I've gone through this entire thread and I'm asking if the original poster, Out of the blue (Blur...), could please send me a private message. I really need to get in touch.
Sean Nguyen said:Can anyone tell me how much a single ticket costs per screening, without getting into all those deals from $33 where you get 5 screenings for a bundle?
Scott Allen10 said:It’s possible things could move incredibly fast, but it's also possible the illness drags on for years and years until the person passes away from something else entirely.
What I can tell you for certain is that you should look into various pain management techniques and options for effective analgesia.
I'm a complete novice here. Because of that, I'm wondering—how exactly could the illness drag on? Everything I've heard or read suggests that once the disease reaches this stage, the progression is relatively rapid. Also, what do you mean by "analgesia techniques"? So far, he's been using morphine because the pain is unbearable, though after radiation, he only takes it occasionally depending on how he's feeling. He manages the pain with a patch, which mostly works. Morphine is a struggle because he loses his appetite and just sleeps through it, but sometimes the pain is simply too much to handle. Thanks.
mistyhound2 said:I hate to be the one to say it, but I haven't heard of any. At least, personally, I haven't come across anything yet. Once you're seeing metastases in the pelvic region, it's already considered an advanced stage.
Can I send you a DM with a question? I don't want to post it here—I'm a bit paranoid about it being read by others.
mistyhound2 said:Was he undergoing radiation therapy? Is he doing chemo? He’s probably starting that now. Look, there aren't really any other options here... this is an attempt to extend life, but whether that actually means extending the quality of life is a whole different story.
Thanks. He had radiation before the surgery. The pain was unbearable. He isn't going the chemo route; instead, they're opting for interferon therapy plus some kind of cutting-edge treatment that hasn't even been implemented here in the States yet, which was recommended by a renowned scientist from abroad. Again, I know it's awkward to discuss this, but are there actually cases where people pull through once it has already metastasized to the spine?
Jose Miller3 said:What exactly do you expect someone to tell you right now?
Look, the illness is serious and the prognosis isn't great. Neither mistyhound2 nor Scott Allen10—or anyone else here—has ever actually seen this person. If you're just looking for someone to give you a hollow "it's all going to be fine," we can certainly play along if that's what you need.
Don't give me that crap about them never seeing him; how convenient. Do you want me to tell you to "get lost" straight up, or should I wrap it in nice little gift paper?
I know, unfortunately, but does that necessarily mean things are at their worst, or...? I get that making predictions is tough. Still, he went under the knife, so there must be some hope.
Scott Allen10, someone close to me was just diagnosed with kidney cancer that has spread to the spine, though fortunately, the spinal cord itself is clear. They've already had the kidney removed and we're currently waiting on the next steps for treatment. Do you have any insight into what the prognosis looks like once metastases have reached the vertebrae?
If you're asking me, it's Žurić, not Jurić. I’m not exactly his biggest fan, but he does excellent work (him, his wife, and now even his son have joined the practice). He explains everything clearly, he’s thorough, doesn't overdo it, and never panics. He actually diagnosed my issue immediately when others completely missed it. He's part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield network.
Benjamin Murphy2, I get just as frustrated when people start talking down to me about my profession with that "I know how you all work" attitude. If they actually have a critique of my specific work, let them say it, but I shouldn't have to suffer for the mistakes made by everyone else. What does my performance have to do with them? I honestly think the real issue is this misplaced sense of professional solidarity; we shouldn't be sticking up for people who completely screwed up. Professional associations really need to step up and address that mindset.
When people started claiming this thread was pointless, I honestly thought there was real value in letting doctors and (potential) patients talk directly to one another outside of the mainstream media. Usually, by the time things hit the news, the situation has already escalated. Having these discussions helps everyone see what actually bothers people before it all blows up. At the end of the day, we can keep clashing and stay stuck in our own little bubbles if that’s what we want.
Hey nimblestag31, let me ask you something direct: do you honestly believe people are less polite to doctors than they are to any other professional they have to work with? It’s wild to me that you don't see how most patients walk into an exam room acting completely terrified, basically treating the doctor like some kind of deity they need to appease. You clearly aren't grasping the fact that people will endure things with a physician that they wouldn't tolerate from anyone else. How do you explain why so many people flood online forums to obsess over illnesses, treatments, and diagnoses instead of just talking to their doctors? Do you really think they're so clueless that they believe they'll find better answers here, or can you finally admit that they simply aren't getting the answers they need at the clinic?
nimblestag31 said:Angela Bailey30: it’s about this constant bashing of doctors, which I haven't noticed happening to any other profession.
But why specifically doctors? Do you honestly think people just enjoy tearing down the very people they rely on to stay alive? You think they do it because they're all inherently terrible, arrogant, or malicious? Common sense suggests otherwise: people lash out because they’ve had terrible experiences with them during some of the worst moments of their lives. That’s a simple explanation, unlike your posts that make it seem like there's some massive conspiracy against the medical community. In reality, it's quite the opposite—people are generally more deferential to doctors than any other profession, which makes total sense. They’re venting here because they can, and because they're frustrated with those interactions. Do you think anyone in my family would have stayed quiet if a doctor had permanently damaged my father's vision? Or if a contractor built us a house that leaks every time it rains? They'd certainly have something to say. So, that's the reality of how people view doctors versus "everyone else."
Benjamin Murphy2, you shouldn't let it get to you when people link corruption directly to doctors. You just happen to belong to the specific group of people that others tend to resent most—and you have to wonder why it's always physicians specifically that draw such ire—while simultaneously fearing them (a fear that, unfortunately, doctors often exploit). My own profession is pretty much loathed, and I frequently get addressed in the same way you are, but so what? It never occurs to me to complain because I know they often have a point, so I try to change that perception through small, incremental actions.
Noah Vaughn3, you're still young, yet you're already using such heavy rhetoric, and you're letting "people you don't even care about" on a random forum get under your skin. Calm down a bit; you've got a long career ahead dealing with all sorts of personalities, and you're going to need thicker skin.
Your posts really highlight the root cause of what doctors are becoming. You clearly draw a line between them and "normal people" (as you put it), and you get why patients find them so grating and intrusive. See, doctors make that same distinction between themselves and the rest of us; they act like these all-knowing, untouchable demi-gods. I’ve never heard—aside from friends venting in private—of a doctor actually admitting they don't know something or referring a patient to a colleague of the same specialty because they might have better answers. If they carry themselves that way, why are they surprised when people expect them to be infallible? Personally, I only respect them if they're actually good at their jobs and approachable. Is there any other reason to hold them in higher regard than anyone else?
Noah Vaughn3 said:i dont feel like using punctuation or capital letters.
You wrote this, but you didn't mention it was a negation. I've never heard anyone claim they write without punctuation simply because they "can't be bothered" to separate words, and I highly doubt that's a valid excuse. If that's true, then the way you write is pure arrogance. Do you write in English however you feel like it, too?