When my mom got cancer, we thought treatment would make her better. But the radiation therapy made her very sick and weak. We were left to figure things out on our own, without much support from the healthcare system. We didn’t know what to expect or how to care for her. It was a nightmare.
Ghana’s healthcare system needs to do better. Patients and families need more support and care during tough times. Doctors and nurses should be kind and understanding, not just focused on treating the illness. Let’s make healthcare more about people, not just procedures.”
The wait for radiation therapy was an eternity, a never-ending cycle of anxiety and fear. And when it finally began, we were unprepared for the ravaging effects it would have on my mom’s frail body. The radiation burns, the cancer wound, and her rapid decline left us shattered and helpless.
I remember the first time I saw her after the radiation treatment. She was a shadow of her former self, her once radiant face now gaunt and pale. Her eyes, once full of life and love, had lost their sparkle, replaced by a dull, hollow stare. The pain and suffering etched on her face haunt me to this day.
We struggled to care for her, to ease her pain, to bring back the mom we once knew. But it was too late. The cancer had taken its toll, and she was slipping away from us. The feeding tube, the endless hospital visits, the sleepless nights – it was a never-ending nightmare.
And through it all, we were met with a healthcare system that seemed more concerned with protocols and procedures than with compassion and care. The doctors and nurses came and went, their faces a blur of indifference, leaving us to navigate the darkest moments of our lives alone.
Ghana’s healthcare system failed us in many ways:
- Lack of explanation and support
- Unpreparedness for side effects and treatment outcomes
- Inadequate facilities for families (e.g., waiting areas, counseling sessions)
- Uncompassionate attitude from healthcare providers
But it’s not just about the system; it’s about the people who make it up. It’s about the doctors who forget that their patients are human beings, not just diagnoses. It’s about the nurses who neglect to hold a patient’s hand, to offer a comforting word, to show they care.
Best practices elsewhere we can consider adopting include:
- Comprehensive explanation of treatment options and side effects
- Interdisciplinary care teams and family support
- Counseling sessions for families and patients
- Patient-centered facilities and amenities (e.g., comfortable waiting areas, private rooms)
- Holistic approach to care, considering physical and emotional well-being.
Let’s learn from our mistakes and create a healthcare system that truly cares. Let’s prioritize patient-centered care, supporting families and patients through the most challenging times. Let’s remember that behind every diagnosis is a human being, worthy of love, compassion, and dignity.
Only then can we begin to heal the wounds that cancer leaves behind – not just the physical ones, but the emotional and psychological scars that linger long after the treatment is over or in my case after a patient dies.
By: Bridget Mensah