Since my diagnosis I’ve had labs done a few times. Today I had labs done for the  first time while I on treatment. My understanding is that during treatment I get labs done so that the doctors can see exactly how impacted my immune system is. This is important because I meet with my Oncologist next week who will look at my labs and say something like, “yep, you should stay away from people. you’re immunocompromised” 

The part that was / is most off putting about the labs is the actual process. My local lab has appointments that can be booked. Mine was set for 8:45. But, because of staffing issues (there always seem to be staffing issues) I wasn’t actually in a chair to be blood let until about 9:10. This wouldn’t be the biggest deal, other than my radiation treatment starts at 10:10 and I was honestly worried that my 8:45 appointment wouldn’t be finished before then based on what I was seeing. 

Thankfully I was able to get in, get the blood work done and get to my radiation appointment without issue. 

But, the people that were just walking in? They were waiting up to 2 hours. 

Maybe it’s always been like this and because I didn’t interact with this part of the Health Care system I didn’t see it, but it sure feels like this is a new thing. And it isn’t good.