IN 1985 I was treated in Toronot for cancer of cervix stage 2. I have NOTHING from my file/s from the doctors I saw prior to treatment - one saying it was a hygiene problem; another upon intimate exam 'I can't see anything' although I knew something was drastically wrong. I also have not one piece of paper from my file from the hospital... in those days we didn't ask for or get copies of reports etc. It was not until my return to the hospital for checkup that I even asked what size the tumour had been! To this day I have no idea what the treatment was etc etc etc.. this is wrong. The family doctors and specialist I saw have either moved away or retired... and by the time I was aware I could obtain copies of my file/s it was too late - except for my word I have nothing to prove I even had cancer! Now in the Province of Canada in which I live I can request copies of info from my family dr/nurse file; can request from local hospital copies of reports etc., and from another hospital in Toronto can get copies of reports from my file from my home without requesting it. Both local labs, one charges $10 a year and one is free, I can get copies on Intrnet of results of blood and urines tests but they have to be sent (not necessarily seen by) the ordering dr. Yes I have also found many errors regarding what I said or such and I have a copy of emerge report saying I did not have a small stroke when in fact six months later I discovered via another Dr. that I had, but took no action. My spouse is not at all interested in seeing any of his file/s, he does not read the accompanying information sheets from his 10 or so meds; that's his choice, but now after not seeing my files for dozens of years, I want to see EVERYTHING. Also very handy when I print out a report say from a private lab... the hospital has no access to this information! So if recent can show the dr at emerge or such the results, and vice versa.... it is so helpful and saves me having the same tests twice. Yes can be upsetting to read about things discovered in reports, but we will be advised about it ultimately.... one downfall is I now have a lot of paperwork and files and having many illnesses am finding myself a bit swamped with paperwork, but its worth it, to me. Years ago after xrays of kidney dr told me all ok; i found out year later had cyst; ok, not a huge deal, but why didn't he tell me; also had uterus punctured during d&c and surgeon said there were problems, hadn't I had symptoms, and he also took appendix out while fixing - again, didnt find out until a year later.... from another doctor; to me that was wrong and now that type of thing wont happen again! I would imagine some drs. are concerned about being sued, and I have had just cause to in the past, but I didn't and wouldn't - but please just tell me the truth..... sorry so long .. but also one of our office buildings had a fire and drs. patient files were lost... so if we had our own copies would have saved a lot of records that went up in smoke!