Healthy Story: Why doesn't he call when he says he'll call?

No, this isn't the story of one more dateless Saturday night. It's the story of a cancer survivor sitting by the phone. Of course, being a man, he figures no call mean no bad news.

But let me back up.

My buddy, a CanadianColleague (or CC) was diagnosed wih thyroid cancer back in December 2000. he went through treatment and came out with flying colors. He gets tested regularly, every 6 months, to see if there is any recurrence.Earlier this year his doctor realized that the previous blood test taken had exhibited some abnormalities, and he had missed it.

Time for CC to swallow the radioactive pill and and do more testing. (True to stoic male form CC was more upset that the 6-month delay had now made the test potentially interfere with some vacation plans, not that it might have endangered his life.)

He did the test and then returned a couple of weeks later for more bloodwork. Subsequently he got a call from the doctor that nobody wants to receive...

"CC, how are you feeling?" says the doctor.

"I'm fine" says CC.

"Really?" says the doctor.

"Really...why?"

Apparently CC's blood values were way out of whack. So far out of whack that the doctor couldn't believe he could have that blood work and be really feeling fine.

But CC really felt fine.

So the docotor brought him back immediately for another blood test. He put a 24-hour rush on the results. He promised to call ASAP because CC was leaving for a trip to Italy in just a few days.

He never called.

Never.

And CC never called him. And eventually enough time passed that CC figured he'd be going back in for his 6-month checkup. La-di-dah, no big deal.

So, given my old story about my S.O. and his simliar apathy, I've definitely decided that apathy is a male trait. Anybody know women who do this?

Comments

[hgstern]

.
I know that this is a serious story, and I really feel for your CC, but I'm reminded of something I often tell my better half:

Men don't go to the doctor....They go to the ER.

Meaning, we HATE physician's waiting rooms, and/or "we'll be fine" if we just take some tylenol (or whatever). By the time we figure out that we're NOT fine, it's time for a trip to the ER.

Another Y chromosome blessing/curse.

[Elisa Camahort]

Yeah, well I don't love sitting in a waiting room either. Or having my breast squished between two metal plates, or having something scraped outta my insides every year, or frankly even being weighed in public! But I dutifully do it.

Suck it up guys!!!!!

:)