|
|
| Author |
Message |
scullycat
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 9
|
 Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:43 pm Post subject:
cancer prognosis
|
|
|
Hi,
My sister -in-law has advanced breast to bone cancer. She's been in
treatment for over 2 years now,maybe longer. She went for a bone marrow
biopsy and her Dr.could not obtain any marrow. She will be having her third
or fourth blood transfusion tomorrow.
My question is this. How long will she live? I need to know in order to cope
with this? She and my brother are holding on to any trace of hope and this
is how they are dealing with this. I deal with all the info. I can get, and
I am just guessing. I don't think that it would be appropriate for me to
call her oncologist and ask this question. Assuming that her body has
stopped making blood (which it sure seems that it has), how long can this go
on. I just need some information.
Thanks for any information
ps. She is very weak, not eating much, has had 2 pathological fractures, and
can barely walk a few feet at a time with a walker. She is 54 yr. old. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Diane
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:08 pm Post subject:
Re: cancer prognosis
|
|
|
first of all, I am very sorry to hear about your sister-in-law, I am
sure it is very difficult for you and for the rest of your family.
I am NOT a Dr. or nurse, but I speak from experience. My sister in law
was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29, by age 31 it has metastisized
(spread) to her bones. Before she passed away, she had several
fractures in her vertebra as well as her arm. She was much younger
than your sister in law, however. She survived after the cancer had
metastisized to her bones for about 2 1/2 years. Her Oncologist never
gave her a time frame, however, she never asked.
I hope this well help... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject:
Re: cancer prognosis
|
|
|
"scullycat" <scullycat@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:fmGwe.5516$Bn6.4906@trndny08...
| Quote: | Hi,
My sister -in-law has advanced breast to bone cancer. She's been in
treatment for over 2 years now,maybe longer. She went for a bone marrow
biopsy and her Dr.could not obtain any marrow. She will be having her
third or fourth blood transfusion tomorrow.
My question is this. How long will she live? I need to know in order to
cope with this?
|
impossible to say....will "not long" help you??
thinking of you and your family...
She and my brother are holding on to any trace of hope and this
| Quote: | is how they are dealing with this. I deal with all the info. I can get,
and I am just guessing. I don't think that it would be appropriate for me
to call her oncologist and ask this question. Assuming that her body has
stopped making blood (which it sure seems that it has), how long can this
go on. I just need some information.
Thanks for any information
ps. She is very weak, not eating much, has had 2 pathological fractures,
and can barely walk a few feet at a time with a walker. She is 54 yr. old.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scullycat
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 9
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:14 pm Post subject:
Re: cancer prognosis
|
|
|
Yes, that does help. thanks
<Hawki63@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:EoHwe.1103$j04.777@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: |
"scullycat" <scullycat@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:fmGwe.5516$Bn6.4906@trndny08...
Hi,
My sister -in-law has advanced breast to bone cancer. She's been in
treatment for over 2 years now,maybe longer. She went for a bone marrow
biopsy and her Dr.could not obtain any marrow. She will be having her
third or fourth blood transfusion tomorrow.
My question is this. How long will she live? I need to know in order to
cope with this?
impossible to say....will "not long" help you??
thinking of you and your family...
She and my brother are holding on to any trace of hope and this
is how they are dealing with this. I deal with all the info. I can get,
and I am just guessing. I don't think that it would be appropriate for me
to call her oncologist and ask this question. Assuming that her body has
stopped making blood (which it sure seems that it has), how long can this
go on. I just need some information.
Thanks for any information
ps. She is very weak, not eating much, has had 2 pathological fractures,
and can barely walk a few feet at a time with a walker. She is 54 yr.
old.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Norminn
medicine forum Guru Wannabe
Joined: 05 May 2005
Posts: 157
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:16 pm Post subject:
Re: cancer prognosis
|
|
|
scullycat wrote:
| Quote: | Hi,
My sister -in-law has advanced breast to bone cancer. She's been in
treatment for over 2 years now,maybe longer. She went for a bone marrow
biopsy and her Dr.could not obtain any marrow. She will be having her third
or fourth blood transfusion tomorrow.
My question is this. How long will she live? I need to know in order to cope
with this? She and my brother are holding on to any trace of hope and this
is how they are dealing with this. I deal with all the info. I can get, and
I am just guessing. I don't think that it would be appropriate for me to
call her oncologist and ask this question. Assuming that her body has
stopped making blood (which it sure seems that it has), how long can this go
on. I just need some information.
Thanks for any information
ps. She is very weak, not eating much, has had 2 pathological fractures, and
can barely walk a few feet at a time with a walker. She is 54 yr. old.
|
Even if some of us had cared for your sis, examined her, and knew all
the data about her condition, we could not predict the course of her
illness. Her docs can probably make an educated guess, and a family has
a right to have an idea as to expectations. Ask to leave a note on the
chart or give the doc's office a call. Worst the doc can do is say "I
cannot answer that." Patients sometimes have a better idea than docs. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Starlight
medicine forum Guru Wannabe
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 186
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 1:41 am Post subject:
Re: cancer prognosis
|
|
|
On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 01:16:50 GMT, Norminn <norminn@earthlink.net>
wrote:
| Quote: |
Even if some of us had cared for your sis, examined her, and knew all
the data about her condition, we could not predict the course of her
illness. Her docs can probably make an educated guess, and a family has
a right to have an idea as to expectations. Ask to leave a note on the
chart or give the doc's office a call. Worst the doc can do is say "I
cannot answer that." Patients sometimes have a better idea than docs.
|
I can't think of one doctor that would give that information out to
anyone except the persons listed on the HIPAA consent form the patient
signs. And any doctor that would give that info to an unknown family
member that gives his office a call better be prepared for legal
repercussions.
