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Home | Prolog | Discovery of Esophagus Cancer | National Cancer Center HospitalTokyo | Keio University Hospital | Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital | National Cancer Center Hospital East | year after | 2 years | 3 years | 4 years | 5 years | Chief Editor Profile National Cancer Center Hospital TokyoI searched many cancer-related sites with the Internet. 9 November: I sent an e-mail to National Cancer Center Hospital Tokyo to inquire the possibility of acceptance of me. I telephoned some of my friends in order to collect information about cancer. I asked Friend A about the reputation of Keio Hospital. I asked Mrs. Y, who had been suffered from cancer seven years ago, why she had chosen Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research. It was the first time that I heard Friend K’s wife had undergone an operation of cancer in Keio University Hospital. I was surprised to know there were such many acquaintances who experienced cancer. I sent an e-mail to Friend G, who lives in New York, asking how cancer was treated in the United States. His father was a doctor. 10 November: I received a reply from National Cancer Center Hospital Tokyo. They accepted me! I had a letter of introduction, but it was addressed to Keio Hospital. I telephoned my local health center. When I explained the situation, Director Kitamura appeared on the phone and said, "I will write a letter of introduction for you. Can you come here right now?" I said, “Of course I will be there immediately.” A local health center is easily accessible and reliable, I thought. 11 November (Thursday): Dr. Hiroshi Watanabe took the charge of me, as I It is a matter of course that the doctor who examined a patient first takes the charge of that patient. I had checked in the Internet that Dr. Watanabe, Manager of Surgery Endoscope Division sees outpatients every Thursday. He input my inspection schedule one after another on his computer, while giving an oralconsultation with me. Today’s inspection: Future schedule: This schedule was going to be changed when I was able to be an inpatient. These inspections was going to be conducted while I was waiting for a bed vacant. Dr. Watanabe said, “I have to give you an explanation. I felt persuasive power and professionalism in his words. They were filled with pride and confidence. I answered, “Even if my disease heals up, it will be ridiculous that my family commit suicide from lack of money. 1,200,000 yen in a month! I cannot tell whether it is cheap or expensive. Is the service different? Supposing you are driving a Benz or Volvo and have an accident, seemingly the damage will be minimum. However, it is a laugh that you buy an expensive vehicle, become impossible to return a debt and commit suicide. Stop smoking is “easier said than done.” I arranged for Nicoderm, whose name I had heard of. 14 November (Sunday): Dr. S came to my home in Suginami from Ibaraki Prefecture. I thought I should introduce my family to him while I was sturdy before hospitalization. My intention was wrong so that his mental state was changed after meeting my mother and wife. Till then, he had given me all accurate information. However, probably he began to take my family into consideration. He had numerous experiences of having operations with risk of patients’ lives. But he is in the position having a little chance of conversations with patients and families. 15 November: I went to buy Birkenstock to carry into hospital, but could not find my suitable size because of off-season. I decided to obtain the sandals in the Internet. 19 November: CT inspection was carried out. A stake restaurant of second superior quality in Tokyo is near the Hospital. I was worrying about the problem with my esophagus and did not want to go there, although I knew I needed more strength in order to prepare for an operation. I had my hair cut in my favorite barbershop. Then I went to the photo studio of Odakyu Department Store and had my photo taken. I went home and joined Japan Society of Dying Dignity to be prepared for the possibility of 50%. 22 November: I requested compress of the anodyne of breast and a medicine of appetite. I had lunch of Chinese tea and snacks at a Chinese restaurant. They serve lunch at a reasonable price. Since I was on the way from hospital, I apologized for wearing sandals. While I was taking a walk to Yurakucho after lunch, my cellular phone rang. It said, “This is a national hospital We would like to talk to Mr. Atsushi Omino.” They never tell themselves as a cancer center. My hospitalization day was fixed. 23 November: In a fish restaurant in my town, my relatives gathered and held a send-off party. 24 November:9:00am I was hospitalized in National Cancer Center Hospital Tokyo. Single-bedded room (40,000 yen per day) The room was standard-sized with a shower. Pajamas were exchanged every day. Bathrobes were exchanged every week. Urine inspection was automatically detected by the bar code. A view from the window on 18th floor was splendid. It was written, “We offer the suitable information for the patient and help the patient make self determination.” Shortly after I went into my room, a telephone started ringing. Then an insensible business-related acquaintance visited my room and interrupted the interviewwith Dr. Watanabe and me. Although those fellows had known my hospitalization was scheduled, I could not concentrate on mymedical treatment. When I remembered that time, I was convinced that there was no choice but an operation,
