As I am writing this post I’m beyond a little salty and I already called the patient experience person at Penn Medicine’s Chester County Hospital because I am pissed off enough.

I’ve been having a hard time trying to get my annual mammogram scheduled and I have a diagnostic mammogram in the system, and for that I can go to a location at a place called Fern Hill, that’s pretty close to me, but it’s getting the appointment that is difficult. There have been either wait times so long I couldn’t sit on phone perma-hold, (a perennial Penn Medicine problem), or it’s the scheduling office lunch or break time.

So I called today and the woman was basically quizzing me on why I need a diagnostic mammogram. And no offense, unless she is an oncologist or oncologist nurse in charge of my care it’s none of her damn business.

I have now asked for a new prescription for a regular mammogram to hopefully speed it up. I don’t know if I need a diagnostic one specifically, but that is what was ordered. As a breast cancer patient, I have been pretty much getting those since I was diagnosed 11 years ago.

It is a well-known fact that all women don’t always like having to get a mammogram. And to get this mother superior meats high school librarian type on the phone is not helpful. Some women would just not call back after that. I am not one of those women. But I did go to my care team as well on this.

I understand our medical needs where I live are very stressed because of two hospitals that closed at the end of 2021, but I didn’t cause that to happen I’m just a breast cancer patient trying to keep up with what she is supposed to do.

What’s really funny is I was getting ready to write a post about getting treatment for lymphedema because I have found it so incredibly helpful. But all that goodwill has kind of gone out the window right now since I received the Spanish Inquisition on with my care team decided they wanted me to have for a mammogram.

If I can’t get a mammogram that means I have to put off my oncology appointment. If I put off my oncology appointment, I don’t know when I will get another one without waiting months more.

I pay through the nose every month for health insurance. I have always kept myself insured. And throughout this entire breast cancer journey I have done everything I am supposed to do. But when they start making it difficult for people to get the basics like mammograms it makes me not want to bother. And I know that is not a life choice I have the luxury of making.

So Penn Medicine/Chester County Hospital this post is for you. You guys saved my life and I am grateful for the care team that I have, but I think I deserve a little better as a patient when I pick up the phone to schedule an appointment.

That is all.