Marty,
Bless you for your courage and inspiration and willingness to share your
knowledge with those of us just beginning our journey!! Three days before
last Christmas, my husband was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer. His
oncologist told him at best he had 1 to 2 years maximum to live. We
wondered at the time when that clock began -- was it when the cancer cells
first began to form (who knew when that was), when the tumors first began to
form (who knew when that was) or from the date she told us of his diagnose.
We were too shell shocked at that time to ask those questions!
After becoming familiar with several of the cases on this forum, I've
learned not to worry about that 1 to 2 year time frame anymore. He will go
when God gets ready for him -- not before and not after.
Thanks again for being there!!!
Cindy Crowe
ccrowe@msn.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Auslander <fitecancer@earthlink.net>
To: Medical On Line Forum <mol-cancer@lists.meds.com>
Cc: drruth@onlinemac.com <drruth@onlinemac.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 03, 1998 5:32 AM
Subject: [MOL] Good Evening Dear Ruth
>Dear Ruth
>
>drruth@onlinemac.com
>
>
>
>This is starting to make me very angry, this business about docs telling
>
>people how long they have. Its nuts and stupid. In the last few days I
>
>have seen about 3-4 messages here, similar to yours where the docs have
>
>taken away hOPE. Can't they comprehend, don't they know the reason they
>
>administer and try to find means to help medically is to provide hope.
>
>Can't they see the reason that they make statements that are not based
>
>on fact.....that they take away HOPE. What gives the right to make
>
>predictions when in the majority of those predictions they are
>
>wrong...wrong...wrong.... and then they leave it up to us to clean up
>
>their mess. Yikes. I am just venting.
>
>
>
>Ruth, I know of several women who have had a carcinoma of an unknown
>
>primary and one in which metastasized stage IV to all lymph glands. The
>primary tumor was unknown. That is my wife who 4 years ago, was
>diagnosed with this and at that time, Barb and I made a pact never to
>ask a doctor how much time. We told our doc that, and his reply was
>"then don't ever ask". I asked him what was the purpose for telling
>people this unprofessional and insensitive theory or factless info. His
>reply was
>
>"so that people prepare themselves for the inevitability". I said Doc,
>
>if people are not prepared then we are never prepared. If you mean to go
>
>out and buy a casket, then either we have made those arrangements or
>
>should be part of the lifes process in doing so before any diagnosis is
>
>determined. To me that is a stupid, sorry, way of dealing with something
>
>that is not based on fact. No one, no human being should ever tell
>
>anyone how long. Because you know what,...we tend to believe the
>
>negative rather than the positive. WE look to doctors as Gods and should
>
>not be, they are human just like any of us, and nobody knows when any of
>
>us are going to remain here on this earth. \
>
>
>
>It so happens that I was told that my Barb had 2 months to live, some
>
>time after her diagnosis as some jerk blurted this out and he was a GP
>
>who said "he overheard from the oncologists". I said, "Doc, what do you
>
>bet that she will be here long after what you perceive and maybe long
>
>after you are here"? Damn...sorry..darn.
>
>
>
>Ruth you must believe that there are miracles, cures, methods to find
>
>means and ways for treatments, means and methods for your mind to
>
>overcome your condition and means to be determined sufficiently to seek
>
>the followinng years with a purpose of living. It can be done. NOw, I
>
>don't want to give you false hope, because as I said no one knows how
>
>long any of us havae on this earth, I only know that there are many
>
>miracle stories and there is no reason whey you are not one of them.
>
>
>
>Sorry for venting. I have so much more to share with you in terms of
>
>wellness, I don't want to be overwhelming, one of my traits and
>
>weaknesses, I just am empassioned for your wellness and health and
>
>happiness as I am with my wifes and all my friends here.
>
>
>
>Pls come back again and again, so that we may provide you with as much
>
>information that provides hope where you are not receiving from the
>
>medical community, maybe they and we can combine to find you some means
>
>of HOPE AND WELLNESS.
>
>
>
>God Bless YOu
>
>marty auslander
>
>
>
>
>
>Ruth Devine wrote:
>
>>
>
>> I too have been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma with an unknown primary
>
>> source. I went to the doctor on Jan. 19 with some pain in my upper back.
>
>> They treated it as muscular and gave me anti-inflamitories. I continued
to
>
>> work but by Jan. 23 the pain had worsened and I went to another doctor.
>
>> They did a chest xray and told me (out of the blue) that I either had
>
>> pneumonia or lung cancer. I was put on antibiotics for a week and told I
>
>> couldn't work. Another chest x-ray was done and they were sure it was
lung
>
>> cancer. I was scheduled to start testing the following week. The fluid
>
>> around my lung showed adenocarcinoma, however no primary source has been
>
>> found, so they are just treating it as lung cancer. I started chemo on
>
>> Feb. 17. My prognosis is not good with a one in three chance of chemo
>
>> helping. If it doesn't they say I have four to six months. I am in
shock,
>
>> confused and not sure what I am doing at this point. I am a 55 year old
>
>> female who thought I was in relatively good health.
>
>> Please let me know any information you find. I haven't had much luck in
>
>> gathering information and my doctors are very contradictory. Good luck
to
>
>> you both!
>
>>
>
>>
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