what was I carried two books into the hospital. One was beard His Imperial Highness's “I Talk About Cancer.” The other one was a book of Dr. Makoto Kondo, who is famous for “Patients, never fight with cancer.” When I went to a bookshop, I wavered in the numerousness of Dr. Kondo's writings. I chose his newest book ? “Cancer Treatment Reliable.” I think hospitalization is resembled with a sacrifice. The action range is restricted. I must just wait still in order to be knifed. Vitality will be carried away by hospitalization as time passes. I will be created into a sick person steadily. I remember the time when I had been to Europe alone for the first time in my twenties. I was almost like deaf and dumb when I was ashamed of asking loudly the local people about their customs or a market prices of hotels and girls. I settled such problems by going to a Japanese food restaurant. This time, it was a smoking room of the hospital. I was sure there must be some information there. As I expected, various information came in hand. “You, too.” “Me, too.” Many forerunners explained kindly to me what I wanted to ask or what I did not understand. I was grateful to them. My uneasiness produced from lack of knowledge disappeared. I believe only merit of smoking is to give patients opportunities of mutual communication. Mr. N, who sat in a wheelchair, blew away a few lines of his bear with his breath telling some anticancer agent was effective. Mr. K, who was hanging his right arm, was proud of the digit of his consultation card which he had been keeping since the old building was new. He said, “What is necessary is just to live together with cancer.” He kept insisting that I had to undergo an operation, but my decision did not change. On the day I left the hospital, we shook our left hands saying “Let’s do our best." Every time I remember that farewell, I shed tears. I do not like anyone else but my war comrades say to me, “Do your best.” Mr. K, who was in a wheelchair lengthening his right leg straightly, was good at uniting the size of wheelchairs. I heard later that his operation was suspended just before his leg was amputated. "You would better consult with Mr. Ohmatsu of Administration Office rather than you consult with doctors, if you do not want to undergo an operation,” an experienced patient advised me. A young patient of leukemia, was as lively as to be mistaken for a visitor. All of them were studied hard and well-acquainted with cancer. I admire National Cancer Center Hospital Tokyo as a leading hospital in Japan. The patients were different. Of course, there were some exceptions. A middle-aged woman visited the hospital for inquiring after other patients, even though she had left hospital long ago. I learned many things from those professors emeritus. Why did I suspend the operation? 1. If there was no management of the cause of fundamental, cancer treatment was useless. 2. The 5-year survival rate was 50% or less at stage-I. This does not mean that I will die suddenly five years later. It is the rate I will die within five years. Supposing I undergo an operation, how many months will be required to regain the present figure and condition of my body. Memory of my 4-year-old daughter is more important to me. 3. It is seldom expectable to brake off with cancer even if cancer seems heal up. I thought that a war of attrition will continue ? a war of time and money versus me. I wanted to leave my property to my little daughter. I wanted to have more time to spend with her. 4. To stay in a room of 40,000 yen per day was unsuitable to me . Right judgment becomes impossible when I have no margin in money. The problem seems to be easy if only you take out a cancer insurance policy. However, an insurance has various escape clauses. For example, a hospitalization term does not reach the stipulate, you will not get insurance money in hand. I witnessed many patients entreating,“Please keep me stay a few more days in the hospital.” (Those entreats will not be realized in national or prefectural hospitals) Insurance companies are doing business after all. Owing to my carried-in books, the data printed out from the Internet and the teachings from professors emeritus, my intention inclined to radiotherapy gradually. "A patient would better study medical treatments for himself, find what is rational to
“Even if you survive, your everyday life will be filled with pains and inconveniences because food does not sometimes pass along your throat by the complications or sequelae of the operation.” P100 I said the doctor and the nurse,“I do not want to receive an operation.” Then, they said, “Aren’t you unstable mentally?” Naturally I became so because my life was at the risk. In the evening, I had a talking treatment(??) with Dr. Akechi of Psychiatry Department. I said, “ I did not change my thought, but it only returned to original.” He looked understandable. However, some nurses came to my room one after another at midnight. I know that patients often are rather reserved to doctors and do not tell the truth to doctors. Some of those patients confess their real intention to nurses. My hospital people might think I was one of those patients. Why didn’t they take my opinion straightly? 27 November 5:00pm: Dr. Hiroshi Watanabe, me, my wife, my mother, an observer nurse and Dr. S. We had a meeting about my scheduled operation for two hours. Dr. Watanabe’s explanation was kind and sincere with polite attitude. “I regard your cancer stage is I. The possibility of stage-II is 30%. However, my decision was firm. 28 November: Dr. S visited me again and said, “Doesn't your decision include hesitation? If no, teat off the operation consent sheet!” My decision did not change. I tore off the sheet forcefully. 29 November: I went to the Department of Radiation on the underground floor. Dr. Murayama took charge of me and said, ”How did you hear? Even if you come to me, the percentage you win will be about 20%. I could hardly believe my ears. I had expected him to say, “I will do my utmost.” His words were completely opposite. Aren’t there a concept of “informed consent” in Japan? "It is not a good idea to ask for an opinion to any doctors of other departments in the same hospital, because doctors protect each other.” P117 “It will be helpful to ask for opinion of a radiotherapist in another hospital.”P118 I could hardly believe it! The matter developed exactly as the book says. I chose to receive inspections again from the beginning in another hospital rather than to stay here. I requested the room of Dr. Kondo of Keio University Hospital by the telephone directory-assistance service. I said, ”I am hospitalized in National Cancer Center Hospital Tokyo, but, Dr. Kondo, I would like you see me. Dr. Kondo said, “I understand. I put in your reservation at 2:00pm next Wednesday, that is, the day after tomorrow. Come to the reception and tell them that you have reservation with me.” I did it!! page upload 00/07/23 Copyright © 2001 yamai.org All rights reserved. |
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him and look for a hospital or a doctor who performs such a treatment.” P89, Cancer Treatment Reliable written by Makoto Kondo, a lecturer of Keio University Medical Department, published by Kodansha Library
(When there is nothing specially mentioned henceforth, it is quoted from this book.)