The Big C – Premier Tonight!

I also watched the first episode online (I do not have Showtime) and liked it well enough.

I certainly have some objections, chiefly, that the doctor she's dealing with is a dermatologist rather than an oncologist. I do believe that in ~real~ life, no dermatologist would even be discussing chemotherapy with a patient, rather, she would have been referred off to an oncologist who would have that talk.

It would have been nice, at least at the beginning of the story, to show what a patient actually goes through when dealing with the medical establishment.

But it is TV after all! I guess they couldn't risk losing the audience right away 🙂

I do like the fact that they are dealing with the emotions that come with a terminal diagnosis, but I have my doubts that this show can actually show the realities of untreated lung metastes and still maintain a reputation as a comedy.

Still..I liked the first episode, taken as nothing more than a tv show.

And, it will be interesting to see if it impacts the general public's perception of melanoma. I can't say how many people I meet who really have no idea that melanoma can go to the organs. The majority of the people I meet think melanoma is something that can just be cut off the skin. Maybe this will educate people some.

dian in spokane

dian in spokane

(I went to college in spokane, WA 1971-1974, graphic designer)

Thanks for responding… I read your bio, lots of info/history and I am humbled. My husband and I are so new in this game that we are still learning the ins and outs ourselves. As far as the TV show goes my husband and I just want to be entertained and at the same time hope the show isn't too far fetched from our reality.

We ourselves are just learning that melanoma is a skin cancer outside and inside of you that can kill so if this show does nothing but send this message out to the rest of humanity with a little humor then so be it.

When the show was over I did ask my husband what his thoughts were and what hit home for him. He told me it was Linny's characher when she had trouble telling her family that she had cancer. Just saying the words… he related strongly to this.

When "we" found out I started sharing this news on my facebook page and our family blog site, this way my husband just had to actually tell our 3 daughters and his boss. It seems to be working out and he appreciates my effort.

A TV show can't be everything to everybody but I do know one thing… my husband and I could use a little humor in our lives at this point.

lovingwifedeb

http://redesign08.blogspot.com/

I have been thinking about your Reply.  It struck a chord, in a good way.  I happen to be single, and my family lives many states away.  I have enjoyed being independent.  I remember the moment in time, that one sentence…

I was sitting at my desk at work when the Medical Assistant at the Dermatologist's office called to tell me I had Melanoma and that I would need surgery and who my surgeon would be.  I had to ask her to wait a minute so I could grab a pen.  It was such a menial task to her.  I jotted down the technical info she gave me, which was not informative at all.

I meandered into the office of my Human Resources Manager.  I closed the door and told her I just need to be here for a minute.  She should listen to the call I was about to make.  I was then going to leave the office and return to work later in the afternoon.  I was going to make this call and then take a break.

I called my parents.  They knew I had a mole removed.  We all thought nothing of it really.  Mom answered, and I had her get Daddy on the phone.  I told them that the MA had just called and I do have skin cancer, melanoma specifically.  And, that will have surgery. 

Just saying, I have cancer shook me to the core.  I will never forget how awful it was to hear those words.  But, then to say them…

No one should have to go through this.

Best Wishes!

Jamie