Dear editor,I was diagnosed last May with cancer and throughout my treatments and followup appointments have had the opportunity to encounter many people who, like me have had many dealings with our local health services and hospital.I have yet to meet anyone who wasn鈥檛 satisfied with their treatment at the hands of the specialists and the many professionals in the labs or imaging departments.My own experience also seems to fly in the face of the sentiments of the local press and the campaign trying to besmirch these same hospital departments. I will always have a great deal of respect for those who through their professionalism and care helped rescue me from a very dark place in my life and gave me a glimmer of hope for the future. If what I have heard and seen is actually the true nature of this department then the present review underway will show that there are in fact very few problems with the CT, ultrasound, nuclear med and X-ray specialists and their abilities to properly diagnose serious illnesses. I would advise anyone who feels an odd lump or an unusual pain to see their doctor immediately and put some faith in the modern facilities and the very skilled staff at St. Joe's.Don鈥檛 let the present controversy keep you from getting a proper diagnosis in a timely manner.After all there doesn鈥檛 seem to have been more than a couple of patients out of thousands who have complained about their treatment and results.If I had waited too long, I probably would not be around  to write this note today.I can certainly sympathize with all of those who have had to face the reality of cancer. I now know firsthand the night terrors, pain, panic attacks and insecurity that accompany the treatments of and life with this disease. I would, however, like to point out that hospitals don鈥檛 give us our cancers; we contracted them all by ourselves. All the negative energy that has been poured into personal vendettas and criticism could be more positively put to use trying to help others like ourselves battle cancer in a more healthful and optimistic way.Rob Saunders,Comox Valley