Post #1909372

2026-05-02 13:39 UTC

I went to an annual appointment at my cancer hospital yesterday in my N95 mask. My doctor and nurse sort of accommodated me; my doctor wore a surgical mask and commented proudly that she didn’t need to be asked again to put one on this year, while the nurse seemed to actually consider air flow and asked if I wanted to have the exam room door stay open. When I arrived, I sat in the waiting room near the only other masked people, two people wearing surgical masks. They soon got called in, and then I was the only masked person. An unmasked guy walked past me talking to his companion, and said something like, “she’s wearing that shit.” I readied myself for confrontation, but they didn’t come back. Lots of people there were coughing and clearing their throats. My doctor excitedly told me that all my numbers are good, and that I am still beating the odds in surviving the aggressive cancer that I had. But I’m now surviving in spite of the masses who have “moved on” from Covid. And in spite of those who use a “risk assessment” that allows them to fool themselves into believing that they are somehow still my ally. It doesn’t have to be this way. I want to fight harder for humanity, but humanity doesn’t want to fight for me. #Covid #CovidIsNotOver #WearAMask

Replies (5)

@the_roamer@mastodonapp.uk 2026-05-02 14:09

@VeeRat I had a hospital appointment the other day. The treatment was super competent, also personally very friendly. But, yes, the blocking-out of covid is complete. No one wore a mask, not the doctors, not the nurses, none of the other patients. I wore my FFP2 mask. One nurse said; "May I ask, why do you wear a mask?" My answer: "Because of covid." She: "Ah, I see. But how do you know you have it?" "No, I don't have it. I don't want to get it." :-)

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@huskify@mastodon.world 2026-05-02 18:57

@VeeRat The medical establishments where I live also have zero respiratory precautions, including cancer centers and specialist offices where it is rare for staff (and patients) to be masking despite having a high risk patient population. Even during peak respiratory season. What a complete public health failure we are in. How many more decades will it take to learn? Will people ever learn? Big sigh.

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@ikuo1000@mas.to 2026-05-02 22:44

@VeeRat Congrats on the good news at your appt!!!! 👏🎉 The rest I'm sorry you had to endure; I go through the same at my cancer center. 😭 To get through my appts, I have to consciously separate my providers' cancer competency from their lack of covid competency. 🙄 So far no one has given me a hard time about masking but also the best I've encountered is maybe 1 or 2 other maskers, including patients AND staff. 🤦🏻‍♀️ How even cancer centers gave up on respiratory illnesses precautions is beyond me. 😠

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@ewen@social.ewenbell.com 2026-05-02 22:52

@VeeRat I still wear a mask in elevators, public transport and when I visit the doctor. My doctor also wears a mask, albeit a light weight "surgical mask". I just have a habit of putting the mask on when I leave my apartment, so it's with me and ready. I'm organized. I was in Japan for a few weeks recently and masks are super common there too. Anyone in a service job is wearing them. You see masks so often you don't even think about it.

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@CaramelizedShallots@ohai.social 2026-05-03 16:21

@VeeRat congrats on staying cancer free! 🎉🍾🥂🎊💐woot! Woot!

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