If you mean the patient and husband should ask....maybe they don't
want to know, which is their right. We don't know all the dynamics,
which means we can't give the best answer.
Is hospice involved, for palliative care? I hope the doctor has at
least suggested it. She and your brother deserve that assistance.
Good luck...it's a very sad, unfortunate situation. 
Becky |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Norminn
medicine forum Guru Wannabe
Joined: 05 May 2005
Posts: 157
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 4:25 pm Post subject:
Re: cancer prognosis
|
|
|
Starlight wrote:
| Quote: | On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 01:16:50 GMT, Norminn <norminn@earthlink.net
wrote:
Even if some of us had cared for your sis, examined her, and knew all
the data about her condition, we could not predict the course of her
illness. Her docs can probably make an educated guess, and a family has
a right to have an idea as to expectations. Ask to leave a note on the
chart or give the doc's office a call. Worst the doc can do is say "I
cannot answer that." Patients sometimes have a better idea than docs.
I can't think of one doctor that would give that information out to
anyone except the persons listed on the HIPAA consent form the patient
signs. And any doctor that would give that info to an unknown family
member that gives his office a call better be prepared for legal
repercussions.
|
When a family member of mine was gravely ill recently, the personnel
involved went from one extreme to another is disclosing information.
They needed to call me for med. history info, so there had to be
discussion. They would call me to tell me of transfers, then were
unwilling to give any followup on condition.
| Quote: | If you mean the patient and husband should ask....maybe they don't
want to know, which is their right. We don't know all the dynamics,
which means we can't give the best answer.
|
Absolutely right, with emphasis. Part of the privacy issue is the
patient's right to be free of information she does not want to know.
Even with people close together throughout an illness, their separate
expectations can be vastly different. Part of that is remaining
hopeful, but one's own hopes may be just to be free of pain, while a
loved one is hoping for much more time together.
What I should have put more emphasis on in my first post was that even
the doc can only GUESS, and may be very wrong if they try. A disease
course gives expectations based on learning and experience, but can also
vary greatly. I encourage people to go to the doc with their questions,
rather than newsgroups, because one close to the patient AND the family
is the only person equipped to answer. Asking the wrong questions of
the patient can be traumatic if she has very different expectations/needs.
| Quote: |
Is hospice involved, for palliative care? I hope the doctor has at
least suggested it. She and your brother deserve that assistance.
Good luck...it's a very sad, unfortunate situation.
Becky
|
I stayed with my mom through 6 mos of her final illness, malignant brain
tumor. I tried very, very hard to provide all the physical care she
needed. We did very well, considering the situation, and had support of
wonderful family and friends. What she talked about that gave her
greatest pleasure, when things were very tough, were the bedbaths that a
particular nurse' aide gave her. She was a bouncy, cheerful older
woman, and would slather my mom with lotion after her baths. She loved
it! The things that were most important to my mom in her final weeks
had nothing to do with her illness - she was in "taking care of my
children" mode, leaving her affairs in order, getting things done to the
house. What gave her pleasure were visits and snacks with friends, the
view of her yard from her bed, etc. Her last trip outdoors was to count
the oranges on her orange tree  ) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Starlight
medicine forum Guru Wannabe
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 186
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 6:08 pm Post subject:
Re: cancer prognosis
|
|
|
On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 18:25:58 GMT, Norminn <norminn@earthlink.net>
wrote:
| Quote: | I stayed with my mom through 6 mos of her final illness, malignant brain
tumor. I tried very, very hard to provide all the physical care she
needed. We did very well, considering the situation, and had support of
wonderful family and friends. What she talked about that gave her
greatest pleasure, when things were very tough, were the bedbaths that a
particular nurse' aide gave her. She was a bouncy, cheerful older
woman, and would slather my mom with lotion after her baths. She loved
it! The things that were most important to my mom in her final weeks
had nothing to do with her illness - she was in "taking care of my
children" mode, leaving her affairs in order, getting things done to the
house. What gave her pleasure were visits and snacks with friends, the
view of her yard from her bed, etc. Her last trip outdoors was to count
the oranges on her orange tree )
|
That's very sweet.  Aren't you glad you had those precious 6
months?!
My sister-in-law, who recently died of pancreatic cancer at the ripe
old age of 50, was much the same way. She took great care to get her
affairs in order, to make sure those left behind had what they needed,
emotionally and physically, then went back to her mom's home in Hawaii
to die. The hospice team was fantastic with her...empowered her to
be in control, which she was. She wrote a passive to be read at her
memorial service, chose the pictures to be displayed, said good-bye to
each of us in wonderful emails, and we got the chance to do the same.
It's difficult to face that the end may be near, but it's so much
better for those left behind if they can all face it before it
happens, if they're afforded that opportunity to say good-bye and
relate how lucky and happy they've been to have had time on this earth
with their loved one.
Becky |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Google
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
The time now is Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:54 pm | All times are GMT
|
|
Books | Loans | Groovy Layouts | Mobile Phone | Home Insurance
|
|
Copyright © 2004-2005 DeniX Solutions SRL
|
|
Other DeniX Solutions sites:
electronics forum,
Science forum
Unix/Linux blog
Unix/Linux documentation
Unix/Linux forums
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Forum index
»
Medicine forums
»
nursing
