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Dear Marty: Yours was an inspiring story, too, and I thank you. I don't know why doctors give dire predictions out of their realm of expertise, either. I know that sometimes doctors feel compelled to give the worse case scenario, but I don't think they're required to do that. I'm going to check into that. Our firm handles malpractice cases from time to time, and I'd be interested. Thanks for responding, Marty. I always love to hear from you. Love, Kathy
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mol-cancer@lists.meds.com
[mailto:owner-mol-cancer@lists.meds.com]On Behalf Of Martin Auslander
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 1999 9:51 PM
To: Medical On Line Forum; Kathy Corrigan
Subject: [MOL] thanks Kathy
Dear Kathy,
Thank you for this wonderful message. Pls excuse the delay as I took
Barb, my wife, to Mexico to buy some medications and vitamins. then we
had an appointment at the immune therapy clinic that she is being
treated by. Left on WEd night and back on Sat. So pls excuse the delay.
Just so you know. WE told the Onc up front when Barb was diagnosed, we
didnt want to know what he thought about life expectancy and his remark
back was very kiddingly to make it light, "so don't ask". As it turned
out when Barb was hospitalized on numerous events for very traumatic
circumstances, there were some doctors who were not Oncologists and were
seeing her for varying reasons, pulled me aside and told me that they
did not expect her to come out of hospital alive. I told one Doctor when
he said that "then you don't know my wife and who the hell (pardom me)
asked you? With all due respect just treat my wife for what you are
qualified to treat her with and leave the predictions up to God, Barb
and I". Well he was purturbed but was very respectful as he sees Barb
from time to time 4 years later and smiles at us. Believe me he knows he
was wrong. I hope he learned a lesson to treat others with respect and
not with wisdom that he is not qualified to provide. We encounted other
doctors as well with similar views who are not Oncologists. I cant
understand why physicians go out of their realm of expertise to predict
life expectancy from a condition they know little of. In many cases I
believe we know more than they about life and dedication and
determination. Thanks for your encouragment Kathy. You are indeed an
inspiration to all here, as you are to me.
God Bless
marty auslander
> kcorrigan@chgw.com wrote:
>
> Dear Marty: I do agree with every word you said. My doctor didn't
> want to give us a statistical prognosis -- Jerry asked her, and I
> could tell she was reluctant to say anything. She just sort of
> mumbled, "Oh, 25 to 40%." She never said 25 to 45% of what, and I
> changed the subject immediately, and on we went. She was always very
> upbeat and optimistic when I went to see her, and would express her
> joy and amazement at how well I was doing. She probably didn't have
> the best bedside manner in the world, but she certainly didn't have
> the worst. She didn't take away my hope, and what additional
> encouragement and support I needed, I certainly got from her staff!
> What a wonderful bunch of people. I researched my type of cancer on
> the Internet, and I knew myself what I was up against, and the
> prognoses I found there were absolutely horrible! But, I'd go back to
> see my friends at the center, and I didn't feel frightened or hopeless
> any longer. The place is always full of flowers and candy and other
> goodies sent by their patients. One lady made silk floral
> arrangements for the entire place -- and it's huge! Other patients
> have sent pictures of themselves and their families and they're all
> over the walls. The nurses know my voice on the phone and so does the
> pharmacist. They must all take classes on public relations, because
> they do a bang-up job! I was luckier than some -- I know from being
> on this forum. Some of the doctors out there behave outrageously.
> Keep it up, Marty! Your fan, Kathy
>
> -----Original Message-----
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