In 2010 while living in Buenos Aires, I was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer. After spending what money I had and selling everything to get treated in the private system, I had to rely on public health care in Argentina, which is open to everyone. These are the posts I wrote during and after treatment. I did not talk to cancer, nor did I win any sort of battle against cancer. From my perspective now, my survival seems to have resulted from a combination of dumb luck, stubbornness, and charity from surprising sources. I also had sex a couple times and got robbed.
On November 30 I entered Rivadavia public hospital in Buenos Aires with severe peretonitis caused by a 5 cm tumor blocking my lower intestine. Emergency surgery removed half the tumor and repaired the perforation of my colon. (Well, actually, they cut off the dead part of my colon and stitched up the two loose ends.) …
I’ve been impressed before with the relative lack of bureaucracy involved in obtaining free health care in Buenos Aires. Basically, show up, show your documents — a U.S. passport is as valid as an Argentine DNI — tell them what’s wrong, fill out a few forms and get treated. I’ve always gotten the feeling that …
I got my results back from my tomography/CT scan and consulted with my oncologist today. I have a consultation with the radiation therapy doctors in a couple days. Radiation treatment will probably start next week. I finally came out of the closet to my friends: Sorry for the form letter but it would really be …
After consulting with Rivadavia’s radiation doctors — and getting yet another doctor’s finger wiggling up my ass — the whole department encouraged me to forego treatment in the public hospital and instead seek treatment in a private clinic. The head of the department said that the machines in the public hospital were obsolete and would …
When something seems too good to be true, it probably is. The price for radiotherapy is not 4500, nor 5500 nor even 10,000 pesos. It’s almost AR $25,000. Or USD $6,200. [Side note: I talked to my boss about the possibility of borrowing the money to do this. His response: Well, I could lend you …
Translated from the Spanish Juan: What’s wrong with me [that you don’t want to be with me]? [He’d finally seen the change in my relationship status.] GB: Juan, I love you but we can’t be together now. Juan: You wouldn’t say that if you loved me. I love you but you don’t feel that it’s …
Finally breaking up with my Argentine boyfriend via Facebook chat Leer más "
Gracias a Kate, Keli y Hannah por donar. Comparte el widget si puedes. Hoy no estoy muy contenta. Como he tenido problemas para dormir, mi jefe me ha dado un ambien. Esta mañana siento la cabeza como la punta gomosa de una espátula y me cuesta teclear. He dormido bien.
Juanele AR acoge un acto mensual de palabra hablada patrocinado y organizado por Second Story. Anoche el tema fue El final del camino. Leí, y creo que leí bien, pero el efecto en mí fue devastador. La fundadora de Second Story, Kate Sedgwick, trabajará en un podcast, pero creo que voy a ...
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