I'm a doctor myself and I just I was not in. 

I was not well enough to take that responsibility myself, but I felt that the responsibility had to be taken, although I'm sure that I would have gotten the same treatment. If I didn't have a doctor who always knows everything, because he always follows protocol, I wouldn't have a doctor. Protocol. So I think it would be safe either way, but it made me feel like I could relax in during treatment, not having to, examine everything, to make sure everything was being. Every rule was followed. If that makes sense. Where I come from as a doctor myself, I just felt like I had to be be sure that everything was being done correctly the entire time. And he took care of that for me because I knew that he was he was he was there. Yes, I felt well cared for and enduring the treatment for my central nervous system lymphoma. I got very, very nauseous from from the chemotherapy. And I even though I was then able to walk by myself, I actually had to be rolled into just blood sample just to take blood samples to go to the hospital. I would have to be, I would have to use a wheelchair to not cover the entrance with, you know, vomit. So I had to. I had some special needs and they would go, come and get me directly from the car. Although one is actually supposed to go to the lab, you're actually supposed to go by yourself. 

I didn't have the strength to do that, so they picked me up in a wheelchair every time for as long as needed. And and I got to know the nurses and they knew me by name. Most of them knew my story. I didn't have to present every detail every time. And that was also, like, made me feel a lot safer during a very, very uncertain time period of my life. I, I know that I was assigned three nurses that were supposed to know me better than the others, and that during chemo sessions, which they lasted five days, I knew that at least one of them would be available to me. Not every shift but I would see familiar faces. Well, it feels like we don't have to start all over. We can just continue, perhaps where we left off the last time. I don't have to explain every symptom. I feel they know. They know a little bit about me. Then they can have they can come prepared if they know that I usually need this and this to have the best outcome for all to feel the best, not medical medical outcome, but just to be the most comfortable. They know that I tend to become very nauseous. For example, they know some of my more specific needs. I could FaceTime my son while they were changing some equipment because they knew me. I knew that well. We didn't have to, like, make me. We didn't have to get to know each other every time. 

It was scary for me to like I had never been admitted to the hospital before. And what I think is important is that even patients who are health professionals, we we are in a foreign place when we are admitted to the hospital. And I think it's easy to view patients as people who live in the hospital. But we don't. We live in our houses and the hospital is is a strange place for us as well. We're only there for a short period at a time. And it's a new environment for us as well. So to have some sense of safety and to see some familiar faces is it's so important. I know that as a patient, I think that sometimes you have to be a little bit, um, not aggressive, but you cannot just expect everything to be done. Usually it takes a lot of effort to be sick.  It's a saying in Norwegian that you have to be healthy to be sick. Which means that you get a lot of responsibility as a patient to just get to an appointment, just to remember to do all the things you're supposed to do. It can be quite tough. When it came to it, when I had to go to the hospital several times per week just to have blood tests, and I was in such a bad shape that I could not go to the lab to get my blood drawn. 

I had to be wheeled in, in a wheelchair just, and had to be taken to the clinic and had to have a bed. I needed to lie down. And that was adjustments. Adjustments made for me, because of my general condition, I tried to go to the lab once, and it was a horrible experience. So they made adjustments for me. I could call them directly about that. And as soon as I improved, I could go to the lab just as any other patient. And that was. That was a step forward as well. And in a healthcare system where people work shifts. You cannot expect to always meet the same person. But I think it's very important that patients have a line so that they can always reach, some familiar, if not people, professionals that will know them, that will know a little bit of what what's happening. So you don't have to repeat very much of your history every time you're in contact with the hospital. I think continuity of care is something that should be addressed more. I'm very fortunate with the Norwegian healthcare system. It's great. I think, however, that we have some way to still to go on continuity. 

Getting cancer is frightening enough. It adds a bit of uncertainty. If you feel like you have to introduce yourself every time, I don't expect to meet the same doctor every time. I don't expect to meet the same nurse every time. But I expect that there is a team that knows me and that informs the department about me, so that they know when I'm coming. They are prepared. That's what I expect. The best care is, of course, the evidence based medical care, and I'm not in a position to say that my hopes for continuity to be standard improves medical outcome, but I know that it will be reassuring for the patients. Well, of course, medical evidence based treatment has to be the top priority. I know that, I understand that, and I also hope that I'm addressing patients need for continuity. Know that if you only listen for 20 30s, then you don't spend the entire session just listening. You will get to talk, but if you listen first. I think you will get to see the unique needs of each patient. Not necessarily medical needs, but more the needs that surrounding the medical care. There's always some loneliness included in that comes with being a cancer patient and just reaching out. Being there, offering support is always the right thing to do.