INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

Rose- it seems like your onc answered the question about why different people with cancer given different answers about treatment vs. the REAL question you had, which was "why do you all give me a different answer about MY cancer?"

I saw an MO about eight years ago related to another issue and he said something to me which had remained with me for years. His comment to me around the issue we were looking at (the possibility of a gyn cancer) was this "we do our best to take the data we have to provide you with an opinion about what is going on with you and the best course of action to take. You need to know medicine is not an exact perfect science." He hit the nail on the head for me as I am trained as a scientist and things can be very black or white to me most days. But medicine is filled with those grey areas......

I have seen gyns, MOs, ROs and other specialists for "opinions" around different issues related to possible cancer or diagnosed bc that have gone on with me. Because I know these docs are going to offer you WHAT they know based on their education, research, experience with other patients. I think cancer treatment is a very trial and error type of thing. Because cancer is not one disease, but many diseases. I think if one thing worked, we would all be getting that one thing and get cured.

I just don't expect to get the same answer from my docs, even those in the same specialty, but am always listening to what they say that feels right for me. At the end of the day, they don't have to go through the treatments, live with the side effects, and oh yes, pay for any of this stuff, WE DO!

I hear your concerns about the drugs we are taking too that can damage our hearts and our bodies in other ways. I have read too many stories about women who have ended up with congestive heart failure from chemo, women who have blood sugar issues after cancer treatment (I have), and then there is the osteoporosis from the AIs issue (my current worry). Is a heart attack, diabetes, or a broken hip a good outcome from cancer treatment? I think no. We all have to ask the risks vs. benefits of these treatments and to say "hey, this may not be on the list of SEs, but I have it going on!" My MO actually encourages that and says every patient should be asking a lot of questions.

So I guess I wanted to say, just remember that doctors give you their opinion vs. it being the god given truth about anything. You have to decide what is right for you. I have made it clear to my docs I am more concerned about quality of life than living to be 90 years old.

There's a reason they call it the PRACTICE of medicine.

Hoottie-hooooo!!

It never gets easier to hear about new angles, I was following raro on here for awhile, never posted because I'm not stage 4 but I read her threads. I also remember seeing Delirium Pie, I didn't realize she was so young.

My BRACA came back negative...thank goodness!

I just wanted to add to the MO talked, I have a love/hate relationship with mine. She pisses me off to no end sometimes, but she has also sat and listened to me talk about things too. I think she tries to be "tough" about protocols, but then realizes that she is not dealing with a patient, but a person and backs down.

btw, I hate cancer....

((hugs))

tangandchris, congrats on the negative!! We can win the battles one at a time.

Tang- congrats on the negative BRACA.

Jwoo- just too funny!

Sas and I met for lunch today after she finished some tests. Then we sat in our cars, smoked, and talked for a few hours. And tried not to freeze. I know, no sympathy from the northern ice bergs! I'll post our low tomorrow. Brrrrr

Rose - I hear your frustration. There probably are good reasons for the fuzziness and variability of the answers, as per Jazzy above, but it does get frustrating, especially when there's such tunnel vision - "well, we're saving your life here - how can you worry about lymphedema (heart failure, diabetes, etc.) or quality of life?"

Dutchie,

Ohmmmmn....

Ohmmmmm? Am I to meditate?

Yes, absolutely, which leads to yawning, then shut eye. Shoulder is a royal pain in the neck. I am ready to move on with the stretching, range of motion, gently, of course. I have a appt. On Monday with the surgeon. The rehab & PT will be slow but part of the process.

YOU FEEL SLEEPY.......

the cute one with heavy SLEEPY eyes.....ummmnn

You're so funny. I don't see any sleepy eyes in that pic. Between 2/24 and 4/2 I see the BS, MO, PCP, and Derm. Great fun.

Which one am I?

And so you both were sitting in the car..... SMOKING?????????? You tramps! And you probably were parked near some college, with your sun-glasses and flip-flops, waving at all the guys walking by.... Oh! And holding that bottle of wine out the window! Smoke pouring out the windows,..... You say you were smoking weed?

I wish you would have taken pictures... You had your halter-tops on? That's what I heard anyway.....figures.

Actually we were about a mile from USF. That's

U

Stay

Forever

And this is for you chevy